The Joshua Tree

73/112

It's ok. I still think they're overrated. And Bono's voice gets on my nerves. There I said it

I’m surprised at how much I liked this album. Really good album flow and songs. The three singles to open up the album are among the better of U2’s singles. This is added to my regular rotation to listen to again, which means 5 stars. Actually interested to check out other albums at some point.

fun fact about U2: it has no fans, everyone kind of accepts it. no one likes it. it's just a staple.

"U2 é muito ruim, não comprem o CD do U2!" Ronald Rios

listenable I guess..

I'm not really a fan of U2... A lot of this just doesn't do anything for me. I like some of the moodier bits and some of the soundscapes on songs like 'bullet the blue sky', but the rest just doesn't hit for me.

hittiputki, tosin b-puolella lässähtää. ja mitä on lopun hyssyttely? oikeesti kyllä hyvää stadionrockia

Täytyy myöntää, että monissa näistä biiseistä on koukkuja lähenteleviä elementtejä. Johtuukohan tämä mielikuva vain siitä, että U2 on niin suosittu bändi? Ehkä, mutta minua tällaiset illuusiot eivät haittaa - levy on kakkosensa ansainnut.

Good album,

Bono en consorten in hun beste dagen! Mooi plaatje.

Goeie plaat hor! U2 op zijn hoogtepunt!

Blijft een mooi album. Al ben ik wel bij nummer 4 ingestapt want de eerste 3 nummers hebben hun houdbaarheidsdatum als klassieker inmiddels wel overschreden. Echt té vaak gehoord.

Oh, wat goed weer.

6/10 some good songs but worse than All That You can't etc..

Top class era defining album Cover art 5***** iconic photos throughout

Haven't listened to this in a while, it's wonderful. Aside from the more recognizable front half of the album, the whole thing is great. Bullet The Blue Sky slaps.

It's fine. U2 is sort of tired

listened to again not a very interesting album but some of the most groundbreaking guitar work of the past 4 decades

The first four songs are probably the most well-known of u2’s career. But let’s talk about the others. They… don’t really go anywhere. I was not impressed and found myself wandering. But then, I was never a big fan of U2 so there you go.

The 3-song opening sequence is about as big as you'll find on any album. Where the Streets Have no Name might still be my favorite U2 song, given the Edge's opening (and further) guitarwork and how the rest of the instruments just fit it so well. Bono's lyrics and vocals are great too. But after that I felt it was a bit uneven. The next 4 songs from Bullet the Blue Sky to In God's Country were pretty solid; retained a similar rock feel to the first 3 songs albeit not quite the same highs. The last 4 songs felt more like The Waterboys celtic sound (except for Exit, still heavy); more folksy and decent for sure but definitely not the same level as the first 3 big hits.

Don’t really understand the hype, not my type of rock

Cracking album 4.5

Top-notch christian rock

U2 was overplayed by others when I was a child, I never since thought to listen to it on my own. A couple of decades later it turns out this is a really great album full of epicness. 4/5

Tråkiga sånger, ibland helt intressanta instrumentala delar

Älskar amerikkka

Crazy how decent this album is

Tråkigt, mediokert. Såg fram emot att det skulle ta slut fr.o.m spår 2.

All the songs feel the same. It's a alright sound, but not my favorite

Not a U2 fan, but fair play to the boys, this is not a bad stadium rock album. It's focus on Americana seems to make it think it's more important than it actually is. It's also heavily front loaded. Best Tracks: Where the Streets Have No Name; I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For; With or Without You

Classic

This one wasn’t new to me. Amazing album. I can’t imagine this ever feeling new or like risk taking, but the music is so epic. Standouts: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With or Without You, Red Hill Mining Town, One Tree Hill

Not really a fan of U2, but there's no denying this is their career-defining album. Frequently listed as one of the greatest albums ever, blah, blah blah...it has it's great moments. So many of their classic tracks are on here and they hold up pretty well even today, but after those I feel there's a drop off in quality. I won't let my bias against Bono influence my opinion (too much) and say the album is fine, but not taste.

Definitely the most accessible album U2 created and for good reason too. The first three songs are all extremely high quality moving songs (especially Streets) that turned out to become some of the biggest 80s hits (more so With or Without You). There's also some fantastic album cuts like Bullet the Blue Sky and Running to Stand Still on here as well. If you wanted to explore U2's output, this is the album to start with (though doing best of 1980-90 would be a better choice). The problem I found out about Joshua Tree from attending 3 anniversary concerts (which to be honest, 1 too many), was that the second half has a significant dip in quality. Everyone has opinions on what they like from that side, whether they prefer the more cheery acoustic country harmonica driven songs, or the more darker somber material closing the album. Personally I like the stretch of One Tree Hill to Mothers of the Disappeared, but I never listen to these songs individually. The rest (Red Hill to Tripped Through Wires) I can tolerate, but will tend to skip. The frontloaded nature of this album is a common problem with U2's discography, but to give Joshua Tree credit, it does have some great B-sides. Sweetest Thing and Spanish Eyes are the highlights of that pack. That all being said, Joshua Tree is a great album and definitely deserves creds for being here. I personally just find it a bit flawed and a tad overrated compared to Achtung Baby or War.

The final brilliant album before they went all stadium and Bono wore sunglasses inside.

I've never been a big U2 fan. Growing up I was more of an REM guy..... and like Blur and Oasis, you had to be on one side or the other. This album though has a collection of tracks that in isolation nail the "stadium anthem" sound. All lumped in together though, it doesn't make for a cohesive listen. 1 star off for Bono being a knob

Every track on Side 1 is single-worthy, but together they lack cohesion and flow. 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', in particular, doesn't seem to fit the aesthetic of the album. Side 2 is less commercial but a lot more consistent and evocative of big sky America. Despite the front loading the hits, there is just about enough in common to tie the two sides together. 'Running To Stand Still' also aids the transition from Side 1 to Side 2. A strong album, but could have been more enjoyable with different sequencing. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: With Or Without You Date listened: 04/10/22

- Already listened before - Great 3 tracks to open the album - Rest is good, but samey sounding - Fav songs: With or Without You, Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I listened to this one far too many times throughout the years, It's full of nostalgia and moments reminding me of my folks and our lives. Full rose goggles on my rating, easy 5 :)

"I hate U2..." "You too?" "That's what I said."

This album has some of my favorite U2 songs-Bullet the Blue Sky, Red Hill Mining Town, One Tree Hill, and some songs that maybe I've heard too much-I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You. Great songs but played to death. Overall though, still one of the great albums of all time imo.

Better than I expected.

Really good chill album for background music, but nothing really sticks to my brain.

This album blew its load in the first 4 tracks. After that, it stands as an impressive spectacle of a band that wholly refuses to do anything interesting while still sounding like they think they're making incredible moves. Palpable pomposity. And even in that best front section, the band is nothing without Bono- who for that portion of the album sounds powerful and impactful. Bullet in a Blue Sky, though, is the one time on the whole record that the music, without Bono, caught my good attention. At its best it is catchy, easy listening mall-speaker-rock, which to be clear is not exactly complimentary. At its worst, this project succeeds in emulating the wide open desert spaces the band was in part trying to evoke- barren, tedious, and the kind of experience you pray has passed you by by the time you wake up from your nap on the roadtrip.

Best U2 album by a country mile. Very easy listen and some really catchy grooves. 3.5/5 (4/5) It also reminds me of one of my favorite music jokes: Bono, whilst playing a gig in Glasgow, got the whole crowd to be silent and then began slowly clapping his hands. He got the crowd to clap along for a while, the stadium quiet except for the rhythmic clapping… After a short period Bono spoke, saying that everytime he clapped his hands a child in Africa died … Suddenly, from the front row of the venue a voice broke out in thick Scottish brogue, ending the silence as it echoed across the crowd, the voice cried out to Bono “Well stop ****ing doing it then!!”

Too repetitive. Lost interest very quickly

For me it was only about the hits

Really boring album, literally no songs stand out. If this is one of U2's best ones I don't think I'll like them very much.

Is there where Christian artists get their inspiration

Algunos temarrales, aunque el final no me encanta. Pero merece el 5

Not for me

Its good but bland and front-loaded

Good

The Joshua Tree is productioneel een grote stap, maar vooral ook qua thematiek en feel. The unforgettable fire is een fantastische plaat waar Eno en Lanois de Ierse rock in een stadiumgroot, ambient geluid verpakten. Met The Joshua Tree werd de muziek puntig, pakkend en zijn de laatste restjes new wave verruild voor Amerikaanse roots en southern rock en gospel. Sowieso is dit een Amerikaans album, de teksten, de thema’s en de inspiratie. De A kant bestaat uit sterke nummers, allemaal goed voor een single, hoewel ze niet allemaal zo zijn uitgebracht. De B kant is wat experimenteler (Trip through your wires en Mothers of the disappeared) maar blijft overeind. Revolutionair is het niet, toch is dit het U2 album waar je aan moet denken als bands stadionrock maken. Dé inspiratie en ook 35 jaar na dato nog steeds, samen met The unforgettable fire, het beste dat U2 heeft gemaakt.

Always a 5 for me. Went to see them on this tour. I usually like things a bit different, but have consistently liked U2 up to and including this album. It was massive! Influenced so much in music at the time and still a seminal album

This was one was biggest albums in my lifetime and frankly I never understood why. It's a fine album but it's wasn't anything groundbreaking and certainly not the Sgt Pepper. Just poppy version of music they were already doing. Though Bullet the Blue Sky is one my favorite songs. Anyway listen to War is much better.

I’ll go with 5, but would be a 4.25 if possible. This is a beautiful album lyrically, musically, and impeccably produced. It also puts U2 another step further away from the energy, urgency, and pathos of War which is probably their best album in my opinion.

Not a U2 fan. This was better then I expected. I'm not going to re-listen but I'm glad I listened to it.

It's a good album. Much better than I expected, and I liked it more than Achtung Baby. But as good as it is, I just don't see putting it on very often.

Already knew :)

I don't really mind U2, but there are a few things that make this album not a great album to me. First of all it's the production. The echo, background synth orchestration, extra choir in songs like Red Hill Mining Town really take away from the songs. Secondly, the album drops off after the first four songs. After the absolute highlight of this album (Bullet The Blue Sky) the album becomes a bit forgettable, with the exception of One Tree Hill It's really not bad, but also not great and I've never really understood the U2 fans' reverence for this album.

Lush cinematic rock that is both political and spiritual. Timeless.

Real Good

like some of the hits but generally not my jam

I don’t know why, but I don’t really like U2. It’s probably due to their album ending up on my phone without my permission. They are definitely talented af and can make a hit like nobody’s business. I didn’t hate this album.

Pretty outrageously good first 3 songs. Mega 5 stars for those first 3, fine for the rest.

Quite enjoyable, really suprised me

I liked one song

Not very interesting to me

No, just no

It was fine. I've heard most of these songs before but I can't say that I understand the appeal.

Better than I remembered.

The perfect album.. That is All

Somehow calming and energetic. No misses in vocals or instrumentation. I missed all of the lyrics, but the emotions came through anyway.

fuck u2 all my homies hate u2 - great album though 7/10

So I really don't like U2, but I gave this a chance. Not as terrible as I'd thought it might be, but still not my thing

2/0 bonod

A couple high points, but overall, nothing that made me feel strongly.

Not only one of the best albums of all time, but also one of the best opening stretches of songs on an album of all time.

Cool guitar, anthemic jams

Every single song was just such a slog. Five minutes of quiet in the beginning, then starts to build up, then either stays built up or goes back to being quiet. Now, I know that sounds like most songs, but there is a specific brand of it with U2 that makes it all just blend together. It's only getting 2 stars because while I didn't completely enjoy it, there's no denying the 1-2-3 punch that is the first few songs. Would of been better as an EP with just those and Bullet the Blue Sky

Maybe a 3 is a bit unfair, but I know this is not an album I’ll return to. The famous songs are good but the rest just don’t really hit for me

i’ve never been a fan of u2, and this album signifies why. It’s just not good.

Sounded pretty good.

The breakthrough commercial smash that cemented U2 in the public psyche is marred only by the fact that "With or Without You" was used in the television show Friends.

Lanois and Eno produced U2 is best U2. This is a great album. 4 stars.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: With or without you

The first three tracks are hard to argue with unless you already hate U2. I mean, Bono is an acquired taste. Probably less back then than now. But anyway, the first three songs are very strong. And if the rest of the album could've kept up that pace, it would be a five-star album. 'Where the Streets Have No Name' sets a scene that the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to. They do stay in their bucket the whole time - there's not a late album polka or anything. And 'In God's Country' is a nice little boost toward the end there. Through, there's the jangly U2 sound that lets you know who you're listening to, and that's comforting for some reason. So - it starts strong, it fades into nice background. Three stars.

It's pretty de rigueur to dump on U2 for their tiresome and self-aggrandising frontman, so I thought I'd dump on them on the basis of their tepid, insipid music. Even the familiarity of the two openers doesn't offer any more than a faint buzz, more akin to 'ah, I know this' rather than 'ah, a nice warm shot of nostalgia'. On Joshua Tree, U2 have a sound and stick with it, Edge's guitar spinning and jangling away atop relatively competent stadium rock. It's an identity, sure. However, if I had to describe the sound as anything, it would be 'vaporous'. Given the absolute sincerity of the lyrics, it's a minor blessing that this stuff evaporates into the aether soon after listening.

B 5/10 A 4/10 toujours pareil

Honestly a bit boring. Not a huge U2 fan anyway so makes sense why it didn't resonate with me, but just expected a bit more. Didn't give it a 1 as it was fairly relaxing I guess... bout to fall asleep

Solid album.

Meh.

I guess I get it now. This feels like an album I'd have in my car, if I had a car. I don't love U2, but this is a genuinely great album.

I've written and deleted the word "bloviated" at least five times. Thing is, despite each song being a short walk up a small hill stretched out to feel like an ironman challenge courtesy of those neverending synth lines, marching drums, and Bono's mouthful of cotton wool, these songs move at some kind of clip. Right, they spend longer in each section of the song than most artists would, but within their clearly defined aesthetic, they don't spend longer than they should. So I'm happy to call it a formal achievment, even if I found virtually nothing that made me want to come back.

I had a friend who was a bit U2 fan from the early days so I've always been aware of them as they have grown into the phenomenon they are now. This is a great album and those opening tracks are jusst incredible. Excluding those my other faves would be Bullet The Blue Sky and Mothers Of The Disappeared.

Well, you can certainly see how U2 got so big. This is a great album, with a massive cinematic stadium-filling sound. Reading the blurb about this album has made me want to check out their previous album "The Unforgettable Fire" which apparently has some strong ambient leanings?! That sounds like exactly my jam! Fave track - I mean the first three tracks taken together are iconic AF...

I’m generally all hate/jeer/shout when it comes to U2, but this was pretty good. Bono’s still a bell-end, though

There is no need to waste words here. This is an album that imprinted on childhood, defining what is beautiful and how much passion can be communicated through song. While not a rock opera, it seems that it could be, as the album is an entire experience. While certain songs stand out over time more than the others due to their prevalence in pop culture, this album is easily U2's most ubiquitous, and in this review's opinion, their best.

Banger after banger.

U2. Every song sounded similar. Had it on in the background and was a nice listen but wasnt fully concentrating on the music so cant pick out particular songs except one tree hill sounds alright as im typing this

Boring! Sorry. I know some of our group have affiliation with U2 because their mum's loved it etc. Well I don't and I've never cared much for them, sorry. This was cringe and dull.

I just find them quiet dull. A lot of it sounds the same and I kind of forgot I was listening to anything when it was on. This is supposed to be their best album so I think that's a final nail in the coffin for Bono and the U2s.

Really tricky to listen to U2 objectively for me these days, ever since the now infamous iTunes incident. This is a stonking album which opens with some stone cold anthems, but for me I prefer Achtung Baby and Zooropa as complete albums.

A few good tunes.

Better than expected

There are a couple of really great songs. Classics, now. But I've never really been a fan of this band. I like their hits but have never owned an album and never liked anything outside of their hits.

Bono is a cock.

Was expecting a lot more from this than I got. A really strong start with those first three tracks, but even those are a bit elongated and could've done with shaving off a minute apiece. The rest is just a bit dull. Middle of the range 3, really all because of the beginning.

Starts off very strong, falls off a bit but still overall solid album. Some surprising folksy stuff in there.

Classic U2

7.5

With or Without You is one of the most perfect songs and that's enough to give this album five stars.

Songs for easy listening on a road trip while you're driving down a highway with the windows down. (Outside, it's America.) It has that old-school masculine energy that's compelling sometimes but a little melodramatic and tiring unless the atmosphere is right. Bruce Springsteen does it better. So does Simon & Garfunkel. I don't find the component parts of these songs (vocals, melodic line, percussion etc) too interesting but a few of the songs (With or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For) are memorable on their own outside the context of the album.

Naturalmente se reconhece os hits e a importância. Mas não me envolve para querer ouvir mais.

Superb

Maybe my favorite album of theirs.

Not too bad, recognized a few of the songs. Lowkey has a worship vibe to it, but it’s nice.

This album is weird for me the first 4 songs are really good but the rest if the album is hit or miss and never really reaches the best parts of the first 4 songs.

I'll admit that I was a bit biased going into this with my feelings towards Bono and U2. Overall the first couple songs were really catchy but the rest of the album was just ok. I didn't hate listening to this as much as I had expected. I wouldn't add it to my regular rotation of music I listen to but I enjoyed the experience enough to maybe later down the line giving this another listen.

I own this album, and I have listened to Joshua Tree so many times. It's been a couple of years since I've listened to the whole thing, but I'll probably be back. Joshua Tree is the album that confirmed my fandom of U2 and one of the first albums I thought of when I would talk with friends about albums that you don't have to skip any tracks. The album even opens with great opening sounds and a great opening track. The Edge creates some of his most iconic guitar sounds on this album, and all four members give a great representation of what they can contribute to music on this album. A couple tracks will get less play from me because of how they've soaked into pop culture. "Bullet the Blue Sky", and "Exit" are good, but not favorites. "Running to Stand Still" and "One Tree Hill" are non-single tracks that have my recommendation.

Excellent monumental work. One of the best of all time

Kinda cool ngl

The first three tracks can easily be the most overplayed first three songs on a album of all time. Horrendous stuff. I almost turned this record off. Why did bullet in the sky get no play? Wow the rest of the album is really bad. If the next few out of these 1001 also bomb I probably won't continue to weed through this mediocrity. 1 outta 5 mics

Was great, everything I knew

Why is it only four stars? Play it without the first three tracks and it's a good enough album. But overly reliant on the brilliance of the first three tracks, in contrast with Achtung Baby that is five stars all the way through.

There's a great slow build to the opening track which cascades nicely into "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for" The album overall hits some great notes, I get a good sense of the emotional journey here. The band does a good job of finding a good volume balance between instruments, the guitar, bass and drums all have chances to wander center stage.

I have to admit the first half is pretty strong. Kinda falls off a bit though towards the end.

Total pile of shit. One star bc I can’t give no star.

What a way to start an album. Honestly really enjoyed about 9/11 tracks on this.

3.4 - not a huge U2 fan, but thought this was a solid album. Some classics on here - especially the first 3 tracks. Album tapers off a bit toward the end, but easy to see why this band and album were so big at the time.

Why are they all on one side of the album art? Why do they have two different songs about hills? First three songs are p good but then falls off after that (I wonder what this project would look like if you only rated the hits from each album)

I generally don’t like U2 that much, but this is a pretty good album.

Better than expected for U2. First half of the album was begrudginly good, the second half dragged a bit, but I understand why people enjoy so much. 3.5.

Perfect album

A classic album and a huge hit when it came out...everyone seemed to have this album in their collection. Some fantastic songs on here but not my favourite U2 album, that's 'The Unforgettable Fire'. So 4* from me.

Having never really been a fan of U2 when I was younger, and then witnessing them becoming stadium fillers with pretty generic dad rock songs (ironically partly due to the success of this album), I didn't really delve into their library until later in my life. I remember coming across this album and being blown away by the power of each song, not what I was expecting from the aforementioned band. Each song seems to grab from a different genre while still maintaining a pretty uniform sound throughout. There are the classics that everyone know but I think every song holds its own and could have been released as a single in its own right, with 'bullet the blue sky' being my personal favourite.

Hmmmmmm ok, love it, frst three songs are an absolute vibe. Heard them while cycling home from an unforgettable night. The album couldn't keep my attention though. 3

Salvo las tres conocidas, un poco rollo.

Partially slapped.

It opens with three of the biggest stadium rock anthems you could ask for, and the rest of the album just kind of happens

This is my second favorite U2 album, for me it starts very strong then it drags into the barely enjoyable… I actually think that my favorite songs by them are from albums which are not on this list, Stay and If God Will Send His Angels are great songs but it’s been a quarter of century since those, why is U2 still a thing?

The atmosphere, the theming, the songwriting, its all so fucking good here. I remember liking this album, but apparently it's only grown on me since my first listen. Congrats, U2, for being the first band to have both a 1 star and a 5 star album on here for me.

I give U2 a lot of shit for their sound being big and empty, but this album does have a broad sonic scope that proves some of that wrong. Another thing that it highlighted for me is the fact that U2 has this fantastic stadium sound that grates against me for general listening, as I don't like the way that mix comes out.

3.5

One of the great American albums.....by an Irish band. Everything about this album is amazing. And the songs evoke images, and the hopes, of the frontier of the western U.S.: both modern and historical.

3.5/5. This was rock. I mean, the first 3 songs of the album are pretty good, and definitely some of their most popular. I felt the rest of the album was rock. Nothing really special about it. I can see how people can like this, however.

mid as hell. overproduced, overdramatic stadium rock shit. I dont see how this gets so highly rated on here. some of the guitar work is alright but thats about the only interesting thing here.

I’ve loved this album since I was a small child. My mom used to play it on road-trips. Automatic 5 stars lol, this was so refreshing to re-listen to

There are people for which The Joshua Tree is U2's Opus Magnum. For others, it's Achtung Baby. I'm firmly in the latter camp, but I still can recognize The Joshua Tree as the great collection of songs that it is. Compared to its predecessors, the band's sound has evolved to become grander and more cinematic. (Though it's no sonic revolution like Achtung Baby). Songwise, apart from the usual suspects (Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With Or Without You), there are some really great songs on here (Red Hill Mining Town and One Tree Hill readily come to mind). Of course, the usual problem in much of U2's catalog, preachy Bono, is present here as well, but it somehow fits the music and is less annoying than elsewhere. This is a recommended listen. 4/5

Earnest and well-meaning in '87; pompous and self-important in '25. But give credit where credit it due. Fathomless self-belief alone produces this material. They ought to bottle it up and sell it.

Opens with three really strong tracks (i.e. the singles) and then tails off a bit. Good album, but not as good as I was hoping. Did like Red Hill Mining Town though.

I’m on a road trip right now and bored out of my mind so what better way to cure boredom than to listen to a whole new album? Sadly, this album didn't help cure my boredom since it's kinda boring itself. It sounded like what I imagine walking through an endless desert dying slowly of dehydration sounds like, mind nulling.

Always heard of this as a classic but this is the first listen. Pretty strong opening, it's unfair to say the album tails off - it just happens to be that the first three songs ended up as classics. Exit hits a weird note, it doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the album but I enjoyed the build-up through the song. I can't really call it a perfect album, I'm not sure why but it just doesn't scream classic to me, although I probably would listen to it again.

An all-timer. This album is the reason I've given U2 a million and one chances over the years. Best track: Where the Streets Have No Name

gangs of new york credit sequence trauma

I love this album, so much better than I thought 10/10. So good.

All time greats

2 me. 2 U.

close to the edge

2.5

Solid

Not rubbish, but not for me.

Love it, a classic, a bit naff but I don't care

Pretty good actually

Quoi qu’en pense les gens qui aiment détester, cet album et les 3 suivants sont vraiment excellent. Celui-ci est très inventif, surtout côté guitare et des structure couplet-refrains. La section rythmique est super solide. Par contre, la basse est plutôt plate et c’est harmoniquement un peu faible. With or without you n’essaie même pas de cacher le I-V-VI-IV, ce qui est impardonnable selon moi. Dans l’ensemble, c’est du pop créatif et super bien produit.

2e écoute pour moi dans la cadre de ce projet. Je reconnais que c’est un album important pour U2. L’album ouvre quand même avec 3 de leurs plus grand hit. Par contre, j’ai toujours de la difficulté avec Bono quand il met trop d’intensité et je ne suis pas un fan du son signature de The Edge. La section rythmique en revanche fait une bonne job et la production est superbe. Dans les 3 hits, il y a With Or Without You que je trouve correct. Je préfère Bullet The Blue Sky, Exit et Mothers Of The Disappeared. Cet album a sa place ici, mais je n’irai quand même pas me le procurer.

u2 can honestly suk my diznik i dont feel like listenign to their shit

Really good album. First half is amazing...2nd half is solid to above average. 4.5/5

probably 4.5 - the first three songs are perfect, but then it drops off - or at least that's what i thought going in. the back half actually was better than i remember, and i listened a lot to this album growing up.

J'ai écouté cet album perché sur la Tour Eiffel et croyez-le ou non, ça ne m'a pas empêché de confirmer mon hypothèse selon laquelle With Or Without You est une chanson surcôtée.

Après une période noire que vous connaissez tous, Robert a décider de récompenser les derniers survivants du générateurs, ayant survécu à cette pandémie de mauvaise musique. Robert nous offre en effet un enchaînement d'albums tous plus prometteurs les uns que les autres, je me hâte donc de rédiger mon review afin d'en profiter.

it was an announcement in 1987, now it has badly grown old

sooooooooo boring after the first 4 songs

I wouldn't say I'm ride or die with U2, but I also end up defending them a lot. I guess I'm just surprised that people aren't more willing to look past the annoying stuff about U2 (Bono; overstated musical innovation/influence; foisting new albums on iPhone users) and consider all that they bring to the table. This record is one of their best, IMO. I never really listen to it. But I honestly wonder how much of that has to do with the audible gasp in the room/car any time U2 comes on...there is never a good time. 4/5 because its one of the most influential records by a seminal 80s band. Their Red Rocks performance from this era would be 5/5. But a lot of their catalog would be in the sub-3/5 realm. Which I'm sure we'll discover through this process. Hell, I might have already said a different version of the above in a previous U2 review. Who knows. Also, The Edge is clearly outclassed by Jack White and Jimmy Page in that "It Might Get Loud" documentary.

I always thought U2 was a bit over-rated. I mean, people (still) treat them like they are the collective second coming of Christ. But - I can't deny the greatness of this album. It's enjoyable and unique in a variety of ways. There are only moments of it that left me bored or annoyed (and I'll blame those moments on Brain Eno's involvement). :) Are they a great band? Yes. Is this their best album? Probably. Should everyone hear it "before they die"? For sure.

Kinda iconic. Gotta admit it's good

Kann þetta utanað. Mjög góð plata.

p582. 1987. 4 stars. The sound of late 80s stadium rock. Oddly enough, it's the most well known tracks - Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With Or Without You - that haven't aged well, it's like repeated plays have worn off any real impact they once had. The album really kicks in from Bullet The Blue Sky onwards. It's good stuff, not a weak track on it BUT then we come to Bono. You can only take so much Irish bombastic earnestness before thinking, "just shut the fuck up", so a point deducted for that. On the plus side, The Edge seems quite a good guitarist.

The first three songs are great, individually. But they are so similar that you can be excused for thinking that boredom is about to arrive. Then along comes Bullet The Blue Sky, a bolt out of the blue. The rest of the album shows a variety of songs, some that rock, some that sound like folk, and one that does both and is probably the best song on the album: Red Hill Mining Town. Yes, Bono is a douche, and they have become monstrously egotistical, and this album was the start of that. But it's still a great album.

Didnt listen either... fuck Bono

Vinilo total.

The album opens with 3 legendary tracks that define the sound of U2. The passionate Bono vocals and the quintessential Edge licks. But after, the songwriting really dips. Production remains great, I mean it’s Eno, but no song captures you the way the first 3 do…

Great 1-2-3 punch at the beginning with some of their greatest hits, after that the album becomes weaker but is still very solid pop/rock that knows how to entertain

Liked this more than I thought I would!

This was U2 at the peak of their powers, with their Achtung Baby follow-up showing they were an unparalleled creative force experiencing a golden period in their career. They never reached this high and far again.

Absolute classic, not bad for a small unknown Irish band

This is the only U2 album I really like. I wish they kept with this style throughout their career, but I understand their need to adapt to pop trends. This is such an iconic 80s album; truly one of the bests of my not-so-favorite decade for music.

Rijedak album di je druga polovica albuma di nisu hitovi zapravo bolja. Jedina stvar koja mi je slabija je trip through your wires jer je prespringsteenovska

Listening to this album again for the first time in 33 years was torture. It was a flash back to being forced to go to a Christian youth camp and listen to bad cover versions of the songs on it. It is not that I hate U2 or this album and admit that some of the songs a great when I hear them by themselves but together to my ears this is a cacophony of pompous twaddle Sorry Bono

Classic

Just don't like Bono and find it hard to separate art from artist... poor excuse, I know. Can't help but enjoy 'With or without you',. I like the guitar and drums throughout the album. Overall not that impressed, 2 stars.

I don’t imagine I’m the only Gen Xer for whom this album is a touchstone of a specific time in life. This album is, for me, everything about being 19, second year of college…it all comes back so vividly. U2 was held in reverence by my peers. This was the soundtrack to my 1987 and everything I felt in that ridiculously serious transition to adulthood. This one is all about the memories, but the music is still great, too.

I remember my introduction to this album was their concert. It touched me deeply!

Another album that is church to me. If someone made me choose a favorite album, this might be it. Holy. Holy.

In college this was the default soundtrack for a year or two. I don’t listen to it a lot today, and for some reason haven’t been compelled to, but after listening again this time had a “why don’t I listen to this more?” thought cross my mind. I realized that I may have absorbed the backlash that people have to U2 and this album. Glad to be back. This is an amazing album and it is clear to see why it became one of the best selling albums of all time. It does belong on this list, no matter how played out you think it or U2 is. Incredible album.

just some of the greatest u2 has brought

Great start to the album with 3 classics but it tails off in the middle before ending well.

U2 was my first concert I grew up listening to them so I have entirely too much nostalgia. I know people hate them because of their album being downloaded onto everyone’s phone that one year… but imo that’s more of an Apple issue and this album specifically is so good man. Just classics.

I had never really gotten U2. The songs when they came on the radio sounded samey, and I wasn't overly impressed with Bono's vocals. Because of this, I avoided listening to much of the band and skirted around challenging myself to listen to an album. Then 'The Joshua Tree' came up in this generator, and I put off listening to it for the longest time. What a mistake. Now I certainly understand why this album is on here. I gave Bono's vocals undue criticism, because I think they're perfectly fine here. It's the lyrics, the instrumentals, and the production that really blew me away, however. The album starts off super strong with 'Where The Streets Have No Name' and 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.' Apparently Brian Eno helped out with this album? For a guy I knew nothing about, he has a wide-ranging musical career and has done some really miraculous things. Anyways, I really felt like this album had some genuinely interesting things to say, and it said them in an musically entertaining, catchy way. I think I'm starting to 'get' U2.

starts strong but is ultimately weaker than some of their other albums 3.5

Brilliant

good

I'm not much of a fan of The Edge or Bono or U2's sound in general. That said, this is still a solid album.

A-side is absolute classic, not as excited for B-side though. Amazing guitar sounds, Bono in his prime. They really did something with this one. Great album.

Never been a U2 fan but this one has a lot of their hits.

Good listen, will listen to some more U2 after this but the sound quality of the actual album felt tinny, wasn't a fan

Good tunes

This is pretty OK. Sorry I don't have anything more intelligent to say.

I am not a big U2 fan. There are 3 well known songs on this album and they are all at the beginning. The rest of the album is just ok. I still would not say I would listen to this whole album again but it is better than some.

Seriously? Wow. This album is GOOD. I've never listened to it in its entirety. And WTSHNN as an opening track?? WTF. Tho I'm not a U2 fan, I'd lisiten to this again.

i knew u2's hits and of bono's humanitarian work, but i was still taken aback when listening for the first time. this album, with lyrics written only by bono, covers so many topics and political themes. i love pop-y, mindless songs, but songs with great meaning? those are dynamite. bono's heart and compassion come through the lyrics so clearly. "mothers of the disappeared" in particular is going to stick with me for a long time--"we hear their heartbeat." i'm not sure if i've ever heard of a genre called "art rock," but as i listen to this album, really listen to it, i totally get it. all music is art, yes, but u2 takes it further, on all possible musical levels. every song has such beautiful instrumentation. definitely a concept album. i cannot wait to listen to this album again and grow to truly love it.

As someone who grew up surrounded by desert but didn't appreciate the landscape until I grew up and moved away, I connect with U2's desire to build an album around their desert inspiration. The album builds up and opens with so much excitement and energy. That energy builds and is held throughout the entire album. This album marries unique rock instrumentation with Bono's soaring, ethereal voice to make every track something interesting, unique, and a little bit mysterious. Everything about Bono's voice seems deliberate; you can feel the emotion behind the way he sings, artistic and full of emotion, but in full command of his vocals. Bono's lyrics, inspired by political and world events, are also deliberate and done incredibly artfully, as if writing a poem. This album caught my attention and didn't let go until it was finished. Every song was strongly written, sung, and performed. This has definitely inspired me to dig further into U2's discography.

Ambient perfection from beginning to end.

A brilliant album when it first came out. Still sounds good.

Ah, U2. Such an interesting discography, and yet this album is probably still my favorite. Fun fact, I used to hate "With or Without You".

It's actually good, and from before they became insufferable arseholes

Fuck i love it

Hi-Red Hill Town Lo-everything else I loved this album as a kid, but as I grew older, it just became more and more irritating to listen to…from the constant driving, repetitive guitars, to Bono cycling between growls and whining, it’s hard to listen to now. I still like Red Hill Town, but the rest of the album I can do without.

10/10

It's so weird to see Bono without his trademark glasses. The Joshua Tree is really one of those quintessential albums, I had always discounted it being just a bunch of hype (never listening to it in it's entirety before now), but it definitely holds it's own. The powerful voice of Bono with the smooth arrangement of the music and backing vocals make it a powerhouse album with a cinematic quality. Lyrically, it was the beginning of U2's sociopolitical awakening with embellishments of spiritual imagery. Best: With Or Without You Worst: Trip Through Your Wires

Excellent. Some all time classics on here

U2 seem to be the band everyone loves to hate, mainly due to Bono. I never really felt that is particularly fair but I've never really previously found a good reason to ignore this viewpoint either. A further listen today hasn't changed this. I tried to be open minded and enjoy it, but I just cringed. Bono over-sings every line like a 3 years old who hasn't got his or her own way. Some people are just born to be really annoying and you can't quite pinpoint exactly why. With regret Bono, that's you.

U2 at their best

I try to ignore my previous feelings about bands and artists and this was particularly hard for me. I hated U2 cos my elder sister and her chums loved them, as an angry adolescent I wanted to find my own thing and so shut them out. a crazy attitude as my sister is an awesome person with great taste in music, but that's hormones for you. still relistening with an open mind I find it's pretty shit. over produced, concieted annoying metaphors and just really dull. I tried to like those first three songs so universally played and enjoyed but they left me cold. it just total arse.

I liked early U2 stuff but this marks the turning point. Bongo/Bonio bollocks

Ugh. I should hate this more than I do according to, "people" but fuck them, it's got some catchy ones. This album is very middle of the road 2pm traffic updates coming next. It's sponge cake with decent jam; the excitement of junk mail when you've been at home too long; that clean numb feeling of strange teeth after the dentist's given you a really full-on polish; the smell of opening a jar of Asda's own brand instant; landscapes you don't remember in the family photo album; the back of the head of the person next in queue which is the twin for your presumably long dead school teacher's pate.

I wonder if they ever found what they were looking for?

My natural, intrinsic hatred of Bono will have to be put aside here. Not least because the first three songs are all brilliant - I can't deny reality here. Where the Streets Have No Name, Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With or Without You are all canon. The run couldn't be endless though. Thankfully Bullet the Blue Sky is the sort of bland Yankophilia that defines everything wrong about U2, and would define their output after about 1995. Running to Stand Still is pleasant but slight. It then chugs along, not overly excitingly. The last few tracks have a dark, moody feel to them, but I'd be hard pressed to remember much about the back end of this album. On the first three tracks, this'd be a five star album. On everything hence, two stars. I'm rounding down, cos there's more of the latter than the former.

classic meh

This was the first album I've heard before so far. U2 is a great band, and this album has one of their greatest hits. It's a very comfortable listen for me, because it seems to me that after a while we always go back to the songs and bands we used to listen as teenagers, like eating your favorite chocolate bar because, besides the flavor, it brings nice memories.

5 stars. Classic album with brilliant songs.

Ça part (vraiment !) en force avec les 4 premières chansons, mais ça drop de plus en plus après. Mais ça reprend bien avec les deux dernières.

I remember my older brother coming home really excited from a concert at a local community college on Long Island in the early 80s. "This band from Ireland is the next big thing, they're amazing!". While I was young and unable to go see them until the Achtung Baby tour, my fandom jumped onboard like any other impressionable early teenager's would when their mentor in all things music discovered a new gem. My love / hate relationship with the Dublin boys would swing both ways through the years, but you can never argue that Joshua Tree is an amazing album. Yes, Bono can be an irritating prick at times and The Edge's guitar stylings can be predictable and lazy, but this era of U2 that launched them beyond the stratosphere will always be peak. 5/5.

норм

Beginning of the end for U2 imo. The transition from alternative to stadium rockers is apparent here, and whilst they got bigger from here this was the last U2 album I enjoyed.

Favoritas: Faixa 1 Faixa 2 Faixa 3

Great album

5*

U2 are just a bit boring. Very safe. Very standard. They write a decent pop track. Also not a Bono fan!

It's no secret why U2 continues to be considered one of the top bands of all time. This album is their peak to me. It starts strong out the gate and just continues to pummel with sweepingly epic songs. The songs have messages, carry meaning and you can feel it in the music. Just too bad about what they've done recently, but I do commend them on always looking at what's next for them. They could've just kept trotting out the same ol same ol, but they continued to innovate and try new things. Even if I may not dig what they're writing these days, doesn't change the fact that it's still impressive.

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Some tracks just ok but several great songs.

U2, but good

I see the appeal, the first half of songs being very catchy, strong 3

The songs are decent, just don’t do anything for me

fuck u2

A bunch of boring AOR hits follower by more boring non-hits.

These songs eahm saved my life. Eahm.

This evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for me. Being young - figuring out the world - figuring out love and pain. Passionate and wild.

I want to punch Bono in his stupid little face

Killer intros, great textures.

U2 were well into their overblown grandiosity by this stage. They really should have called it a day after Boy.

4.5 / 5.0 Such a great album! Most of the songs are iconic!

What an album. It’s pretty flawless in every way, and an easy 5. I was 16 when this album came out. Joshua Tree felt timeless then and still does, so many years later. It was U2’s fourth album, but really different than anything else they had put out at that point. It was a continuation of the band’s relationship with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois that began with The Unforgettable Fire, but in a far more mature and carefully crafted work, their most perfectly realized album. Joshua Tree marks a turning point for U2, after which they were simply the most important band in the world. No one makes albums like this anymore. From that first slowly unfolding open in “Where the Streets Have No Name,” you know you’re in for something special, something monumental. It really does have a cinematic quality to it. This is mature, thoughtful music, beautifully written and expertly played. In 1987 it stood out starkly in a landscape full of spandex and hair, of glossy, gimmicky songs. It was also their most focused work to date as a band. Bono’s ode to/critique of “America” is palpable here, but not at all overwrought. I often think of this U2’s Springsteen album, which I mean as a giant compliment to both of them. The earthiness of these songs, the warm and resonant arrangements, the full throated expressions of emotion, the sense of spiritual longing, the images of a promised land out of reach… it all comes from the same musical place. Lyrically, Bono has matured tremendously on these songs. The lyrics reflect the band’s lived experiences at that time, like the death of band roadie and friend Greg Carroll (One Tree Hill) and Bono’s growing interest of global social and political issues (“Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Mothers of the Disappeared"). U2 was always an openly political band, but these songs just feel much more personal, more passionate, more spiritual. Still, he’s also able to address his own demons, with the stunningly lovely, slow burning “With You or With or Without You,” which pulls away from the political to look inward and face his own frustrations and anguish. The emotion feels real because it is real, simply put. Bono’s delivery of course is captivating. He sings with an urgency and an earnestness that I think a lot of people don't understand, but he makes you feel these songs in your bones. As for the Edge, I mean, come on. Here is one of the greatest guitarists of his generation, making some of his best music ever. There is a texture and a resonance to the Edge's playing that no one really can touch. I mean, he's painting with sound here, showcasing that signature chiming style through an adept use of studio effects. Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. are also in top form, one of the tightest rhythm sections in rock. Clayton and Mullen’s ability to intuit just the right amount of intensity to serve each particular song is an underappreciated talent and really the backbone of the band’s entire sound. Individually these songs are all exceptional. Taken together, they’re nothing short of a masterpiece. Fave Songs (All songs, in order from most to least favorite): Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, In God's Country, Red Hill Mining Town, Bullet the Blue Sky, Mothers of the Disappeared, Exit, Running to Stand Still, One Tree Hill, Trip Through Your Wires

Where the Streets have No Name is one of my favorite songs all time I think

had a negative image about U2 due to their later work. didn't hate this, but also wouldn't go out of my way to listen again despite some pretty nice tunes

Bono is a douche, but this was pretty good.

Although it's not quite my favorite sound, I see why this album is legendary. Pretty iconic songs back to back, and dang that play count! Well done, kids.

All about bullet the blue sky

Pro bono

Banger. Their best album- 5 of the first 6 songs are fire and the closers have grown on me too.

L'èpica en la seva expressió més colpidora. Grandiositat, estat de plenitud d'uns músics consumits per la musa. Una producció increïble per uns temes que han marcat més d'una década. La primera cara, per emmarcar con una de les millors de la història del rock, està ja tant assumida que es fa difícil valorar com es mereix. Ens queda la segona per anar-la redescobrint i saborejant amb els anys

The big songs are big and very good

U2's finest moment. One of the great rock records.

Where do I even start? Or end? The band and album that changed everything. From hearing 'With Or Without You' in the car on the drive back from school, seeing them on Whistle Test the week the album came out playing 'Exit' and 'In God's Country', buying the 12 inches for the extra tracks, my first concert at Cardiff Arms, buying the program full of Anton Corbijn photos which really kicked off my interest in photography. All of it. Seeing them in pre-COVID play the album in full, going with low expectations and being completely blown away at how stunning it was. However annoying Bono might have become, however patchy the band might have been over the last 20+ years, this album is still pretty perfect. It not be quite as beautiful sounding as 'The Unforgettable Fire' (being more of a Lanois album than an Eno album) but it's the band at the peak of their powers. There's so much on here that still floors me for a band in their mid-twenties on their fifth album. Bono's voice when it was still beautiful, before age, drink and smoking wrecked it. the minute and three quarters at the start before you hear a voice. 'Bullet The Blue Sky', still probably their best song even if there's plenty of live versions on YouTube that surpass the album version. The B-side of non-singles that are better than the singles - 'Red Hill Mining Town', 'In God's Country' (I think it might have been a US single), 'Exit', 'One Tree Hill'. An album that always makes me wants U2 to rediscover themselves and realise they can make an album like this if they choose to. The band is still pretty good, Bono needs to pull his finger out and remember how he used to write lyrics.

Widescreen? Widescreen. Still sparkles.

112. The Joshua Tree - U2 11 tracks. Running to Stand Still was played at my mate Tommy's funeral.... The album has always been important to me & it's a hugely emotional listen for loads of different reasons. I'm enormously biased though. 5/5

Sin ser U2 un grupo que me entusiasme reconozco que este es un muy buen disco

menee unilääkkeestä, en kyllä kuuntelis uudestaan

I can see why they were so popular. It's a little like if the Andriod default music got a little more exciting, though

The one U2 album that I really love. Brian Eno works his magic here to make them into the band they should be.

It's okay but a lot of it just sounds like generic rock music? I don't really get the hype

Classic

Rating this one higher than expected for how modern it sounds and how gracefully it has aged. The band still may be riding the success of being the first outfit to use a delay pedal on every song, but the compositions, productions, and rare 80s tendency not to overindulge in dated synths makes it seem at least some of that success was warranted.

Some good songs, some schlocky schlock.

I really disliked this album and U2 when it came out, primarily because U2 were/are so political within their music and that was something I have always felt should not happen. 35 years laters and I now listen to music in a different way and I have enjoyed this album, it has some great tracks on it

I know this album by its first three songs in addition to its own reputation as the best U2 album. It is a good u2 album and I love still haven’t found what I’m looking for but I think the last half of the album really doesn’t do the first half justice. Favs: streets have no name, still haven’t found what I’m looking for, with or without you

Great album. Seems ahead of its time. Classic U2 stadium sound.

A few good songs ("Bullet in the Blue Sky", "In God's Country", "Trip Through Your Wires"), but as an album not memorable.

I listened to The Joshua Tree a lot when I was in high school. Everyone seems to agree the first three tracks are all monster hits. I also really like Bullet the Blue Sky and Running to Stand Still. It's just a great fucking album.

The big hits off this still hold up for me. Its clearer from several decades on that the album benefited greatly from its venerable producers. All a bit portentous and self-important but that’s U2

Peak U2 before it all went downhill

Loved this when it first came out and it’s still an impressive piece of work

Pretentious rubbish

It's not bad, it's more or less a pass for me. Couple of bangers on here. It's a cool atmospheric album. But I can never figure out if I like Bonos voice or not.

First time I listened to the full album... These guys might go places

1. Fixed drum fill 2. Ambient sound 3. Periodic guitar riff 4. Single lead voice 5. No instrument follows lead. 6. Great lyrics 7. Occasional chois by single person. 8. Pannned guitars

I cannot keep listening to the dramatic tone that Bono is singing on. Maybe the times were dramatic back then, but it can't please me at all.

I was already mad crazy on U2 when this album debuted and it's one of the few musical moments for me where I have a sharp, distinct memory of counting down and listening when my local station broadcast With or Without You for the first time. The album is truly All Killer No Filler, and probably my vote for Brian Eno's peak production effort. It's hard for me to separate this album from all the personal moments it had for me at the right time of my life. But listening fresh years later, it's only gotten more monumental .

Good at first but the end let me down.

Hate that it's such a good album

First 3 songs are huge, not a fan of U2 but this is a great album. Can see why it’s on the list, the impact it had on U2 and music at the time.

Really great. Vast. Forward moving.

A classic for a reason

Good

Full of week known hits. Not my cup of tea but I liked it

One of those CDs that regardless of if you like the vand or not, really will hit with everyone. The only thing that stops me from giving it a full 5 stars is that the lows (the middle 2-3 songs are fully forgettable even before you finish the album) are true lows.

Not my taste but it’s alright

Finally! I've found a U2 album that doesn't make me want to stab my ears out.