The Joshua Tree

Zero skips. Bullet the blue sky into running to stand still into red hill mining town is 🔥🔥

The band that’s cool to hate. I’m tired of defending them, this album is 5 stars all day long. You can’t open with ‘Where The Streets…’, ‘I Still Haven’t Found…’ and ‘With Or Without You’ and not justify the 5!

Love it. Beautiful album

loathe as i may be to admit it given everything that came after coloring my perception of U2 as a band, this album is no skips

Masterpiece.

Great

Et bah très bon album en vrai, c'est vraiment cool. J'avais jamais écouté U2 de ma vie je crois et c'est une super découverte. 4/5 amplement mérité

Easy. Top 10 for me. Epic. U2 at their most powerful, amazing music and storytelling. Never get tired of this one.

I've listened to this many times even on a physical record back in the 80s. This was U2 going mainstream but I'd actually already listened to U2 earlier albums. This one blew up the band and the sound was great but different from their earlier albums. A very upbeat and warm sound but safer.

Not an album I ever choose to listen to but cannot argue with the calibre of songs, giving it less than 5 stars would feel wrong. I prefer the raw sound of Sunday bloody Sunday.

Holds up well. They still have that early jangly U2 sound.

This is the album that got me hooked on U2 for decades! A gem of an album, each song perfectly composed and performed. Superstar collaboration with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. When Radio with Pictures (New Zealand's top music TV show with Karen Hay) played Whete the Streets have no Nane, and I Still Haven't Found what I'm looking for, I became a fan. Have seen them twice in concert. I know Bono annoys a lot of people. "Am I bugging you? I'm meant to bug you!" Shame if that stops you from appreciating the music.

U2’s crowning achievement. This album is a masterpiece. No one part is greater than the whole on this record. The opening to the record on “Where the Streets Have No Names” is just awesome. The building wave of sound. The crescendo of the Edge’s signature guitars. Add in Clayton’s driving bass, and then the Mullen’s beat comes in. Finally, Bono’s vocals come… soulful and powerful and filled with passion. The band is just so perfect together on this album. “With or Without” has always been a favorite… beautiful song. Top to bottom, there is not a low point on this record. Even the album cover is iconic. May be a “desert island disc” for me.

This album sounds timeless and classic. I don’t love Bono’s voice, and the last two songs kind of drag on, but I can’t deny that this is an objectively outstanding album.

Serious. Best album so far

Great album, cover to cover. So many songs from movies!

One of the best ever.

Comfortably the bands best album. And it’s not even close. Not a fan of them in the whole but this album is up there with the very best. Best album of the 80s? Possibly. Stone Roses and Appetite For Destruction also in the mix but this is definitely in the conversation.

Holy crap. This album. This band. There aren't too many bands who have created their own sound and style like U2. This is gold from start to finish.

Came out when I was in high school and still stands up. Great album.

In the 80’s this was as close to a perfect album one would get…still is. Bono got a lot of grief after for being Bono but he’s a rock star in a band of rock stars and that still matters all these years.

Seriously in my top 5 of all time

Beautiful album, no bad songs

Easy 5 stars. Lots of impactful memories associated with this album. When I was 12 my uncle, a massive fan of U2, walked down the aisle to an infinite loop of the opening of Where The Streets Have No Name, which started my interest in the album. About a year later, I remember first listening to this album while on a summer trip to New Mexico with some good neighborhood friends. The atmosphere of this album is special. Sonically, across all 11 tracks, the listener gets the feeling that they are in the middle of a sacred, natural open space. While creating this album, the band was inspired by the geography of the US they’d seen while on their previous tours. Accordingly, desert plains, rain, dust, water, and mountains all act as metaphors on this album. And while the lyrics certainly have sociopolitical undertones, there is an abundance of spiritual imagery in them as well, particularly a sense of searching for meaning in the midst of a spiritual drought. My 13 year old mind was of course unaware of these deeper lyrical meanings at the time I was in New Mexico, but traveling through the deserts of the western US while listening to this album seemed fitting in some perfect way, and the album has been cemented in my mind and my ears ever since. Six years after that, I visited the same uncle who walked down the aisle to WTSHNN, in California, three weeks before leaving for college. I had just begun waking up to the world, and felt that sense of searching, for identity, for meaning, for who I wanted to become, that I suppose most people around that age start to feel. When I was 13, the album originally drew me in because of its sonic atmosphere; now, once again finding myself in the American west, this time grappling with all the new existential questions of a young man, the lyrics profoundly resonated with me. The first three tracks are often cited as the greatest three-song opening sequence in music history. It’s hard to argue with that statement. However, I think that leaves the rest of the album somewhat under-appreciated today. There are some true gems on the second half that get overlooked, like Red Hill Mining Town, In God’s Country, One Tree Hill, but isn’t a weak track on the album. They all have their place. After many listens, I think the album would feel like it was missing an important piece without any of the 11 songs. 17 years after that New Mexico trip and 11 years after that California trip, I am still just as captivated by this album, if not more so, now that I can appreciate its finer details. This is an easy 5 stars, and always will be for me, even though I will admit Bono can be a bit annoying. Regardless, The Joshua Tree is truly a timeless album, with an atmosphere no one has ever been able to replicate. Everyone should give it a listen - bonus points if you can do so while driving through the American west. You won’t regret it.

Good that

Huge sounding production, widescreen vocals, emotional lyrics, a sound so big, it truly seems like you're listening to the Great American Desert, and made by an Irish band. This is definitely U2's best moment of their early years, and it's not even close. The first three tracks are possible the greatest three-track run on any album. The album may not reach those heights again, but there's plenty of great moments throughout the rest of its runtime. U2 get a lot of hate these days. I get Bono can be insufferable at times, but that never really bothered me, he always seems well-intentioned. But in reality, their last couple of record absolutely suck. Maybe they should ask Brian Eno back to produce because his work here is just phenomenal. Key tracks: Where the Streets Have No Name I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For With or Without You Bullet the Blue Sky Red Hill Mining Town One Tree Hill

I can remember the first time I listened to this album. It is the one that sent me down the U2 rabbit hole. Truly fantastic. Love them or hate them, this was their breakthrough to big mainstream success. All that said, U2 has better albums. Joshua Tree would only be 3rd, maybe 4th, on my list of the best U2 albums.

classic, really enjoy listening

The end of the War, Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree era. An amazing album that translated to amazing live performances. The peak of stadium U2 in my humble opinion.

I mean, its just really good. You can't really dislike this music. 4.6

4.8

I'm not a part of the generation that grew up with this but I can absolutely see why it was so big

really good perfectly matched the low energy transformative vibe I'd been looking for that whole week lol

Milestone

Is this their seminal album, is this when they turned insufferable, did they ever have another all-rounder album in them again after this? Lots of questions. To me it is surely along with The Unforgettable Fire an amazing one-two. I would also accept the duo of Achtung Baby and Zooropa maybe being in the running as a strong rallying duo. Back in the dinosaur ages I listened to War and Boy back-to-back on a cassette on my Walkman for months. Months. So I take this one as an always listen, tier one U2 album along with the earlier ones mentioned. As an aside I found October to be not as gripping as its predecessor and successor for whatever reason. But since the slightly diminished in comparison duo of AB and Zoo they haven’t been able to put the lightning into the bottle again. It’s been a long time in spite of the fact they have had other albums that somehow charted much better in the post-period. That’s why I’m ranking this up there with the best of the best.

This album takes me back in the day to when I was a kid. I was at my uncle’s house and he’s trying to tell 12yr old me that where the streets have no name is the greatest song made. It’s a pretty good song. But not that great. Still really liked this album

Very classic

That 3 track run at the start

Listened Before: Y This is the beginning of the era of U2 that I really enjoy. From this one through Pop. I'm a big fan of the lesser-known second half tracks here. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Bullet the Blue Sky

A classic! took me back. U2 at their finest

I really lined their vibe, love their chill rock style

One of my all time favorite albums. Bono writes beauruful lyrics that are both deeply personal and have universal meaning and appeal. Edge's guitar playing is outstanding, and Bono's voice siars. Where the Streets have No Name, I Still Haven't Found..., With or Without You are all perfect songs. Deeply moving, heartfelt, musically engrossing, pulling you in, but always the giving prominence to and supporting Bono's lyrics and the powerful lyrics. Top 10 for me

Easy pop! Undeniable classic! Can’t believe I know some of these!

One of the best albums of all time.

Side One is one of the greatest collections of popular music ever made - by turns tender and fierce, containing multitudes. Side Two is less immediately rewarding but no less rewarding ultimately. With this band it is sometimes difficult to remember that all the hype was ever justified = but it was, and is, and this album is why.

This is such a great record. I come back to it often.

This album and band burst on the scene for me the fall of my freshman year of high school - the songs were all over the radio and everyone clamored for tour tickets. I kind of stayed away - something about my religious upbringing and trying to not get too wrapped up in the world. And then Rattle and Hum, shot during the Joshua Tree tour, came out and my entire taste in music changed. It was so big, bold, and sounded so great in the theater. This album was on constant repeat along with Boy and War through much of high school - it is an absolute top 20 all time for me. What came later Zooropa and such were letdowns compared to this and by the time iPhone debacle occurred I had well moved on. U2 has since shown themselves to be a mediocre band. But they have this one. No doubts, no concerns. 5/5.

U2's best album. Played this CD a lot. Love it.

This is an album I’ve heard so many times that it’s difficult to objectively evaluate - I don’t need to hear “Where The Streets Have No Name” ever again. That said, it’s an undeniable anthemic statement, taking the proto-stadium rock of “War” and amping it up another level. The tunes are universally strong with zero filler, but you can also see hints of what would eventually make U2 annoying with the cloying and preachy rock star posturing. Still, this is an undeniable classic.

My favorite U2 album on the whole. I like songs on a lot of their work from the early days up until Zooropa. After that, I began to dislike their music more and more. Nowadays, I pretty much only listen to their early work. Zooropa was the last album that I truly liked. The Joshua Tree is/was their best album in my eyes. They put it all together. Massive hits from this one. You can't deny Bono. 5/5

CLASSIC, best U2 album.

Is there such thing as a perfect album? Yes. I know every song on it and it is a pleasure to listen to and enjoy.

Epic in scale, sound and ambition. A sweeping outsider’s perspective of America.

Last night I tried to save money on line £19 and ended up wasting £45🤬I then fucked off everyone in the house and ended up in the spare room🤬 my wifes parting words "Don't rush home" so when this came on I was 😄 first good thing in 8hrs Not worthy Not worthy This was an album where the band could have stopped at perfection. Say what you like about Bono but to let that get in the way of judging this album is churlish. Every track is beautiful. Such memorable lines, my favourite being... "Outside it's America, outside it's America" I was late to the U2 party mainly because when they were hip I rejected it. I love the ambiguous nature of the lyrics leaving you to do the work Favourite track: Exit

5 even though some of the songs near the end are forgettable.

Jeg er ikke helt stolt af, at U2 var et af mine første 5/5 albums på listen, og er ikke helt stolt af at de får en mere heller! Men jeg synes simpelthen det er stærke sange fra start til slut, det lyder altsammen som noget man ville spille i en stor amerikansk ørken. Bono har det med at oversynge, som nogen gange bliver for meget, men på det her album spiller det rigtig godt sammen med guitar og synths

Auch wenn's völlig ausgelutscht und totgenudelt ist: ein Klassiker. 5/5

I am very tired of U2 and Bono, at this point, and I think most of their albums are actually not good and several are very bad. However, this is one of 2-3 that I do think is good, both in songwriting and vibe and for what it did to music. Only a band from where they're from and their influences and their own view of roots and Americana music could make this album. I think it is maybe actually a 4 to 4.5, but I think it is definitely an extremely influential album deserving of this list.

I have read all the lyrics I have heard all the notes But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

Great album back in the day and still great. Just like other reviewers have said Bono is very irritating as a person ut the music is great

Just a great album

Have always liked that album

Fantastiske minner fra det albumet. Mye nostalgi som kicker inn her. Hodet sier 4, hjertet sier 5. I dag følger vi hjertet ❤️

Iconic, although With or Without Chew will forever offend my articulation sensibilities. Best track - Running To Stand Still

This is still my favorite U2 album of all time. This put them on the map of beat bands ever.

It is a top 100 album of all time

This was my first time listening through this all the way and it is a masterpiece. The three opening songs are just works of art. They showcase Bono’s vocals so well, lyrics are phenomenally written, the drums and bass provide the perfect background canvas for the Edge to float over top of, it’s just all done so, so well. Underrated gems, at least for me personally, “Bullet the Blue Sky” and “Exit”. This is such a well conceived album that perfectly captures the feeling and idea they are going for of wide open spaces and the American west. Just phenomenal.

the first few tracks got chronically overplayed on radio & MTV when this was released. still solid, classic ones but I really enjoy the 2nd half of this album the best. love the sounds, the storytelling & imagery. this album propelled them from stars to mega stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was surprised that this came out in 1987. Many hits that I haven't listened to in awhile. I like U2 as long as it's on my terms. Don't put them on my cell phone without my permission.

If there's an easier 5 to be given, I don't know about it. I remember driving through Death Valley National Park, fighting back tears at my gratitude of where I was and who I was with. It's a biting commentary of what America thinks it is, and what America actually is, and a love letter to the tension between the two. It might be my favourite album EVER.

4,7/5

Say what you like, but this is a classic

Still love this album as much as the first time I heard it. Part of my university days memories.

A classic

This has an insane track run massive influence and one my dad would play in the car growing up and definitely influenced my music taste

If you can get over the endless epicness.......

god bullet the blue sky is so fucking good... rest of the album is great too

Where the Streets Have No Name: Such a great song, love everything about it I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For: Amazing song, one of my top songs of all time, love the Christian connections With or Without You: Amazing, I don't what else to say Bullet the Blue Sky: Heavier, love the drums, I could see this being Roland Running to Stand Still: Another banger, beginning is a little weird Red Hill Mining Town: Decent In God's Country: Oh yeah, banger Trip Through Your Wires: Ehh, sounds too folky One Tree Hill: Love the tropical sound Exit: More heavy, which is a good thing, don't love how it slows down Mothers of the Disappeared: Very mellow I seriously don't think there's a better first 3 tracks of an album, absolutely amazing album Best Song: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Worst Song: Trip Through Your Wires New Song I Liked: Either In God's Country or One Tree Hill

One of my favs of all time.

Really good album

Having only really heard 'Beautiful Day' on countless Match of the Day end credit goal highlight sequences, my only other experiences with U2 have been watching a live performance on BBC 2 from the 80s when they shared a stage with Stiff Little Fingers before U2 got big; listening to my dad's copy of the live album they did which has the orange cover with Bono in a silhouette on tape; and my dad showing me the Las Vegas sphere live experience thing they did fairly recently. This is the first time I've properly listened to one of their albums. Firstly, I'm blown away by how many bands that came after who must've been influenced them. I can hear James, The Alarm (obviously to any Alarm fans reading (Mike Peters R.I.P)) and even some Big Thief-esque vocals in there, plus other big artists such as Coldplay, The Killers etc. Basically, I think anyone who wanted to take stadium rock seriously (i.e. not hair metal Bon Jovi types) post 00s would've probably gone to see U2 in the 80s/early 90s. Being of the inclenation to not pay more than £25 for a ticket to see someone live, with the hope that I can see more bands and redistribute my wealth (this rarely happens - I don't see enough live music !), I have only just started seeing Big Bands live over the last year (e.g. Foo Fighters, err Texas and err Kaiser Chiefs - with two of those being gifted as free tickets anyway). But this album would make me want to see U2 live. I am not quite sure what to think of this album. Is it a 4 because it's obviously very good, made incredibly well, still sounds fresh, probably could've only been made in the desert at that time, but I am not in love with it? Or is it a guilty pleasure 5 as I may not listen to this again unless I am playing the album in full on a record player, alone in my room, while the light slowly dies and day turns into night? It is special, but it is hard to tell if I love the songs enough to fully commit 100%. I am going to have to listen to it in the car on the way home from work to see if I still enjoy it or if it fully grates on me. Part 2: I think this album is the pinnacle of it's genre (Irish(/American) Christian rock). It's difficult to summise what makes this album so great; I don't even particularly like any one song, and I couldn't have told you that the first 3 songs were the singles. I read somewhere that the band wanted this album to be a bit like a film, and I can see that. I think it is an 'album' in the truest sense of the word. Having listened to a lot of albums for this project so far, rarely do I find a choice more than some songs, sort of put together, in some semblance of coherence. Maybe it's just the 15,000 pedals The Edge uses to make that reverb-y tremolo sound, but more than most there is no real duff sound in the album to my ears. Often I will like an album for some of the songs, with some clangers, leading to an uneven journey through; other times I understand why it is regarded as an all-time classic, yet just not 'get' some of the actual songs themselves. This album, I don't particularly 'love' any of it, but I think it just works so well it has to be a 5. It sort of sounds timeless (probably because bands still sound like this now) and the many subsequent imitators (U2 included) create a faux sense of feeling that I think this just about gets away with; with 'The Joshua Tree' actually being earnest, and not solely to satisfy the tastes of the mainstream. Sadly this has led to the death of many an interesting rock band becoming big, and a lot of the shite pop-rock today (Coldplay, basically any other all-male 4 piece since the 90s) but basing my review wholly on the piece of art itself, I guess it'll have to be a 5. Great stuff.

Classic

Favorite album of all time.

Killer

U2 is kind of a joke now, it’s nice to remember when people took them seriously.

Masterpiece!!

Another all time favorite and a reminder of younger days

Klassiker.

I hadn't heard this album in full before but it was fantastic. The guitar parts do so much with so little, and make the album feel very spacious and ethereal. It's all very easy to listen to, which I definitely appreciate at this point. Of the songs I hadn't heard before, Trip Through Your Wires and Bullet The Blue Sky were my favourites.

Well, how many stars do you give an album like that? The first song is 5 stars, the second song is 5 stars, the third is 5 stars. The whole album? Okay, 5 stars too.

I listened to this on vinyl. One of my favorite concert memories is seeing U2 perform this album in its entirety in 2017. After they played a few songs, they began the opening chords of Where the Streets Have No Name. As they were starting a plane was spotted over the distance of the stadium, and flew right overhead as Bono began to sing. Anyways, this is an all-time classic album.

Best album of all time. Better than wearing underpants.

"Where The Streets Have No Name" is one of my favorite album openers of all time. No question about it. I mean, let's just cut to the chase, huh? With that beautiful synth fade-in and the arpeggiated guitar that soon joins it, crashing into the anthemic main portion, over which Bono passionately sings about... Y'know, I don't even know what, but with how he's singing it, and with how huge the band's going... It just sounds like the most important thing in the world, y'know? The most meaningful, inspiring thing in the world. It's just fuckin' amazing. And you follow that up with "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking Far" — a slower burn, but no less huge feeling. It has this soulful vibe to it, to where I'm not surprised that for the live tour (as captured in RATTLE & HUM) they straight up had a gospel choir backing them. And that version is the best, but the original ain't no slouch. Every time the title line hits, I can't help but do this slow groove to it... It's great, I swear. Another winner of a soundscape, I'm tellin' yah. "With Or Without You" comes after, and from the moment that little chime-y keyboard riff starts up, all the way to Bono's big "OOOOH" three minutes in... It's all about the tension, y'know? Building and building and building until you have that final release at the end there. I mean, it doesn't even have a traditional verse-chorus structure; it's just all about mounting tension until it explodes. And it's **glorious**. No wonder it's U2's second-most covered song, huh? And with that little "ooo" close to the end, backed with The Edge's sustained, whining little notes... Swear to goodness, honestly. And right on its heels is "Bullet The Blue Sky", without a doubt the biggest "rocker" on the album — and the song where they got the title for their oh-so-infamous concert film and live album. It's just a hard-ass song, I'm telling you. The drums pound like it ain't nobody's business, the bass grooves like hell, the guitar screeches across the track when it's not filling in the atmosphere, and Bono... Well, he has his little monologue at the end (a Bonologue, if you will), but it does nothing to take away from the track. **Especially** with that little guitar line/solo that plays in-between segments. Then the rest of the album happens, and, uh, it's good stuff. Yeah. Pretty dang good. I like it all well enough. It's just, uh, y'know, that nothing else on the album hits the high those first four songs do. Thus, we come to why I had a paragraph each to the album's first four songs. 'Coz I'll admit, in a way this album feels a bit frontloaded? I mean, those are all just monsters of songs, among the greatest and most famous U2 would ever do. It's like, I realize this structure isn't exactly fair to the songs that come afterwards, like "Trip Through Your Wire" and "One Tree Hill", but I mean, when your album **starts** with "Where The Streets Have No Name"... Y'know, no matter how good the rest of it is, it's still downhill, so matter how slight. Like, if there's anything I've come to realize about myself and this album across this listen, it's that: just how much I define it by those first four songs. I mean, if there aren't times where I just play 'em in reverse order, ignoring everything else. Heck, sometimes I just start on "With Or Without You" and go from there. These songs, and honestly them alone, are **why** I consider this album one of the all-timers of the 80's, among the likes of Michael Jackson's THRILLER and such. Just an absolute cornerstone of popular music in this era — and based solely on a quarter of the album. So allow me to show some respect to the seven other songs on the album, then — and at the same time, I'll explain why this is my favorite U2 album. 'Coz on the one hand, it kind of feels like it shouldn't? I imagine a bigger U2 fan might have this album in their top three or five, but not at the time of the pile. The way I figure it, they'd probably tend more towards WAR, where the band's punkier and more righteously angry. Meanwhile, here on THE JOSHUA TREE, the band's sound is a lot softer thanks to the Americana influence they're pulling from. Believe me, there's no "Sunday Bloody Sunday" or "New Year's Day" here. All the same, though, it's kind of why I like THE JOSHUA TREE as much as I do? Which might make me sound like a **FILTHY CASUAL**, but hear me out. I believe that allowing their sound to soften like this is what allows these songs to sound as grand and, well, anthemic as they do. Not that "Sunday Bloody Sunday" couldn't, but I'unno, the songs on THE JOSHUA TREE just hit different, y'know? With the quietness of "Running To Stand Still", and the swing and harmonica of "Trip Through Your Wires", [&c.]... Again, none of these hit the highs of the first four songs, but they're so consistently strong that it hardly brings the album down. Not to mention, compared to U2's more recent works... Well, there's still an energy to these songs. I mean, if you think **these songs** are soft, go check something off of ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND. That stuff's soft enough as to almost be imperceptible. Take it: I can remember songs like "One Hill Tree" and "Red Hill Mining Town". The outro to the former will always stick out to me. I doubt I could remember any song on ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND, even the moment after they happen. So, yeah, while the majority of the album might live in the shadow of its opening run, let's not get it twisted. This is, without a doubt in my mind, some of the absolute best music U2 would ever make. They didn't do two tours of this album (in 2017 and 2019) for nothing. Like I said, it's an absolute cornerstone of 80's music, as much like Kate Bush and HOUNDS OF LOVE, I can't imagine a better album to exit this group on. In short: well, dang, if I ain't found what **I'm** looking for.

The peak of U2 in many peoples' eyes, including mine. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

Went to Where the Streets Have No Name In God’s Country. With or Without You, I’m rating this a 5

Very good U2 album

1987. Rock. 9/10 Where the Streets Have No Name / I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / With or Without You / Bullet the Blue Sky / Running to Stand Still / Red Hill Mining Town / In God's Country / Trip Through Your Wires / One Tree Hill / Exit / Mothers of the Disappeared

This is the kind of album that makes the distinction between a 4 & a 5 very clear. The songwriting and performances are excellent and varied. Yes, U2 has a sound — and at times (after this album) that sound might occasionally become repetitive. But here they mix up the singles-designed-to-chart with songs (Bullet the Blue Sky, Trip Through Your Wires) that galvanize the whole effort into a singular achievement, rather than just a compilation of songs. The Edge is a genius of layering guitar parts and rhythms to achieve an ocean of sound. Adam Clayton’s bass playing is impeccable; Larry Mullen Jr’s drumming is always tasteful, often driving the melody, ever on point. Bono can sing. Listening to it now, I realize that this is a road trip album, pivoting from very earthy songs (Red Hill Mining Town & those previously mentioned) to songs that express quest and epiphany. This is a great ride & a spiritual reboot. Makes me happy to give it a 5.

to so perfectly stand on the razor’s edge with God on one side and complete bathos on the other is a feat only true heroes can attain

Simply beautiful.

Strong 5

U2 is een van mijn "jeugdhelden". Heerlijk op de kamer van Johan naar albums luisteren terwijl we een kopie maken op cassette. Dit album heeft veel bekende hits! Top!!

Really enjoyed this, I have no clue how I haven’t listened to it before

OH HELLL YEAHHHH. Ready to get into this one 🤩🤩. Easy 5 stars. I mean, wow. Just wow. An incredible feat of artistry.

amazing album, every song is a banger. i would say 9/10 for me, great production, amazing singles, almost no filler.

One of my three favorite albums ever since about the time it came out - and yet not even my favorite U2 album, which is The Unforgettable Fire. I like it now even more than back then. 10 out of 5 stars.

Classic! Great lyrics and vocals!

It’s good have a few hits

U2’s finest hour.

Pet fav songs: Bullet the Blue Sky; Exit; Mothers of the Disappeared U2 are pompous and annoying but goddammit they are a great band. I don't ever think of them as my favorite, but there tons of songs from their different artistic eras I love. At 50 minutes I should, by my own standards, knock this for being too long and a bit indulgent but I can't. The whole thing works. Production is amazing.

Geniales Album mir 3 starken Titeln am Anfang. Diese nehmen den Hörer mit in die Tiefen des Albumskonzept, sodass sich auch die weiteren Titel sehr gut einbinden.

One of their best has a place in my heart. With or without you.

I LOVE this album. Each song has this slow buildup before an absolutely rocking chorus that makes me feel like I'm driving with the windows down on a summer night. Everything from the vocals (lead and backup), lyrics, comp, instruments, EVERYthing just works on this album for me. They remind me a tiny bit of The Killers (who I also love). Rarely do I add an entire album to a playlist but this one belongs on my "Kicking ass at life" list because that's just how it makes me feel.

Wow. Very few albums reach near perfection, this is one of them. Everything about this is great.

sweet. never been a big u2 fan but its really good 5/5

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s perfect in every way. I’ve listened to it hundreds of times, yet it’s still fresh. The songs are full of life. They’re real. It’s complete.

👍🏻

FUCK THIS FUCKING SHITTY ALBUM

Any song on here could have been a single, which is saying something given how huge the first three songs are. An epic album that might not have as much impact now, especially since Bono is such a douche, but probably revolutionized the world when it first came out.

Achtung baby og Zooropa voru U2 plöturnar sem ég hlustaði á, auk Greatest hits í partýum. Hef ekki sterk tilfinningaleg tengsl við þessa og hef reynt að setja á mig cýníska hattinn við að hlusta á hana, en sorrý, ég er bara af þeirri kynslóð sem finnst þetta flott, meira að segja mjög flott.

Very good album throughout. Great songs mixed with very good songs. Would go above Led Zeppelin, so in this case a 5.

Best U2 Alhum. Classic all around. After this it was arenas for life.

Deserves 5 stars.

"This is Stanley Hudson, and is one of our talented salesmen. An African American father of two, Stanley's dedication is no doubt one of the hallmarks of the foundation of the business we're hoping to build our basis on."

I used to love this album in the 90s (when I got into U2) but I haven't listened to it in over a decade so it was great to revisit it again. As much as I don't like Bono anymore, this album still sounds amazing and I can see why it was hugely popular in the 80s and catapulted U2 to superstardom. The first three songs are probably among the best ever album openers on any albums, and the rest is also very strong, even if they weren't released as singles. The album has an unique sound, and the production work is also stellar (by Brian Eno), and the songwriting and playing are equally great. Even if at first I was reluctant to give it a 5 but by the end I realised it just doesn't deserve any less than 5 because it's a very well rounded, consistent, super album throughout.

listened to this album before and it’s a classic. so many iconic tracks. the edge’s guitar tones are so ethereal and amazing and bono’s voice of course is phenomenal. drums on this are so interesting as well. lyricism is amazing as always too. i will say, side A is much stronger to me than side B but overall i love this record.

I haven't listened to it in years and with fresh ears, you really get why this was such a huge record. That middle bit is insanely good, and it comes AFTER all of the big singles on the record.

One of those albums you put on and don’t skip a dong

A lifetime fave!!!

this was genuinely one of the BEST album openings ever. literally ascended to those instrumentals. this album reminds me of my parents as well bc they LOVE U2 (for context they NEVER go to concerts and they went to a U2 concert and loved it). so from a nostalgia standpoint this album is really great. also it is really great overall, a SOLID, EASY 5/5. pretty similar to what i usually listen to, with a bit more of that mainstream tinge to the sound. “bullet the blue sky” is probably my favorite tune bc THAT is rock!!!! loved this album like genuinely.

We've already done this but I took the excuse to play it again - yeah this is still one of the absolute best albums. That opening run is unbeatable

Another perfect album. All thriller, no filler. Unforgettable fire and Achtung are close behind but nothing else really compares.

Damn… I actually loved this album. Never gave U2 much thought… knew them from the radio. We had one of their albums on the list before this and I thought it was pretty good. But this album blew me away! Looking at the track list I figured it would be a front loaded album but I ended up enjoying a ton of the songs on the second half too. “Red Hill Mining Town” was a standout

I’m probably a little biased here just because this was released just as I was graduating HS in ‘87. “Streets” became an anthem of sorts for that rite of passage time of life. The opening riff still brings those internal goosebumps at times. I saw them once live at ATT, and although the sound in that venue was not spectacular their stage presentation is second to none. The album as a whole is very strong with at least 5 songs that are timeless hits to this day. The impact at the time was huge, and the band is unique and has staying power so I’ll round up. 4.5/5

I imagine this album (and band for that matter) will produce a wide variety of reviews and opinions, myself included even as a die hard U2 fan. Whether that be the age-old arguments of Bono taking himself just a bit too seriously, or the Edge really not being a great guitarist. But you gotta give it to these lads for truly creating a sound all their own that clearly had tidal wave downstream influences for so many other bands and the music industry in general. Still, I get it. If you didn’t grow up with them and therefore this album, it’s understandable if it doesn’t hit home. And while I personally prefer the previous four albums leading up to The Unforgettable Fire, the impact of this album can’t be denied. Some of their most anthemic songs. Seeing them perform it live front to back in 2017 only reinvigorated my teen years love of the band. IYKYK.

One of their best albums.

Classic. No notes. Still brilliant.

Gotta give this a 5. It’s starts out with 3 of their best tracks ever, and the rest of it is pretty tasty. The Edge’s guitar sound is in some ways repetitive, but I’ve always liked it, and it really shines throughout this album. They are a very tight group. I also like to think the album is so good due to Brian Eno’s co-production. With one of the ZZ Top trio passing in 2021, I wonder if U2 is the longest running band with all their original members and no deaths?

Truly epic.

The soundtrack of my life for the last 38 years.

I have kissed honey lips Felt the healing in her fingertips It burned like fire This burning desire I have spoke with the tongue of angels I have held the hand of a devil It was warm in the night I was cold as a stone But I still haven't found what I'm looking for Yeah, this is one hell of a good album. 5/5

Superb Album, so many songs are excellent. I particularly like the non singles. Bullet the Blue Sky, Red Hill Mining Town, Exit - Fantastic album!

It was only a matter of time before U2 had begun to breathe the rarefied kind of rock and roll air. They had taken the necessary steps, made the right kind of detour while keeping their eye on the ball and had concocted, along the way, the ingredients needed to make the album that would go on to catapult them to superstardom. For The Joshua Tree was a big leap forward, the crystallization of a turning point where U2 outgrew the corners of the world that they inhabited and strolled onto a world that would soon fill and reward their outsized ambitions. And it's that world that would inform U2's stances not just here but going forward, as raging wars, displacement, romantic idealism of geography and tortured descriptions of love and death dominate the record. And it would end up dominating the world, for a short period, before the world got sick of it and began to thumb their noses. Which would prompt U2 to, quote unquote, tear the tree down. But the shadow that the tree bore down upon us listeners still transfixes to this day, making non-believers into believers and believers into die-hards. Surely one listen, or more, would make one understand; it's all one can do.

Opens with three great songs and the rest holds up for 5 stars or A.

Instead of an album by Brian Eno, today's album was (co) produced by Brian Eno. It's Eno's world and we just live in it. Very Eno-centric. The deluxe version has additional great songs on it with Spanish Eyes, The Sweetest Thing, Luminous Times and Walk to the Water. This is a nearly perfect album and it is easy to neglect how good it is due to the Bono-ness of U2 and the way the band seems to be pompous and engage in extravagance in all things. No one wanted that album downloaded to their iTunes. Perfect album and there isn't a bad track.

I already heard Achtung Baby on this journey and how U2 reinvented themselves going into the 90s. It's about time we took a step back to what I consider to be the peak of their first run with The Joshua Tree. This album is undoubtedly the most anthemic the band ever got in their Irish-rooted heartland rock, where the songs bounce and sway with the sort of quiet explosion that the band were capable of back in the 80s. From the Edge's jaunty guitar strumming, Larry Mullen Jr.'s pulsating drums, Adam Clayton's infectious bass cylinders, and young Bono's soaring vocals, and aided by the rhythm section focused production of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, the band had this unparalleled etherealness for the time. The most shining aspect of this album is the lyrics that tread the line between earnest comfort and socially charged poignancy. From the single-minded searching in "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", the condemnation of US foreign policy for the unrest caused in Central America on "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Mothers of the Disappeared", the tragic drug-riddled couple portrayed in "Running to Stand Still", to reflections on the loss of a close friend of the band on "One Tree Hill", there's personal stake that Bono took in. This was not simply his beef with the Reagan administration, but just how to reconcile with oneself and move forward, to find pathos in what one thought the land of the free would be versus what it was. As such, the content of this album remains starkingly relevant to this day. I know that following this album would be the release of Rattle and Hum, which exposed how pretentious the band ended up being, and they would spend decades having to live up and down from where they were here. Regardless of what came next, The Joshua Tree remained a strong album in U2's discography, when their songwriting reached its apex.

One of my favourite albums of all time.

Hands down their best work. It’s not fair that I’ve judged the rest of their discography by this metric, because its power and beauty set such a high standard. Peak socio-political artistry with pop accessibility that rivals Dylan in his prime.

The first three songs are iconic on an otherwise solid album. This is their peak before a great fall… but what a peak.

I'm not a U2 fan in general but this is one hell of an album. From the intro of Where the Streets Have No Name the album pulls you in and and never lets go.

4.5* rounding up.

I close my eyes... color and light swirls around me. I open my eyes and realize that was just a flashback to 2010. I close my eyes and I am 14 in an imax theatre in New York City. U2 is blasting. It is my freshman year band field trip. I am not allowed to leave to pee. I am here for 2 hours but it feels like a century. I come out aged, wise beyond my years for 7 minutes before the effect wears off. I did not appreciate the experience, but it's hard when you get blindsided with two hours of a full-sensory experience of Irish alternative rock in the middle of the afternoon. I exit the theater, back into the rock and roll hall of fame lobby. We go back down the escalators in pairs because a girl in my group is afraid of heights. I take one blurry photo of the corner of the lobby... This is going in The Facebook Album. I open my eyes. It is 2025. I am sitting at my desk. I am allowed to turn down the music. I can get up to pee without raising my hand. Life is good, but it was good then, too. 5/5 for the music and the experience. Thanks for forcing me to listen to this again. I can appreciate it now.

I won't lie, I've always loved The Joshua Tree. As much of a hot take that is in some circles, I still stand by this album's merits. It's just a very interesting look at what it means to pursue the American dream and how people perceive said dream.

Love it and saved to my collection! Great instruments and voice with socially conscious lyrics. Bullet the Blue Sky is beautiful!

indie forefathers

Of the three U2 albums presented to me so far by this project, this one is my favourite.

Anthemic and powerful and original

Banger album

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. This would be great for long drives

I’ve never liked U2, I honestly don’t get their appeal. That was until today, this album is bloody brilliant. I wouldn’t say I’m a fan now but I am willing to give them a go.

I remember this album being all over the radio.

I have never heard a stronger start to an album! Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With or Without You one after the other make the strongest start ever! Then the rest of the songs follow, which are a bit similar to each other, mostly in terms of atmosphere and lyrics that lead us around America. They criticize Bono mostly that he is too loud, and that his vocals are sometimes too loud for the background music, which makes him called egocentric and irritating, but I didn't mind it at all. This was a wonderful walk from Belfast to the USA, everywhere where the streets have no names and I enjoyed every moment of the album. After the end, I listened to the first 3 songs again - masterpieces! Probably the three best songs of entire U2's career, placed on the same album and one after the other.

Highlights: Were the Streets have no name, I still haven't found, With or without you. Der Rest ist gut hörbar. 5/5

Even better than I remembered. Good to listen to this again.

relevant significant beautiful perfect no criticisms for this one

Bono dug deep to achieve this incredibly personal album. I read that he wanted to pull it because of so many mistakes. It's hard to imagine someone, even him, could find it flawed.

What is left to be said. TJT came out when I was 17. It was inescapable. My high school relationship with U2 shaped my understanding of not just music but the production behind it, the guitar and bass tones and of course pony tails. The Unforgettable Fire was the real life changer for me but that record teed this one up. And did they knock it out of the park. It is impossible for me to view this album with anything approaching fresh eyes. But - top to bottom - it still sounds good - damn good. As good a collection of songs as they would ever assemble, before the lyrics got wonky (a slippery slope that accelerates as the 90s progress and let's not even talk about the 00s) and the music calcified, TJT perfectly captures them - in at a moment. The best version of themselves forever frozen in black and white. From singles to deep cuts this album is a juggernaut.

Incredible album. So many memories from when this album came out in 1987. To me this album is a must listen. Only the last track is a little disappointing when compared to the rest of the album to me.

No me mezquino, se merece

Fav: still haven't

Fantastic album, generational defining!

Wasn’t expecting to give this 5 stars but what can I do?

not even a big fan of U2 but this is a goated album

I don't like this song because it is not my type seconed song: this song reminds me of a movie and i like this song

Incredible. I used to listen a lot more to U2 when I was younger, glad to be reminded of how great they were at their best. Hardly a bad track on this, and next to the three big hits (arguably U2's best known songs), my favorite may be 'Running to Stand Still'.

When I started buying vinyl albums a few years ago. The Joshua Tree was the first record I found in the used record shop pre-remastered edition and was the first vinyl I played on my turntable a few years later for that reason. I consider it in contention for my top 10 album intros ever.

It doesn’t really matter what you think of U2 as a band, this album is perfection!

My favourite U2 album

Ultimate winter nights album

My most listened to album of my HS years 😆😅😎

Have listened to this a million and a half times and it never gets old. Wish I had done a proper active listen this time through since it’s been a while

I wish I had time to really dig into my thoughts here and listen 2-3 more times to do so. For now I'll just say that it might have the best 3 opening tracks of any album of its ilk, that includes Bruce and the like. The Edge is on another level here, Bono has fully matured, and the band makes simple instrumentation sound like an orchestra.

Not the highest 5 out there, but my favourite U2 album. It helped being 18 when it came out! I liked it better than their earlier work, and it’s improved with time.

The Good: U2 The Bad: U2 The Ugly: U2 Is that me cheating above? Should I be more creative? Maybe. However, I’ve never been a U2 fan, even if I really like a lot of their music… I just find that Bono has re-invented the term Ego However, holy crap, what an album! Many of my friends in high school and college had this album, yet I never bothered listening to it, the album that is. Because, unless one was living under a rock, there was no escaping several of the massive hits that are included on this album. A great listen. An album to played with frequency, and thus, sadly for me, a 5*

The 17 year old me, a firm early U2 fan was horrified by the sell out that was The Joshua Tree. The arrogance of youth. I still went to the Wembley concert. We played it for the first time in the common room of our 6th form for the rest of the school. It stands up as one of the great rock and roll albums. Consistent, full of energy and, despite the moderation of the sound, plenty of righteous anger.

really like the instrumentals and sound here

I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. I haven't listened to this album for quite a while because most of the songs have been overplayed on the radio and MTV. It is a great album though.

Masterpiece

Even though I’m not big into U2 this is an all timer.

This is great, even for U2

Some songs I didn't know yet. U2 is almost always good!

loved

Maybe the greatest highway driving album ever? Propulsive bass lines, steady drums, top shelf lead guitar, and fucking Bono? I mean, come on. It’s so easy to hate on U2. They’ve essentially become a caricature of a dramatic arena rock band (the lead guitarist goes by “The Edge,” for Pete’s sake), but they’re just so damn good. I really didn’t want to give this 5 stars, but it feels like giving anything less would be more about me needing to feel cool than it is about them and this thing that is objectively a masterpiece.

Best: where the streets gave no name Worst: n/a Liked songs: 100% High 5 U2 haters can stfu Joshua tree is a damn masterpiece

After listening to most of You talking U2 To Me, I made it through all of the major U2 albums JT is U2s best work and maybe has the best 3 tracks sequences right off the top. The ultimate edition/box set release that included their live performances is so worth listening to. Trip Through Your Wires is an all timer for me. Major life regret was missing the JT tour that ran for the 20th (?) anniversary

U2 is another one of those bands that is kind of cool to not like, right? I’ll admit I probably fall into that camp on most days, especially what they have become now. That said if I’m going to stand on my soapbox that Jack Antonoff doesn’t deserve all the flack, I probably need to extend that same openness to our Irish friends. I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve never listened to Joshua Tree front to back. Absolutely classic three song start to this one. Loved Running to Stand Still and the stretch of a few songs after are all solid too. This got better with each listen. Played it once in the car and my wife said, “this must be your album of the day, we never listen to U2.” That’s right and you better not tell anyone I enjoyed it either.

Γαμάτος δίσκος

Μου άρεσε παρά πολύ το άλμπουμ όλο αλλά το bullet με τρέλανε !

The ambience of this album just hits different. The effervescent guitar, the sustained slides, Bono's beautiful voice.... Deserves its reputation as one of the best albums of all time. The sound is unlike anything else I've ever heard. Makes me think of shooting stars in the desert sky.

Another great album

Pretty great album, start to finish.

A classic

I've listened to this album many times before. U2's songwriting on this album is amazing. The Edge's incredible guitar work permeates the album. Bono sings with passion but always in service to the songs. Before this album they had some great songs but hadn't really understood how to put it all together to achieve greatness. After this album they had some great songs but they just couldn't capture the spirit of this album (though Achtung Baby comes close). This album was the high point of U2's career, one of the best albums of the 80's, and one of rock and roll's great achievements.

Just so good to hear this in its entirety again. What an album! I guess that I spent the later 3/4 waiting for another hit to pop up, but I still enjoyed revisiting "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "In God's Country"

Seems like people either love or hate U2. Sorry haters. This is my second favorite album of theirs after Achtung Baby and have listened to it innumerable times over the decades. The Edge's unique guitar style shines on this album. Classic. "A sun so bright It leaves no shadows Only scars"

Never repetitive and still sounds amazing. If they're ever back at The Sphere, just go. Expensive but worth every penny. Most amazing venue ever.

I wonder if this is what people who like Morrissey like about Morrissey? This sort of exquisite whinging sincerity that makes you feel both the smugness of youth and the smugness of long experience, simultaneously.

A great record with the best U2 has to offer. It combines the best of their previous material with new ideas and great Melodies.

I forgot how simply gorgeous this album is. It starts off so sweeping and bombastic, then has tragically and quietly beautiful songs that end softly and resonate with you when it’s over.

Top 100 album of all time.

"The Joshua Tree" is the fifth album by Irish rock band U2. The album was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. In contrast to the ambient "The Unforgettable Fire," the band aimed for a hard-hitting sound within the limitation of a conventional song structure. The band and album were influenced by "American and Irish roots with the sociopolitical lyrics embellished with spiritual imagery contrasting the "real" America with fascination of the "spiritual" America. Commercially, it hit #1 in both the US and UK and was critically well-received. In 2014, the album was put in the US National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. The album opens with "Where the Street's Have No Name." A droning synth leads to a repeating guitar arpeggio. The songs builds with the drums, bass and lead singer Bono coming in. The song was influenced by the status, religion and income, of a person living in Belfast being able to be determined by the street they live on. It's a song of hope and gets the album off to a flying start. The delayed guitar arpeggios continue in "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Spiritual yearning. Great choir-like backing vocals. Bono initially takes a softer vocal approach in the lead single "With or Without You." Synths and an electronic drum beat. The bass enters and later on drums and guitar. The tension builds. A unique song structure in that there are no repeating sections. Bono is struggling handling both the life of a rock star and his domestic responsibilities. "Red Hill Mining Town" begins side two. A melodic repeating guitar line which leads to a very melodic song overall. Another song that builds with Bono's soaring vocals. A song about the 1984 UK mining strikes."One Tree Hill" was written as a tribute to roadie Greg Carroll who was killed in a motorcycle accident. Melodic song again ✔️. Strings are added too. It's the only song that U2 did not play on the ensuing tour. It's interesting (maybe a shame) that the only thing Gen Z probably knows about U2 is that they were forced to have their 2014 album on their phones and it was no "Joshua Tree" since they do have a few very good albums. I do remember the release of this album being a very big deal at the time and it lived up to its hype. They did achieve a big sound on this album. Bono gives maybe his best vocal performance-varied, loud, soft. The lyrics were a step up from previous album. Overreaching at times...sure. The one thing that I took away from today's listen was how good some of the deeper tracks are..."Exit," "Running to a Stand Still," and "Mother's of the Disappeared." Mostly everyone have strong opinions on U2 and, even I can't defend their albums from the past 25 years but this album stands up as a classic, has aged very well and deserves all its accolades.

In my opinion the best album by U2. So for me a classic, one of the great ones, one you should regularly listen to.

Undoubtedly their best. Fuck the haters. 5/5

A huge seismic shifting moment in history for the band .nothing would be the same after this . Amazing

Easy 5

5/5 - grew up with this

5/5

Avalon,Nirvana, They went there and milked it. But this is their peak. Everything coalesced on this album. And thereafter we were left with just the rattle and hum.

with or without you 🙏

Even the later songs after the songs I know were

awesome

The Joshua Tree is U2's fifth album, and may be their best work. It won the Grammy as album of the year, and appears on many "best album of all time" lists. This is the second album the band produced while working with Brian Eno, who helped add the ambient sense that the band creates with its edgy, guitar driven rock. The album is about the stark differences between the mythic America of rights and grand design, and the real America. These are songs of searching and longing - like "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Lookin For" - which the band developed into a central part of their sound. This sense is supported by Bono's soaring vocals, which help make their songs sound like anthems. The band captured the energy and potency of their early protest songs, and channeled it into these beautiful pop/rock songs.

I actually have this CD, bought it years ago but for some reason never listened to it as a whole. It was good, very good. Not perfect, but very very good. 4.5/5 EDIT: Due to Achtung Baby not holding up as I was expecting, this is album is now a 5/5

Easy 5 for me. The best songs on the album weren’t even singles.

It’s Joshua Tree. ‘Nuf said.

The three hit songs from this album ('Where The Streets Have No Name', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' and 'With or Without You') are three of the most popular of the band's career so I can certainly see why this is seen as the quintessential U2 album. Those three hit singles also are the first three tracks, and the fourth track 'Bullet The Blue Sky' is also fantastic so it really is such a good opening to the album. I don't really want to call this rock music as it sounds far too soft in my opinion. The track 'Exit' which is quite dark sounding is as heavy as it gets. This album pairs unique rock instrumentation with Bono's soaring sometimes gritty voice to make every track something interesting and unique. It's ever so slightly country and blues influenced also with a hint of Irish roots music. It's U2, and it's cool to hate on U2 so I didn't want to like it, but I (un)fortunately enjoyed this a lot.

A classic

4.5 stars. This is U2 at it's finest. First three tracks "Where The Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "With Or Without You" are the high point but it doesn't tail off too much from there. While it's not daring or bold and sounds clearly catered to the masses, it's still a good listen. Clean production without feeling too sterile. Bono not too obnoxious and instrumentally it's fine if not overly exciting.

Beautiful, Edge’s emotional expansive guitar and Bono’s amazing vocal performance really carry this to all time legend status.

There’re a few things to jump out quickly. Number one the rhythm section is abysmal. Number two sounds purely like the 80s, which isn’t a bad thing. Number three there is a long string of good songs on here which is a tough feat for any album. Number four it’s hard to say that this is a 5, but it’s hard to say that it isn’t.

3 of my all time favorite songs are on this album

Love this album. Every song is a hit for me. Forgot how much I love early U2.

Pure nostalgia and one of the best albums made.

01) Where the Streets Have No Name - 10,0 02) I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - 10,0 03) With or Without You - 10,0 04) Bullet the Blue Sky - 8,5 05) Running to Stand Still - 9,0 06) Red Hill Mining Town - 8,5 07) In God's Country - 8,5 08) Trip Through Your Wires - 8,0 09) One Tree Hill - 8,5 10) Exit - 8,0 11) Mothers of the Disappeared - 10,0 TOTAL: 9,00 (90/100)

Actually fun! What other bands would make a dull sound, they pull off with the quality of their delivery. Packed with tracks I knew at the start, and honestly I liked the sound throughout. Great for a late night (read: 5pm in December) walk under the crescent moon

This album is beyond epic!

Brilliant album. Starts strong and I expected it to fizzle out but it certainly didn’t. Clever music, good lyrics, and a relaxing vibe. Definitely an album for cosy winter nights!

So many bangers

One of the best albums of all time.

Classic album by an all-time great band. The first four tracks are still huge nearly forty years on.

Love this album. Classic.

I've always liked this album and it is on my vinyl wanted list. With or without still my favorite track.

first song is good, second song is epic, and third song is very good. but it slowly goesdown from there. i still like it tho. will listen back to it when i feel like it listened 6/9/2024

The Joshua Tree by U2 is the album where the band truly found their voice, blending political themes with spiritual introspection in a way that feels both universal and deeply personal. The album is filled with anthemic, atmospheric tracks like Where the Streets Have No Name and With or Without You, which showcase the band’s signature expansive sound and emotional depth. Bono’s vocals are captivating, carrying a raw intensity that elevates the powerful lyricism. The Edge’s guitar work is equally mesmerising, creating lush, reverberating soundscapes that perfectly complement the album’s themes of longing, faith, and identity. While some songs are more reflective, the entire album feels cohesive, balancing soaring highs with moments of quiet introspection. The Joshua Tree remains a timeless masterpiece, where U2 fully embraced their potential and delivered an album that continues to captivate decades later. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 10 STAND OUT TRACK - With or Without You

Great album. I teared up as “With or without you” brought me back to the finale of The Americans

Okay so u2 is actually just like fine. This is probably their best album but even then I am still angry about 2015.

Another one that's really good, very musically solid (bass and guitar especially!) - might not be a life changing experience, but very good

Amazing album, I loved every song

This is an easy 5 for me. It's one of my all time favorites and easily one of the best albums of the 80s. It has one great song after another. Could be U2s best album as well (Achtung Baby is my other favorite).

Absolutely love!

Where The Streets Have No Name - 10/10 the intro feels sort of hopeful and its exactly what i needed at this moment, so the timing made me love the song more. first 10/10 song so far !!! I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - 8,8/10 it sounds familiar, i probably heard it on the radio before. it's similar to the previous song but a little bit sadder and more melancholic. it's not a 10/10 because it feels like it has less variation, but i still love it, especially the chorus. With Or Without You - 8,7/10 i've also heard this before. the song starts a little boring but when the guitars kick in the song gets more fun as it goes on. Bullet The Blue Sky - 10/10 i already knew this was a good song when i read the title. i didn't expect the drum intro but i love it so much oh em gee this is another 10/10 and also very good to listen to when you are feeling violent Running To Stand Still - 9/10 such a contrast to the previous song, it feels refreshing. Red Hill Mining Town - 9/10 this seems like a sort of combination between the calmness of the previous song and the hopeful feeling of where the streets have no name. In God's Country - 9/10 also really familiar but thats probably the guitar riff, after it i didnt recognise it Trip Through Your Wires - 9/5 very energetic i lobe it so much and also the ending bit One Tree Hill - 8/10 cool intro. a little bit boring. cool outro Exit - 7/10 also cool intro. very bass Mothers Of The Disappeared 9/10 - so calm and nice

Perfection. This came out when I was 16 years old and was my first purchase on CD. This hasn’t aged at all and still never fails to give me goosebumps. The band were on the top of their game with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno’s production bringing the best out of them. Adam’s bass the constant driving force and The Edge producing the magic throughout. I started to write a track by track review but will save any dear reader from my constant gushing. Let’s just say that I find the album absolutely faultless. I get lost in its magic every time I play it. It’s a huge part of my life.

I already knew I loved this, but its always a nice excuse to revisit an old favourite! Upon this listen, I find myself realising how well-crafted this thing is. First of all, the album starts three timeless hit singles IN A ROW. And then there is the music itself. The Edge is probably the most underrated guitar player in regards to influence on others, even though he is still very highly acclaimed. Bono is a almost perfect front man — charismatic, gifted and a great lyricist. And there is the two unsung heroes — Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen. The rhythm section is truly what differentiates U2 from those who have tried to copy them. The bass is driving and powerfull as any metal bass player, and the drum grooves are often unique while making perfect sense. Those two things are very often underestimated, but U2 shows why they are important. In terms of songs, this is ecclectic, energetic, atmospheric, beautiful and interesting on so many levels. It is truly incredible to see what this band is able to do with only four components. Yes, there is some synth from Brian Eno, but that is surprisingly subtle and the band shines perfectly well regardless. Yeah, this is a favourite that I don't listen to often enough.

Very desert star like

These first three songs are just gold. How did anyone come up with this string of an opening. This album is so good. I can’t believe I had not listened to it before start to finish. This album is amazing.

Great album, ground breaking at the time and still good today

Great album. Love U2.

Me gustan todas. Streets es la canción con la que de niño conocía a los Bono y casi 40 años después no ha dejado de emocionarme. Discazo.

One of my favorite of all time. Love it all. This album really holds up. That or I am just so familiar with all of the songs that I can't help but like it. "Trip Through Your Wires" and "Running to Stand Still" are still my favorites.

have listened to it many times a favorite from my childhood

One of my all time favorites

Absolutely full of bangers, and no doubt a huge influence on the landscape of music.

Absolutely amazing album, great vocals and lyrics.

wow! I don't have a great opinion of U2 always found them rather boring but. okkkkk. I will listen to this one often!

This will be my second U2 album to review, after War, which was over 300 albums ago. That was my first time listening to all of War, and I loved it, but I’ve listened to The Joshua Tree before, and it’s probably my favorite U2 album. I was delighted to see this pop up today, and I’m excited to kick back and listen to it. As much as I loved War, there’s just something about this album that draws me to it. The first three songs on this album are probably the U2 songs I heard the most when I was younger, so there’s definitely a nostalgia factor playing into my enjoyment of this album. Those first three songs are one of the best three song runs in all of popular music in my opinion. I love the opening to “Where the Streets Have No Name;” when that first sliding note of the bass guitar kicks in, I could run through a brick wall. I love the dreamy opening, but when the guitar playing kicks in, it just makes me feel lighter than air. The drumming is perfect too, and this song is the perfect opening for an album that has a huge and open sound. I’ve heard “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” so many times that it’s almost lost its shine, but the opening guitar playing is fantastic here too, and it’s once again accompanied by a fantastic bass line and some great drumming. I love the structure of “With Or Without You” for the opposite reasons that I love the first two songs. The opening whine of the synthesizer creates a haunting sound, and I love how the song builds to a crashing crescendo, with Bono’s “oooooh-ooooh-ooooh-ooooh’s” and my favorite drumming on the album, before going to back to letting the haunting synthesizer take over the sound. Until I was reading another review, I had forgotten that this song was used in the finale of The Americans. I can still see that train ride in my mind, but for some reason I had forgotten about the music, but I know that song’s use stuck out to me when I watched that scene. While I do love those first three songs a lot, the rest of the album is fantastic too. Gone are the pessimism, loneliness, and cold disillusionment of War, replaced by a yearning, yet realistic optimism. “In God’s Country” sounds like an immigrant longing for an America they know is imperfect, and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” sings the hopes of someone who’s faced struggles, but knows that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Hell, the Joshua Tree itself is a symbol of standing tall amidst harsh conditions, and these songs reflect that resiliency very well. “In God’s Country and “One Tree Hill” are probably my favorite songs on this album, outside of the ‘Big Three,’ but there’s honestly not a bad song here in my opinion. I really love this album, and I’m glad I got to listen to it again today. The big warm sound is like a comforting blanket to me, and it’s one of my favorite albums of the eighties. I know Bono comes across as preachy and insincere to a lot of people, and I get that, but I find his songwriting to be genuine. I understand how this album might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love the unique rock sound that U2 created on this album.

There could be nothing after the first four tracks and I'd still give it a 5....

A masterpiece of Americana. One of the best albums of the 80s and all time. The cultural and elevated experience is timeless.

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background A classic

One of my top 10!

Starting of with one of my favourites. I’ve seen some reviews and whilst it’s all subjective, how anyone can argue the songs sound the same is beyond me. With or Without You sounds like Exit? Red Hill sounds like Bullet? This album is grand with amazing vocals, Edge’s unique guitar and pulled together by Adam and Larry. Exit is one of U2’s most underrated songs also. Fantastic album with no songs to be skipped.

One of my favorite albums of all time. Saw U2 in concert play this entire album, amazing show.

Classic that didn’t appreciate at the time

Absolute classic. Came out when I was a teenager and it was such move on from Unforgettable Fire and just took you away to the heat and sweat of America. Listening again I still hear so many new things I have missed before. Love it.

Bono is a prick. Larry Mullen is sound. I'm Irish; I'm allowed to make those claims. This album is great precisely because the more of a self-indulgent prick Bono is, the better the music is. Why does "Where The Streets Have No Name" make me cry? Why am I transported from Dublin's Docklands to the middle of the Mojave? This album definitely _has_ filler. I am normally harsh on filler but the whole being-a-prick epicness thing overcomes this. This is a victory over any haters Bono had at the time, or any haters he could have in the future. Fucking prick. Larry is still sound.

Fantastic

Perfect, so much sonic variety in it and still contained in a consistent sound that holds up as a relevant album. Timeless

A Milestone. Wow.

5 stjerner

Absolute classic

For all u2 albums I have to remember to separate my feelings of the band presently to what they were. This is not the same band that forced their album on my mom's iPhone which autoconnects to blu tooth speakers and starts playing by default, driving my resentment further with every listen. The opening tracks on this album are incredible - worthy of of being the first three tracks on a greatest hits album. I don't think the album reaches the same heights again, which always sucks when the start is so good, but it never loses its footing. The lyrics remain poetic in nature, the rhythm driving the band forward and The Edge's™️ guitar fluctuating between a more classic rock sound, and an effect pedal board layered perfectly to give each song it's distinctive feel. I don't think this is a perfect album, but I'll round up a 4.5

Classics

A little front heavy but still an excellent album.

Excelent

Classic U2. Probably 2nd best by them

What a blast from the past! U2 seems so cheesy these days that it’s sometimes hard to remember how fucking great they were when we were in high school in the 90s. As soon as those first few chords of where the streets have no name ripped, I felt myself transport to the passenger’s seat of Zach Shattuck’s car as we drove from school to swimming practice - windows down, wind whipping, and just absolutely belting the lyrics with all of our naive little hearts. It was fuckin great man. And this one still is!

I started this album thinking it was going to be a 5 and nostalgia may be giving this album a star all by itself as the opening notes of Where the Streets Have No Name play. This album goes back-to-back-to-back with Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With or Without You....that's maybe the best three opening songs to an album ever. With or Without You is great, everything about it feels wistful, the bass line, the guitar, the lyrics. This album has a lot of good songs on it outside of the hits...it's sad to think what U2 has become now.

I have occasionally wondered what happened to U2. They were one of the biggest names all through the 80's and had hit after hit. Joshua Tree is a great great album with no misses. Yet today they are just not known much at all. So I read about it and did some research and it turns out that the always somewhat political band I guess kind of took it too far somehow and lost favor. This is not the first case I have first hand knowledge of where a band gets political or too big for ther Egos and the like. It really really is too bad in this case becuase they are, musically a great band. They were the real deal and should be a true legacy band. Nevertheless, regarding albums, anyone recommending or listening to this album can't do wrong by it and will most certainly find themselves wondering "who ARE these guys!?!"

Truly a remarkable achievement. Songwriting is brilliant.

Big smile on my face when I saw today’s album. Always loved this one and somehow perfect for a cold Saturday afternoon

I mean, it was kind of inevitable, wasn't it? Knowing the albums I've gotten on the list so far, it was kind of obvious that U2 had to be on here somewhere. But you know what? I'm not gonna argue against them. They're a very popular band, and The Joshua Tree is their best-selling album. This thing that sold over 25 million copies, so I agree that this album should be on the list. You wanna know another reason why I think this album deserves the inclusion? The album's really good. I think Bono's singing is pretty solid. The sound of the album is pleasant. It is a bit repetitive in the instrumental department, but as long as the sound is good, that's not a huge issue. The writing is varied though. There are overarching themes, but it doesn't feel bland to me. What I really like is that this album takes inspiration for the writing from various different countries. Obviously, there's an Irish influence given the origin of the band, but there's also influence from countries like the US, UK, and even some Latin American countries with the album's closer, "Mothers of the Disappeared." Overall, this is an absolute classic that definitely deserves its inclusion on the list. Light 5/5.

Great

The break out initial Classic U2 Album hits my sentimental side as do many albums from several decades ago. One begins to recount all the memories and people i that time period....This album had so many Big hits and so many of the songs on this album got incredible airplay here in the US from this band from Ireland and the UK...I even believe at one point they were labeled as the "new Beatles" in terms of popularity "across the pond"...I Have Always loved U2 and this particular album brings back the Most of what I long for from them......I would give it 20 stars if I could.....

Okay, now we're talking. This is some fantastic music. Every song on this album is great.

Hall of Fame. Really high highs.

It was a great album for the time.

This tree was an absolute pleasure from its roots to its very tippy top.

I wasn't a fan of U2 in the 80s, my dad was, I became a fan of U2 in the 90s through Achtung Baby and the retina searing intensity of the Zoo TV tour. "Where The Streets Have No Name" is an experience played live with the dark build up and soft red lights all cascading towards the crescendo when the house/stadiums lights are turned up and everyone goes fucking bananas, so that was my vision when I started listening to The Joshua Tree in the 90s. And the album version of Streets doesn't live up to that memory, core memory, its flatter, the bass is dead in comparison, its just so overproduced. Same goes for the other songs I knew so well like "Bullet The Blue Sky" and "With Or Without You" but instead of being down that these versions just didn't live up to the later interpretation, I realised that age and wisdom had made them that much better. (Tangentially they d a different composition of "Even Better Than The Real Thing" when they play it live nowadays and its fucking sick and I would have killed a man for spouting such heresy back in the day) So, myself being advanced in age and wisdom, a relisten to this was like meeting an old friend, things have changed, but its comforting all the same. It has an absolutely killer side A.... "Where the Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", "With or Without You", "Bullet the Blue Sky", and "Running to Stand Still" is a HALL OF FAME WORTHY run of hot shit after hot shit AND THEN you get "Red Hill Mining Town and "In God's Country" You people don't deserve to be this close to perfection.

One of the most Iconic albums of the Decade. The guitar of the Edge in With or Without You still gives me the shivers today.

5.0