Reviews (page 4 of 14)
Their star was already ascendant, but this is the instant classic that would assure U2 a place in the Rock pantheon. It plays like a start-to-finish concept album but the concept is elusive. The Joshua Tree of the title is a symbolic stand-in for America, but also for soul-searching, for freedom and justice, for a better world. The opening track points the way, but to a place beyond words—it’s a showstopper (or more accurately show starter) and it’s one of the truly great signature album openers of the ‘80s. What follows is one of the greatest no-skips sides of music any band has ever offered, back when album sides mattered. Listen again, and you’ll hear an amazing feat: a 5-song cycle that takes you from the desert to the city, from darkness to light, from hopelessness to some kind of redemption. It’s an amazing listen, each song fitting with the others while exploring a different tone and sub-genre of Rock—anthem, gospel, haunted love, political commentary, and drug-sick ballad. The same can’t be said of side 2, and it’s not a perfect album, but it’s as close as anyone could ask for—career-defining work that met the moment the way few bands have. Only “Achtung Baby” rivals it in their catalog, and that’s saying something. A must-listen for fans of the 1980s, for anthemic Rock music, and for listeners who long for the days when the biggest band in the world exceeded our expectations.
Brilliant
What a treat! It’s been awhile since I listened to Joshua Tree. Ah the memories!!! I’ll be honest, I never got past the first three tracks because they were just soooo good. But today, I listened to the entire album. I understand why it launched U2 into stardom.
Now we’re talking! First, this album isn’t perfect. It slows just a bit in the second half. But damn if that first half isn’t a near masterpiece. Bono & Edge are the stars, but Larry & Adam in the rhythm section are often under appreciated. Songwriting is killer; Bono’s ability to write longing, universally searching lyrics like “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and follow it with the sexual/emotional yearning of “With or Without You”? Classic. And Edge’s shimmering guitars throughout are still as intense as ever. “Bullet the Blue Sky” and its post-Regan era commentary on US’s war policies represented in guitar riffs that mirror jets carpet bombing enemies? Unreal! The Edge literally made delay pedals a thing. Are U2 pretentious at times? Maybe? But they’re also anthemic and earnest in a way that touches folks and they nailed it on this album.
The Joshua Tree is one of those albums from the 1980s that was so massive, and remains so ingrained in popular culture, that it's difficult to think about in the context of its time. But it's hard to deny the power of the record. Side One is one of the most potent album sides ever committed to vinyl. 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 make up a near perfect mini-album to kick off the record. And the fact that most of those songs are still overexposed by daily airplay on mainstream rock and pop radio stations makes it hard to want to crack open the album itself. But it's a worthy listen. Despite the overexposure of the singles, the album still sounds vital as a cohesive work. U2 (with Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois) did a great deal to create new sonic textures for rock music. And alternative and sensitive-leaning rock bands have been mining these textures throughout the ensuing 35 years. The album remains as influential as it is successful.
-Airy classic 80s rock feel. -Similar vibe to Bon Jovi -Beautiful, melodic, easy listen
U2 has their best 3 songs/ biggest hits in a row at the begging of this album. Those songs are great and the rest of the album is good too. Tripped through a wire is a cool change of vibe. Least favorite was exit. Love the guitar style with the delay and the swells.
I still can't believe that even after all these years, this album still gives me goosebumps. Definitely an immortal album that breathes fresh air to this day
The sound of a band becoming great. Where there had been hints before, confirmation duly arrived with this collection.
Wow, I was a big U2 fan saw their first show in NYC at the Ritz, with Lisa Baker who broke my heart and ghosted me and before that had a name. Saw them a few times, the last time with Tommy Ryan at the Meadowlands. I have a picture of me, Tommy, Bill Clinton and Kofi A. Annon. This album arrived in time for another broken heart all those years ago. So with a lack of objectivity, 5*. It is painful to listen to some of these songs.
Absolutely brilliant. Iconic album from an iconic band. Simply love the sounds that The Edge produces, alongside the voice of Bono. Pure class 👍
Probably 3 of the best songs to open an album with 👍🏻
Outstanding
I haven't listened to this album for ages, but it was one of my favorite releases back in the 1980s. It contains some of U2's best songs ever, no fillers. The production is superb.
Until "All That You Can't Leave Behind" I didn't like U2. But that album clicked with me, and then I suddenly liked their back catalog too. Strange, but yeah, this is great!
possibily the last great album from them
The best album by U2! I like it! Every track is a masterpiece! It is one of my favorite albums amongst all band, groups and singers!
There’s not a lot of middle ground with U2. People seem to either love them or hate them. It’s hard to see how anyone could not like this album. One great song after another with minimal bombast. Excellent all the way through.
Easy 5. While U2 (particularly Bono) have become parodies of themselves in recent years, this is simply masterful. One of the strongest opening runs in any rock album with these first 4 tracks. I knew the first three tracks well but “Bullet the Blue Sky” was new to me and I was blown away. What the Edge is doing with his guitar is also really impressive. Not exactly solos, but elevating each song with his playing.
The god I believe in isn't short of cash, mister...
I'm not really a fan of U2 in general, but goddamn this is one amazing album. Every single song can stand on it's own merit
Like the best bands, the best albums are of a piece. The last of the great rock-era U2 albums, before they "reinvented" themselves - as what, many of us fans STILL do not know. I guess just "not this anymore." Yet this album (and the little portion of their career it represents) was a career plateau that they never really got back to. They hold up a mirror to America, more as their own introspection than as a preachy diatribe. There is a respect and disappointment in the romanticism. And it's not all about America, either. Running to Stand Still, Streets Have No Name, most of these are about everywhere. Like a daydream, images fade in and out, some more lucid than others. The themes and lyrical content give the whole thing its emotional underpinning. U2 as musicians have hit their stride, confident in the style that they invented for themselves and unapologetically galloping from one rendering of it to the next. Instrumentally, U2 have a tension between the piercing staccato of guitar and the down-to-earth smoothness of the bass. This tension is not so much antagonistic as it is a framework or scaffolding. The drums/bass/guitar push against each other and work together to support whatever chaos is happening on top of and around them. Kind of a cool trick that works really well for them in that the singer isn't doing pop tropes all the time. He requires an instrumental pulpit that the band are happy to provide. Neither can exist without the other. This structure sounds great on an album with outsized and ambitious anthemic thrust. It does fail for some listeners who aren't up for that level of commitment, maybe. U2 have attempted to take on difficult and far-reaching themes, inside and outside of themselves. It can be a lot. I always really loved that about them, though. They are committed to each other, the fans, the music, and what they are trying to say. When it works, like it does here, it can be a religious experience.
Jewel!
Yes so many good songs
What a two days! My favorite band of all time (U2), preceded by Tribe, my fav hip hop band. What can I say, this is the album and concert that started it. Joshua tree tour, Miami 1987. Love every track on this album.
An old favorite
U2’s most top-heavy album—if only for the massive weight of its front-loaded mega-hits—is as timeless as it is topographical.
Masterpiece. 5
A perfect album.
I will go down defending U2. I don’t care how douchy Bono is. This album is amazing and so, so special to me. As is Rattle and Hum - the documentary and album chronicling the tour for Joshua Tree. I could put this album on every day and not get tired of it. Spectacular. A genuine masterpiece.
U2's last fine moment, right there. This cover should be in illustrated dictionaries, under 𝐉 like 𝘑𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬. It's the run-up, just before the jump. What came after (Rattle and Hum is them right over the shark), when U2 either laboriously or safely focused on only chasing the highs of commercial success, I didn't care about or despised, and I have some more snark in me, but I can't bring myself to not admit that this still hits. I know "War" is up for a review and rating at some point, but I try not to pitch albums against each other, so... Hello, first entry to "Controversial Artist"
Awesome album. I can see why it's their most well known
A masterpiece.
top, Klassiker der 1980er
Un pur classique.
So good I listened to it twice..
Easy button review, all the stars. I wasn't sold on U2 as a kid, but liked some of their earlier albums before this came out. As I got older I realized how amazing it was. The 30th anniversary tour was one of the most memorable concerts I've ever been to.
Joshua Tree is often referred to as one of the greatest albums of all time because it is. Everyone mentions the opening three of this album, but I’d take it to opening five. Running to Stand Still is a profound beauty while Bullet in the Blue Sky is dark heavy driving rock. Every U2 album has its own vibe, this one is urgent and passionate. Not only does Bono make you feel every word, The Edge makes you pay attention. Some of the most profound moments are in the perfectly placed silence.
Surprising slay
One of the greatest albums of all time!
Amazing
Masterpiece
Top 10 album of the 80s and amongst the best all time. Once I heard how to dismantle an atomic bomb I wished the bomb went off and ended their careers but then I go back to this album and understand how important and influential it is for music as well as for me personally. The first 3 songs are probably the best CD start front runner for best all time along with guns and roses appetite
Turns out that I know and like about 90% of the songs on this album, haha. And the songs I hadn't heard before we wonderful. Bono's voice and the band's sound are just perfect U2, definitely the sweet spot for me. Five stars.
Love the album. Great tour to see live.
Cool
Gold standard of 80s pop rock
Favourite song - Where the streets have no name. Great intro!
Very excited to listen to a band Ashley’s so into. Where the streets have no name - wasn’t expecting this epic intro! Art! I still haven’t found what I’m looking for - I had no idea this song was U2! With or without you - dang, I know this song too! Jump-scare. All these songs are super cohesive in energy and sound which I really appreciate. Bullet the blue sky - ok I’m hopping my head to this one for sure In gods country - fun little guitar riff One tree hill - ooo groovy, this caught my attention. Any relation to the show? I looked it up and apparently the show is named after this song, cool. The strained “baby”s at the end were not my favorite haha Exit - I’m finding it hard to believe this song came out in the 80s, it screams early 2000s Mothers of the disappointed - not my favorite. Could have done without, but it does slow the album to a close.
I never really got into U2 in highschool (mid-2000s) - I think by that time Bono's reputation as kind of a blowhard "activist" was farely cemented. And there was the infamous Vertigo line translating to "one, two, three, fourteen!" but I digress. I don't know if I ever listened to this album, although I was familiar with it as one of their major records. Reading through the Wikipedia, I noted 1) this shit wasn't actually recorded in Joshua Tree, or in America at all 2) this was a dissection of the "myth" of American, by an Irish band. Well, they did a great fucking job. What a fantastic first three track run - and although the rest of the album doesn't reach the same heights, they coast down smoothly and maintain a high quality bar. I get why this is considered one of the best rock albums of all time.
Had War previously, which is a decent album. This album is probably their best! 5 stars
A classic, and I believe the first album I encountered on this list that I had listened too many times before (and thus have some nostalgia for). I am fond of each song, although some are admittedly weaker than others. It's impossible to choose a favorite track.
Before listening: I absolutely love this album and I don't even really like U2. We all know the hits but Running to Stand Still, and One Tree Hill are some of my favourite U2 songs. After listening: It's still good. I've never enjoyed Edge, but his guitar playing just fits with the band. This album is great, and to me doesn't sound dated at all.
My favorite U2 album. Always puts me in a good mood. Have listened to it for years.
With, with
Seminal pop rock album. Theres no song I consider bad or terrible, the tracks are so catchy and fun. The instrumentation all around is very good, especially that rhythm guitar. I can get the appeal to this, I enjoyed it a lot.
Thoughtful, spiritual, blues-based rhythms and searching lyrics. Listening purposefully, it feels like a love letter to America.
I love their first 3 albums. This one is good also, really some great songs here
I tend to avoid overhyped stuff... so I've never listened to this although I've definitely been aware of it. First 3 songs are classics. In God's Country, One Tree Hill, Exit, and Mothers of the Disappeared are solid listens. Definitely a 5 star album.
First album 20240224 -The Joshua Tree
One of my personal all time favourite albums! ❤️ Need to give ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Opens with three megahits that still hold up, and the rest is an interesting mix of different songs. Particularly like Bullet the Blue Sky and Exit
Classic
Ah sure there's no denying it really. This absolutely slaps
U2 classic. "Where the Streets Have No Name" is a top 10 rock song of all time. Loved it when it came out, love it today.
Great production, great songs. Love when they lean into the long droning guitar picking of the first two tracks. U2 was making good rock in the era where rock was basically dead. My only gripe is that U2 is not good enough for ~two~ of their members to go by single-name monikers
I remember when it came out, when I heard With or Without You the night before it was officially released... And I know just how amazing this album is. Most def one of my faves.
Mellow but atmospheric, hit after hit, will come again
What an album. Probably one of the top 5 albums on this list so far. Because I'm so famous with it, it's hard to put it into words, but if you were going to rate each song individually and divide it, this would probably be the highest so far. The first half of the album is massive tune after massive tune. The second half is some of the best album tracks. What an opener. Where The Streets Have No Name, classic. Epic. Wonderful guitar sound. Fantastic lyrics, atmospheric. Amazing I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For is maybe my favourite track on the album. Love that riff, love the soaring vocal. With or Without You is such a beautiful soaring ballad. Its so restraint when it could be bombastic, which works better. The build is so beautiful and the ooooh oooohs are wonderful Bullet the Blue Sky has a wonderful groove. The bridge at the end is a but cringy, but the song still slaps. Then we get into the really beautiful album tracks. The 1,2 punch of Running to Standstill & Red Hill Minning Town. Two of my favourite u2 songs. Beautiful. The chorus of Red Hill is so good, epic. The end of the song is incredible "let's go down on Red hill" refrain. So good In God's Country and Trip Through Your Wires. Another great couplet. One Tree Hill to me, is the u2 sound. Epic, lovely build, wonderful delayed guitar, building to a passionate chorus towards the end. Amazing little fake out ending. One of my early favourite songs of theirs. It's aged wonderfully. If the last two songs where on any other album I would probably wax lyrical about them, because individually they are actually very good and sound very different to one another, but because of the level of the rest of the songs they get a little forgotten. I think both are actually great, but the run at the start of the album is so good that they seem a little lesser instead. But today they sound great. One of the easiest 5s I've ever given. I can't even imagine how it would feel hearing this album for the first time, hearing all these extremely famous songs back to back and then hearing that run at the end of the album. It's not really a surprise how massive they were at this time. I've already rated War 5 and I know there are 2 more to come after this Brilliant. Amazing. Incredible
Absolutely iconic.
Incredible album. Some of my favorite songs of all time on this one.
Well that’s probably the 3 greatest opening tracks ever Never had much time for U2 before but this was uniformly excellent
•Owned •Supported by Daniel Lanois' and Brian Enos' masterful production, The Joshua Tree's environment elevates the band's discussion of America, often highly mythologized, sometimes criticized. All this underlines the human condition at the core of the album—all of us, looking for love, freedom, opportunities, justice. •4.5/5
One of their best album. Not ashamed to give it 5 stars.
I mean, come on. The first half of this album is absolute perfection, and the second half isn't far behind.
Peak U2 along with Achtung Baby. It has one of the best opening three songs imaginable, and while these three singles are my favorite on the album it’s an incredible listen start to finish. Where the Streets Have No Name is one of those songs I consider perfect. It’s by far my favorite U2 song and one of the greatest recordings ever in my view. U2 isn’t always my favorite band, but they found perfection with this song and this album.
Album 313 of 1001 U2 - The Joshua Tree Rating : 4.5 / 5 Have always had an odd relationship with this album. I want to like it but it evokes some times that I'd just as soon not recall. Still, I begrudgingly admit that it is a very good album that had a huge impact, at the time. Some great tunes, for sure.
what can i say - its a total banger classic
Very solid. Couple bangers.
Yes, a classic, 4.5, five?
Doubt if there is no-one who’s never owned or heard this album. U2 came into my life after I had seen the Red Rocks video on ‘The Tube’ and was blown away and after which I began buying their albums. I played Joshua Tree to death at the time and became one of my top albums. Nowerdays I hardly play the album as there is little need to do so as the big 3 well known tracks at the start of the album are still constantly played on the radio. Listening through the album again I enjoyed listening again to the tracks after the first 3 and struck by the quality of every track. I was always attracted to the end track Mothers Of The Disappeared and I think now it could be my favourite track. I don’t think U2 have bettered this album All That You Can’t Leave behind runs it close but for me this was the pinnacle.
Masterpiece
Wow. I knew some songs and believe my brother had this album back in the day, but I never took the time to listen all the way through. Liked some U2 songs but never considered myself a fan. But really, really enjoyed this album. The first three songs might be one of the best openings to an album I’ve heard. Starting with the distant, slow build of Where the Streets Have No Name and then not letting up from there, this album is amazing. Enthusiastic to listen to it more in the near future.
My favourite U2 album.
Great album. So many hits, and even the songs that didn't become hits are solid
An all time classic. This album came out when I was a Junior. It was inescapable for the next year. I've listened to this a ton of times. It's still a great listen, the bass and guitar are excellent in my opinion. Five stars all day
I'm not sure why U2 hasn't aged quite as well as some other bands (not that they have aged poorly, just not as well -- the mandatory, free album on Apple devices probably didn't help), but for a long time after this album came out, I considered it the greatest album released since 1987. Too much time has passed, and U2's music has aged a little, but this is still one of the greatest albums ever released, and the opening three songs are as strong as any "three song run" on any album. (If there's any knock on the album, it's that those three songs are hands down the best, and the rest of the album is only decent, though the next three songs are still pretty good, so there's that.) I also love Daniel Lanois's production. He does a top notch job for several other artists as well (Dylan's Oh Mercy & Out of Time, Peter Gabriel's So, and others). Easy 5 stars.
Tracks 1-3 are extremely iconic with beautiful instrumentals and an amazing vocal performance by Bono and expertly chosen lyrics. Bullet The Blue Sky (track 4) is a very different feel from the previous three tracks, but not in a bad way. The instrumentals, unlike the past tracks, sound almost ridged and Bono’s vocals complement it very nicely. The lyrics keep up a nice rhythmic pattern, while still serving the listener a great message about the problems that the US was causing in other countries. The first few seconds of Running to Stand Still (track 5) sounds almost like a country song. A very calm track from start to finish. And a chilling performance by Bono on this one and very sweet performance by Edge, as well as an unexpected harmonica which felt like it completed the song. Red Hill Mining Town (track 6) almost keeps the calmer theme from the previous track, but then around the one minute mark, begins to build up, like a rollercoaster. After that, the song keeps the kind of louder sounds, with a pattern of up and down, up and down. Having a calmer sound for a moment, then starting to build up with the once again flawless vocal by Bono and phenomenal performances by Edge, Adam and Larry. The seventh track in the album, In Gods Country, starts off with a very quick intro by the rest of the band, soon accompanied by Bono, with great vocals and masterfully crafted lyrics. Trip Through Your Wires (track 8) starts off with a very almost sharp feeling harmonica and slow yet rhythmic drums, then begins to open up with more instruments, until Bono then follows with a very unique performance. The whole track feels very much like the wrote and composed the whole song on horseback with a piece of wheat in the mouths, a beer in one hand and a pistol in the other hand while riding throughout America. Track 9, One Tree Hill is great. Not much to say, or at least that I can think of. Track 10, Exit starts with an almost eerie beginning, with just the sound of what might scratching, bass and Bono’s whispering voice, then begins to build up, adding more instruments, everything is getting louder, things are getting more complex within the instrumentals and vocals, everything grows and gets louder, until a drop. Not the drop you’d expect. But a literal drop. Music and all stops for a slight moment, until the instrumental begins to kick back in, slowly and quietly, as it grows back into form. The sounds get louder, thicker as it quickly gets to its climax and begins to drop back down, but not quite. The instruments fall behind. Returning to how the song began, with only a few light sounds rising up to a climax, only this time, it’s opposite, as the instruments go from very thick and loud, to quieter and flimsier. Then the song ends. Mothers of The Disappeared is the final track in the album and it starts off as if to continue the previous track. With a very quiet sound, like something rattling, as it slowly begins to add more to the song, with bass, guitar and drum, only this time, only thing stills sounds slow and somewhat quieter that usual but then everything begins to shape when Bono begins his vocals. Bono’s vocals and the entire band is feeling very slow and delicate. At around the three minute mark, the song begins to get slowly louder, yet Bono’s vocals stay just about the same. The instrumentals begin to build up, only getting slightly louder every second, until the instruments begin to fade out slowly. Overall, The Joshua Tree by U2 is an absolutely beautiful album. Starting off extremely strong with such great tracks such as With or Without You, then entering the middle section of the album, the song begin to feel more “American” somehow. The album then slows down for its ending, with the last two albums feeling like a dream. Even though I’ve listened to this album before writing this, I never really thought to actually pay attention to the masterfully crafted lyrics and every little detail. At the end of the day, I Rate this album 10/10, a masterpiece that will never be forgotten until the end of time.
I've cooled on U2 over the years, but this album is clearly a classic with some amazing songs.
A great album and to my mind some of U2’s best work. Even the less well-known tracks are awesome.
I forget how just phenomenal this album. Say what you want about U2 but this album is just great song after great song.
Well, I'll be jiggered. There it is... Negativland made me familiar with a particular song on this album. Taken in its proper context the song is great and so is the album. 5 stars is VERY STUPID, VERY STUPID, and who gives a shit?
Maybe the biggest album of my high school era. Remember where I was when it was released. Consumed me until I saw the final show of the JT tour that December at Hampton. 5
The U2 Classic. It’s all great on this one!
No arguing against this track list. Classic!
Great performance I love it
Have owned and listened to this album so many times over the years. Such a great listen and one of the best of all time.
One of the very best. It is impossible to capture in words the ways this music, this art, has catalyzed my discovery of the world and my place in it. I have cried more listening to this album than any other, shocked by its beauty. If I were to choose one album that represents me more than any other, this would be it. The gradual swell of Street, the gospel of Still haven't found, the longing of With or Without You. Running to stand still, Bullet, One Tree Hill, Mothers, Exit. They're all amazing songs. I have to take care to keep it fresh, but I love this music!
A complete album. There was not one weak track.
When I got my first iPod in the early 2000's, there was already a smattering of U2 songs in our fledgling iTunes library. One of my parents must have been a fan. Coincidentally, some of U2's greatest hits became some of the first songs I fell in love with. So admittedly, there's a nostalgia factor here as I find Bono's voice soothing and I've always been impressed with The Edge's guitar chops. I've never heard this whole album before, as I started to explore other bands and genres once I was old enough to buy my own music and never got around to a U2 discography deep dive. I only knew With Or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For from this one. I liked it a lot. Not a single song felt like wasted space on the album. I already used this word earlier, but it fits; the whole album felt soothing. I got chill out and just vibe for 50 minutes, forgetting about all the things I'm supposed to be worrying about. Another one for the record collection. P.S. Joshua Tree National Park is a cool place and I totally understand why it would inspire someone to write music. Highlights: Where The Streets Have No Name, Bullet The Blue Sky, Trip Through Your Wire A nostalgic 5.
Lo mejor de u2 excelente álbum
This is probably the peak of U2. It’s anthemic and grandiose. It’s driving and soft. They’ve never been my top top favorite but this is pretty great.
One of the best albums of the 80s. Pure U2 magic.
It's a great album, and probably my favorite from U2.
Already a fave. Torn between 4 or 5 stars. Some tracks are lacking, but the good ones are SO good and so iconic that I think it balances out in the end.
Great album. Classic
One of my all time favorites. When this first came out, I listened to it endlessly on cassette tape.
Love this album. I had most songs in my favorite playlist on Spotify!
Feel like they were polished grunge. Like they were purposefully trying to be mysterious and edgy but in a very clean way…? Had no idea they dropped in ‘87.
I had what some might consider to be an unhealthy obsession with U2 in my early teens, so this was a formative album for me and so is hard to judge objectively. I think U2 get a bit more hate than they deserve, particularly from Irish people. The Joshua Tree is undeniably a highpoint in 80s rock, even aside from the 3 major singles. I had forgotten how great some of the deep cuts like 'Running to Stand Still', 'Red Hill Mining Town', and 'One Tree Hill' are. I think the production is very fitting as well, accurately capturing the emptiness of a desert. One of Brian Eno's best for sure. Anyway enough rambling. It's worth noting that I soon moved on to more "socially acceptable" obsessions with bands like Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and Radiohead.
Love it!
What makes a good album? U2 figured it out with this one. The perfect mix of everything. Sorrow, joy, hope, instrumentation, compilation - this album is a journey. And a timeless one at that. Not a bad song in the album either. It's been too long since I gave U2 a listen, and it was a joy to go back.
A must hear album, just remember when listening.
4.6
This was a really good album! Some of my favorite U2 songs were in this album and I found some new ones! Especially loved the heavy sound from "Bullet The Blue Sky". I wish they made more music in that style. I highly recommend this album if you like alternative rock. Favorite Song(s): "Bullet The Blue Sky", "With Or Without You", "Exit", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
I don’t believe there is an album with three better songs together to open. It’s just perfection.
9/10 No a lot of spectacle, but there are no bad songs and the album as a whole sounds amazing. Highlights: One Tree Hill I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For Where the Streets Have no Name Red Hill Mining Town Bullet the Blue Sky
An amazing album from start to finish! A terrific blend of lyrics and music supporting each other to create a legit sonic masterpiece.
My parents used to blast this CD when I was a kid. I don't usually gravitate towards U2, but this album is a genuine masterpiece. Starts out perfectly with the slow atmospheric buildup of "Where the Streets Have No Name", and not a weak track after that. You can feel Daniel Lanois behind the soundboard at every turn. 5/5
A modern classic. Irish rockers embrace American music, make it their own and take over the music world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I had heard of the album and have heard the first three tracks before. But this is my first time listening to the album. Very solid album. And it does make me want to check out more U2 so 5 stars.
Complete classic
值得听完。
I'm not a big U2 fan, but this album is incredible. One of the best side A's I've ever heard. 5/5
It was a trip down memory lane. Love the album as much as I did back then.
The Joshua Tree has a sense of both the Sublime and the Beautiful that few other albums manage to achieve. It’s vast and expansive like the Romantic landscapes that fuelled the philosophical musings of Burke and Schopenhauer, but sparse in a way that is uniquely American. I’ve always read this album as a loose concept documenting the migrant experience, which is not in anyway how it is intended to be read, but hey if it works. It’s got everything, the initial rush of freedom, the comedown of worry, a love/hate relationship (With your partner? With your new home country? With your adopted country? Who knows!’) explanations as to why you left, following the news in and around your home country, following the news in your adopted country. I’m rambling a bit, and I wanted this review to be good. I just love it so much. There, that’s the review
I don’t care. This fucks.
One of the best albums of all times
The Joshua Tree has likely the greatest intro of all time. If the intro to Where the Streets Have No Name doesn’t give you goosebumps you should check your pulse. The first third of the album might be the peak of stadium rock, the definition of anthems. As iconic as those early tracks are, Side 2 is often underrated. In God’s Country, One Tree Hill and Exit are fantastic. The Joshua Tree is U2 focus and refined, it deservingly so made them the biggest band in the world. 9.2/10
Awesome album. The use of delay in the distinguishable guitar sound of the Edge is just perfect! Great songs, great recording and an absolute classic!
Amazing album!
Decent
Classic album with some great songs, good tunes and some fine playing.
U2's international breakthrough album , and for me, unassailable. A little story. I was 15, a new school year was starting, and my mom had passed away a few months earlier that year. We got a CD player for the house, a chunky thing for our stereo that even had an indexing function. My siblings bought a few albums for it, and this was my first choice. Those iconic opening notes of "Where the Streets Have No Name" was very much the beginning of a new day, in more ways than one. To me there was so much more than the hit at the time, "With or Without You". "Bullet the Blue Sky, "Red Hill Mining Town", Running to Stand Still". I don't think there's a weak song on the album. It's a coherent whole for me. Brilliant album.
Not a bad track on there. At their pomp.
Upee neljän biisin startti, 5/5. Sit tasoon nähden vähän lopahtaa, mut en voi sanoo, että merkittävästi. Kokonaisuutena helvetin hyvä.
Very solid start to finish
I’ll admit I’ve never listened to the album all the way through despite being a U2 fan - which Really picked up in the early 90s with Achtubg baby. This album begins with the holy triumvirate of stadium anthems and stylistically continues from there. It is the definitive 80s U2 statement and deserves a place on the pantheon.
Absolute classic album and I'm not really a big U2 fan. I'd always heard how great this album was but basically avoided it until I saw them play it live at Bonnaroo. It deserves the accolades. Hard to beat an album that starts with 3 of the best songs of all time. This also includes some great deep cuts like Bullet the Blue Sky and Red Hill Mining Town.
Truly thought this was a greatest hits album. Perfect!
A classic.
Вот если бы не гумная гармошка, то было бы вообще идеально. А так - ахуенно. Просто ахуенно. Блин, почему я раньше U2 не слушал...
I thought U2 was the most overrated band ever, but I just take that statement back after this listen as I can clearly understand what set them apart back then. I didn’t grow emotionally attached to the songs (except with or without you of course) but I feel like the songs deserve more listens so I can grow attached over time as it’s a pretty unique universe with a great sound and good ideas
Masterpiece
Can say what you want about em, this is a classic.
The Joshua Tree's influence on pop and rock can't be understated. Exploration of rhythm and texture in deceptively simple songs.
One of their better albums. Production wise this album is excellent. The first three tracks on the album "Where the Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "With or Without You" were all massive hits.
-Didn’t write a BL, but have listened to the album many times before- AL: definitely a contender for one of the best records of all time. The appeal, diversity, production and lyrical content are all sublime. Not much to say beyond that. Stellar. FT: “Where the streets have no name”, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”, “Bullet the Blue Sky”, “One Tree Hill” 5/5
Masterpiece
Ayo this slaps.
Iconic and just as good today as it was when it came out.
coldplay before coldplay? first 3 songs are undeniable
Best songs are Running to Stand Still and Red Hill Mining Town. Not the commercially successful songs, but the best on the album or at least in the same breath as the big three. And of course, nothing new here, but there are just a handful of albums that have 3 songs like that at the start.
In recent years U2 has become such an annoying presence - my last experience of them was being INFURIATED that they nonconsensually deposited one of their albums on my phone - so it's nice to be reminded that they once put out really stellar work like this! It's hard for me to be objective since this album was omnipresent for my middle/high school days, but they do such an excellent job of gradually building and layering sound in a really satisfying way. Love this one. Not a bad song on it.
I think I used to get hung up on the fact that the incessant radio play of this album put me off it. Now I listen to it and love the songs and how it comes together sonically. None of the 80s cliches, and now I'm amazed it didn't have a hand in curbing those sounds. Either way, it's a fantastic album.
This album is epic. Such huge sound. Certified hits to start things off. Definitely my favorite U2 album. We’re back on track with awesome stuff to listen to.
Loved this when it came out, listened to it on my Walkman constantly!
A freaking experience. The soundscapes and themes covered make this a masterpiece from U2
Listened quite recently and still love this album. I think this and Achtung Baby took them from borderline Christian/protest rock into a pop-oriented outfit with a unique and innovative sound. There are no bad songs on this album, and several all-time classics. Vocals, instruments, and production are impeccable.
In my top 10 all time. Red Hill Mining Town is underrated
Guilty pleasure...? I think not. This is U2 before everything else came along, the soundtrack to my transition between middle and high school. Never was a huge fan of the band the way I am of this album.
This may be THE seminal album of the late 1980's, vaulting U2 from a scrappy Irish act to a massive powerhouse of stadium tours and influential pop-rock. The Edge pretty much re-invented himself as a guitarist, discovering inspiration in classic blues, and his echo-laden delays in the opening riff of the album's first track, Where the Streets Have No Name, announced a new power-house sound for the band and gave him a signature sound. Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton, who could barely play their instruments just a few albums earlier, lay down their tightest rhythm grooves in such songs as I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Bullet the Blue Sky, and In God's Country. And then there's Bono, doing what a front-man singer-songwriter does best. He brings all of his attitude, bombast, nuance and creativity to lyrics that are important, yet catchy. The political shadings (Bullet The Blue Sky, Red Hill Mining Town, etc.) are subversively pointed, some of the best global perspectives painted in this era where great songs & albums made an effort to bring awareness and effect change in the world. (Artists today could take a few pages from that book...). So many of the songs got such huge airplay that many probably feel they were played out. But really listening to the songs makes it clear why they struck such a chord and became so popular. And those tracks that didn't become hits are still better than 90% of the music on other albums then and now. Some people have found it trendy to not like U2 since their stardom has waned, and can justify not giving it 5 stars. But anything less than a 4-star rating expresses an ignorance of musical history and creative expression. For me, it's a no-brainer.
Class album
It’s not a bad album.
This album starts with one of the greatest series of tracks starting with ‘Where the Streets Have no Name’ and ending with ‘With or Without You.’ This is simply U2 at their best. Loosely themed around a mythical version of America, the album weaves through American rock idioms while staying true to U2’s signature blend of jangly new wave inspired rock. If you’re looking to learn about popular music, this album is inescapable, and for very good reason.
have always loved...
Great songs from beginning to end. Bono's vox were great and the music is stimulating. Top record.
Where the streets have no name; I still haven't found what I'm looking for; with or without you; running to stand still; one tree hill; trip through your wire; exit; in god's country; bullet the blue sky
I wondered if I would enjoy this album in full knowing how well loved it is. Sometimes I completely agree with the popuoarity of an album, and this is one of those times.
Before the lemons. Before the messiah complex. Before Adam Clayton’s lolling penis on the inlay of ‘Achtung Baby’. Before any of these divisive factors, there was ‘The Joshua Tree’ and holy shit, it is incredible. This is U2's magnum opus and for my money one of the Top 10 albums in history. It has heart, feeling and musicality...beyond that, it is interesting and pleasant to listen to. 5 stars for sure
A truly classic album, with huge radio friendly hits. However, for me it’s the lesser played “Trip through Your Wires” , “Running to Stand Still” and “One Tree Hill” that are subtle favorites. 5/5
Peak U2 for me I think. Great mix of pop-ish hits and fold/country. Heartfelt messages.
This album is one of my top 10 records. Each song is a masterpiece. The production, lyrics, energy, etc. hits me in the right places. Anytime. Anywhere.
The Joshua Tree is as close to a perfect album as you can get. This album is U2 at their best - the enormous and grandiose sound is backed up by earnest and heartfelt emotions and incredible songwriting and musicianship. From a band from Dublin no less, this album perfectly captures the American spirit - from the restless optimism to the inherent contradictions and deep rooted inequities that afflict us. It's the ideal road-trip album, and one I will love for the rest of my life.
This album is just so ridiculously good. The hits are iconic, and the other tracks match their feel and are just as good. I'll always appreciate U2 for having a truly unique sound. Favorite track: Red Hill Mining Town
U2’s magnum opus. Expansive, without being too pompous.
Gorgeous album that opens with a stunning back-to-back-to-back opening three tracks, "Where the Streets Have No Name," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and "With or Without You." I also love the hard rocking "Bullet the Blue Sky" and the more country "Trip Through Your Wires" (that harmonica!) Great listen beginning to end, nothing but excellent music.
Saw the Joshua Tree revival tour. Excellent!
As fun as it is to make fun of Bono, he still has one of the best ears for melodies and hooks in rock music. This album literally starts with 3 of the greatest songs ever written, and Edge's guitar tone is stunning. The album becomes more sombre towards the end, and the last few tracks feel like sucker punches to the chest. A masterclass in songwriting.
Top 10 all time !
While I think U2 is completely overrated in the last 10-15 years, this is a phenomenal album.
Hot take: this album is good. Favorite track (besides the obvious ones): Trip Through Your Wires
Vinilo total.
day 14 and an excellent album to kick off Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S... I've never listened to a U2 album in its entirety, and I have no idea why because Where The Streets Have No Name is easily one of my favorite songs of all time. the opening never fails to give me goosebumps, and it is the perfect representative for what's to come on this album. I really enjoyed reading about what U2 was trying to do here ... "Throughout the sessions, U2 sought a "cinematic" quality for the record, one that would evoke a sense of location, in particular, the open spaces of the United States." ... and they 100% nailed it. that soaring, atmospheric, escapist kinda mysterious sound is what I've been drawn to, and it's captured so well throughout the album. there's a lot to love here aside from the 3 biggies, so my faves that I didn't know before are - Bullet The Blue Sky, One Tree Hill, Running To Stand Still and Exit. it's a solid 5/5 for me and I'm looking forward to diving deeper to appreciate it even more.
The lads from Liverpool done it again
Bunch of huge hits
One of the greatest albums of all time. Unfairly good.
First or second best from this band, all time.
The zenith of U2's career. It would slowly go downhill after this brilliant album. Everyone talks about the first three tracks and yes, they are fantastic. But Running to Stand Still and Mothers of the Disappeared are hidden gems that should get more credit.
Lots of great ones on this album. I especially liked "Running to Stand Still"
Ik vind het leuk.
Het briljante meesterwerk van U2. Legendarisch uitstapje naar americana van de Ierse band. Makkelijk een van de allerbeste albums ooit gemaakt en echoed perfect de weidsheid van Amerika in een fantastische tracklist. leukste nummer: One Tree Hill De Joshua tree van het album ligt inmiddels omgevallen in Death Valley. Dat maakte het echter niet minder leuk om hem in het echt te zien.
Took me right back to high school and made me think of my first high school friend who was also a huge U2 nerd. I don’t really have anything to say about this album that wouldn’t be tainted with so much nostalgia. Listen to it. Love it or don’t. I love it.
Going into this album listen, I wanted to keep an open mind because I've always had a view of U2 as a bit of a boring band due to the drawn out choruses and slower tempos of most of their big hits. I'm glad I kept an open mind; the deep cuts on this album are so good. Even though I had them pegged as a downbeat band, I still have a strong respect for the Edge as a guitarist and his ability to get creative with pedals, layering and fusing electronic effects with minimalist instrumentation. That ability shows so much stronger once we get through the first 3 hits on the album (tracks 1, 2 & 3). The remaining tracks show more blues, a grittier side of the band that I didn't know existed, and a broader sound palette for the band as a whole. Just really impressed with this album. Bono has great vocals, Edge's guitar work has his signature iconic sound, and the rhythm instruments glue everything together. Unexpected joy. 4.5/5, rounded up. Fave tracks: Bullet The Blue Sky, Red Hill Mining Town, Trip Through Your Wires, Exit
This is an absolute classic. Probably the best among U2s studio albums, while I prefer Rattle and Hum, that's a live album record on the Joshua Tree tour, so credit for this one there too. All of the songs seem deliberately placed, and all of them are excellent, no fillers to be found here. The flow of the album seems deliberate and very well planned out. The tension starts to build right off the bat, and then it is released and rebuild again multiple times over the course of the album, really keeping the listener's attention. The production is incredible, the songs all sound huge but intimate at the same time. Wasn't surprised to see Brian Eno with the credit, but also nice to see good ol' Canadian boy Daniel Lanois alongside. While I am not a fan enough of U2 to casually listen to "With or Without You" while driving home from work. I do think this album as a whole is a stellar example of how to make a great album, and definitely worth of a spot on any best of list. Fav Tracks: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Bullet The Blue Sky, Mothers of The Disappeared
Likes: The Edge is a fucking wizard, bass and drums that are epic without being over-the-top, absolutely anthemic choruses Dislikes: with so many 10/10 songs, the other songs feel more mundane than they are by comparison Holy shit this is good - makes you immediately understand how U2 became the biggest band in the world. Head and shoulders above the other albums so far. Very strongly considering revising rating to a 5 if the album sticks in my rotation, would’ve been a 4.5 if it was an option.
Un groupe qui est un peu devenu la caricature de lui-même, mais si on peut passer par-dessus ça, les chansons sont quand même vraiment puissantes. Bullet the Blue Sky est ma préférée.
A masterpiece. Their finest hour?
Yup, there it is. The most Americana album ever. Done by an Irish group. Bono gets so much crap for how braggadocio his singing is on this disc but damn, yo - he’s allowed the massive ego for this disc.
very good mellancholly tbh 5/5
Any ratings of below 5 stars are just pretentious. This is a perfect album.
Classic. I know this album pretty well.
I've heard all of these!
Maybe I am biased by really liking the last 4 songs, but I think this might be a 5 for me. I didn’t expect it because the popularity of the first three songs made them less impactful, but listening again after getting brought my initial preconceptions let me notice how many things I really enjoyed about this album.
One of my favorite albums, given to me by my dad when I was a kid. This has the best 3 song opening of all time.
I don’t quite like U2, but this album was excellent.
Absolute classics abound on this album, which also features some great 'filler' tracks and is excellently produced. There's a reason it's often considered their magnum opus, and I can't disagree with that opinion. Bangers from start to finish.
uber good
I fear I may have been a little too harsh on Bono in my previous U2 reviews for 2 reasons 1) after listening to him on Smartless I realised that I have misjudged his character and 2) this album was very good. Bullet The Blue Sky was a massive tune.
I absolutely love this album. I think every song was great. It’s the perfect lengthed album and each song is good as well. Just really good.
I'm not really a big U2 fan but I can't ignore the impact and quality of this entire album, even if as a kid it annoyed the hell out of me when it was released (i.e. it was everywhere and also it wasn't metal). I could probably have put my thoughts on this album down without even listening to it again - I know each and every song so well just from osmosis and from having grown to love it not long after my initial stubbornness. But it is fascinating to *really* listen to this in headphones - songs I've heard maybe 1000s of times ... there are often tiny little / subtle guitar lines starting and stopping, almost as if by mistake but it all adds to the layers of gorgeous melodies - I love it. It's considered a perfect album by many and yet these tiny little imperfections that you can find if you hunt for them only add to it for me. Future albums (which I know I shouldn't focus on) from U2 pushed Bono's voice so so far into the front of the mix that it became distracting and killed any band vibe they once had, but on Joshua Tree it's all a perfect blend. Like a lot of other uber-popular albums of my generation I don't put this on often, or ever, but listening to the entirety in context just shows how great a collection it is - nearly flawless. 9/10 5 stars.
This is iconic. Whether you love or loathe this album it shaped our culture in the 80's. Overgrown and graniose with a sense of importance- it's perfect 80's baby! Good solid rock anthems it may be a little dated today but credit needs to go to Lanois and Eno for shaping this too. Musically it's complex and has a lot of references from other genres in there. I love every track.
Hate the late albums of U2 so much (a bad copy of their earlier work, I find) that for years already I forgot to listen to their brilliant earlier work. This one is stillamazing, moving, epic. Add the Achtung Baby album and their best one Zooropa and I forgive them all their later sins.
I’d not listened to this album in its entirety before, though I’ve of course heard a few popular songs. I have to say, it was good all the way through. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. A solid album I’ll likely listen to again.
Excellent from start to finish. One of my favorite all time albums. A game changer in my life (but not the first U2 album I heard: looking forward to giving Achtung Baby all the stars too!).
U2 can’t get no respect from me, I have no idea where I got that prejudice. I think part of it is that Bono’s delivery is so earnest and also “pretty” that it reminds me negatively of musical theatre style. But to give this a full chance like this list asks me to, their talent and hard work are totally undeniable. Not a single stinker or throwaway track. Bullet The Blue Sky and One Tree Hill are especially great surprise.
I had no idea this album was so old. A lot of really good tracks here
Sure you can argue what the best U2 album is, but if you are arguing any album other than this one then I'm afraid that you are just wrong. Easy 5 star album. I would normally do a song by song review, but today I'm just not in the mood. It deserves one and I'll get around to it when the edit feature comes around. U2 is one of the two bands that I instantly associate with my Dad. I have so many good memories of listening to U2 in the house while I was growing up. The opening three songs are all time classics that instantly cemented this album's legacy. And tracks like "Bullet The Blue Sky", "Running To Stand Still", and "In God's Country" are all amazing tracks in their own right and just bolster the album's resume. And even the less popular songs on the album are pretty good.
Killer 5 intro songs, strong back half with I'm God's country standout and One Tree Hill a new intro for me. I love the guitar and bass work, the trilling that runs through the album as connective tissue is exactly what I'm looking for. I know the words to the first 4 songs - learned somewhere in my teens.
This one was emotional. My friend's little sister recited "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" at his funeral last week. Funny that it popped up so soon after.
Highly accessible (almost to a fault) but so sharply and powerfully done, to the point of glittering perfection nearly. One found "With or Without You" to be both boring and ubiquitous in real time (a particularly toxic quality for pop music) but has held up well. Like REM's "The One I Love" and U2's later "One" the power is in its directness and simplicity, though "Bad" and "Elvis Presley and America" are better song for complicating matters to rather more aesthetically pleasing effects. Last few cuts dip off noticeably but first 9 tracks put contain nary a wrong note. It feels less politically engaged and the looser cuts ("God's Country," "Tripped Through Your Wires," "One Tree Hill") benefit. It's almost like U2 were having fun. And they were certainly making it look easy. The band would soon start jumping the shark but this was blessedly successful; for all the playing for hits, these are highly engaging songs nearly impossible not to like. One ranks this below War, Boy and Unforgettable Fire, which speaks volumes about U2's depth and breadth in their first decade. This was their last great record – Achtung Baby falls just – and everything else way – short.
Legendary album. No complaints from me.
Great album where each track adds to the flow. Will Matt find some reason to not give it a 5? Maybe so, maybe not
A true classic... Listening to these songs made my day better, all the songs on this album are too good.
I haven't listened to this album start to finish in a while. Thanks.
Loved it back in the day, still holds up in 2022. Not a perfect album though, as it’s a bit front loaded. Legacy defining hits right out of the gate, but does lose a little bit of energy and cohesion as you get to the back half. But those first four songs though…
It's such a great album, such iconic U2 songs in it, you would not expect these songs to be together in an album if they are not a "Best Of" album. For me the only thing i dont like that much it starts in such incredible way with songs like "Where the Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven't Found What Im Looking For" or "With Or Without You", that the rest of the album kind of dilutes, but again this is just to add some feedback to an incredible album.
Wall-to-wall banger factory. I said what I said.
One of the greatest modern rock albums.
Compared to most bands of the 80s, U2 have a much more timeless sound. It comes across both spare and richly detailed, largely centering around the layered textures of The Edge's guitar. A sound which was their own and well ahead of their time. They found the perfect producers in Eno and Lanois who were able to shape these recordings into both atmospheric art rock and stadium filling anthems. Incredible dynamics of sound and emotion.
My all time favourite U2 album. Let's start with the obvious: 'Where The Streets Have No Name', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', and 'Without or Without You' might be the strongest trio of songs to kick off an album with ever. Absolutely insane. But every. Single. Track. On this record is on point. 'Running To Stand Still' closing out side one and then starting side two with 'Red Hill Mining Town' is probably my current highlight of the album. The desperation in Bono's voice has never sounded better than on the latter. And speaking of sound, it of course goes without saying that the entire production and mixing of this is just magnificent. Well done Eno and Lanois. On a closing note, I know that The Edge gets a lot of flack for not being a particular good guitarist. While he's definitely not bombarding us with licks and solos, the sound that he manages to create on The Joshua Tree is iconic. His shifts in dynamics are excellent, and he never overstays his welcome with his characteristic, jangly, atmospheric, echoing notes. I mean, thousands have tried to copy this sound - most unsuccesful.
Easily my favorite U2 record. How can it not be with that trio of opening songs? Slow down guys! Bono really developed as a vocalist leading up to this record and while he’s still emotional as ever his technical abilities much improved. The Edge must’ve heard his fair share of talk about his guitar playing over the years - and while he’s by no mean a flashy guitarist every single thing he does on The Joshua Tree just works. His use of effects is magnificent and the general feeling he creates is the glue that binds this album together. U2 was never better than on The Joshua Tree. And, given their recent releases, they probably won’t surpass it any time soon.
U2 at their peak. Everything works here. A vibrant atmosphere, solid musicianship, strong lyrics, and on top excellent production and sound engineering. Brian Eno and Daniel Landis getting the best out of the band
Brilliant. Remaster is good too.
Just a beautiful, beautiful album.
This album is a masterpiece. Hit after a hit, and The Edge wrote the textbook on using delay on his guitars. Great songwriting, great hooks on all of the tunes. Definitely an album that you can play front to back without any filler material. Super tight and accurate playing by the entire band.
5.0 + A masterpiece of epic sweep that sounds just as good as ever.
One of my favorite albums of all time. I’ll be the first to admit that Bono can be annoying and pretentious and, well, douchey, but this album is just fucking fantastic. Even if I’ve listened to it 100 times since then, it always brings me back to how it felt growing up as a teenager in the 90’s.
Despite this being one of the few albums I've actually owned and therefore easy for me to rate, I still feel that it's objectively a jewel in music history. The sound achieved in this collection is unique yet at the same time generic enough (at least as far as rock goes) that almost anyone can enjoy it. And the tracks! Almost every one a winner, but no one sounding too much like another. Putting a 5 on this one feels like putting a 5 on the world.
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.
Good album,
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.
Classic
The final brilliant album before they went all stadium and Bono wore sunglasses inside.
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 :)
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.
Algunos temarrales, aunque el final no me encanta. Pero merece el 5
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
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.
Lush cinematic rock that is both political and spiritual. Timeless.
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.
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.
Sounded pretty good.
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’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.
With or Without You is one of the most perfect songs and that's enough to give this album five stars.
Superb
Maybe my favorite album of theirs.
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
Was great, everything I knew
Perfect album
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.
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.
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.
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
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
I love this album, so much better than I thought 10/10. So good.
2 me. 2 U.
close to the edge
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.
Kann þetta utanað. Mjög góð plata.
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.
Vinilo total.
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
Classic
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.
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.
Brilliant
Ambient perfection from beginning to end.
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".
Fuck i love it
10/10
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.
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.
5*
These songs eahm saved my life. Eahm.