Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Killer intros, great textures.
What an album. It’s pretty flawless in every way, and an easy 5. I was 16 when this album came out. Joshua Tree felt timeless then and still does, so many years later. It was U2’s fourth album, but really different than anything else they had put out at that point. It was a continuation of the band’s relationship with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois that began with The Unforgettable Fire, but in a far more mature and carefully crafted work, their most perfectly realized album. Joshua Tree marks a turning point for U2, after which they were simply the most important band in the world. No one makes albums like this anymore. From that first slowly unfolding open in “Where the Streets Have No Name,” you know you’re in for something special, something monumental. It really does have a cinematic quality to it. This is mature, thoughtful music, beautifully written and expertly played. In 1987 it stood out starkly in a landscape full of spandex and hair, of glossy, gimmicky songs. It was also their most focused work to date as a band. Bono’s ode to/critique of “America” is palpable here, but not at all overwrought. I often think of this U2’s Springsteen album, which I mean as a giant compliment to both of them. The earthiness of these songs, the warm and resonant arrangements, the full throated expressions of emotion, the sense of spiritual longing, the images of a promised land out of reach… it all comes from the same musical place. Lyrically, Bono has matured tremendously on these songs. The lyrics reflect the band’s lived experiences at that time, like the death of band roadie and friend Greg Carroll (One Tree Hill) and Bono’s growing interest of global social and political issues (“Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Mothers of the Disappeared"). U2 was always an openly political band, but these songs just feel much more personal, more passionate, more spiritual. Still, he’s also able to address his own demons, with the stunningly lovely, slow burning “With You or With or Without You,” which pulls away from the political to look inward and face his own frustrations and anguish. The emotion feels real because it is real, simply put. Bono’s delivery of course is captivating. He sings with an urgency and an earnestness that I think a lot of people don't understand, but he makes you feel these songs in your bones. As for the Edge, I mean, come on. Here is one of the greatest guitarists of his generation, making some of his best music ever. There is a texture and a resonance to the Edge's playing that no one really can touch. I mean, he's painting with sound here, showcasing that signature chiming style through an adept use of studio effects. Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. are also in top form, one of the tightest rhythm sections in rock. Clayton and Mullen’s ability to intuit just the right amount of intensity to serve each particular song is an underappreciated talent and really the backbone of the band’s entire sound. Individually these songs are all exceptional. Taken together, they’re nothing short of a masterpiece. Fave Songs (All songs, in order from most to least favorite): Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, In God's Country, Red Hill Mining Town, Bullet the Blue Sky, Mothers of the Disappeared, Exit, Running to Stand Still, One Tree Hill, Trip Through Your Wires
Banger. Their best album- 5 of the first 6 songs are fire and the closers have grown on me too.
L'èpica en la seva expressió més colpidora. Grandiositat, estat de plenitud d'uns músics consumits per la musa. Una producció increïble per uns temes que han marcat més d'una década. La primera cara, per emmarcar con una de les millors de la història del rock, està ja tant assumida que es fa difícil valorar com es mereix. Ens queda la segona per anar-la redescobrint i saborejant amb els anys
U2's finest moment. One of the great rock records.
Where do I even start? Or end? The band and album that changed everything. From hearing 'With Or Without You' in the car on the drive back from school, seeing them on Whistle Test the week the album came out playing 'Exit' and 'In God's Country', buying the 12 inches for the extra tracks, my first concert at Cardiff Arms, buying the program full of Anton Corbijn photos which really kicked off my interest in photography. All of it. Seeing them in pre-COVID play the album in full, going with low expectations and being completely blown away at how stunning it was. However annoying Bono might have become, however patchy the band might have been over the last 20+ years, this album is still pretty perfect. It not be quite as beautiful sounding as 'The Unforgettable Fire' (being more of a Lanois album than an Eno album) but it's the band at the peak of their powers. There's so much on here that still floors me for a band in their mid-twenties on their fifth album. Bono's voice when it was still beautiful, before age, drink and smoking wrecked it. the minute and three quarters at the start before you hear a voice. 'Bullet The Blue Sky', still probably their best song even if there's plenty of live versions on YouTube that surpass the album version. The B-side of non-singles that are better than the singles - 'Red Hill Mining Town', 'In God's Country' (I think it might have been a US single), 'Exit', 'One Tree Hill'. An album that always makes me wants U2 to rediscover themselves and realise they can make an album like this if they choose to. The band is still pretty good, Bono needs to pull his finger out and remember how he used to write lyrics.
112. The Joshua Tree - U2 11 tracks. Running to Stand Still was played at my mate Tommy's funeral.... The album has always been important to me & it's a hugely emotional listen for loads of different reasons. I'm enormously biased though. 5/5
Great album. Seems ahead of its time. Classic U2 stadium sound.
I listened to The Joshua Tree a lot when I was in high school. Everyone seems to agree the first three tracks are all monster hits. I also really like Bullet the Blue Sky and Running to Stand Still. It's just a great fucking album.
Loved this when it first came out and it’s still an impressive piece of work
1. Fixed drum fill 2. Ambient sound 3. Periodic guitar riff 4. Single lead voice 5. No instrument follows lead. 6. Great lyrics 7. Occasional chois by single person. 8. Pannned guitars
I was already mad crazy on U2 when this album debuted and it's one of the few musical moments for me where I have a sharp, distinct memory of counting down and listening when my local station broadcast With or Without You for the first time. The album is truly All Killer No Filler, and probably my vote for Brian Eno's peak production effort. It's hard for me to separate this album from all the personal moments it had for me at the right time of my life. But listening fresh years later, it's only gotten more monumental .
This is a forever album. I was 10 when this album came out... Still a great listen, 35 years later. I'm surprised tracks like Exit and Bullet the Blue Sky don't get more love.
A must
Stunning album. First three songs set the mood perfectly. Love the soft/ poetic like acoustics and lyrics. I'd say this album, U2 found their sound. Despite their 1984 album, with their single "Sunday Bloody Sunday", all eleven tracks are monsters! Although they're a rock band, their music is light. You're able to appreciate it more, since the instrumentals arn't dominating your attention. Defiently reccomend. Total stand out is "The Streets Have No Name" excellent opening. Although "Bullet The Blue Sky" gets an honourable mention, as I haven't heard it before and my god it's brilliant!
In just one word: Beautiful
This is my favorite album of all time with my favorite song of all time, "Where The Streets Have No Name." It's excellent in every way and all songs, save for Exit and Mothers of the Disappeared" are absolutely excellent. Incredible start to the album and the middle through the near-end parts are massively underrated compared to the rest of U2's catalog. 10/10.
Awesome
5/5 One of the best albums of all time.
Get some stick but this is actually an unbelievable album!
Amazing
In contrast to the ambient experimentation of their 1984 release, The Unforgettable Fire, the band aimed for a harder-hitting sound within the limitation of conventional song structures on The Joshua Tree. The album is influenced by American and Irish roots music, and through sociopolitically conscious lyrics embellished with spiritual imagery, it contrasts the group's antipathy for the "real America" with their fascination with the "mythical America". 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. They represented this in the sleeve photography depicting them in American desert landscapes.
The greatest rock album of all time.
Capolavoro
Fantastic album front to back
Loved it
One of the best ever!
Absolute class
4 1/2
With or With Out you
Epic Es bleibt genau meine Mischung aus Folk, Rock, Hymne, Druck, Pathos, Einfachheit und einem Schuss Selbstgerechtigkeit. Klappt bei keinem anderen U2 albbb I’llm in der Form
Que recuerdos.....
I love when they stack the hits up front. Even better, this really is a strong & varied album throughout, hard & soft. Vocals & lyrics are great.
Can still always listen to it, even though it's become pretty basic.
very good album, all songs were amazing but not all like each other, creating a very nice listen. very good vocals and very nice accompaniment
Está fuera de lugar oiga
Good Classic
Perro discazo 9/10
Obra maestra de éxito comercial. Prácticamente todas y cada una de las canciones son de 5 estrellas, desde las más conocidas: Where the streets have no name, I still haven't found what I'm looking for, With or without you hasta Running to stand still, In god's country y One tree hill. Imprescindible de verdad.
U2 gran clásico!
First time listening to this album all the way through. It starts out super strong with the first 3 songs all timeless radio classics. The album carries an ethereal atmosphere that feels effortlessly pertinent. The atmosphere is consistent through the remainder of the songs and the album definitely deserves more listens. I am not the biggest fan of Bono or his voice but the instrumentation on this record is confident and unique.
I don't have memories of this from childhood so I am not sure I have the memories connected to it that others might have that would push it to a five. But its still really awesome, they have a beautiful, calm power that embodies their music. This one is a good example of it all.
I'd be hard pressed to find a better album start than this The sound is still so fresh, hasn't aged one day
What an incredible three song run at the opening.
88/100. The Joshua Tree by U2 is a fantastic record, and one of the band’s most defining works. The opening tracks are incredibly strong, emotionally powerful and instantly nostalgic. They set the tone for the whole album, which blends anthemic rock with heartfelt lyricism. Some of U2’s best work for sure, and a timeless classic that still resonates.
Overall vibe of the album is great, love the instrumental part of all the songs and even the vocals are crazi, but I don't think that any of these songs stood out from the rest, so vote: 7/10
неплохо
Despite having a personal gripe against U2 for two decades at the time of writing this, I can't deny this is a really good album. It's the epitome of 80's rock. The opening three tracks are pure works of art and I was impressed with how much I resonated with the remaining album tracks. Bono may be an insufferable twat but him & the boys hit the FM Radio jackpot with this class output.
Классный альбом, я слышал про U2 и вот познакомился! Например в Bullet The Blue Sky есть элементы метала в стиле Deftones
Though I am/was partial to the earlier albums (those before they become internationally uber-famous), this was a solid album. I am inclined to a 5 star rating, but the last 4 or 5 songs are not up to the first 4 or 5 songs. But I don't won't to minimize how slim the difference. 4- "razor-thin from a 5-" star rating.
I’ve always thought U2 was pretentious but you can’t deny the majesty of this album. Just banger after banger. It’s not perfect but it’s damn close
that 's good, i love the title track but the guitar and drums are over the top in the other tracks. It must be a groundbraking disk at the time
Another great album from a band I was never into - very strong first 3 tracks - all hits, but rest was pretty decent too!
I like u2. I recognized some of the songs off the album, and we’ve had one of their albums on this list before. They’re cool.4 stars
U2 toujours un plaisir à écouter Je découvre l'album dans l'ordre du coup, et c'est cool
I knew many more of their songs than I expected, sounds like vast fields
U2 always felt like a band extremely full of itself, and it's hard for me to shake off that feeling when listening to them. Had I never heard of U2 before, I probably would've liked it. But it's just a bit much Still, pretty good music
Ну что могу сказать. With or without you очень хорошая песня. Я ее реально очень люблю. За нее и еще первые две песни поставлю 4. Остальное - боооооррииинг
Лучше чем предыдущий выпавший альбом ю2, это даже было неплохо. Но впереди их ещё 2.. Кто же из нас так согрешил, что аж 4 альбома боно вошли в топ
не лучший альбом, но откровенно провальных песен нет, а начало у альбома очень мощное - 4
angenehm, viele gute songs, nichts überwältigendes (das ich noch nicht kannte) 3.61 sterne
Iconic 80s
U2 embraces the introspective in "The Joshua Tree", creating atmospheric, synth-filled soundscapes. Resultantly, it feels like a very larger than life and grandiose album. The three track openers are very strong and sets up the album nicely; although I would agree that the rest of the tracks fail to meet those tracks lofty heights. Nevertheless, a classic, even if the sound of U2 isn't really my thing.
Man kennt ja nur die Hits, mit denen das Album beginnt. Aber das ist auch danach noch überraschend gut.
Ganz nett
tem umas skips mas eu Amo esse. tem as maiores do U2
I feel like it’s trendy to hate on U2. This album is genuinely iconic.
U2's Americana album with blues and country textures mixed in with their rock sound. Covers a lot of territory and was a massive hit when released in 87. Was the last time I saw them live outside of the big arenas and this record still holds up well after 49 years.
I know this band has waned in recent years and Bono’s kind of a clown in the public eye, but man this Band was something special in the 80’s and 90’s, this album especially is such a quality time, Side A is so damn strong infact that i was almost tempted to give it a 5, but Side B isnt perfect so ill be fair. Standouts are where the streets have no name, i still haven’t found what im looking for, with or without you, bullet the blue sky and also the Sweetest Thing on the off-cuts.
A very solid and enjoyable album. Good music. Not only the hits hit.
U2 does their job well. “Red Mining Town” and “Running to Stand Still” stand out for me. Since they are often played on the radio, there’s a risk of good songs becoming background noise, such as “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
Not the biggest U2 fan, but this is a really solid album.
Prve štiri komade poznam, itak so kinda ikonični in imajo ta značilni stil kitare, po katerem so U2 znani. (A je bil to začetek tega stila? No idea. Ne najdm zj podatka. Če se prou spomnim, so v 70h začel?) Ampak, "Bullet the Blue Sky" mam v glavi drugo verzijo, v bistvu dons prvič slišim U2 verzijo. Mislim, da prek Kyuss poznam, grem preverit - ne? Ha. Vidim na wiki, da obstaja znana Sepultura verzija - fak, to verzijo poznam! TIL, da poznam en Sepultura komad & da je neki iz mojega otroštva neresnično. I guess zarad tega mi je blo kr čudn slišat U2 verzijo, ker mi je bil ful preagresiven vajb za njih. Uf, ne, ful mi je huda originalna verzije. Nism tok fan country zvoka ("Trip Through Your Wires"). "Exit" mi ma tak "Horses" od Patti Smith/"Cactus" od Pixies vajb. Ej, všeč mi je bil.
Des tubes comme I Still haven't found what I'm looking for mais bon je trouve que c'est un peu toujours pareil U2 sinon, mais ça reste reconnaissable et ça sort du lot
Un classique mais toujours un plaisir à écouter
A lot of tree Hill so I actually know a lot of songs on this album, but I have a hard time with you too because all I can remember is the next album to everyone. Lol.
7/10 Best songs: Exit I've never really thought too much about U2 - they were slightly before my time (although I HATED the ubiquity of Beautiful Day when it was released). The album is pretty solid, with a few stand-out tracks, but it does sort of have a dad-rock vibe at times. I don't think it's absolutely revolutionary or life-changing, but it's enjoyable. And that's all you can really ask for.
This starts nice for sure, and I'm a sucker for U2 vocals unfortunately.
Me gusto
I feel like this album rating boils down to: how much do the last eight songs detract from the first three? Off to an absolutely corking start and then seriously tails away into mediocrity leaving a taste of disappointment and missed opportunity. If four stars means I’d listen again…then 3.5 would mean I’d listen to the beginning again. So I guess that has to be rounded up to 4…just about.
4.3 Could put the A-side of the album up against anything. As with the other U2 the edges guitar work is the standout. I had to catch myself, I was signing along to with or without you and doing my best Adam Watt impression
banger on banger on banger
A 5 star album to me powers through from beginning to end. It's not that there isn't better songs than others, but there's a strength that carries all the way through. My problem with U2 is that they never really seem to achieve that. This albums starts off in the first half on fire. The first four tracks are certified classics. Running to Stand Still would be right in line if the back half of the album to could back up the first four tracks. But it doesn't. This album is great, just not fantastic.
disc 1 only. Rest of the album can't reach the heights of the first three run. I get Bono is insufferable but these guys have a fantastic sound.
First half of this album is incredible. Second half forgettable. Light 4
#156/1001 🇮🇪 I don't consider myself to be a big fan of U2 but this is a brilliant album. Best tracks: Red Hill Mining Town, With Or Without You, Where the Streets Have No Name, One Tree Hill.
Lots of great songs. Huge album. I can’t bring myself to give U2 a five though, they’re just not a 5 star band for me and the album tails off in the final third.
Certainly some grade A classic songs. Not quite sure if it's a masterpiece, but it reminds you that Bono and U2 were once influential greats and not a bit of a punchline.
I liked it
Good album! It has a couple classic tracks and some other ones I hadn’t heard before but still enjoyed, like running to stand still. Love the sound of this band.
Souvent, avec les albums dont le singles ont une très bonne renommée, je ne prends pas le temps de les découvrir en entier. Where the streets have no name, I still haven't found what I'm looking for et With or without you méritent leur succès. Ces morceaux font parti de ma playlist et le reste encore après les années, mais qu'elle découverte ont été Bullet the blue sky et Exit. Le reste est plutôt bon, deux titres que je n'écouterai sans doute jamais seuls. Ce n'est pas un sans fautes (est-ce que ça existe, au fait un sans faute?) et ce sera un de mes album de l'été.
An overused classic. An excellent album that has become victim of it's success.
Ngl I thought he was a new singer
Great album, I don’t feel like saying anything extensive.
bullet the blue & trip through the wire & one tree hill
Claaasicc.
A great recording that stood the pass of time.
Can you explain the 80’s without this album?
There’s a weird amount of hate towards U2 in the reviews but this is a solid album.
What makes it great is not just anthem-making. Plenty of bands can write big songs. Very few can make bigness feel earned. The Joshua Tree sounds huge, but it is not empty. There is spiritual hunger in it, political unease in it, romantic confusion in it, and a genuine fascination with America as both promise and damage. That tension is the whole engine. The grandeur is real, but so is the doubt.
Muitas músicas calmas e assim românticas, com bom instrumental, mas um bocado slow paced para mim. Nevertheless, tem pelo menos 3 bangers
I like War better but U2 are legendary for a reason!
brilliant album the joshua tree is so good u2 are very influential great album opener solid album 9/10
great album
Starts off so unbelievably strong only to take a big dip in the middle. Finished off fairly strong though, but the power of those first couple of tracks is enough to carry into a 4 for me.
so many sitcoms have some sort of bono joke so for the longest time i did not think that u2 would be any good. jokes on me because i really did enjoy this.
Mom's favorite album of all time. Very strong opening 3. Makes me feel like I'm in a coming-of-age movie. Starts to die off in the middle since the opening is so strong, with the middle of the album really only working for those who witnessed the peak of U2. Despite this, the last three songs amp up the emotion, which offers a great ending. Definitely an experience.
Great listen. It starts out as an all-timer but slacks off just a little bit too much towards the end for the full marks. 4/5
I know Bono is an easy target but man U2 can write a song. Sometimes they get out over their skis (Exit is all over the place) but the first three tracks on this album are all timers and some of the later tracks (Trip Through Your Wires, One Tree Hill) are also great. Probably a four and a half star album.
In a vacuum it’s objectively good and could not have been created by anyone else.
One of the top pop rock albums of the 80s love the bass and guitar work , and the 3 top songs , not the slow ones , lotsa talent before they became rich n famous
The hits keep on coming on this album. A really enjoyable listen.
I really don't like U2 so much anymore, but this and Achtung Baby are killer albums. I played the hell out of this CD as a young man, Bullet the Blue Sky, Mothers of the Disappeared, there's really not a terrible track on the whole thing.
Non do 5 solo perché qualche pezzo è meno potente di altri ma nel complesso grandissimo disco: 4,5
There's basically no way to sustain that three song opening sequence, possibly the pinnacle of rock as pop - the rest isn't bad, it's just there. But the production is the star. The guitar sound on this album is spectactular: chiming, echoey, textural and melodic at once and the interplay with the simple but thundering post-punk bass parts creates such a huge space.
Very nice for new person
I looked at the track list before starting the album and thought it likely it'd be 5 stars - "Where the Streets Have No Name" into "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" into "With or Without You" is an incredible opening run - but I just didn't feel strongly about the rest of the album. Definitely a necessary inclusion on the list though.
Este grupo me recuerda a una profesora de italiano que tuve; obsesionada con U2. Gran gruppo, música hermosa,
Un mítico
A bunch of good songs that I wouldn't want to listen to on their own again.
Great sound. Thoroughly enjoyed the second half.
The only bigger try-hards than U2 are their haters
Some classics to start, but serving half was weak
I mean, they really knew how to cultivate a vibe
Bono
Easily my favorite U2 album. My mom kept this among a handful of other CDs in her van growing up, so it was always on. My biggest complaint is that almost every song has a slow ass intro except “Bullet the Blue Sky,” which maybe shouldn’t be on this album in the first place.
What a great album with just hit after hit. I dont know how you could listen to this album and not want to sing along to every word with Bono.
No lo he escuchado entero porque es muy largo y no he tenido tiempo pero lo que he escuchado me ha gustado bastante. El disco empieza con 3 bangers y pensaba que iba a ir para abajo pero mi favorita ha sido la cuarta, irónico. Ya lo escucharé entero pero muy bien. Muy experimental no me lo esperaba tanto y la voz del cantante cuando la rasgaba me parece que está muy bien metido los momentos en los que lo hace. 7
- same with Muse, just lots of bangers and good vibes - never gets old
Maybe the most impressively front-loaded album of all time. The whole thing is emotional and varied enough to be interesting, but the first three songs are by far the best. Highlights: "Where the Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", "With or Without You"
When this record came out it was so over hyped, won all awards and I thought is it was ok. After many years of hearing the songs and a fresh listen to the entire album, I see what all the hype was about. It's probably on of the best albums to come out in the late 1980's
Suena increíble aparte de los 3 o 4 temazos para la historia
I can see how this would be a defining LP for people of the right age, especially in a pre-digital world. I think how you rate it may depend entirely on how you rate the deep cuts.
It's insane that the first three songs are the opening of this album, such heavy hitters. The rest is "nice"
A great album. Catchy but serious Rick music. Memorable stuff.
Overall this was great, but they really front loaded this one
I can see why a lot of people love this. Great atmosphere throughout and you have to say the vocals are pretty impeccable.
Overhyped
Second half is better than I remembered it.
I found it hard to fully appreciate the album due to how often I’ve heard all of the singles before. Certainly the non-singles are very strong, and I enjoyed listening to those the most
Bueno, lleno de hitazos. Si bien nunca escuche nada de U2, si puedo identificar que muchos de los temas mas conocidos que tiene u2 que puedo haber escuchado alguna que otra vez en la radio o en algun lado, son parte de este album. O al menos desde mi desconocimiento esa fue mi impresion. Tambien puede ser que tengan muchos hits que conozco y no lo sabia y estan repartido en otros albums tambien jaja
Even if I hadn’t heard their songs before, The Edge’s distinctive guitar sound would make it immediately recognizable as their own. Well-known tracks like Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and With or Without You stood out, particularly for their strong melodies and atmosphere. I was also drawn to the bass in With or Without You, which creates a deeply hypnotic sense of tension. Beyond the major singles, songs like Exit and Mothers of the Disappeared revealed a darker, more restrained side of the album that I also found compelling.
Favorite Track: Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
a decent amount of good songs!!! a ton of well known ones
It was my first time listening to U2 and 8 think this was the perfect album to start with
On one hand I'm not a huge U2 fan, but on the other this album is one of those quintessential alternative rock albums everyone should listen to at least once.
I never used to like U2. I visited the Rock And Roll Museum in Dublin where they had a room dedicated to the band. The tour guide admitted that it is easy to clown on the band due to how Bono acts, but recalled how seeing them on the news during their rise would be some of the only positive news they would get during those hard times for the people of Ireland. That put the band into a new perspective and I remember giving this album a go on my way home and I was officially converted. These songs are made with the intention of being stadium anthems. You can trace the roots of their sound to how they got to this point. There's touches of traditional Irish music peppered throughout, sitting alongside elements from the post-punk that were so clearly influenced by. The result is a record that is meant to be sung to tens of thousands of people in a stadium and not just a few hundred at a club gig. When the conversation comes up of what album has the best 3 song run, I'd happily nominate this record for the first 3 tracks. I'd argue that this record is certainly front-loaded and ends on a bit of a whimper with 'Mothers Of The Disappeared' being a bit of a wet blanket song to end an energetic record with. Bono's voice can be great, but there are times when he's trying to force songs to sound bigger than they need to be - look at the end of 'One Tree Hill'. Despite these nitpicks, this is a great record and I'm excited to hear what else these lads can come out with.
This is one of only 2 U2 records that belong on this list with Boy being the other. U2 found their sound and this was maximum U2 with Bono figuring out how to be both a great singer and compelling songwriter. Having seen U2 in a small club touring Boy and then again on this tour in an arena the growth was obvious. There are a few misses on this record for me, but the hits are obvious. I’m not picking the misses because it would be nitpicking and for those who live U2 there are no misses. For the U2 haters nothing was good. I’m not a hater but neither am I a fanatic. What is unmistakable is that this is an above average rock record with a distinct sound and message and withstands and deserves repeated listening. 4.5/5
First CD ever to me. Peak U2, biggest rock band from this era. The Edge carries it with those airy guitars. Bono can be annoying. But it worked very well then and still does, which is pretty rare for music from that time.
Joshua Tree was one of the first albums I ever heard all the way through. My appreciation for it only got greater as I got older. U2 isn't my favorite band, but they were really solid in their writing and composition.
I enjoy every song as an album experience, but I ain’t throwing on Red Hill Mining Town everyday.
After this album and the previous U2 album I listened to, I think I understand U2's "sound" - very anthemic/larger-than-life feeling. It's feel good overall, but it doesn't connect to me 100%. It's like watching someone at church closing their eyes and lifting their hands up while they sing along to hymns, but you can't just connect to that level.
Bastante God, las primeras canciones son buenisimas
Nice and slow with or without you - saved would listen again could probably save more songs
Start of the record with the singles is great. Then it gets a little unconventionell, unfortunatley not all songs hit. But I like it a lot. Fav: With or without you
Got this album is perfect. The soundscape the guitar, the production everything is impeccable. But then Bono’s nasally voice came on and I was forced to endure that so I am rating this one star
It’s technically good but takes itself too seriously or something
Of the two U2 albums I had this is my favorite. Favorite songs: Where the Streets Have No Name, In God's Country, I Still Haven't Found..., With or Without You, Bullet the Blue Sky
Undeniably great, though there’s an emotional distance I have with U2 that keeps this from being an all timer for me.
Keeping if only for the big two songs
COMO QUE UN TEMA ESTA BASADO EN LAS MADRES DE PLAZA DE MAYO QUE
451/1089 - If I was born before this album came out, I probably would've really liked it for creating a new sound. Unfortunately, I associate this sound of U2 with all those "in these unprecedented times" corpo-commercials. That being said, it isn't their fault and there are still some really good songs on here though like the blues "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" or the more War-y "Bullet The Blue Sky" and melodic "With or Without You."
I honestly enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. I’ve known of U2 for many years, but only heard a couple of their songs (none from this album). I know they’re a divisive band, and Bono’s voice is well known to be very polarizing, so I admittedly went into it with a bit of cautious skepticism. For one, I think Bono sounded fine. Don’t really understand why some people loathe his voice so much. And the listening experience as a whole was very enjoyable. The Joshua Tree scores a solid 4/5 from me. Would be a 5 if there was a little bit more diversity in the sound. That’s really the only complaint I have. “Exit” is easily one of its most experimental moments, and one of my favorites on the album. In closing, I can definitely see myself returning to this album, and I’m looking forward to checking out more of U2’s catalog! Album highlights: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With Or Without You, Bullet the Blue Sky, Trip Through Your Wires, Exit
Pensé que sería algo diferente pero me sorprendió su sonido de rock melódico. Me gustó bastante.
It's iconic, loved the first song. Overall pretty good.
I haven't listened to this all the way through since maybe 1990. It's nice to hear it again. It's funny that I _loved_ "Bullet the Blue Sky" on Rattle and Hum, but had almost no memory of it from The Joshua Tree. I'm really drawn to "Trip Through Your Wires" today, and I'm sure I have not heard that in this century.
I like U2
Where the Streets Have No Name - 5/5 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - 4.5/5 With or Without You - 4.5/5 Bullet the Blue Sky - 4.5/5 Running to Stand Still - 3.5/5 Red Hill Mining Town - 4/5 In God's Country - 3.5/5 Trip Through Your Wires - 3/5 One Tree Hill - 3.5/5 Exit - 4/5 Mothers of the Disappeared - 4/5 If the whole album was like the first 4 tracks, then it would somehow be an easy 5 stars. But the rest of album peters out and doesn't go back to those highs, staying at a pretty solid but not outstanding level or arena-oriented rock for the remaining 40 minutes or so. For an attempt to go "harder", they really only went hard for the first few tracks and only a few tracks (Bullet to Blue Sky, Exit) could be seen as hard rock-adjacent. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With or Without You, Bullet to Blue Sky
Æ va streng med de sist. Så får være litt snill no. Fin plate. Skjønne godt at de va klodens største live-band på den tia.
Første halvdel e utrolig sterk, før det etter hvert blir litt anonymt. The Edge skinner🌹
One of my faves. 4.5
so many bangers
One of U2’s best but not quite the best. Still, a very good album at the start which slowly peters off after the halfway mark. The first four songs are absolutely unreal. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: With Or Without You
Pas trop into u2 mais cet album est bon! Les trois son sont exceptionnel. 4-/5
It is a very good album. An album my mother really loves it has a feel of relatability if you are going through hard times
Their best albums. No skips.
i just couldn’t let myself fully enjoy them, still don’t get what they’re about although it’s the third album i get. was okay, on a good side
Got this album as a gift in 7th grade. Achtung Baby had been released and a friend of mine gifted this to me for Christmas after I mentioned I hadn't spent much time on this album. This album has some great moments performance-wise and production-wise. Historically significant album worth a listen all the way through once. After my first time listening to this, I found myself skipping a few tracks on a regular basis. When I gave it a full listen again later, I found a new appreciation for those previously skipped songs. Definitely in the Top 3 of the U2 catalog.
Rating: 7/10 Arguably U2 at their best, though I'm not sure if I would wind up liking Achtung Baby more. This one probably has higher highs, and it might be very frontloaded. Beautifully produced by Brian Eno, that guy knows how to make great atmospheric music. Nicely mixed, strong sense of dynamics, all the buzzwords. They have good singles for sure. While they're pretty boring on the surface, they still have this almost undeniable enjoyment to them. U2 is the definition of a 7/10 band for me. Turns out they were a pretty good band, but I never find them spectacular. I'll keep the same score for this one but I'll also bump it up to 4 stars, why not
I finally can understand why people lost their shit over U2; this album absolutely slaps. I really enjoyed "Bullet the Blue Sky" as far as songs I've never heard.
Starts off with three great, now-classic songs. The second half lags a bit compared to the first half, but this is a fairly solid album all the way through. Not particularly groundbreaking, but well made and generally catchy light rock.
Not even a big U2 fan, but this album is great. I like how they explore different sounds on different tracks. Keeps it fresh, but still cohesive. 4/5
This is what I think of when I think of U2. It's the sound I grew up with. All existing in a time before the iTunes debacle. Where The Streets Have No Name I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For With Or Without You Bullet The Blue Sky In God’s Country
Best Song: Where the Streets Have No Name Worst Song: Trip Through Your Wires
Seminal 80s album. U2 has never been a favorite band, but with respect to first 3 tracks on an album, you have an excellent set here. Ill be generous and give 4 to a 3.5 album.
First U2 album I bought. I went to see them when they toured the album. I became a big fan along with a lot of my friends. I don't listen to them anymore. I last saw them live on the Popmart tour. This is a good album, and I enjoyed revisiting it.
A classic album. Not a bad song on the album, Several hits and the intense masterpiece that is “Exit.” I like their early albums (War, Boy) but this one is considered their best for a reason.
I believe this was 9th grade for me. I knew a guy who was obsessed with u2. I recall owning this on cd. But it’s another one of those albums I never listened to all the way through. The first 5 songs are very good. From there it’s just ok. Lanois is a huge part of this record in many ways, just watch the documentary in the making of the album. I’m torn between 3 or 4 stars because it’s obviously u2 at their peak and it’s well done. I’m going with 3.5 which will push it to 4. But I’m my heart I lean more to 3.
I think they benefited from me having recently listened to War, and I like this album better than War. I think the pop stuff fits their vibe more. And it's still got a little bit of a punk edge.
Eigentlich kein Fan, aber wirklich gut anzuhören.
Que de bons souvenirs rappelés 🙏🙏🙏
Great early U2 album.
there's a reason a lot of people (myself included) can only name Bono and The Edge and not any other members of U2, and it's only partially cause those are catchy and easy to remember stage names. the drumming and bass guitar are perfectly good, but take a supporting role to the vocal melodrama and the frankly really impressive guitar texture. on the other hand, the actual *lyrics* often leave something to be desired, and the overall songwriting sags heavily in the middle of the album.
U2 is one of those bands that on paper, I should love, but I’ve never gotten into them. Something just never fully clicks for me. This is the best album I’ve heard from them, though. Really a great album. 4 easy stars. Maybe even 4.5.
Good songs
8/11
Actual learning to not mind U2
Album emocional Great drumps OMG young Bono
The first half of this album is outstanding! Shame it’s U2
Yes Bono is a self aggrandising prick BUT! … that should not mean that one cannot appraise U2’s output fairly, I stand by my assertion that 1980 - 1992 U2 were a top quality rock band and this album serves as strong evidence to support this. It’s maybe 10 mins too long, maybe lacks one more higher energy track but these are not fatal flaws , it’s a strong album and deserves recognition as such 4.2
Not a U2 fan by any measure, but it's hard to argue that there aren't at least a few really strong songs on Joshua Tree. Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois as producers will do that for you, even if you're Bono.
was walking home from the library at dawn and the songs on here were really hitting. i also really liked the way with or without you builds its instrumentation, and the vocals throughout the album are powerful
On their fifth album, U2 finally sound like a band that’s figured out how to turn ambition into something undeniable. The atmospheric sprawl, political urgency, and spiritual yearning that marked earlier records like War and The Unforgettable Fire don’t just coexist here—they lock together. With the guiding hand of producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, The Joshua Tree stretches toward an American mythos of deserts and highways without losing the band’s core sense of purpose. If you had a radio anywhere near you in the late ’80s, you’ve already absorbed the opening run: “Where the Streets Have No Name” builds from a slow shimmer into a sky-scraping anthem, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” retools gospel into something arena-sized, and “With or Without You” distills longing into one of the decade’s defining love songs. Even “Bullet the Blue Sky,” with its searing guitar and apocalyptic imagery, managed to break through to wider audiences. But the real surprise is how deep the album runs—there’s no filler here, just variations on a theme of searching, whether spiritual, political, or personal. What elevates The Joshua Tree beyond a collection of hits is its emotional gravity. Bono sounds less like a preacher and more like a man wrestling with belief, while The Edge paints vast, echoing landscapes with his guitar. Tracks like “In God’s Country” and “Trip Through Your Wires” expand the palette, blending roots influences with the band’s signature atmospherics. And then there’s “With or Without You”—for some listeners, the high point not just of this record, but of any record, period. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t just define an album; it defines a feeling you keep coming back to long after the music stops.
After three days of trash albums it is nice to see one I actually own. And while I didn't need to listen to it, to know it, I have listened to it plenty, my ears needed something good. And this is very good. 3.75 rounded to 4
Dramatic, atmospheric, grandiose, and compelling.
Classic album. I think it's quintessential U2, where their sound really came together
Def some good stuff on here, but this album definitely feels a bit more subdued compared to their other stuff. Still a nice listen.
Bangers in the beginning, starts falling off at the end. 7.5/10
U2 makes really good and listenable music and this album is one of the great ones
Without a doubt their best album.
i didnt know what to expect since ive never listened to u2 before bit solid album
Great.
I've never liked U2, but this was good
I believe this was their best album
The Joshua tree is a great album with minimal low points and some excellent tunes. Slightly top heavy on the front side of the album
The first three songs are generational, but it really runs out of steam by the end
The last good *rock* album U2 did (Zooropa/etc don't count)
The first has is incredibly good, but the second half is just solid.
Joshua Tree is a classic and there’s no better opener than where the streets have no name , edges instant recognisable guitar effects echo through the album Larry mullens marching tribal drums really push the songs along , some hits like with or without you are just timeless Bono has a pure quality to his voice that really resonates a lot on these tracks Still haven’t found what I’m looking for I think was a gospel song turned pop tune Feel the first half was great but then it slipped slightly not cos they were bad songs just really hard to follow some of them big hitters But always been a fan of Joshua tree don’t think they’ve looked back since making that record
One of the defining and turn around albums for U2. I was a huge fan until Achtung Baby. This album is steeped in Americana from the bands constant touring in attempt to break the US market. Every track is brilliant and shows how much they as musicians soaked up their influences.
Stacked first side, and some still very good songs on the second. Can easily see how this made them the world's biggest rock band.
Their 2nd best album
I’m not exactly a U2 fan, but if I’m going to listen to them this is probably the one I’m going to listen to.
I think at this point in time U2 has gotten mildly over hated actually.
I had this on vinyl and listened to it over and over, but it has been decades since I heard the whole thing from start to finish. What talent, coming out of a really tumultuous time in Ireland.
Great record, and I don't even like U2 that much at this point (with the exception of this record and War and Unforgettable Fire). 8/10
I’ve heard this before and I used to own it on tape. I never replaced it after I lost the tape because I think I had gotten tired of U2 by the end of the ‘90s when I was replacing tapes with cds. U2 had a problem of really getting up their own asses as the 90s went on. This one comes before they got all the way up their own asses (although having a guitar player call himself The Edge is a good starting point to getting up your own ass). One thing I’ve heard said about him is that he is less of a guitar player than an effects pedal player, and I agree with that in a complementary way. The echoes and delays and reverb are well thought out and used with a purpose for each song here instead of being used to mask sloppy playing and there are interesting guitar parts underneath all that. The album suffers some from being front-loaded with the best songs but there are good deep cuts with no filler and it closes on a good ending. I forget that U2 used to be a good band and this album is a great example of that.
Better than the other U2 albums. Had some hits which was nice. Still hope there isn't any more U2 on here
4명의 시인이 부르는 이 시대의 찬송가
Singles are amazing. Rest pretty good
1) Bullet the Blue Sky is incredible, edges of the song are distorted, guitar is frantic, wailing. Easily the highlight of the album. Contrasted with the beginning twangs of Running to Stand Still, it's shining. Latter song is whatever, good but not insane
Somehow these four dorks from Northern Ireland made one of the most American rock records of the 1980s and no one before or since has been able to recapture the sound in exactly the same way, maybe apart from R.E.M. in its early heyday. The band was obviously at the peak of its creativity but add Eno, Lanois and Flood to the mix and Bono's earnestness hits your heart like an arrow; the Edge's guitar swirls like desert landscapes; the band sounds more epic than anything ever. It's occasionally exhausting and some of the second half songs suffer, but when the first 6 songs on your record all have legendary status it's kinda undeniable.
U2 the Joshua tree un classic
I just listened to The Joshua Tree (1987) by U2, and I came away with quite a few thoughts about what I heard. I have never been a big rock fan. I am only now exposing myself more to the genre because I challenged myself to explore new kinds of music. Through this process, I have realized that I tend to like a very specific kind of rock: songs with strong melodies, intelligent lyrics with a clear sense of purpose, a sound that flirts with pop or at least is not too aggressive, and a singer with a beautiful voice. I found many of those elements on this album. I completely understand why the record is so acclaimed and why it won Album of the Year in 1988 at the Grammy Awards. With that said, I think the album starts incredibly strong with a sequence of three spectacular songs: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and my favorite, With or Without You. After that, however, this is purely my subjective impression, I feel the album loses a bit of its direction. The following tracks lean more toward a traditional rock sound, which is not really the style that appeals to me the most. The album closes beautifully with Mothers of the Disappeared. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. The album runs for about 50 minutes, and it went by very quickly, which is usually how I feel when I truly immerse myself in an album. All things considered, I gave The Joshua Tree four stars. It is an excellent and very well crafted album. After listening to it, which was my first time hearing a U2 record, I am now quite curious to explore more of the band’s work.
Opens with the four recognisable ones, also comfortably the four best songs here. But yeah it's good and pretty undeniable.
Nice record, some iconic songs in there. Not the biggest U2 fan but credit where credit is due.
No. 121 Nice music. Not a song on the album that I didn't like the sound of. Easy listening.
Even though Bono is the biggest shit (as measured in Courics), you've gotta give it up for the first three anthem-worthy songs. And the rest isn't too long.
Me parece que las canciones con folk y blues de fondo son absolutamente las mejores
The hits on this one are pretty classic songs. LIttle drop off on some of the deep tracks but that's ok.
There's a decent documentary about Joe Strummer where certain pop culture figures and rock stars are interviewed about his legacy. One of those people is Bono, who talks about growing up in Ireland in the 70s and being heavily influenced by The Clash and Strummer. One thing he lauds Strummer for particularly is his lack of pretension. BONO says this. While wearing sunglasses at night sitting next to a campfire. Ugh. Dude probably also thinks he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. It also grates me, to some degree, that what was once a very political Irish band has become (today) this sort of metonym for a beautiful, conflicted Americana, even if it was not meant as such at the time. This is not the fault of the band when they made this album, although it all *feels* steeped in the post-9/11 "All That You Can't Leave Behind" era hoo-rah stuff. All of this adds up to this: U2 is unaccountably whack. U2 is easy to make fun of. U2 deserves to be made fun of. HOWEVER, challengingly, they are also very talented and make quite good music if you can stop rolling your eyes long enough. So if we actually focus on the music, this album is great, and largely deserving of its reputation. To be sure, it contains a few songs that are overambitious and striving ("Running to Stand Still" "Mothers of the Disappeared"). The Edge's signature playing style (which I've always felt owes a lot to London Calling and "Train in Vain" specifically) really sounds incredible here. The hits deserve to be hits. Some of the deep tracks ("Trip Through Your Wires" "One Tree Hill" "Exit") are excellent. "Bullet the Blue Sky" is the hardest they've ever rocked (although live renditions rock far more). It's great! I can't deny it! U2 (particularly Bono) is annoying. I'm annoyed that you gotta hand it to 'em. That said, I gotta hand it to 'em. This is a very enjoyable listen.
I thought I remembered not liking u2...must say I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was 7 or 8 great songs. I would say a 4 1/2
Leuk
Melancholy and somber, reminds me of the last song at the dance floor for school dances. I really liked the first 3 songs of the album.
I'm very familiar with this album. If the entire album was as good as the first half, this would be an absolute high-water mark for albums. But the second half of the album just doesn't have the same quality. If it were two separate albums, it would be a 5 for the first half and a 4 or 3 for the second half.
Before listening: i am excited for this album since i already know 3 songs and my dad is a big u2 fan. I know a bit of their music style but i am curious about the songs i haven't heard before! Where the streets have no name: one of the 3 songs i ALWAYS mix up the intro's but i do like this song I liked the first few songs the most, the rest was a bit boring but still enjoyed listening!!
Complicated relationship with this one. Came out my freshman year of college, and I immediately dismissed it as U2’s sellout album. I grew to like it more and more over the years, and really listening to it again now … I’m right back to where I was in 1987. This was the album where the best band became the biggest band.
For me, it's all about Daniel Lanois and possibly Brian Eno. This U2 album has such atmosphere. The only albums I've heard that capture something similar are Bob Dylan's Oh Mercy and Time Out of Mind, both of which were produced by Lanois. The first half of this album is undeniably killer. The quality of the songs takes a step down afterwards. Except for "In God's Country". I remember being very excited when this album came out and Very disappointed with U2's subsequent albums. At the time, at least. I look forward to re-evaluating them when they come up on this list.
Bit of a nostalgia trip for me. This album came out a month before I was born and my mom LOVED it. Ive heard her listen to this album my entire childhood. A good amount of the songs on here still hold up, I think Gen Z would recognize that too lmao
A lot of great songs.
Wow, yet another one from these guys! This one is clearly my favourite of them, but apart from the 3 big hits I am not familiar with album tracks, so this might go for 4 stars unless those album tracks are super amazing.
One of the best opening sides; drags a bit in the second half.
Loved this album! There’s so many good tracks on it
I'll say straight up that I'm not really a U2 fan. But the the guitar work still sounds amazing to this day, and it's difficult to think of 3 straight opening tracks on any album as good as these.
O melhor de se gostar de uma banda desprezada pelos amigos é aquela sensação juvenil de exclusividade, de possuir algo que está além do alcance dos pobres mortais. U2 é a típica banda que todo mundo ama odiar e é sempre um prazer revisitar seus discos, especialmente este ótimo "The Joshua Tree".
Another great album judging by the track listing. Looking forward to listening to this.
Great album with genuinely enjoyable music. Never listened to U2 before but I love their sound.
Can't deny that the first few songs are legendary. Album gets meh after that. I'd call that 4 stars.
It's really impressive how an Irish band managed to nail the vibes of driving on a long highway during the early evening, setting off while the sun is still in the sky, and being able to watch it set. Also, say whatever you want about U2, but this is iconic. I will hear out complaints about Bono's voice, but the rest of the album, instruments and production, all achieve the goal that they were working towards (and I don't actually think Bono's voice is a negative here). This album is definitely driven mostly by its hits. Don't get it wrong, though, the rest of the album is still good, very evocative, and certainly captures the theme they were going for. But this is a great album because those first three songs are so good. (I ended up liking another one a little more than "Where the Streets Have No Name", but my point still applies). Favorite Song(s): Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With or Without You, Running to Stand Still
7/10
The solitary message of this album makes it a hard rate. The first 4 songs are amazing. After that, In God's Country is great, too but the rest is meh. BUT they all fit with the theme... Still going with a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 if that opening rush could've been sustained even for a couple more songs...
Soaring tunes, more great guitars from The Edge, and gospel/Southern influences creating some infectious grooves, it is all-in-all a great record.
I really wish Bono wasn’t Bono
Bändi löytänyt soundinsa, hyviä kappaleita hyvin soitettuna, pientä flirttailua americanan suuntaan (varmaan Jenkeissä kiertämisestä saatuja vaikutteita)
#260/1001. I have this still on my LP shelf, but when was the last time I listened to it? Somewhere in the (early) nineties? Still, some of the early U2 albums (tjis was the last one I got) meant a lot to me at some point, so don't want to sell them away. This album reset the epitome for stadium rock, and the sound has been influential and imitated by all the cold(ly)play(ing) stadium bands ever since. The masses love, but if the music is errorless it is also meaningless or something like that. What a roster of classics and songs which I know by heart - as do millions of others, and for that I cannot but rate this quite high. Perhaps I joined this project, cause I still haven't found what I was looking for, but apparently it was not U2.
My favourite of the three U2 albums we've gotten so far! This is perhaps the ultimate culmination of their stadium-ready "big music" sound that they'd been honing for years to this point, and every facet of the production shines through in bangers like Where the Streets Have No Name. Great stuff!
Looks of good songs.
Love the power of this recording. It's endured for all this time. Like all the songs.
2 a 3 bekende liedjes, andere nummers misschien eens vaker luisteren
4,5
If there ever was a front-heavy album, this is it. I mean, growing up in the 90s the first 3 songs were just about inescapable. And nearly 40 years after their release, they show no signs of flagging. Bullet The Blue Sky is one that I've definitely heard, but not nearly so much. Really enjoy it, solid song with a surprising groove about it. Rest of the album kind of drifted into my background. Some songs were a little draggy, but overall the sounds were nice and really hard to argue with. On gut feel this is a 4 for me.
Another good one by U2. Not my favorite band, but certainly happy to see them. Front loaded for sure. Couple of the later songs you could definitely make out some distinctly Irish moments.
First 4 songs on this album are all time, Streets Have No Name is one of my favorite songs. This does fall off massively after those though and while still nice to listen to, it does not have a replay ability for me after the beginning. Still a soft 4
First half of this album is loaded. Definitely falls off a bit after that but nothing egregious. Solid 4 here with the first 4 songs doing some heavy lifting.
Enjoyable
Peakalicious, alhoewel nostalgie hier sws een grote factor zal zijn. De eerste helft van het album is ook aanzienlijk beter dan de 2de.
8/10 Never listened to a U2 album before but I enjoyed this one a lot! Fav part was the instrumentation for sure.
The first three songs and "Exit" are great, but the rest is pretty mediocre. I enjoyed listening to it, but can't give it five stars.
I’d never been a fan of U2. Not that I disliked them, I just never spent the time searching out their albums, although of course they had so many hits that you knew them well enough. Apropos of which, it’s quite a statement to start an album (as they do here) with three songs which were all hit singles. Having listened to Joshua Tree all through, I think it’s good. Bono is faintly ridiculous in some ways but his voice is good and well suited to these songs (side note: I’d probably like Led Zeppelin a lot more if you could somehow substitute Bono’s voice for Robert Plant’s!). The musicianship is really good. The bass is always interesting and The Edge’s (stupid name) guitar style is really cool - rhythm and texture rather than rock and roll lead guitar histrionics. In fact, I found it interesting that you could almost imagine some of these songs as electronica rather than rock, with just a bit of tweaking. Bullet the Blue Sky was probably the standout song for me of those I hadn’t heard before - sort of a mashup of Joy Division drum and bass sound with Patti Smith prose poetry over the top! And (without having done any background reading) the album seems to have a theme of reflections on America as the band sound it at the time. Of the ones I already knew, With or Without You is a great song.
authentic and vibrant
Классный альбом, я слышал про U2 и вот познакомился! Например в Bullet The Blue Sky есть элементы метала в стиле Deftones
Very strong start to an album with the first 6 tracks
This album reminds me of my dad but not rlly
Fab album. Some hits and real wmtipn in the songs.
Fuck, now I want to rewatch The Americans.
De u2 haters zijn gewoon droevige zure mensen. Dit is gewoon pracht. Meeslepende gitaren, goede teksten en nostalgisch gezang.
I am SO excited for this one today. This album was the soundtrack to my high school experience and all the fun things that came with being in high school during Covid. I would listen to this driving to and from work and school. So yes, this is going to be a bit nostalgia fuelled. Starting off, Where the Streets have no Name. The intro, *chefs kiss*. I adore this song. It just reminds me of driving to the little town where I worked. Moving into I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. The guitar in the intro gets me every time. This is one of my dad’s favourite songs, so I heard it a good amount growing up. Still love it. Same with With or Without you. Classics. No complaints. I will also not hear complaints. Ok, now I’m done praising the big 3 of this album, I will go and enjoy the rest. Bullet in the Blue Sky — ugh, another great intro. It’s dad rock at its finest. I’m not a huge fan of the spoken word elements, but everything else carries it. Running to stand still - the intro reminds me of the breaking bad intro. I love what it morphs into. I’m an absolute sucker for a rock ballad, and this is no different (can I class it as a rock ballad?, maybe?, oh well, it is now). Red Hill Mining Town — the overall sound of this song is just great. It starts out a different vibe than the rest of the album so far which I think is really great. It does fall back into similar sounds, but I don’t mind, because if it wasn’t obvious already, I love this album. In Gods Country is alright, not my favourite, same with Trip Through Your Wires, I appreciate the vibe on that one, but it’s not as much for me. One Tree Hill is a good song. Nothing really else to add. I enjoy it every time I listen, but it’s not usually something I come back to. Exit is just a genuinely cool track. Again, has a different vibe then some of the rest of the album, and honesty reminds me of my listen through of War. The actual music in this track is just a really fun time. Finally, the closer, Mothers of the Disappeared. A gorgeous piece of music. Still not sure how I feel about it as a closer, but love it all the same. Overall, as much as I love this album, it is not a 5* album. My final rating is a 4/5 ⭐️, I said I wanted to be objective and so I will be. 18/1089
AND I STILL HAVEN’T FOUNDDD WHAT I’M LOOKING FORRRR! That’s truly my favorite song by U2, this album was enjoyable!
A very “American music culture” inspired album. You can hear country and blues rooted guitar accompanied by Bono’s recognizable voice. Although I know it’s an acquired taste; I very much enjoyed this listen. Having to push aside their later discography that was coming out while I was growing up; I can appreciate what this album displayed for U2 after seeing another part of the world that they were experiencing first hand
🥇i still haven’t found what i’m looking for 🥈with or without you 🥉red hill mining town HM: where the streets have no name, running to stand still, in god’s country, one tree hill sooooo good
I enjoyed the hits
Classic album.
solid
Solid songs, nothing mind-blowing for me though
Best: WOWY, Streets Have No Name Never understood why U2 were so popular and highly regarded, but tried to listen to this without that bias. Can't say the album has any flaws, technical quality is good, lyrics are meaningful, Bonos performance is decent. Don't think it ever achieves a very captivating sound but I like how atmospheric some tracks are. Some songs I really liked (above) and there aren't any misses. Would maybe rate 3.5 but preferable to recent albums so giving a 4
Liked this way more than I thought I would but maybe because I listened to it on a plane and had nothing else to do. I’m not sure why it gets so much hate, there are some great tracks on it, WTSHNN was my favourite and With or without you is such a classic. The lyrics were poetic and meaningful, the opening of the album was captivating and the production throughout was perfect. Bono has an undeniably great voice and the bluesy influence can be felt clearly. Parts of it does feel a bit like mum rock but I enjoy it in a nostalgic way. There is genuinely nothing negative about this album.
First 4 tracks are monsters.
Apparently I am a sucker für 80s U2. Always loved their best of for that decade. Got to listen to achtung baby and joshua tree on here back to back. What a super solid rock album overall. Not a bad song on there and the first three tracks where the streets have no name, i still havent found what im looking for and especially with or without rival almost any other lp for their top songs. The only thing i have to critizise is the pacing issue this run creates for this record in its entirety. Especially imagining this as a real lp side b drags a bit and misses one real hit.
Bono is such an annoying person that you'd forget U2 have some unbelievable songs. Great vocals throughout. As expected, though, the guitar and its effects are way over the top in most songs, barely giving the rhythm section room. Some songs also lack a sense of dynamic, just an onslaught of riffs from start to finish. Some big powerful songs to kickstart the album. The big ballads make way for a bit more lethargy toward the end. This is a really good album and I'm going to listen to it again!
While I’d definitely heard this before and know the first three tracks very well, my musical taste moved on from bands like U2 before I ever really delved deeper into this one. There’s something about it that feels a little safer… a little less vital than some of their earlier records (or indeed Achtung Baby after it). That said, “Streets” is a soaring track, and easily my highlight, while “Still Haven’t Found” isn’t far behind. I’m certain “Trip Through Your Wires” made me switch this off every other time I’d made it that far. It’s two steps down in quality from everything else on the album. If you make it past the harmonicas, “Exit” and “Mothers of the Disappeared” are nice rewards that end the album with some real depth. I’ve long felt I should have given this album a fair shake, and I found it an enjoyable experience that I could see improving with further listening.