Reviews (page 6 of 15)
This was … fine. I still get emotional hearing With or Without You because it reminds me of the brilliant finale of The Americans but otherwise this album was basically just background noise to me.
Strong album with a couple of fillers. So many layered guitars! I prefer unforgettable fire
Released in my 5th form year at high school. Great album especially the track One Tree Hill.
Been a while between spins for this one! I think i once called it the best album of the 80s, until a friend corrected me with Disintegration, which is hard to refute. Stacked side A, with hits i can't even hear properly any more I've heard them so many times. Side B has the gold. Trip Through Your Wires, Red Hill Mining Town etc. Only complaint - fizzles out at the end. An album that starts with 3 absolute anthems should probably end in kind, IMO.
It’s fine. Nicely crafted if perhaps a little too refined. An inflection point from the raw energy of earlier stuff and the next phase where they disappeared up their own arseholes.
Well, it's one of the albums of my life. My mother (and to a much lesser extent, my father's) attachment to the album meant I grew up listening to it, at least in part. It may not be their most experimental or ground-breaking perhaps, but for me it's their best album and easily in the top 100 albums of all time. Amazing to hear that it was actually mostly made in a house near Ticknock and in another house near Monkstown, both in Dublin and very close to my own heart. Will have to check out. U2 get a lot of hate but they're wildly popular and critically acclaimed when they want to be. They've also been going for more than 45 years now. Crazy. Shout out to Brian Eno who somehow had an involvement in all the albums I knew most growing up. 5*, top stuff, Mother's of the Disappeared has a special place in my heart (from it's Central American roots to its association with the awful authoritarian regimes of Chile and Argentina. Goosebumps.)
Had some good songs, like "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" or "Red hill mining town" but overall just fine. Felt very similar honestly, couldn't tell when songs would start or end.
I always heard of U2 being an iconic band but I never had the time to fully listen to their discography or any of their albums. But I understand why they are so revered after listening to this album. There are so many memorable tracks that are still being played mainstream in this present age. Great length time and was not at all forgettable. I also liked the symbolism of The Joshua Tree.
Solid hits on this album. I think the rest is fine.
I get it
It’s a beautiful album that just gets better with age. Daniel Lanois / Brian Eno give these songs magic.
As if it would get less than 5
I already listened to Joshua Tree this week, why not do it again? Ok so what is so impressive about Joshua Tree, is how big it feels. It fills whatever space it's in. Music isn't better or worse now than then, but they really don't make them like this anymore. They say this record is front loaded and while I don't necessarily disagree with that, the back half is still very engaging. One Tree Hill is a huge highlight for me. And I don't care if Bono breathes into the mic, such a boring critique. Who cares! Oh no, the singer is EMOTING >:(
Easily the best U2 album.
Okay, but kind of annoying
ughhhh Bonoooooo
big nostalgia factor, bono u will always be famous to me
For those who've been working through The List for a while, you'll probably hear the influence of Brian Eno on this record. There's a lot of atmosphere (the soundstage is chasm-wide, thanks to the clever reverb and the drama of the music) but even in the effects-drenched arrangements, everything is distinct and intelligible. There are arguments about this but I think this is clearly the best U2 album. The work of Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums) backing up the two more famous members of the band (possibly still known as Paul and David, at this point) is essential. It's solid without being overly simple: Clayton's bass lines are carefully build to heighten the tension of songs like 'Bullet The Blue Sky' and Mullen's rhythms are timed impeccably alongside the cascades of delay and reverb emanating from The Edge. The Edge (David Evans) fills the sonic space with huge amounts of sound -- surprising for a man who plays a very sparse style of guitar. The use of effects (delay, reverb, chorus, various overdrive/distortion effects, wah and even crazier things like The Infinite Guitar) to expand chords and simple parts into a full-on sound bath is remarkable, particularly at a time when numerous Van Halen imitators were trying to do it with the maximum number of notes, instead. Much of it isn't entirely difficult to play but it is often quite difficult to write and arrange. Bono (Paul Hewson) is a drama queen. It suits U2 perfectly, especially on earlier works. Lanois and Eno have him backed up with both effects and session singers to sound like he is at the head of a massive choir, standing on a rock spire amid the Grand Canyon. The songwriting is actually pretty good. It's about longing and tension and tragedy -- all things that suit U2 very well. The Joshua Tree isn't a masterpiece (it's do over the top as to be borderline camp, at times) but it's a wonderful reflection of that time of music. You need to imagine this in the charts, up against Soft Cell, Bon Jovi and Duran Duran. Maybe, god forbid, a Todd Rundgren album. U2 have become self-parodic over the decades but they deserve their plaudits -- I expect that their early work will experience a revival in the near term. You should listen to The Joshua Tree. Take it a little bit seriously -- like Eno -- but not totally seriously -- like Bono. 4/5
Fantastic production with some iconic songs. However, many of the songs (especially in the latter half of the album) felt more like filler.
Do I have to listen to this?
In Top 10 best albuns ever.
I wish Bono could pull his head out of his ass so he could hear his music and kindly stop making more
Emotion has never been communicated with such grandiose. Bono’s charisma is held up by incredible soundscapes - the band, Eno, and Lanoise deserve high praise. Name a more powerful set of three tracks to start an album, I’ll wait.
First couple tracks are great, One Tree Hill and Bullet the Blue Sky are definitely the best tracks
I've always been quite neutral to U2, I think they have some genuinely good songs but other songs are either just okay or too preachy for my liking. This album fell more under the former for me, after the first 3 songs (all I did enjoy) it was kind of just alright. Nothing much stood out to me, funny enough they did an anniversary tour for this album some years back. I went because my brother bought tickets but even then I just felt like it was okay.
Eu já conhecia algumas músicas, mas não cheguei a ouvir o álbum antes. One Tree Hill e Red Hill Mining Town foram as surpresas. Dito isto, Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, esses singles são muito bons. Mas o favorito ainda é Bullet the Blue Sky, que cheguei a ouvir versões live da música.
bullet the blue sky muito muito boa
Every song sounds the same.
⭐️⭐️1/2 Eu amo esse álbum real É U2 não exagera
An interesting and even good album with being amazing . The first 3 songs are all great but never really get going - sounding like continuous intros if anything Taking the new wave sound of bands like echo and the bunnymen to heart. Weirdly songs about desert by a bunch of lads from Ireland are better than you would think . The edge and bono are great together but are no Maca and Sullivan or Moza and Mar . Tries a little to hard to be meaningful
Ist okay, aber nicht meine Musik.
Was it down hill from here onwards for U2? The change after this album, subtle on Rattle and Hum but more pronounced on Achtung baby, wil be a better one for some, a shame for others. This album is a showcase for Bono’s voice. He carries the melody and hook for most songs here. Its a karaoke album. Full of songs that are big, grand and great to belt out in karaoke, but a bit full of trans fat and sugar.
I really get the hype with U2. Some of the songs are just too iconic. Enjoyed this album a lot
Just don't get this album or the appeal of it. To the ears I have attached to my head all I hear is bland ass yacht butt rock attempting to be deep and emotional without actually get there. Just want to add it's the most rated thing I've ever heard...have a nice day🤮
Mam jakiś problem z tym zespołem. Lubię głos Bono. Lubię też niektóre melodie. Ale całość jest taka radiowa. Osłuchana i oklepana. Nie jestem w stanie z czystym sercem dać tej płycie 6/10. Może właśnie dlatego, że słuchałam singli praktycznie od urodzenia. Mam przesyt tego zespołu.
gud
Typical U2 sounds of political activism to heavy guitar rock
Big U2 album
One of U2’s best albums
pra mim, o melhor album do U2
I'm kind of a hater on U2 but the start of this album is iconic, but it quickly devolves into repetitive boring nonsense. 4/10
I have mixed feelings on U2, but this is a pretty good album, from before they fully became the music of soccer moms. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "With or Without You" are the standouts, but "Where The Streets Have No Name" is probably my favorite.
Classique (pas mal de connues)
Am I allowed to use the words pompous, bloated and boring about the biggest band in the world (at one time)? TBF, I liked the run from song four to end much better than the first three, monster hits. I’ve just heard them too much. Still, U2’s self-seriousness and studied grandeur in general doesn’t do it for me.
idk always thought these guys were just like really average, Bono's obviously got an amazing voice thought, some parts actually reminded me of the dude from the Blue Nile in some places, just I guess a bit faster and less Scottish. I feel like the instrumentals are quite average, and there's nothing really that boundary-pushing. I feel like the songs seem to all blend into one. There's some kinda interesting guitar tones and stuff, like in exit. I feel like the lyrics are also quite socially conscious, especially for a band of this size, I think Bono was an activist of the time. Just saw that Brian Eno produced this, and I feel like he somewhat becomes an extra band member to whoever he works with, and I think you can totally hear that like in the last song at the start. Favourite songs: with or without you, in god's country, exit, Mothers of the disappeared. Overall around 6/10
later
I spent a lot of time with this album wondering, what am I missing, what isn't doing it for me? This is often ranked amongst the greatest of all time. Am I just not a U2 fan? Is it personal taste? Have I heard some of these songs too many times on the radio? So I listened again and tried to really be objective, and read the Wikipedia page for context and more appreciation of the creative process. Well, I'm still pretty convinced that U2 is up its own ass, and Bono is a wanker. And I think that's where the flaw in the album comes for me-- Bono's voice and singing, which is just so self-aggrandizing and pompous and even annoying in its inflections and breathy lead ins. See for example "Bullet the Blue Sky" which is just cheesy and unlistenable for me. Chill, dude. There is some kind of obsession with being "special" in their celebrity lives and their commendable but performative humanitarian efforts that also leaks into their music. All must be big and profound, yet they want to strip down to musical roots, especially American themes. They talk about limiting themselves to the "primary colors of rock", i.e. a fancy way to say guitar, bass, drums. Yet they want to capture huge lyrical themes and grandiose emotions. So that is where a certain tension and drive manifests in these songs. The rhythm section always moves forward. The Edge's style is at once minimalistic and huge with its screaming arpeggiated delays. Bono's voice often sails over this like a bird over mountains. Overall, the album as a whole is great in terms of songwriting and playing, and I'm better understanding why so many love it. For me, I cannot get past Bono's frequent posturing and over-singing. Remove it, and it's one of the best ever. Wish I could just listen to an instrumental version of it all.
My favorite album of all time. Every note is a memory deeply cherished. It's perfect.
After a bad run, I got a heavyweight album today. I'd listened to this a few times back in the day, though U2 are not really one of my favourites. One of those bands I always thought are better on compilations as even on their most famed album here there's a bit of stodge. Obviously With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For still sound great and Running To Stand Still is a nice song but the album is pretty 'front-loaded' and more it goes on the more his voice seriously grates on me. I know most consider it a classic and it's ok but never reaches that level for me.
Good
U2 has always been very forgettable for me. Not awful. Just not my favorite.
Not for me, Clive. This is supposedly their best one. I knew the hits from this album beforehand, didn't like them, gave album a fair chance and still didn't like them.
God, I hate U2. Now, after listening to their album in full, I hate them more than ever
I was prepared to be hard on this album. I was expecting the songs to be trite and cliche in hindsight. Instead I got a soaring, gliding, elegant album. Listening after a massive break from U2's music. This is better than I remembered.
I'll give it credit, they managed to make an album that sounds 20 years ahead of its time, but when that sound fits in with your Matchbox 20s (who I actually like the singles of, for the record) and other bands of that late 90s, early 2000's adult contemporary ilk, its not as glowing an endorsement to say it was ahead of its time. The first three tracks were the soundtrack to the most bland radio rock I heard in the 2000's that I was waiting to end for the next song to come on, hopefully that I liked. And it doesn't help all the big songs off this album that I remember hearing all sound the same, with the same high pitched guitar sound (tremolo picking?). Bullet the Blue Sky is a straight rip off of Ted Nugent's Stranglehold (good song, but being compared to Ted Nugent is not something you want). Yeah, I just don't like U2. Some of the most toothless sounding music I've ever heard. Apparently they have cutting political commentary, but I wouldn't know with the music being so ineffectual and dull. Writing political lyrics but setting it over really bland, uplifting stadium rock isn't a good mix.
I'm not sure how I can rate this one. The first 4 songs have been ubitiquous on the radio since my youth, so I don't really have context for how unique it was when it came out.
Yep. It’s a U2 album.
this is music that goes straight through you…it’s not horrible but it’s just weird to me that this is such a lauded album when it really doesn’t sound like anything special at all. i actually think i’m predisposed to finding ‘with or without you’ more moving than i ordinarily would because my mom had some U2 CDs that we would listen to in the car when i was a kid. but other than that i can’t say i was particularly touched by any of these songs.
Not as bad as I remembered but still not really for me. The first song and many others sound like the royalty free music you’d hear in a corporate HR training video. “Bullet The Blue Sky” is the only song that really stood out to me and that one I think is really great actually. But the rest just don’t really catch my attention or feel that special even if they’re not bad.
I had forgotten that once, before they became too preachy, too samey, too bloated, too old, they were very very good.
This is the culmination of U2 in the 80’s. The first half is so good, with a lot of good songs on the second half as well.
Day679 - love ‘em or hate ‘em this is a fantastic album
One of the greatest albums ever - the end.
No.
Starts really strong, don't love the back half. 3/5
Definitely a certain vibe
Great album
Rubbish
One m all time favourite albums a band at it's height of style and playing
Way better than I expected, the songs are really well mixed and the bass leads a few songs
I know it became fashionable to hate U2 very quickly after the success of this album, and I say that as someone who, ostensibly, hates U2. I just haven't listened to enough of their back catalogue to fairly assess them, but I have heard and seen enough to be mildly repulsed by them. And it's not just Bono, it really is the music... the whole package. So now is their chance to impress me as I properly digest "the part of this album that is not the first three tracks" for the first time... While we are there, yes, those are three solid 80s pop singles right there and even I cannot deny that is a bold way to open an album. The album is pretty underwhelming from thereon in though - powerful, theatrical vocals, but nowhere as profound or deep as it imagines it is. It's a unique sound, but its appeal is very shallow and the bare bones of the songs become very formulaic when you scratch beneath the unmistakable venir of echo-drenched guitars. I can see why people like U2, to me I guess they don't really seem to do anything that groundbreaking other than be U2.
3/5 decent listen
Un dels millors discs de la historia del rock,obra d'art amb himnes d'absolut nivell!!Les tres primeres conçons fan que potser l'inici del disc sigui molt poc superable.No es un 10 per molt poc però si un 9!!
Before they disappeared up their own arses they did write some bangers
Great album! Very mature sounds and some very famous songs!
Most of the songs on this album are well -known which explains why it is so iconic. Love listening to this!
Just a really solid album!
Well, their biggest hits are on there, but the rest of the album is just kind of 'eh'. U2 is decent in what they do, just what they do is not for me.
Back in 1987 the sound of this album would have been quite something. Now whenever I hear the opening track to this album I hear stock corporate training video background music. This is not a mark against the album, apparently every corpo in the west has decided that this is what positivism and hope sounds like. Ironic is that not all the content of this album is unabashedly hopefull. In fact I find it shines best on the non-hit songs that embrace a darker version of that sound.
Honestly, I found this album pretty underwhelming and forgettable. First three songs are good, which is why they’re on the radio. The rest was pretty whatever. Very boring guitar work.
This is their best and it’s still pretty lame. I just can’t with BONO.
One of my favourite bands and albums from my youth! I started listening to U2 after discovering songs like “With or Without You” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” I would justify it because of the American and Irish roots music and the atmosphere that it provides, which deeply resonates with me. I feel emotionally connected to this album, so it’s difficult to give an objective review. First, because I really love all the tracks. If I had to choose one that I like a bit less, it would probably be “In God’s Country” (track 7). If I had to pick favourites, I’d say I’ve always had a special connection with “Running to Stand Still.” And for sheer intensity, track 10, “Exit,” is both brutal and cathartic. Do you know those songs that sometimes pop into your mind and you start singing them? From this album, I have three: “Running to Stand Still,” “With or Without You,” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” It’s a record for the ages! Today, I have to be honest, I don’t listen to U2 anymore. After 2000’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” I kind of got into other sounds, and to me, they seemed more of the same and less creative. But good memories come from this one. I would give it 6 stars on review if I could. All emotions!
A solid album throughout, maybe U2"s second or third best, in my opinion.
I thought it would be boring, so it is but at least the music doesn’t bother me, and you can delete the rest of them except the first two tracks
Ehhhhh
Pretty nostalgic. Growing up in a house with Gen X siblings I heard this on repeat from a pretty young age (like 5-7). That opening definitely has the feels. First 3 tracks are excellent. The remaining are mid mostly.
I'm not like a huge U2 fan. They're fine. But I think this their best album. And really it's because of the first 3 songs.
One of the best albums ever. Enough said. Pitchfork: 8.9 (4th highest for U2) Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #135 (2023) Best Songs Where The Streets Have No Name I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For With Or Without You Running To Stand Still Red Hill Mining Town In God's Country One Tree Hill Mothers Of The Disappeared
great
The songs I knew I still liked, and the new songs were decent to good. Kind of one note, but a good note at that. It's not the most exciting album I've heard but I think it was pretty solid.
U2s finest hour and possibly one of the best albums to come out of the 80s Whether you think Bono is a bellend or not (he is!) this is still a fantastic listen, the opening 3 tracks alone put it into 5 star territory! I saw then live twice in their early days and they were ace!
I kinda want to dislike U2 because of that South Park episode where Bono is literally a giant turd, but I gotta admit, this is a good album. It’s packed with all the songs I actually know, and hearing them together just works. You can tell why this one made them huge. Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and With or Without You are all classics, but Bullet the Blue Sky was new to me, and it ended up being one of my favorites. It’s darker, heavier, and way cooler than I expected. As much as I’d love to roast Bono, The Joshua Tree earns its reputation. It’s emotional, powerful, and full of songs that still sound massive today. Favorite song: Bullet the Blue Sky
I miss my dad
There is no way I am listening to U2.
Honestly went into this not expecting much. U2 is fine but later U2 overshadows earlier U2 in terms of public perception but honestly this album was pretty solid. Would listen again!
Sounds old.
as much as i usually dislike Bono’s vocals… i quite liked this 🫣
*Several all time hits to start the album but it trails off a little as it goes along
Good album
oho u2 der pathos von bono und der sound von the edge, stadionband, ich gebe zu habe ich ganz früher sehr gerne gehört.schlimmer Kitsch Doris lieblingsband;) c
First listen. I have heard some of these songs before, but never the whole album. Very expansive sounding album, that was more enjoyable than I was expecting. Really enjoy the guitar riffs and the atmosphere of the songs.
can we be done u2 now?
No
Strong start, weak b side
Did not expect to like this so much - Some great songs in here, but a few in the middle that felt a little like filler. Overall, a really good album.
Basic bitch pop rock but very well done, some very good songs. Given how good their best songs are it baffles me how much complete dross U2 have put out.
Frantic beats, soaring arpeggios, and breathy, overwrought vocals. In a word, produced. There are moments where the combination hits. And when it hits, it hits. The problem is how it can hit and miss in the same song (With or Without You). One chorus kills and the next dies. Frustrating. Bullet the Blue Sky is garbage and points towards the nonsense that was Discotheque. They tried to do something cool with Running to Stand Still, but Bono shit the bed. The music makes promises the vocals and lyrics can't deliver on. All that said, I see how some of these songs would be incredible played loud and live. The hits are the hits, and the B sides belong on the B side. No buried treasure here. I'd be disappointed if I bought this album for the radio hits. I think I've always thought of U2 as Bono centric. Now I see that The Edge is the real star of the show.
with or without you gives deep aldous snow vibes was not expecting the grunge tracks this album is up there in terms of the very competitive 'bunchofwhiteguys rock' scene.
Kinda boring and just not my thing.
I like a guitar arpeggio into delay and reverb as much as anyone else, but I think that's the only trick this album's got.
I was really disappointed in this album. I heard it when I was younger and remember having a generally positive opinion, but relistening now, it's droning and far too slick for its own good. It's certainly easy to listen to, and I get why people like it, but a close listen really turned me off. Everything about it is too "good", too polished, too calculated. And it's odd to hear rock music with zero blues influence, it feels soulless. I get that I am well in the minority here, and it's considered one of the best albums ever, but it's not for me. The cover is good, not great, but nicely composed and certainly thoughtful, it's a 3/5 for me.
One of the best rock pop rock albums ever. Doesn't matter what came later.
Yeah, sure. I should not be embarrassed to admit that this is really good. And "Running to Stand Still" remains one of my favourite songs, ever.
Stacked the big hits at the start, second half still quite enjoyable, definitely U2 during their peak era.
A couple classics on here but I'm just not much of a U2 guy.
My first album is one I already own, but haven't listened to fully in years...
U2 is just not my thing, "Trip Through Your Wires" was about the only song I liked on here.
I can't really be very objective about The Joshua Tree, because it's an album with an enormous amount of sentimental value from my childhood. Thankfully, I don't even have to worry about the effect of the rose-tinted glasses because this album is a banger anyway. Best U2 album and one of the best to ever do it. fav tracks: Exit, With Or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
I get why people were obsessed with this band during their reign but it really feels like a specific time and place. Doesn’t particularly hold up well to me.
A worthy contender for the biggest album drop off in music history after the first three songs cuz man it’s ROUGH. The first three songs are just that good, however.
Was waiting for this one to see if U2 is good, still not really into it Will I listen to again: 10%
This album has some of the best songs ever written on it
i hate u2
U2 sucks. That’s the review. Pass
Shocking number of hits. Basically marked the end of U2 listening for me, however. Nothing after this was ever as good as what came before.
Opening three songs are undeniable bangers. Just incredible, I'm wanting it to carry on surprising me, but it doesn't. On those songs, and In God's Country, Bono's voice matches the general feel of the song, on the others it just grates on me. Still those three songs are amazing, the rest I can overlook. Had definitely had enough by the end.
As big as this album was when I was in middle school, I never got into it. Or U2 as a band, really. There are definitely some good songs, but I’m not convinced they’re worth the hype. There isn’t anything particularly bad on here, but I wouldn’t listen to it again. Maybe it deserves a 4/5, but I have trouble going that far because I e always felt U2 is overrated already. But it’s also pretty decent, most likely their best album. Oh, my kingdom for a half-star system! Or ten star. Well, at least it wasn’t forced on people like some other album.
One of the first vinyl records I ever bought! The first 3 song run on this might be up there with the greatest starts to an album ever, but the rest is not quite as good. Even though I'm not a fan of other U2 albums, this one holds a special place in my heart. 8/10
Never really liked this band, but didn't hate this.
Technically very good, not for me
I quite simply do not like U2. There are some songs that I like, note that I said like, but for the most part they do little to nothing for me. The first 3 tracks are the "hits" they are fine songs but I don't like them, I tolerate them only because they are familiar. That being said they are talented. I just don't like it. 3
Good
классика
Never was a big U2 fan.
As this site is pretty much anonymous, I'll reveal I first heard this album when my brother had it on cassette when we were kids - I have an inkling he now wouldn't want anyone to know he was once a U2 fan. I suspect he's not the only person rewriting history where U2 are concerned, but if you ask me, there's no shame in liking The Joshua Tree. There's a reason this album turned them into the biggest band in the world for a while.
I was reminded of how I listened to this song on repeat in my dorm room my freshman year of college. Though I haven't listened too often since, I'm struck by how good it remains. Big sound, singable lyrics that have reawakened the earworms.
Another album I found surprisingly disappointing. Certainly has its fair share of highs moments, but I found it pretty "okay" for how much star power it brought U2. Really solid radio hits, but a pretty lackluster total package. Top tracks: With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky, One Tree Hill
This album is fine. Starts off pretty good; kind of mellows out. Still find this band mostly boring.
you know those airbrushed paintings you get on the side of fairground rides? Like a slightly off picture of tom cruise doing a stunt or a gurning generic superhero? this is to music as those are to art.
I didn’t like U2 before this, but it was honestly mind blowing how good this album is. Wasn’t expecting this at all
Semi-enjoyable mum-rock
a solid rock album
Good album, easy listen, there is a reason they are legends. 7.1/10
reminds me of keane
Amazing!!!
An excellent album, not 100% my taste but I can appreciate the level of skill involved.
If this were a review for the first 4 songs it would have been 5 stars, unfortunately the latter half of the album fell flat for me.
I liked the last song a lot
Gets really nice and funky around min 18 (the song actually starts around min 15 and is good). Before that quite boring. After that okay, but not fun.
Extremely nostalgic and cathartic listen. I haven't listened through the whole album, just some of the well known tracks (namely, the first three). But damn, this is emblematic of an album you must hear before you die. Atmospheric instrumentation with Bono's signature, powerful singing.
J'avais 7 ans, j'me rappelle que ça sonnait grandiose. Finalement, près de 40 ans plus tard, ça sonne pas si ben que ça, mais y'a quand même quelque chose d'unique. Objectivement, un album qui a eu un impact démesuré sur la musique, pour le meilleur et pour le pire. 4.49 étoiles
I do not like this album at all.
Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois's production here is very nice, indeed. And while individual songs here are quite decent, album as a whole kinda drags a bit, pacing-wise.
very comforting intro, like everything will be ok. Cozy rock.
Really long intro to where the streets have no name but honestly worth it Very end of an 80s movie hopeful sounding Similar vibes to other songs Love the vocals on with or without you Gets a bit of a darker sound on bullet the blue sky, slightly heavier and slidier on the guitar, more reverb Running to stand still starts like a western but then goes chill and quiet again— slight build up at points but largely very quiet until the wailing parts These were remastered in the year I was born wow that’s weird Main singer is quite good at the high pitched quiet shouting kind of singing New vibes at the start of in god’s country Harmonica (?) at the start of trip though your wires
Living on the red, white, and blue side of Ireland's order in the 80s and 90s, I was not allowed to listen to U2. They were from the other side, and we're the bad guys. Nonsense of course, but a true story nonetheless. As such, even as a rabid music fan, most of their music passed me by. I've always known they are one of my musical black spots, and as much as I've loved their singles and many of the bands and albums inspired by them, I never got around to listening to any of their albums. I think today is the first time I've heard a U2 album in full - deffo this one. Naturally that opening bombast of singles is great. I know them by heart,and they're flawless. Maybe it's familiarity or maybe it's quality, but nothing else here loves up to that opening. There are some other food songs, songs I'll likely enjoy more with further listens, but there also appears to be a fairer amount of middle of the road dross on the second half. Dross is too harsh. Average. Nothing that made me feel anything. Taking out the songs I knew, this is a three star album, it with those bangers it's a four.
Every one of these songs feels like a great emotional intro or bridge to a rock epic, but they never actually pick up from the slow plodding, and mostly just follow verse chorus verse. Bullet The Blue sky is a decent pastiche of Joy Division and the Bad Seeds/Gun Club. Hadn't heard that one before and I liked it pretty well. I went in wanting to hate on U2, but it's not terrible, just kinda boring. Had to come back and edit it because the second half of this thing is such a fucking slog to get through. Still not offensively bad, but it feels like a waste of time. Really dull after the first few tracks
U2 were just becoming U2 when I was a kid. By 1987, when Joshua Tree came out, I had discovered Van Halen, ZZ Top, just good old classic rock, so I didn’t have time for new rock like U2. I need songs with riffs and guitar wankery. But I remember all the hoopla about Joshua Tree. It was all over mainstream magazines and radio. Still, it didn’t appeal to me at that time. Just young and dumb and full of.....beans. Then I stole my older brother’s cassette tape of U2’s Achtung Baby in 1991 and I finally got it. I figured out that U2 was a great rock band and the best rock band in the world for a long time. It was the songs, the lyrics, the guitar sounds from the Edge, the way Bono belted out his lyrics, the rhythm section made up of the other dudes…..I know them, just let me Google a recipe first…Yeah! Larry Mullin Jr. and Adam Clayton. Those guys are good, too. I’m joking, but that is a tight rhythm section, and it allowed the Edge to experiment with his guitar. The first four songs on Joshua Tree are reason enough to think Joshua Tree is one of the greatest albums ever put out. It starts with Where the Streets Have No Name, then I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, then With or Without You and then Bullet the Blue Sky. What?!? The most amazing thing about Joshua Tree was that, around this time, rock was still in its new wave/post punk time period. What was selling records was keyboards and synths, and beats. U2 wanted to put out a rock album, and they succeeded in recording music that can’t be easily placed in the 80’s. It’s evergreen rock. Which is hard to create as everyone wants to follow the trends or maybe edge closer to what's popular to sell records. This was the album that made U2 stadium rockers, and it’s easy to hear why. All the songs probably sound amazing in a huge stadium setting, as most are stadium anthems. There’s a reason why U2 was known for a long while as the world’s best rock ‘n’ roll band, it’s because they were. Plus, the opening couple of minutes of Where the Streets Have No Name give me that feeling. You know, that feeling that overwhelms you and you think, "Holy crap, am I getting ready to cry?" It's impactful music, which is a blessing because most music is cotton candy, here for a short time and then forgotten about. I’m sure this won’t be the only U2 album on the 1,001 list, but if they’re half as good as Joshua Tree, I’m in for a real treat
- with or without you is good - rest is so boring
Its embarrassing, but I only knew like one U2 song before this. So it was exciting to actually listen to a full album. It's good - mellow, nice for driving or doing a workout. It doesn't take my full attention, and I can just have it on in the background.
4/5
I think this is an incredible album, great guitar sound, anthemic songs, crystal clear production. I was surprised as U2 has been such a omnipresent band, I had my guard up about this album.
Yeah okay
I haven’t ever listened to this album in its entirety and just knew the most known radio hits. What surprised me is my favorite tracks were those I have never heard before. Mothers of the Disappeared was a haunting way to end the album and what a song title.
Best thing EVER I love U2
U2 is an interesting one. I don't think I could stand to be in the same room as Bono's ego. But, I do still enjoy many of their early albums, up to about the Rattle And Hum/Achtung Baby era. Those had their moments, but not many, and everything after that hasn't moved me in the least. Joshua Tree was huge in its time. I still enjoy it, though having listened to some live stuff from the era has tampered the enjoyment a bit. The songs are still great, but it's hard to look past the pomposity at times.
I have never enjoyed U2, they were always a band that was just there, all over the radio, and MTV. I was in Junior High in 1987, and I remember I had a teacher who was a massive U2 fan, had Joshua Tree posters in the classroom and forced us to listen to U2 during tests. Maybe I was scarred from those experiences. Tried going into this with fresh adult ears, but I still don't care much for U2!
3/5 started strong with the 1st 3 songs but fizzled out after that.
Connu. Super
Pretty easy to listen to, I’d give this a 3.5. I understand why it was as popular as it was, and it’s the kind of music I think would even play better live or at a festival. The only thing I knew about U2 was that confusing Itunes incident, so it was interesting to read about it now in post and see how it went down in history as a major blunder on part of Apple and U2. Also, one tree hill creators inspired by their song?? Crazy.
I think it would be naive to insinuate that this album hasn’t survived countless years and that the individual tracks within haven’t entered your brain space before you probably even knew what the band U2 was. Its pervasiveness in an era of music abundance deserves its flowers alone. The songs are fun. I understand that Bono is Bono and U2 ran a psyop with Apple to dump their album on iOS devices but come the fuck on With or Without You/I still haven’t found what I’m looking for are legendary songs.
5/9
1987 I make no apologies for loving this album. This is peak U2, and the culmination of all that had gone before, which in my opinion is a strong back catalogue that lead up to this release. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆ (8/10)
Jedinica iz principa. // Bila bi dvica jer nažalost nije najgora stvar ikad ali nije ni puno daleko od toga, a posebno je catfish što su prve tri pjesme hitovi a ostalo još veće smeće.
This was ok - solid enough but nothing to write home about. It became background music at one point but it was background music I could tolerate. I was more interested in the fact that this was produced by Brian Eno. I know this is a masterpiece to many but I start to lose interest after the first 3-4 tracks. I’m not sure I’d listen again outside of a few songs.
Masterpiece
C'est Guillaume qui doit être content! Une des personnes que je connaisse dans les plus encyclopédiques et perfectionnistes du monde du son, Nicolas Grou, qui conçoit et construit des studios pour des artistes québécois et qui produit des albums, voue un culte infini à Daniel Lanois. ///// Pour un anniversaire aussi important je pourrais recommander 1- dans un esprit rock l'album des Black Lips sorti ces dernières semaines Season of the Peach (China est un peu déçue / moi j'aime pas mal mais je suis un grand admirateur); 2- dans un esprit plus doux le testament de Michael Hurley dont je parlais récemment Broken Homes and Gardens; 3- dans un esprit international l'album SOGOLO du groupe légendaire de Zambie Witch, des pionniers du Zamrock. Ça continue à rocker malgré l'âge qui avance. Bonne fête Paul!
Daniel Lanois, un génie. Les 4 tounes sonnent comme de la bombe. Bullet the blue sky me fait penser au break de Whole Lotta Love et à When the levee breaks. Après c'est un peu plus tough à apprécier, mais il y a de la grande musique un peu partout. Trip through your wires j'adore comme blues. On voit une grande attention portée aux textes. I still haven't found bâtie comme un psaume... wow! PS JF on se cherche un millésime 2025 qui vieillit bien pour commémorer la naissance de notre ti Paul, je prends les suggestions !
5 étoiles! Le classique de U2. Trouve moi un album qui commence aussi fort que Joshua Tree. Les 4 premiers tounes sont des classiques. Red hill mining town, in god’s country et One Tree Hill laissent pas leur place non plus!
Still takes me back to seeing these guys on MTV constantly. Classic album that always brings back a flood of memories. Easy 5
Last time I heard this was when I drove through Joshua Tree. I'm sure that's a thing. I'm not a crazy U2 fan, but one cannot deny the hits on this mamajama. For that, I will give this album a 4.
I'm a big U2 fan. I saw them when I was 17 years old on the Popmart tour and my mind was blown. This is a great album. It was a shift away from there more punky/raw sound to a more slick atmospheric sound. I wore this album out. There's a song or two on here that I always found a bit clunky and but overall it's a great album and you could see where things were leading up to. Not my favorite album from them (Hopefully Actung Baby and Pop make the list) but it's up there.
own
Joshua Tree is an album that touches on 1987 politics themes almost primarily and the production done on the record is incredibly solid. A very powerful 1-2-3-4 to start the record and give it its iconic status. However I can't really care too much about U2 and would rather care more about how Brian Eno and Daniel Lenois helped make this record really great. The best U2 song is still New Years Day for me, but Bullet the Blue Sky helps solidify a three star ranking because I am biased and will continue my bias. I will give special shoutouts to In God's Country, Trip Through Wires, and Mothers of the Disappeared. Now may I please get some semi-obscure album instead of music I already know about that would be great.
u2 стали открытием благодаря этому списку, понравилась exit. хоть и джошуа три вроде как любится всем больше, мне нравится All That You Can't Leave Behind больше
The best album of U2 is still this masterpiece that has a great way of doing good stuff with little things. For example, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" has this really great rhythm section. People go on about whether The Edge is a good guitarist or not, but it's the rhythm section that does great services to the music.
Ashamed that I actually liked it. Has aged well
An energetic album, a pleasant listening Fav song - With Or Without You 3/5
1. Where The Streets Have No Name - 11 Brilliant track. Vocally excellent, lyrically superb, instrumentally a masterpiece. This track is fantastic and an all time classic. 2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - 10 Fantastic track. Absolutely brilliant sound and absolutely moving lyrics. Superb listen. 3. With Or Without You - 10 The build on this track is absolutely excellent. It's just an absolutely outstanding sounding track. 4. Bullet The Blue Sky - 8 It's significantly better instrumentally than lyrically. The guitar sounds amazing, and the bass is pitched so low it's a beautiful combo with the at times heavy drums. Solid song. 5. Running To Stand Still - 9 Great slower song with another superb build before a calm down in the bridge. Just a great track. The harmonica at the end is a brilliant addition to start the fade out. 6. Red Hill Mining Town - 5 It's okay. Not anything phenomenal but not a poor track. Lyrically and instrumentally it's completely middle-of-the-road. 7. In God's Country - 7 Solid sounding track. Very good tempo that's kept well by an excellent guitar. Very enjoyable. 8. Trip Through Your Wires - 7 Another decent sound tracking. Great drums on it which do so well to keep you moving through the song well. 9. One Tree Hill - 8 Decent track. Great build on it but I'm not a fan of the random screeching/screaming James Brown-like lyrics in the bridge. Outro is fantastic. Very uplifting sound. 10. Exit - 9 Great track. Really beautiful building sound through the bass that passes onto the drums. Beautiful lyrics that keep the tone of the song right in line with the brilliant guitar riffs in the bridge. 11. Mothers Of The Disappeared - 4 Instrumentally it's okay but it 's the weakest song on the album. Not much to it outside the instrumentals and the vocals aren't particularly too great. Bang average track. Average Rating: 8.00 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 4.00 No Rounding: 4 Stars
Niet mijn ding
This was the first CD I brought. I was a massive U2 fan in the 80’s and think I got this the day of release. It’s probably my favourite U2 album and the last album of theirs that I think was full of great tracks. Post-Joshua Tree there are certainly songs I like but I rarely (or never) listen to entire Albums all the way through from their later releases.
In general, U2 leave me a bit cold. This, however, is one of the greatest albums of all time. And I will die on the hill that the media went all out to make everyone think Bono was a prick as soon as he tried to leverage his fame into campaigning for the environment etc. Although he does come across as a bit of a bellend, regardless.
Used to love this album - Bono and U2 have become an irritating cliche now. But it turns out I still love this album
I know we're supposed to hate on U2 but I love this album. Listened to it a ton in the early days of really exploring music as a teenager and thought it also had something really special.
interesant.
The Joshua Tree was the album that catapulted U2 from college radio and MTV darlings to one of the biggest bands in the world. They combined their anthematic new wave with American blues and roots to create an amazing synthesis of European and American music. Even U2 fans often consider this their best album and high point. With or Without You was a mega hit and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For a timeless hit. Enumerating the great songs on the album is futile: Everything is great, just in different amounts. In addition, The Joshua Tree captures the sound of the late 1980s, a time before hip hop went mainstream and R&B Pop became, well, Pop. I can argue on personal preferences for War as the better album but, that's nit picking. This is perhaps THE U2 record.
25 million sold, arenas Where the streets have no name I still haven't found With or without you
Amazing start to the album
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣶⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⡿⠋⠀⠿⠇⠉⠻⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣶⣶⣾⡿⠟⢿⣷⣶⣶⣿⡟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡏⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⣸⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⢀⣴⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣿⣷⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣧⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢀⣴⡿⠛⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠙⢿⣷⣄⠀ ⢠⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣆ ⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿ ⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿ ⢹⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⡿ ⠀⠻⣿⣦⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣷⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣾⡟⠁ ⠀⠀⠈⠛⠿⣿⣷⣶⣾⡿⠿⠛⠻⢿⣿⣶⣾⣿⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀
eh
Revisiting a classic.
It seems to be a nice album, but I cant stand Bono, so i Will rate It 2 stars, as I Will never listen to it again but I understand some people may like It.
This record came out when I was 14. I’m 52 now so I’ve loved it for almost 40 years. I’ve never gotten sick of it, never ebbed on any individual track. This is as close to a favorite album as I’ll probably ever have. I saw them on the original tour in 87 and again in 2017 when they did it again. Loved both shows, but they were right the first time to leave out Red Hill Mining Town, plodding in a live set. TBH I’m not entirely sure this is better than Achtung Baby but it doesn’t matter. Bury it with me when I die. Wish I had more thumbs
Så var dagen omsider kommet: jeg skulle høre mitt første U2 album. Hva er det som har holdt meg unna? Dårlig bandnavn + veldig populært + alt. rock (en "sjanger" jeg har hatt mange dårlige opplevelser med) + et omdømme som kommer forut vårt møte med dem er ikke akkurat en veldig innbydende pitch. Etter halvannen låt er det OK. Kanskje litt bra? Føles litt ut som noe jeg kan like gjennom exponeringstherapie, men vil jeg fortsatt være meg selv om jeg tipper over på liker-siden? Det er overdådigheten til hele lydbildet som får meg til å cringe litt, det balanserer på en syltynn linje mellom overemosjonell manipuleringsmusikk og hva enn det motsatte er. Det er lett å se at Coldplay ville være mer enn bare Radiohead etter å ha hørt dette.* (With or Without You kom på nå mens jeg skriver fotnotene, og det høres jo faen meg ut som Chris Martin.) Bullet the Blue Sky er mer mitt tempo. Som egentlig er litt frustrerende. Dette er jo åpenbart et band som både kan og vil, men så velger til å ta enkle musikalske valg. Under Running to Stand Still begynner jeg oppriktig å lure på om Bono er hovedproblemet. Det er ikke noe direkte galt med stemmen hans, men hvis du isolerer instrumentalen på den låta, så er det nesten litt Velvet Underground adjacent til tider. Hver gang han begynner å synge derimot, så trekkes jeg ut av å tenke at dette er litt VU, og tenker at dette er enda litt sånn halvkjip, manipulativ, pseudo-emosjonell drittlåt. Jeg tror jeg har knukket koden. Folk har brukt så mye tid på å fortelle verden at Bono er en kjip og selvhøytidelig person, og altfor lite tid på si at han er en ræva musiker med ræva smak. Jeg kan høre en ålreit låt under gneldringa hans i Red Hill Mining Town, men så kaprer han instrumentalen og tar den med seg til et helt annet territorie enn dit jeg ville tatt den selv. Se for deg at Stephen Malkmus synger over den i stedet. Jeg tror det kunne funka. Men så kommer denne idoten og tror at meningen med musikk er at det skal spilles på fotballarenaer. Fuck off. In God's Country har jeg ikke noe pent å si om. Klarer om mulig å være dårligere enn navnet skulle tilsi. Hard pass. Trip Through Your Wires er også complete trash. One Tree Hill høres ut som Rolling Stones uten edge, uten mål, uten mening. Hva er poenget? Exit er nok den beste låta etter Bullet. Jeg tror ikke det er tilfeldig at det er fordi bandet snakker høyere enn Bono. Siste låta er ganske intetsigende, får tre ut av fem mulige gjesp. De skulle tatt sin exit med Exit, og skiva hadde vært sterkere for det. Var sikkert Bono sitt påfunn. Så det var en rollercoaster av en lytteopplevelse. Jeg føler i hvert fall at jeg har lært noe. Jeg har lært at jeg er en Bono-hater mer enn jeg er en U2-hater. Jeg har om ikke annet litt sympathie for resten av bandet som trolig ble holdt for gissel av Bono frem til de opplevde et slags kollektiv Stockholmsyndrom. Det kan også hende jeg gir dem for mye cred, at de ikke har noen ryggrad og ved uhell ramler over noen kule musikalske ideer i ny og ne. Samme faen kan det være. Men hvis du hater Bono som person og tror du har funnet et venn i meg, sier jeg: stopp! vi er ikke støpt i samme form. *Jeg tar dette som en fotnote. The Bends, altså Radioheads første skive,^ balanserer også på denne linjen, men der føles det så hyperemosjonelt at det virker selvbevisst. Ta Fake Plastic Trees, et av de beste (og mest populære) cutsa fra The Bends. Selvfølgelig kan man ta låta med et straight face, noe jeg er sikker på at mange teens gjør, men det er noe som er like fake plastic med sentimentaliteten som objektene han synger om. "If I could be who you wanted all the time" er ikke sunget som et oppriktig ønske som skal tolkes bokstavelig; Thom er fullt klar over at dette er et futilt "ønske" -- et slags ønske om muligheten til et ønske. The Bends-era Radiohead er post-ironisk, mens U2 og Coldplay er oppriktige. I tillegg til å ha bedre vokal og bedre tekster, har Radiohead også en vilje til å bevege seg til mer interessante steder enn de var med The Bends. ^Jeg har fortsatt ikke hørt Pablo Honey, så jeg vet faktisk ikke om den er så kjip som folk skal ha det til.
Fire akkorder og noen sentimentale floskler.
Dette albumet er bedre enn jeg husker. Jeg er stor fan av de 3-4 første platene, da de var mer postpunk. Dagen før denne plata ble generert her så var jeg overlykkelig over at jeg hadde funnet en strøken utgave av October i en platesjappe på Hamar. Men ja, altså bedre enn jeg husket fordi jeg har regnet denne plata som der det gikk nedover med U2. Men nå hører jeg mye jeg liker her. Det er definitivt et sprang fra tidligere plater, og det får kanskje være greit 5 plater uti karrieren. Det er som en miks av amerikansk roots-musikk og big music. Plata holder seg jevnt god fram til og med "In God's Country", etter det opplever jeg at plata har en dipp, og kan godt skru av plata der. Jeg syns det er synd at folk har sin første opplevelse med bandet via denne plata, for det er en plate som jeg opplever som veldig nedtonet fra tidligere. Musikken var råere tidligere og Bono langt mer aggressiv. Og som nevnt har dette vært en plate jeg ikke har vært noe fan av før, men som jeg kan like nå.
Dette er faktisk første gang jeg hører et U2 album. Jeg gikk inn i dette med åpent sinn. Jeg har opplevd mange ganger at band har blitt så store at de automatisk får et "dårlig" stempel. Jeg har selv gått på den mange ganger. Magefølelsen min sier at dette gjelder U2 også. Det er tross alt en av de viktigste rockebanda vi har, og Brian Eno produserer denne skiva også. Dette kan bli kult! Er det nå jeg skal bli U2 fan? Jeg husker jeg oppdaga Radiohead litt på samme måte for noen måneder sida. Kommer dette til å starte en ny besettelse hos meg? Har jeg ett drøss med ypperlige album som bare venter på meg? Kan jeg være den personen som åpent flagger hvor stor fan jeg er av U2, og mene at alle andre som kaller det et drittband bare er kontrære posører som ikke bryr seg om musikk. Det eneste de bryr seg om er å ikke like band, fordi det er enklere enn å faktisk ta stilling. Gjøre seg selv litt "vulnerable", stikke hode ut og støtte Bono, Edge og gjengen. Det krever baller! Det er det ikke alle som gjør. Man må være litt tøff for å stikke hodet ut slik. Jeg har jo faktisk forstått noe andre ikke forstår. Det er jo noe kult i det. Det er jo noe fint i det. Joda, hundrevis av millioner mennesker forstår det verden over. At U2 er et drit kult band som lager dritkul musikk. Tøffe rockere som får meg til å føle meg tøff med den tøffe rocken. Men jeg og mine tøffe venner, vi som ikke kan like noe bare fordi andre liker det, liker det ikke. Og jeg er bedre enn dem. Jeg er kulere enn dem. Jeg liker U2. Jeg er kul. Jeg forstår noe andre ikke forstår. Jeg forstår at U2 er dritkult. Jeg forstår at U2 lager dritkul tøff rockemusikk som får meg til å føle meg tøff. Jeg har tross alt en annen slik kontrær mening fra før av. Jeg liker Sting. Men Sting er ikke tøff. Sting er ikke rocka. Sting får meg ikke til å føle meg tøff og rocka. Når jeg hører på Sting føler jeg meg fin. Han er smart, og musikken hans er smart. Når jeg hører på Sting føler jeg meg også smart. U2 er jo litt politisk også. Jeg er jo litt politisk selv. Kanskje får U2 meg til å føle meg litt smart også. Ja, jeg tror U2 får meg til å føle meg smart, rocka, tøff, og kanskje litt fin? Det har ikke de som later som at de ikke liker U2, men som aldri har hørt på U2, tenkt på. At U2 får deg til å føle deg litt rocka, litt smart, litt tøff og litt fin. Det har dem ikke tenkt på. Men jeg har tenkt på det. For nå er vel jeg en av de som liker U2? En av de som liker U2, på tross av det dårlig ryktet de har. Riktig nok ikke det dårlige ryktet de har fra de mange, den er som sagt god. Men det dårlige ryktet de har fått av de få. Den er ikke god. Men jeg er god. For jeg liker U2. Jeg er tøff, rocka, smart og fin. Og jeg liker U2. Nå har jeg hørt gjennom skiva, og jeg liker desverre ikke U2.
Bono! That overly reverbed, anodyne guitar sound that's synonymous with U2 is all over this album. It's boring
I’m not wasting my time listening to this
Oh la la, le boss final du mid pour bien m'enfoncer dans l'abysse de l'ennui.
Every song is great. This one has aged like fine wine
Solid album. A lot of over played songs tho
Still a top notch collection of bangers after all these years. Intro to “Where the Streets….” still gives me goosebumps
The soundtrack of my senior year in high school. Such an epic album. I was able to see their Joshua Tree anniversary tour a few years back and it was amazing!! This is a band that was allowed to take their time and develop. There will never be more bands like U2 because if they do not have a hit out of the gate they yank their contract. This album has it all……rock…..roll…….emotion…..inspiration……empowerment…….social issues……incredible lyrics and next level musicianship. The cool swagger of Bono helped also. 10/5
They are such stand up people so how does their music come across so douchey?
Was a big fan when i was a teenager.. not so much anymore. Still a good album
Amazing album, start to finish. Prime U2 here
I didn't hate this as much as I remembered back in the day.
I don’t love this album, but I don’t hate it. I’ll admit, it’s probably mostly because the singles are played out and everyone’s parents say this is the greatest thing to happen to music since the Beatles, but it’s ok.
An amazing album. No bad songs.
This starts off with the three singles in a row. Makes you think it’s a Greatest Hits album. Those three are proper classics. 5/5 for me. After that opening section, we don’t come back to five star territory until we get to Exit. Everything else hovers around the three star mark. So what’s a fair total score? 3? 4? Probably 3.5, but that’s not an option. 4/5
An album of songs I could go the rest of my life never hearing again.
Pretty good album start to finish. Certainly helps that the first 3 songs on the album are some of the most well known amongst U2's catalog.
The album where U2 truly became U2. The first four songs are bonafide hits—making it a five-star record on their own—and the rest of the album absolutely holds its own. An amazing start-to-finish effort.
So, this EP recorded by... wait, hold up. Whatcha say? It's not an EP? It's a full length album?! I'm afraid I don't understand you. All I see is tracks 1-4 and that's it. You must be mistaken.
My sister and I had a big fight when she derided Side 2 as "some hippy bullshit" and I said Side 2 was better than Side 1. I was right - it really holds up. Loses a star because the Canucks stopped using "Where the Streets Have No Name" as their intro music.
Rating: 6.5/10 The first four songs are amazing, the rest of this is just fine.
Here we are then, the era of U2 where they weren't a total joke. And yet...why are you putting three massive bangers right at the start and then sort of dribbling a load of rubbish out for the remainder of this record? Seriously, if every third song was The Streets Have No Name or With Or Without You, you'd probably forgive all the filler, but my brain totally switched off for about 75% of this album in the end. You're capable of better than this Bono and the other ones.
Echt zo leuk
You want me to admit this is a golden album, fine. But I still don’t *like* it. Lol
Zero skips. Bullet the blue sky into running to stand still into red hill mining town is 🔥🔥
I like U2's post-punk era a lot more. The first 4 songs here are great tho, very nice ballads. After that it kinda dips in quality. The production is not that punchy and the vocals get weaker.
Grey weather vib3.
I still haven't found what I'm looking for (in this album) - I know it's a masterpiece, I know it's perfect, but every time I listen I just feel it's very very slow, U2 gets 2 from me
Meh
The band that’s cool to hate. I’m tired of defending them, this album is 5 stars all day long. You can’t open with ‘Where The Streets…’, ‘I Still Haven’t Found…’ and ‘With Or Without You’ and not justify the 5!
À mon sens, pas le meilleur album de U2.
Love it. Beautiful album
Jam packed with hits on the first half, a lil sleepy on the back half. Where the Streets Have No Name is probably my second favorite U2 song, so the album is somewhat of a letdown after that.
loathe as i may be to admit it given everything that came after coloring my perception of U2 as a band, this album is no skips
Wow the first three are just single after single, huh? The more powerful hits are really good but I can't get over how weird it is that they were like "we're going to do an America album" and the less-intense songs were a bit slow/forgettable to me. I find Bono a little either over the top or just flat and the over the top parts are at least fun, so without that, what are we doing here. 2.5
I’ll need to listen more. I enjoyed it but it feels like skinny jeans, silly bandz, and fat shoes
Cumpriu o papel dele na época.
Masterpiece.
A Rock album I can enjoy. Saw U2 live once upon a time and would love to see The Edge again; his guitaring is amazing. But please tour without the most huge production stage that prolly cost millions to move and construct in place. Listened before? Y Saved tracks? Y Favorite tracks? Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I;m Looking For ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really Liked it. Saved some tracks.
Great
Not a fan of U2…
Some very good songs, some didn't really catch my attention.
Et bah très bon album en vrai, c'est vraiment cool. J'avais jamais écouté U2 de ma vie je crois et c'est une super découverte. 4/5 amplement mérité
Ma fait chier l'album #OnDort
Beaucoup de classiques sympa. J'ai eu un peu l'impression d'entendre pas mal de fois la même musique. En fait c'est propre mais c'est trop propre ça manque un peu d'âme si j'ose dire. J'ai malgré tout passé un bon moment
This might be my favorite U2 album yet, which isn't really saying much given that I don't really enjoy U2. Quite some solid hits though and even the deeper cuts are still very passable
Easy. Top 10 for me. Epic. U2 at their most powerful, amazing music and storytelling. Never get tired of this one.
This album starts strong with some big, familiar hits, but then fades into a stretch of songs that mostly run together. It’s not a bad album, but I’ve never really been a U2 fan, and this one doesn’t change that.
I've listened to this many times even on a physical record back in the 80s. This was U2 going mainstream but I'd actually already listened to U2 earlier albums. This one blew up the band and the sound was great but different from their earlier albums. A very upbeat and warm sound but safer.
Not an album I ever choose to listen to but cannot argue with the calibre of songs, giving it less than 5 stars would feel wrong. I prefer the raw sound of Sunday bloody Sunday.
An insane opening 3 song run. Kinda forgettable otherwise
Sorry dh, are you kidding me? This album slaps. 3.5 stars, bumped up for the image of someone listening three full times to award it a 1-star review. Rolling Stone Magazine watch: five mentions in album Wikipedia page. Note: album Wikipedia page in unconscionable.
I was tempted to just relisten to the Joshua Tree episode of “R U Talking U2 to Me?” instead. I decided not to and just listened to the album but I think that may have negatively impacted my rating.
The hits still hit. The rest not so much, although Exit was a cool little surprise. Driving, propulsive, claustrophobic. Trip Through Your Wires sounds like The Frames (who I love) took some influence from them. A 2.5/5.
The instruments are mostly too simple, not very exciting, but overall ok.
j'ai pas écouté j'aime pas U2
De første tre sporan her e jo klassikera uten like, men resten av albumet har æ ikke særlig forhold til fra før av. Det va fint, men streit.
Holds up well. They still have that early jangly U2 sound.
The album blows it load in the opening three tracks and then after that it becomes a bit forgettable. Bonos voice is self-indulgent and self-mastabatory. Nicely produced though. The simple clean guitar lines allow plenty of space for the bass to cut through. Most songs build up only to go nowhere. I guess they didn't know what they were looking for arf arf.
Basic 2010's rock, 20 years before
Unlike the other two U2 albums I’ve gotten already, there were actually a couple of songs I liked on this one! The first half of the album was, for the most part, pretty decent, but fell off and became the kind of boring and flat U2 that I’m used to in the second half. Higher rating because it isn’t as corny, bland, and unoriginal as Achtung Baby and all that you can’t leave behind, but it’s still pretty overrated.
Не можу сказати, що дуже заслуховувася U2 колись. Проте цей і попередній досить непогано пам'яютаю. Стадіонний меланхолійний поп-рок з виразними хітами. Не можу сказати, що ця музика в мене попадає на 100%, але важко не відмітити високий рівень пісень. Ще досить цікаво, що це такий погляд на хартленд-рок зі сторони і U2 вийшло добре
Якось ніби прийнято не любити ю2 і вважати їх чи то моветоном, чи то поганим смаком, я хз. Можливо це й справедливо для пізнього періоду їхньої творчості, а от у 80х, як на мене, вони робили дуже непогану музику. Джошуа трі це прям класика, хітів тут купа, але мабуть варто виділити bullet the blue sky, на яку купа "важких" гуртів робили кавер і взагалі мені здається що це той трек, який вплинув на появу RATM. Коротше не знаю, хороший альбом.
man music, ні, скоріше навіть dad music. така не агресивна, навіть якщо вони і намагаються такими бути, але нарочито маскулінна. чомусь в дитинстві мені подобалося слухати юту, хоча зараз в них нема нічого, що мене би зачепило, така ностальгія в мені змушує мене пройнятися цим альбомом трішки сильніше. на жаль, пройнятися там особливо нічим
I of course knew the hits, and this is one that I have listened to a lot. The drums and harmonica on Trip Through your Wires is incredible. The song One Tree Hill is awesome as well. I really liked "Exit." That stuck out to me this listen. Just some incredible songs. Bono's lyrics have never really spoken to me, but it's undeniable that the music is top notch.
I’ve been coming back around on U2 a little. There’s some songs on here I’d be fine to never hear again, but the influence is undeniable, for better or worse.
I used to listen to U2 a lot in high school and early university. Up until Pop. I used to like those albums. I don't anymore. This was a weird experience. I though some of the positive feelings would come back, but none did. Looks like I'm off U2 for good.
I could live without you... Seriously though, some classic tracks on here. I'm just not a "U2 guy". (3.5)
I don’t revisit this often, but when it first came out it was incredible. The playing here is outstanding. It still holds up today, even if U2 has lost some credibility over the years.
Arguably their peak they never quite reached subsequently
Pues temazos de escuchar en la radio cuando era pequeña y otros que no habia escuchado nunca. Un album muy agradable porque no es soso pero es tranquilo. El tipico que te esucuchas un domingo cuando se acaba cuando la temperatura ronda los 25 grados, el sol te da calorcito pero sopla una ligera brisa fresquita, es domingo y te dispones a lavar el coche.
This is the album that got me hooked on U2 for decades! A gem of an album, each song perfectly composed and performed. Superstar collaboration with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. When Radio with Pictures (New Zealand's top music TV show with Karen Hay) played Whete the Streets have no Nane, and I Still Haven't Found what I'm looking for, I became a fan. Have seen them twice in concert. I know Bono annoys a lot of people. "Am I bugging you? I'm meant to bug you!" Shame if that stops you from appreciating the music.
It's hard for me to put a handle on U2. I like them but also find them annoying. "Bono"? "The Edge"? Really? Why the stupid names? Ego? The Edge has a signature sound which kind of gets annoying after listening to it for a while. Overall, I like their music. Once I've heard it I'm good for a long time and don't want to hear it again anytime soon. The three opening hits are so played out that I'm still pretty much burnt out on them though I love the opening to "Where The Streets Have No Name". The album seems better than a 3 but isn't a 4 for me so I'd give it a 3.5 and round up to a generous 4.
(3) i love U2 hahaahahaa i’m so funny
I mean, what's your fancy here?You two had a couple of great records earlier in their career.When they were a new wave proto punk band this has becomes just a little bit too croony, and embarrassing.I mean, yeah, side one has great songs and actually the best is the one that wasn't played on the radio, something about bullets or whatever.But yeah, the rest of the album is just terrible
U2’s crowning achievement. This album is a masterpiece. No one part is greater than the whole on this record. The opening to the record on “Where the Streets Have No Names” is just awesome. The building wave of sound. The crescendo of the Edge’s signature guitars. Add in Clayton’s driving bass, and then the Mullen’s beat comes in. Finally, Bono’s vocals come… soulful and powerful and filled with passion. The band is just so perfect together on this album. “With or Without” has always been a favorite… beautiful song. Top to bottom, there is not a low point on this record. Even the album cover is iconic. May be a “desert island disc” for me.
I spent years hating U2, not sure why. This is pretty good!
I knew a lot of songs on this album. U2 is generic. Bono’s voice is generic. There were some great guitar licks and drums and arrangements. Bono will always be number 2
This album sounds timeless and classic. I don’t love Bono’s voice, and the last two songs kind of drag on, but I can’t deny that this is an objectively outstanding album.
ehhhhhhhh
This is getting a U3 not a U2 as planned. Some good songs but still not really for me
3 stars for the strongest album opening run I can think of
nope
Serious. Best album so far
I don't know many albums that start off with a three song run that features some of the band's biggest hits like this one. However the rest of the album after that is just ok and doesn't do much to change my opinion about U2 any more than their last one did.
This was another one where bc I knew the hits it came off as boring
It's iconic but I much prefer the sound of their first 3 albums. I'm just not a big fan of the atmospheric rock they get into. Still there are a few songs on here I feel like everyone I've known has heard before and that's quite the feat. Rating: 3.2
The best U2 record. I still am not a huge fan. But, this is easily the most powerful Record these guys ever did.
A great record
4.5- still a wonderful album but 1-2 songs are hit or miss: Red Hill Town and Trip Through Your Wires
I think this album is overrated. They sound too polished and edgeless (pun intended). The first 3 songs, the big hitters all merge together a bit for me. Then I think the album actually gets more interesting, but overall it kinda just flows over me. I can’t help but hear the premonitions of the b(l)and U2 would become. Washed out airy nothingness. I mean it’s not that bad, but I’m kinda disappointed. 3.4/5
Great album, cover to cover. So many songs from movies!
despite having their songs shared with all our smart phones back in the day, I don't hold it against the quality of their songs. Songs of note: I still haven't found what I'm looking for, with or without you
One of the best ever.