War

Really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday.

Not really usual to release a masterpiece with your third record. Even more uncommon is producing after that another four masterpieces in a row, each of them better than the last one. That's how you become an iconic band for the ages I guess

Oh dear am I developing a soft spot for U2🤢

i remember listening to this on broken headphones, plugged into my walkman, in the garage, when i was 16, trying to cut weight for a high school wrestling meet weigh-in the next morning. it’s amazing how particular music instantly bonds to memories like that.

There was a time when believing THIS was the best U2 album was a hill I wanted to die on. This was before I knew the band members had names like Bono or The Edge. Before I realized that U2 was a thinly disguised Christian Rock band. And maybe the fact that this one seems to lean more towards the political scope of things made all the difference. But the truth is, I didn't bother to pay much attention to the lyrics back when this album wowed me (although I did enjoy the song about prostitution, this band is always better when they're not trying to save the world). What I was drawn to really - and still am - were Larry Mullen Jr's drums. Those still stand out, even more than whatever The Edge is trying to do. No matter what Bono wants to sing about, it's Mullen and The Edge who remind us that this is a rock band. There isn't one skippable song here. So yeah, I still ride hard for this album. It still reminds me of just being able to put on an album and listen to it completely without thinking about the personalities of the band members who wrote and recorded the songs. Mostly it reminds me that sometimes we're better off not knowing everything about our heroes. That I didn't always believe Bono was a jackass (I didn't mind him going all MacPhisto during the Zoo TV tour, it was when he discovered SnapChat filters during a concert in 2018 that seemed a little too creepy to me). It's interesting that what finally made U2 jump the shark was giving every iTunes customer a free copy of their new album (people forget, it's not like you had to have the album, it was just there in your iTunes library available to download for free if you really wanted it). Maybe U2 just hung around too long as Bono continued to think he had all of the answers and believed he was the chosen one. But damn if this album doesn't still slap. It's my second favorite U2 album behind Achtung Baby.

This album was U2 at its creative best, taking on important social messages and driving a creative original sound. The first three songs are as good an opening threesome as on any album on the 1001. The originality on this album was repackaged ad nauseam in their albums that followed. They made a shit-whack of money from this album but that amount is trivial compared to the amounts they made from their subsequent unoriginal albums. Bono now hangs out with the world's elites at Davos. Did I forget to mention that I was impressed? This album is so good that it makes it a glaring testament to how far they have fallen.

it's okay, gets boring quickly

Not feeling it.

80s U2 is the good U2. End of discussion.

U2 were at their peak at this time, with Edge’s scratchy guitar upfront, which reminds me a bit of Andy Gill of Gang of 4 at times. Even a song like “2 Hearts”, which I remember as a smooth radio hit, sounds “Edgy”. “New Years Day” is my favorite U2 song with its haunting piano and rhythm guitar throughout. Many of the supporting songs, like “Seconds” or “The Refugee” are strong, with decent hooks and instrumentation. “40” points us in the direction of the adult stadium rock around the corner.

U2 is my favorite band! I know the lyrics to every song.

Torn between 4 and 5 on this one, only because a few tracks don't live up to the lofty heights of tracks like "New Year's Day" and "Two Hearts Beat as One". Maybe that's unfair? Bono's voice is at its insistent, pleading peak, and the instrumentals have a level of craft and production that make them timeless despite losing a bit of their punk edge. They've evolved a lot since then, and they had to, but I kind of miss this version of the band.

I’d only heard Bloody Sunday before but I this album was great. I was initially going to give it a 4 as I didn’t like Bono’s vocals on a few tracks but it grew on me as I gave it a few more listens. I really enjoyed the drum and guitar sounds and I’m exited to hear more U2 on this list.

Like REM, I don’t really have a problem with what U2 was, it’s what they became that doesn’t work for me. This is a good rock record.

Still holds its power. Three all-time, first rank cuts – "Bloody Sunday," "New Years' Day," "Two Hearts" – in three distinct registers (rousing martial anthem; contemplative mid-paced rocker; ebullient pop love song), plus the psalmically prayerful (maybe one means prayerfully psalmic) spiritual "40," which is one of a kind, and sacralized one's attachment to this record and this band at the time and remains quite capable of moving. Anyone who saw them close a concert with this in the '80s, sending the audience out into the night singing in unison will know its power. All the other cuts are distinct and additive, most notably "Drowning Man," and "Surrender." A potential knock it that it's a record best heard in cold, grey seasons. One is tempted to ask when U2 got cynical toward us? Or is that one got cynical toward U2 first. One is content to be secret and exult with this today, recalling the purest affinities of one's musical youth. One never gets one's earliest loves, no, not when they were this passionate and authentic and near magically come to life.

At the time of War’s release, U2 were still being placed under the post-punk banner. That was fitting for albums like Boy, but with War, the band was already reaching for something grander. U2 were becoming a protest band, maybe even a spiritual band, and with that maturity and growing acclaim came a bolder sound. Despite being unhappy with the reception from October, the band stood by their punk influences, but U2 aren’t known today for their restraint. That journey began with this album, which sees them experimenting with all kinds of new ideas. Whether it be the background vocalists present on songs like Surrender or Red Light, or a violin carrying the rhythm on Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2 simply wanted more. Bono’s lyrics were also getting better, trading out feelings of youthful vigor in favor of more worldly visions, which suited his impassioned singing style even better than it did for tales of boyhood. The first half is stacked with fan favorites and live staples, with New Year’s Day being the album highlight, a sign of what the band would be capable of in following albums. Even with their turn toward anthems, Side A ends with Drowning Man, a song that still feels unique in the band’s catalog, and one of my favorite vocal performances from Bono ever. That said, Side B is why I keep returning to the album year after year. Surrender and Two Hearts Beat as One are some of their most underrated material, ending with “40”, a somber finale that went on to close out their live shows for years and years. If there’s a misstep, it’s maybe The Refugee, which feels a little unfinished in comparison to some of the other tracks on here. Even that’s easy to forgive thanks to Larry Mullen’s thundering drumming. U2 is a fun band to track because you can really see their progression from album to album, and this was where that trend really first showed itself. A personal favorite, and a must listen.

Raw and powerful. This was U2 before Bono got a little too preachy and full of himself. This is an important chapter in the soundtrack of my life.

I’m not a big U2 fan, but this was good, bloody good!

U2 War A month or so ago I officially declared that - had displaced The Joshua Tree as my favorite U2 album. It appears its reign was destined to be short. My college roommate listened to U2’s War album a lot so I felt like I knew what to expect. Today when I listened I was blown away at the youthful exuberance, the incredible talent and the strong Irish influences! Bono’s passion! That drummer mesmerizes me! Has Two Hearts always been this fucking perfect?! Could there be a more perfect way to end the album than the gorgeous 40? Yeah I remembered the hits but I guess I had become an apathetic listener. This album brought those songs back to life in a way that i had not expected. War is really special and today’s listen makes me love U2 all over again. My indisputable favorite!

Under a blood red sky A crowd has gathered in black and white Arms entwined, the chosen few The newspapers says Say it's true And we can break through Though torn in two We can be one I will begin again Good album. Not one skippable track, and you could put it on repeat for a week and not ever get tired of New Years Day. 5/5

5 stars. When they were a great band.

This was my favorite U2 record throughout my angstier years, and while time, maturation, and perspective have led to its ranking being bumped down one peg, it'll always hold a special place in my (still quite angsty) heart.

Outstanding rock

1st listen (I think), though I’ve heard several tracks from this many a time. Most Irish-ish sounding album from U2 I’ve heard, especially in “Sunday Bloody Sunday” & “Drowning Man”. While Joshua Tree is probably #1 for me, Bono’s vocals in this album might be unparalleled (among U2 albums I mean, don’t get excited) Also loved the “How long to sing this song?” callback to “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in the final track. HL: “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “New Year’s Day”, “Like a Song…”, “The Refugee”, “40”

What if U2 before they became insufferable? Turns out it's pretty fuckin' good!

This album has Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day which are excellent songs. The other songs on the album are fine, but mostly forgettable. As a result, I'd listen to those songs separately from the album for the most part.

Turns out I own this, although barely know it. The last post-punk one before they merged with Eno/UNESCO, with a sound somewhere between Echo And The Bunnymen and The Psychedelic Furs. The live "Under A Blood Red Sky" captures this era well if you're interested. New Years Day is great, much of the rest could be anyone of that period

I’ve always thought U2 was an overly self serious band who people who don’t really like music say is their favourite band. This album didn’t do anything to disabuse me of that opinion, but I can’t say I hated it. I haven’t totally closed my mind to the possibility that I might like one of U2s albums but it’s not this one. 2.3

Bono is a pretentious turd but this album is incredible. Lyrically thoughtful, musically tight, emotionally engaging, very well produced.

Annoyingly I really liked U2 today

Didn't know U2 was nice like this. First track "Sunday Bloody Sunday" sounds like "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga lol. I liked this.

This was one of the clutch of first CDs I ever listened to back in my early teens. Sticky Fingers - avert your eyes, Simon - August by Eric Clapton, maybe some 80’s Tina Turner, and a forgotten few others were in this bunch of exciting shiny discs heard on my dad’s big headphones. I was disappointed when I listened to this, as I only recognised the two big hits, and didn’t think the rest rocked. Three and a half decades on: this rocks. Listening to New Year’s Day brought a mini-epiphany: the guitar-hero blah-blah about The Edge has a kernel of choppy, post-punk, precision-strike truth to it. Second micro-revelation: Adam Clayton’s baselines do a lot of the heavy-lifting on the tunes. Some middling tunes could’ve been dropped for a leaner record, but I chomped through this without break.

U2 at their first peak, in this case post-punk, new wave.

Before they became parodies of themselves they were a decent band

I had the misfortune of growing up around late 90s and 00s U2. This tiff was actually okay.

2 hearts beat as one, New years day and like a song... Really Catchy songs. rest were also pretty good. Never Really Listened to this type of music but has sparked an interest in genre.

Listening to the album is one sitting is probably a mistake. All the songs start to sound the same after a while. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Years Eve" are great, but the rest of the album does nothing to distinguish itself from those two, awesome songs.

2.6 A few good tunes. Looking at U2 as a whole I thought of Dave Chappelles bit “How can you care about anything when you know every goddamn thing?” Maybe if U2 did a few less protest/cause songs they wouldn't seem so preachy to me. The Edge gets his fair share of credit in the guitar world and deservingly so.

U2 just doesn't do it for me. There were actually some pretty good songs on this album which made it tolerable.

Liked this more than I thought I would but they're still just a big singles band for me.

Started strong and became pretty fast the level of a free iTunes album

Poorly timed, messily composed and badly sung. Which is a shame because the messages in the songs are really poignant. I really don't understand why people like U2...

Fine. Hasn't changed my opinion of U2. A little 'thin' on production, some catchy-ish songs, but mostly water off the ducks back. Neither here nor there. Not amazing, not awful. Fine. 2/5

U2 are boring

Great band. Great music. Not afraid to sing about what concerns them. Refreshing.

Masterpiece

Great album from one of my favorite bands. Enjoyed being reminded of this album as it's been awhile since I listened to it!

Absolute banger. One of the best from a hungry young band on the cusp of greatness.

I was a serious U2 fan in the 90s and have had them mostly on the shelf the last 20 years - for reasons both deserved and not. This was a great reminder of why I loved them so much.

I grew up on U2 thanks to my Dad and I still love them very much even though I know that’s not like cool now and I still really want to see them live one day. Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of the world’s great songs to me and there’s heaps more on this album to admire. I always hesitate to give a 5 for some reason but I’m just gonna go for it again here because at the end of the day I just love this and if that’s tinged by nostalgia so be it.

The modern version of classic rock. More rocking than vibing, but great sound and riffs

I normally dog on U2 (even though I think they have some great songs). But this album is different. I personally think of this record as their masterpiece. To me this is the band in their full force, even Bono.

Incredible album. I love Bono's style of singing on this; it feels very passionate and grandiose. The guitar work is also great. It has a particular and identifiable style but I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. I didn't delve into the lyrics but it seems like they're really trying to say something. Favorites: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Like a Song

a classic

I think you can make a case for this being among the greatest punk albums of all time - if you define punk by spirit (urgency, honesty, community) rather than sound (overdriven guitars, three chords, machine gun bass drum, etc.) The Edge is starting to really deliver on the promise he started making with the opening of I Will Follow. And Bono … as kids we would’ve followed him into battle, but he was insisting that we find love. Like Prince, these guys have had so many chapters that everyone can fairly defend their favorite. Mine is their next studio album - The Unforgettable Fire. For me thats when the sound matures but the urgency and emotion are still driving the project.

Classic

Great album

Awesome!

The snare cracks a march and a shimmery guitar arpeggiates. Yeah, mmm. How long must we sing this song? Had this on tape, still have it on vinyl and CD. My 6th grade teacher —easily the coolest in the school — introduced the whole class to U2. If the opening three songs don't hook you like it did me, there isn't a reason for you to continue. War isn’t a flawless record, but its potent mix of The Edge's post-punk guitar innovations, Larry Mullen Jr.'s martial inflected drums, Adam Clayton's deceptively perfect bass and Bono's raw emotion hits me every time. Year's later, it’s still an album I want to hear from start to finish.

Probably my 3rd favorite U2 album. The Edge's guitar is amazing and the drums really drive the music. Love it. Favorites: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Like a Song, Surrender Would I listen to it again: Yes

They're so good at building tension, letting an atmosphere develop, creating an enveloping mood and then doing that dew point drop thing where it all releases, shifting on a single beat. The heavy new-wave post-punk influence on the bass and drums gives them a hard edged tone and a driving beat. The soaring guitars are a thrill - glassy crunchy and direct - simple parts crafted perflectly to echo and bounce and create a huge space for the vocals to fill. It's so big and bombastic and ambitiously produced it's really an achievement, and not even they're best.There are three of the best songs of the 80s on here that still hold up however overplayed they are. The rest isn't as good, but never drops to being mere filler, they're probably both a Greatest Hits and an albums band. This is probably the first album I was ever really into even before I had my own music, I remember the CD and asking to always put it on in the car as a like 9 or 10 year old, so 0 bias here...

Wow, this might be their best album. I’ve always been ride-or-die for The Unforgettable Fire (and yeah, I’ll still give that one 5 stars when I get to it) but this one is just so consistently high quality throughout. The Edge’s jagged, almost funk guitar technique (though the music is far from funk) just propels you across the entire runtime. Wow, great listen. Must-listen #99.

IMO, U2s first legit album and their best work until Joshua Tree Ive mentioned U Talkin’ U2 TO Me before in these comments. The Scotts pushed me to listen to the U2 catalog in the early 2020s. I didnt become a super fan, but if anyone is looking for an excuse to laugh their way through the discography, check it out Lots of hits here, but there are 2 or 3 tracks that go under the radar. Seconds, Two Hearts and Surrender are phenomenal. Love U2s punky sound that they pretty much abandoned by JT

This is amazing still. Listened on vinyl

Clowning on U2 is a popular thing to do, but they are incredible musicians.

Loved this!!

Well this album remember me of my childhood as my father is a huge U2 fan he used to listen to this album all the time and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" has a special place in my heart and also because of the meaning behind the lyrics which is a really sad story but I also remember "New Year's Day" at every New Year Eve which is also a really good memory so for me this album is incredibleeeee.

Havent listened to it in a while. Still awesome. Standouts songs: The Refugee Two Hearts Beat as One Surrender

10 завораживающих историй про ужасы войны, которые вам стоит услышать. Третий студийный альбом U2 - лучшее что я слышал за последний месяц. С первых киков и до последнего рифа слушателя погружают в военный сеттинг: песни начинаются с барабанов, напоминающих марширующих солдат, дилэй на гитаре создает звуви, похожие на сирену, а голос фронтмена группы пробирает до мурашек своей молодой энергией и харизмой, но в первую очередь лирикой и историей. Каждая песня рассказывает про человека в военное время: про ошеломляющие новости в Sunday Bloody Sunday, про расставание в New Year’s Day, про обращение к богу в прекрасной 40 и т.д. Примечателен этот альбом тем, что каждый найдет себе в нем любимую песню, которая надолго запомнится в плейлисте. Альбом затрагивает до ужаса знакомые постсоветскому человеку темы, и даже по сей день, спустя почти 42 года с момента выхода, песни не устарели, а лишь приобрели новые краски, новую аудиторию и новые реалии, в которых протест стал еще более яркой силой народного духа. Мирные и добрые 5/5.

U2 were my absolute favourite band when I was in high school (in the 80s, when it was still cool to like U2). All their early albums are classics to me.

sometimes you need to stop hating on pop rock bands, especially when you are listening to something that they created before they became pop. I usually hates protest songs, but the songs are just beautifully written by bono and the edge, so i think that the reason that people hates pop rock bands is just because their songs are more accessible. so they become popular. (see: Chris Martin.) i shall give it a five, because i am a melody-first and vocal-first listener.

Just a great album. Anger, sound, and the swagger of youth. They made few better albums and this was the last of their raw, unproduced sound. I listened to this about 8 times yesterday for old time's sake. As an aside, there are actual bass lines on early U2 rather than du du du du root notes.

I remember going to my brother’s bedroom and listening to this and Boy on his record player. Great memories for great music. U2 was able to develop as a group - which is something that does not happen these days. This album has great socially conscious lyrics (which I did not totally get at the time), great music, and an incredibly tight band that can play the hell out of their instruments. This is still a fantastic album that gave us a glimpse of the great music that was yet to come. New Year’s Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday are 4 stars alone and with the addition of Seconds and Two Hearts Bear As One you have a phenomenal album.

The first U2 album I got into.

Classic. Lot of good songs

My favorite U2 album. Liked original mor raw sound

I’m not sure if I previously listened to the whole. It contains some of their most famous songs. U2 always delivered a great balance between pop and rock, political and personal. Some of the less popular songs that I enjoyed were seconds, 40 (fairly popular) and refugee

I forgot how many great songs existed on this album. 40 has always been one of my favorites from U2 and such a nice take on a psalm. Felt like this was the beginning on Edge coming into his own with the guitar.

Such a classic album that is up there for best album of all time

I think this was the first legit U2 album I've listened to before. It was incredible. Loved the overall feel of this album. Goes from very much in your face, pounding, antagonistic in the beginning to a more hopeful, mellow sounding in the second half. The drums really carry this album and drive it forward. Edge's guitar is a great layer on top to add spice along with Bono's vocals. Clayton on bass helped add to the march-like feeling. Lyrics were poignant and powerful. Really, really good body of work, especially for only a third album from a band.

I don't think this is U2's best album but I do think this album is what began setting them apart from other groups. Drowning Man, Seconds, Like a Song, and 40 are excellent. Love the way they begin weaving in their own stories and backgrounds into their music-with lyrics and music. I didn't discover this album until a few years after its release but it made an impression on me then & has remained

A banger. Brought right back to senior year of HS

- Another masterpiece. This album punches you in the face from the jump and never really lets up. This is the good U2. -

I told my son that my recollection was that this wasn't one of U2's best albums. It had been years since I'd listened to "War." I may have been right that this is a middle-of-the-pack U2 album, at most. But it's still spectacular. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" starts the disc with a wallop, and it introduced U2 to the wider American rock/pop audience. And "40" is as good a concert-ending totemic anthem as their is. "War" signified the last time that U2 could be regarded as largely an under-the-radar, post-punk alternative rock band.

Give this more than a few Seconds of your time.

This is old U2. I like old U2. "War" is their best album. This is my review.

Only really know their big hits, but this album is a doozy

Kanske deras bästa album.

Have been listening to this for more than half my life; therefore, hard to be objective. Regardless, it's five stars from me.

Excellent record, there's a great balance throughout, definitely an album to listen to front to back

They are good

See, kids? I told you U2 used to make great music about important things!

Peak U2. All killer, no filler.

Hello 1983!

Two notable things about U2's *War*: first you have its couple of absolutely iconic "political" hits "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day", plus a couple of other great bangers after them. And secondly, people have now forgotten about that, but U2 were still kind of considered as a post-punk band at the time, and *War*, coming off at the tail end of said early post-punk period in the Irish band's career, definitely has a distinctive sort of energy and freshness going on for itself. One that would soon disappear for more grandiose or less spontaneous endeavors. And this for better of for worse. Guess I have a question in my mind here. And that question is: what if *War* was U2's best album after all? I can already hear cries of protest, but if you think of it, the more you're away from the punk explosion in the timeline of rock music, the more U2 albums gave lots of munitions to the band's haters. "Pompous", "Stilted", "Unnecessarily sentimental" were the words written on those bullets. Maybe the real "war" had not truly started by 1983. And this is coming from someone who really likes *Achtung Baby*, for instance. Was the band playing on *War* still immune to those sorts of bullets. Your guess is as good as mine. But I'd tend to say it was. Also, let's be honest for one second here. What was offered to fans of glorious rock in 1983, apart from REM's *Murmur*? Violent Femmes were great but were all about acoustic guitars. New Order were already exploring a more synthetic approach. Wipers were virtually unknown and far too punk and abrasive for broad tastes anyway. And Echo And The Bunny men were deep into their *Porcupine* transitory period, and not yet winning the hearts they would win with *Ocean Rain*. So who was left standing among the rubble (at least in the British Isles)? Yep, you get it now. F*cking U2. All of this explains my near-perfect grade, I imagine... 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 443 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 262 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 321

Amazing, loved it.

I think that LCD Soundsystem pulled a lot of inspiration from U2 because I just kept thinking "this sounds like LCD Soundsystem" throughout the whole album. Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day are such classics and the rest of the album is just solid. I really enjoy this album. I've been diving into post-punk a lot this year so it's fun giving this album another listen and recognizing the influence it has had. This is one of the albums that I feel like really deserves a place on this list.

This is such a fantastic album. I think what's probably overstated and generally recognized by everyone is Bono's voice and lyrics. They're perfectly matched for the deep level and importance of these songs. Also, The Edge's guitar style. That palm muted progression sound on the high strings is so cool and unique. Those 2 factors together really make the sound of this record so unique. What is understated is how deep and moving the bass lines are. They're really moving kind of all over the place and keep everything grounded. It's a perfect marriage for Bono's style of playing. What really blew me away though are the drums on this record, they honestly sound similar to Grateful Dead in some songs. Very deep and heavy. I was really vibing with those. The lyrics and meaning in each song are probably what push this to the next level for me. I love that it starts with Sunday Bloody Sunday and ends with "40," which is a really cool reprise and call for peace. Having lived in Northern Ireland and known people who were directly affected by the Omagh Bombings and the Troubles as a whole, really give this record a lot of meaning for me personally. This is a great record and one worth revisiting often.

Two five-star albums in a row on this project. What have I done to be so blessed to have Metallica and U2 back-to-back, and no Brit-pop or disco anywhere in sight (for two days)? Anyway, I loved this album when I first really listened to it about a decade after it's release (even though I kind of grew up on it because I was born in '80 and my parents loved this one). I still love it the more I know about the state of Ireland in 1980. Great lyrics, amazing hooks, and great drums. It's a great album.

As excellent as I expected it to be. Five stars and it's going in my Tidal library.