Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Definitely an influential album! They evoke so much emotion. Love U2!
I guess I am the oddball Gen Xer who just does not like the music of U2. Never have, never will. Bleh.
I really don’t like U2.
Está bien, pero nada que me saque el aliento. Lo volvería a escuchar? no creo:
It was cool
This one is an automatic 5 stars and a perfect album for me - where I like all of the songs. When this came out there was nothing that sounded like this on the radio. Where I lived in the NYC area, it was initially only played on the "new music" station called "WLIR" on Long Island. I bought the album after hearing "New Years Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" on the radio and loved every second of it. It came out at the end of my senior year in High School and I specifically remember this being blasted on jam boxes and car stereos as a bunch of us seniors were doing a weekend camping trip that summer. Good memory! The music, the vocals, the lyrics - all great, powerful, memorable, energetic, thoughtful. The instrumentation includes occasional piano, violins and horns to great effect in addition to the expected guitar, bass, drums - which gives it an extra depth. This was the first perfect album by U2 - later followed by Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. With 3 other near perfect albums along the way too - Unforgettable Fire, Pop, and Zooropa. I've seen them 5 times in concert (I think) and last saw them at the Sphere in Las Vegas when they opened that venue a couple of years ago. Always a great performance live. If you've ever seen them close a show playing "40" - where one by one they each walk off the stage while Larry keeps the beat going on the drum kit while the crowd sings "How long to sing this song?" - it's an awesome experience. I know Bono (singer) and the Edge (guitar) get a lot of the attention (deservedly so), but I don't think you can underestimate how much Adam Clayton (on bass) and Larry Mullins (on drum) contribute to this cool sound. Great happenstance that these guys all got together because Larry posted a want ad on a school bulletin board. The subsequent live performance by U2, recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside of Denver, put that venue on my bucket list as a place I had to eventually see a show. I am happy to report that I now live less than 30 minutes from there and try to go to several shows every year - and the experience never gets old and that place is still awe inspiring to me after going to 15 or so shows there. Liked songs on Spotify: 10/10 Rating: 5/5
Pensé que era mejor, por esos hitazos. 3.5.
Interesting as this is not in my top 3 favorite U2 records. I generally enjoyed early U2 as their sound was really a mix of Stiff Little Fingers and Siouxsie And The Banshees with Bono not quite in full on rock star mode. Like the earlier records this album contains the Edge’s guitar “sound” forward a little bit further towards traditional rock and carried by some pretty good songwriting without the preachiness that made October a bit of a challenge the record is actually pretty solid throughout. You know this because even if you remove Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year’s Day, and Two Hearts Beat as One, you are still left with some pretty solid tracks in 40, Like A Song, and even Seconds. Oh, my Top 3 U2 records are: Boy, Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. Sure, they have some terrible records in their discography, but War is not one of them. 4/5
While listening to it, especially after the halfway point of the album, I had this feeling that one song had ended and another had started. I experienced that several times because each song felt like a new musical direction and I really enjoyed that feeling, for example, when The Refugee started. I consider it one of the band's best albums, with its political message and the rawness of its instrumentation. I really admire Bono's voice, which in some ways reminds me of Bowie during his more rock-oriented moments. My favorite song: New Year's Day.
It's okay Siento que tiene unas canciones que están muy bien producidas Otras que están bien, pero no trascienden tanto En general es un buen viaje musical se pasa rápido y es un buen álbum para conocer más de esta banda que en lo personal es la primera vez que la escucho de esta manera a pesar de su éxito e influencia a lo largo de las decadas
Enjoyed the rough edges of this - more post -punk than I expected. And the tunes are decent. The vocals are so unpleasant though. I tried but I can't get past it.
Gidder ikke en gang
Not as good as Joshua Tree and not yet as good as U2 were acting like they thought were at the time
Reminds me of my teenage years, as both of my parents were big U2 fans, so they were kind of a big deal in my house! This was often my favourite album of theirs, but I think I prefer Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree now. It's still great though, especially the military style drums and the guitar. Some of the more overtly religious lyrics make me cringe a bit now, but there's no songs I'd skip really. 9/10
Ei ihan riitä vitoseen. Muutama ihan goated biisi, mutta sit välissä ”fillereitä”.
Suorastaan hämmästyttävän hyvä albumi. Kappaleet merkityksellisiä ja kertoo oikeasti tärkeästä aiheesta. 5/5
I've mostly sampled the "hits" of U2, and always liked the two tracks I'd played from this album. New Year's Day has an appealing sound, but it's Sunday Bloody Sunday that really stuck with me. It might still be my favorite song of theirs. A lot of the music here worked for me. They actually seem to share some ground with Echo & The Bunnymen in places... a band I have a lot of affection for. Overall, nothing from the rest of the running order grabbed me like the songs I'd heard before. I expected to like this a little more than The Joshua Tree, but I actually enjoyed it slightly less. Still enough here for a light 4.
Some true classics that are evergreen
Probably the only U2 album I will ever enjoy.
Another crappy U2 album. Was it as bad as the last one? No, but it's like saying the shit from today doesn't stink as much as the one from last week. Bono still sucks, and this music is still the definition of mediocre slop. Why am I forced to continue hearing U2 forever?
Perhaps the least objectionable album I've heard by U2, but Bono's vocals are still overcooked (as always) and the rest of the music is generally unimpressive.
eh bland
War and The Unforgettable Fire are, for me, peak U2, before The Joshua Tree came along and they became overly bland and commercial. They're an interesting band, their early music is more punk and sounds quite different from what they'd later become, but on War we more hear the U2 that would go on to be stadium fillers I've always found it funny that, for all their success, does anyone actually consider U2 one of their favourite bands? They mainly became that big off the back of people enjoying a few tracks and that's about it. I might consider myself a fan if they continued actually having something to say like they did on War - the pro peace message is clear and writing about the injustice of the troubles in Ireland was a strong message. They would become heavily involved in Live Aid and Band Aid too. Later on, Bono's politics didn't extend much further than his tax evasion though, which I guess aligns with their music becoming more basic for the wider audience. Yes, I turn my nose up at bands who sell out, and I stand by it. I like this one though, 5*
No.
2026.09.10-2026.09.14
This was good, not excellent, although there were some excellent tracks. This is where the 5 star system gets tricky, because this is between a 3 and 4.
I forgot to rate this one right after listening because I was split between 3 Stars and 4 Stars... I'm going to give it 4, but it doesn't mean I like U2 in general, because I don't.
I like you U2. I probably liked them more than most people do. And everybody points to this album as being one of their best, I disagree. Sure had a couple of their best songs on there, but many of their songs are not really great on here. It honestly felt like they were trying to find a sound... and they were just missing it. It's not failure of an album because it's politics absolutely resonated at the time and it's too biggest songs are absolute supernova, but it's hard not to judge this album based off of their other works and because of that, it's not a great album. If this was their only album, I guess I'd probably give it an extra star. If I judge this album just by itself, comparing it directly to other U2 albums, then I'm likely giving it two stars.
Liked it a lot
A bit bonoring
Shouty, echoey, U2 have never been a band that I could listen to. This is probably a good example of something I find jarring
Same review as Andrew: shouty and echoey. Except that I enjoy that!
found this album to be something totally outside from what i regularly listen to and i love that about it. the guitars are ridiculous. favorite songs are seconds, new years day and like a song.
3.5, good but not the best U2.
2/5 War felt very laid-back throughout, and most of the instrumentals didn’t do much for me. A lot of them also felt like they didn’t match Bono’s vocals, which made the songs feel disconnected. Lyrically, the album didn’t feel very deep to me either, and there wasn’t much that stuck with me afterward. “New Year’s Day” was easily the highlight and the only song I really liked. The rest wasn’t necessarily bad, just not very interesting or memorable to me.
No me pareció malo, pero no es mi estilo.
I think I am born in another time period … Babyboomer and not Millenials…this rhytms and music are not for me. 😦 The lyrics are quite good, but I haven‘t saved any song.
Favourite songs: - sunday bloody sunday - new year’s day - drowning man
Having listened to a few U2 albums now, I feel I can confidently say this is their best work. I still don't consider myself a real fan of theirs but War has some great work that cohesively comes together. Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day front load the album with two bangers, and the rest of the album doesn't really match that. But it's a good album.
Great album 4/5
I actually liked this the best of all the U2 albums I’ve heard. The hits are still the best on offer, but the deeper cuts are good here, too, unlike Joshua Tree or whatever that shitty one from 2000 is called.
In response to this clown: "The audacity of this guy to write an ostensibly "anti-war" album, and then go on to spend 25 years of his life actively laundering George W Bush's image makes me sick." During a March 2002 visit to the White House, Bono lobbied Bush to provide financial assistance to developing countries. The following year, Bush signed legislation authorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program, which has been credited with saving 17 million lives over its lifetime. Bush told Bono that the initiative "never would have made it out of Congress had [Bono] not been engaged". I can't stand George Bush as much as the next guy, but this reviewer saw "Bono", "lobbied", "George Bush", and decided to write a review bitching about what he doesn't understand, let alone the album.
4.5. Got to give it an “A”. Great production, Good and powerful lyrics. U2 just sounds like U2 but this being their 1st solidifying their sound that now I feel that just play over and over have to respect it.
less than the sum of its parts. all of the musicians are clearly solid and have lots of potential, but the style doesn't really allow any of them save the vocalist a chance to show off, and ends up being more or less monotonous.
Love this!
U2’s best era but not their best work. Right on the 3+/4 line for me.
I feel like I should like this more than I do. I know a lot of U2 tracks including quite a few from this album, and none of them are "bad", just ... not that interesting to me. I don't think it helps that I'm not a massive fan of Bono's voice. Definitely didn't hate it, but also got a bit bored. It's very samey. Low 3.
I was surprised by the last U2 album so let's see! First song already starts strong with some interesting instruments and blend of vocals. The rest of the album was way more forgettable but it wasn't not enjoyable. 3
Tracks one and three stand tall. The rest is maybe more interesting than I remember it. It's U2, for sure, but somewhat pretty swollen head U2, so I guess it's got that going for it.
Pop-rock will rarely be appreciated here, even if it rises above most of the uninspiring decade of 80s music. This album was too repetitive, had poor vocals, and wasn't particularly well written imo. To not seem like too much of a hater, I liked the intro to New Year's Day,
I listened to it. I don't remember much of what I listened to it besides there was Bono and there was guitar. So, I guess its surprisingly forgettable for a group of this reputation?
Not a U2 fan but this album is not horrible
Kicks off with a bang, tails off from there.
Nothing grabbed my attention in this album. Just noise for the most part. I don’t think U2 is for me
POLITICO, COME QUASI NULLA DI QUELLO CHE ESCE ORA. PIACE A MIA MAMMA QUINDI BONUS. RIMANE 3 PERCHÉ LE PRODUZIONI NON MI CONVINCONO. QUESTO DISCORSO NON VALE PER “SURRENDER”, IN CUI GLI STRUMENTI PARLANO AL POSTO DI BONO. 3/5
yes yes nice
OK
was never gonna be my thing but honestly musically fine on its own merit. kind of the Nickelback of 80s pop rock. I do like Bono's voice and the military inflection of the drumming. Pretty impossible to be objective about "message rock," particularly when the message is "help me, Bono, save the world" coupled with years of the same trite neolib slop.
I wish I was alive during this era to see them play that legendary concert at Red Rocks
Great album.
Another 🐐
Classic U2
Not too bad. Being only familiar with Joshua Tree previously, I was not expecting this edgier sound (pun intended) from U2
Man really doesn’t like Sundays Good alt-rock album, not much to say. For some reason I always thought this came out after Joshua Tree, which I guess might just speak to my ignorance of Irish history, assumed title track was inspired by somewhat recent events of the troubles
Pretty nice, I need to listen to more U2 4
Genre difining!
Didnt mind early U2 and this one i like.
Bra, men inte lika bra som jag minns den. Sunday bloody sunday är fantastisk fortfarande dock. Så bra! Gillar även New Years Day, flera andra bra låtar men helheten blir lite meeeh. Men ändå helt ok för Sunday bloody sunday.
U2 doing what they do and they do it well.
I hadnt list ended to it fully, let’s goo!!
Some bangers some filler, not up there achtung baby but good enough.
"A pesar de todo, sigues siendo tu"
An album for the parents whose kids listen to Coldplay. Utter shite! Giving time to listen to this album from a megalomaniac with double standards a tax dodging hypocritical pontificating prick was more than a challenge.
Not bad. New Year's Day is a song I know.
Really good album With good songs Even deep-cuts are good
Hey it's the best U2 album! I'm not a fan of theirs but this is a solid album. Well made, well played lyrics with meaning and sung with heart. Sure they shoved their heads allll the way up their asses later but what do you expect from celebrities? Seriously though this is a great album, it's weird to think how long ago this came out. How much the world has changed. How sad that it hasn't changed enough. Good album well worth a listen. Even if you find them to be wankers, they did make decent stuff at one point.
liked it. new years day was good.
Not a fan.
I think I hate U2?
Meh. 2 greats
So a few things: Crazy remembering that there was a time when these guys were actually badass and cool - this was probably the peak of that era. Hard to think of any band that ever sold out harder, which is saying something. I think this is their best album, and I will die on the hill that it's way better than The Joshua Tree. New Years Day is not just their best song, I think it's the best song of the 1980's. Sunday Bloody Sunday is probably their second best song. If U2 was the best band of the '80's, and this is their best album, does that mean this was the best album of the '80's? lol no? Ok, just checking. Here's the thing about early U2 vs what they became: Early U2 was a great band with a front man, later U2 was (is) a front man with a backing band. Listen to anything off this album and compare it to anything on The Joshua Tree and after - sure, Bono is prevalent here (as he should be), but he's not the whole damn show and he sure as hell shouldn't be given how well it all worked together. It sounds like I'm shitting all over Bono, and I don't really mean to be (at least not as a talent) -- the problem with Bono isn't that he wanted to be Mick Jagger with the Stones, which would have been (and was) great; the problem with Bono is that he needed to be Paul McCartney with Wings.
I don't mind this album. I think it has a decent enough pace to it. It just doesn't really work for me. And I'm already really not huge U2 fan to start with. It's decent, but it really just doesn't stand out, and I just don't feel like it's very memorable. It's just not for me. Fav Track: Sunday Bloody Sunday
I love you The Edge.
A good signal that an album is five-star is if you can identify the track and album with the first five seconds of a drum intro on track 1.
Not much to say that hasn't already been said.
Funny, album right before this was the Cramps, which I love now but didn't really care for BITD because bands like the Cramps and the B-52s didn't feel "serious" to my young teen mind. Funny because this is the very next album I'm served, and I immediately recognize it the very reason why I thought music should be "Serious." It's U2's fault, seriously. This album and the Unforgettable Fire convinced me that good music was serious. I missed out on some great music because of that notion. Fortunately, I got over that prejudice not too much later, thanks largely to the Pixies, but I still recognize this album as pretty formative to my musical taste. Anyhow, haven't listened to War in years and years. "New Year's Day" is branded on my soul as a great song, "Sunday Bloody Sunday," too, and I can still play "Drowning Man" and "40" in my head. But I was actually taken aback by how great "Seconds" and "Like a Song..." were. I certainly remembered them well, but I'd forgotten how great those songs. The whole first side really, is staggeringly good. Crisp, jagged punk sounds coming from guitar, bass and drums, amazing vocals from Bono, they basically show how they can make all kinds of sounds, bash through all kinds of rhythms and be wild and precise. I was excited to be surprised further by Side 2, but... nope, I remembered how "The Refugee" as a song I always hated (incidentally, the first preachy "let me tell you about someone else's experience" U2 song that should have been a warning to us and to Bono about the future). "Two Hearts" and "Red Light" are both songs that start badly and get somewhat more interesting. This string of three tracks are the ones that feel dated. They've got that early-mid-80s postpunk funk thing that would be better lost to history. "Surrender" is a better version of that 80s sound, a solid track, and then "40" is a great track to salvage the album closing. Overall, especially if you ignore the weak tracks on Side B, War is a great album. My personal preference is the Unforgettable Fire, which mostly sheds the punk edge for the sound that U2 rode to fame. But I like War better than Joshua Tree, which I think gets samey and repetitive (a criticism you can't make of War, which is the last U2 album packed with different sonic rhythms and textures). Side A is really classic. Side B, well, it's not at the same level, but not enough to keep it from an overall 5 stars. Yes, has to be on lists.
I used to listen to the “Riff Album Countdown” on Sunday evenings on 101.1 WRIF in Detroit. This was a ROCK station. And this was an album countdown, much cooler than just top songs. And I remember that “War” held the #1 spot for quite a few weeks, and so WRIF - “the Riff” - would dutifully play “New Years Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” during the countdown. What I remember most was how out of place this music sounded on 1983 rock radio. It didn’t sound like ROCK. And WRIF never played this band throughout the week. Something new, something different was intruding into the territory reserved for Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and Ted Nugent. What was going on? “New Years Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” are still my two favorite U2 songs…
The absolute best of U2 phase 1. As a fan, I would have loved to have had more of the same, and I was surprised at the monumental shift with the Unforgettable Fire. After relistening to the album for this list, I was surprised by the penultimate track, "Surrender." I didn't notice back in the day, but musically, that song was a big indication of the musical shift the band take moving forward. But back to War, the album as a whole holds together so well. Beginning with an anthem and ending with a prayer, it represents the world view of the band, which has remained constant despite multiple musical transformations.
Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day do almost all of the work in holding up the reputation of this album. The rest of the songs are generic and forgettable.
Pretty solid
Very good u2 album, surprised me 5
Never respected U2 because of the iPhone infiltration album but this is pretty good, not boring. Not sure about how profound it is I wasn’t really paying attention to lyrics lol
Eyyyyy, por fin me toca! Escucho U2 activamente desde hace tiempo y siento verguenza por nunca haber escuchando completo este álbum antes (solo había escuchado Sunday Bloody Sunday y New Year's Day sin saber que pertenecen al mismo), pero para todo hay una primera vez supongo. Me encanta la batería, tiene mucha presencia y es mucho más animada en comparación con otros álbumes que he escuchado. Mi álbum favorito es Achtung Baby, que honestamente pienso que se merece las 5 estrellas por ser tan bueno. War tiene sus hits, que me gustan mucho y son clave de lo que es U2, siempre me ha gustado mucho el inicio de New Year's Day, es épico. Sunday Bloody Sunday y Two Hearts Beat As One son muy buenas, es la primera vez que escucho esta segunda canción completa y me gustó. El inicio de Surrender no está nada mal, pero me parece algo vacío en resto de la canción. Respecto al resto de canciones no puedo destacar mucho, se mantienen en un nivel bueno, pero nada más. Ninguna me parece mala como para no escuchar el álbum nuevamente, puedo entender perfectamente porque mi mamá es fanática, le agradezco por haberme presentado sus gustos. No puedo opinar nada sobre la historia de lo que los llevó a grabar este álbum, que por el título, debe ser algo interesante, soy bastante ignorante en ese sentido, dar mi opinión sería tonto. Darle 3 estrellas sería insatisfactorio personalmente, obtuve dos canciones buenas, cada nuevo descubrimiento se agradece bastante y siento que eso hace que se gane una estrella más, darle 5 no sería justo/honesto para lo mucho que me gustan otros álbumes de U2. Es genial, hasta ahí, seguiré esperando a los demás.
This isn't an album I've given much love (I'm more into their popular stuff), but I really liked this. Outside of the singles it had a good flow, and it's clear the band were on an upward trajectory listening to it.
pretty good!!
New Year's Day was my favorite. I enjoyed the drums and guitar in the album. I just couldn't get into the other songs enough to give a 4.
About 1/3 of the time, I can't understand what he's saying. But I'm rocking out anyways! Though this didn't have my favorites of theirs. Still enjoyed.
Couple of hits but most of the album was boring to me.
Had 2-4 good'ns but I could live With or Without this album. Was hoping for a few U2 bangers I really like but alas another album without favs.
Started to wear on me by the end of the album. But the high points (Sunday Bloody Sunday) make up for it.
este album será recordado por mí por el momento en que me compré una nueva PC, ya que lo escuche completo en todo el proceso de compra.
Kjennskap: 30% Sunday bloody sunday er en banger, og resten var også ok.
Listen to this album if you think U2 is boring.
groundbreaking album when released and still.
Ikke for meg nei. Koste meg svært lite med dette.
Really great album - always glad to revisit this one.
Not a huge fan of U2, but this is a pretty great album.
I've been listening to every U2 album for their 50th anniversary, and now it's War's turn. It's a masterpiece. So much emotion and anger put into this one. Every member is basically at their best, at least so far. Even crazier to have so many masterpiece albums after this. It's not even near my favorite U2 album either, but damn is it good. So many interesting little instrument parts, like piano, violin, horns, but the main 4 are never overpowered.
Hmmm. This is going to be an interesting ride. On the one hand, I find Bono to be an insufferable cockwomble, but on the other the early works of U2 are held in high regard. At the time, I was definitely not a fan. Didn’t really enjoy U2 until the Unforgettable Fire/Joshua Tree combo. So…..with that said. It’s all a bit meh for me. I don’t see the greatness others see. Like a cake where all the ingredients are things I like, but it tastes wrong when you eat it. Hard to pin down what it is. 2 for me
(1) People forget that early in their career, U2 were basically Flock of Seagulls. This is very much a Flock of Seagulls album. And that's not good, because other than "Space Age Love Song" they're really fucking terrible, the nadir of the whole "New Wave" co-optation of punk music. (2) Have you ever heard a more sick, pathetic song than "Sunday Bloody Sunday"? Don't get me wrong, great riff, great drumbeat, but the content of the song... fuck's sake! It takes a special kind of sicko to think about an event where UNARMED CIVILIANS were MURDERED by an IMPERIAL POWER in those civilians' homeland, and then write a song about it that basically boils down to "Why can't these two sides just get along???" Fuck's sake, Bono, you insufferable twat! It's sick! It really is a fucking weird liberal brainrot sickness to tell occupied people under martial law they're 50% responsible for the conditions they're living in. It's sick. It's sick. I understand all Irish people are not down with the IRA, that's fine, but to do "both sides bad" and "can't we all just get along?" for THE BRITISH EMPIRE and THE PEOPLE IT VIOLENTLY OPPRESSED FOR 800 YEARS is fucking sick, man. Fuck you, Bono, you sick fuck. Fuck's sake I could write 10,000 words about what a fucking fuckstick Bono is. I'll just stop here, I'm getting myself worked up.
I liked this era of U2 - when they still seemed excited by their own success and before ego pushed its way into sounding the same as every other big arena band. Sunday Bloody Sunday is an obvious standout, but I liked “40” as well, and I’ve been jamming to New Year’s Day for years. Strong 4.5 for me.
These lads are going places.
Another knocker
Was never a fan, still aren't
I will say, I like this quite a bit more than Joshua Tree. It helps that this has my two favorite U2 songs (Sunday Bloody Sunday, and New Year's Day), but I also think this is just a stronger sound to me. Joshua tree was polished and futuristic, so polished and futuristic in fact, that much of it now sounds like boilerplate pop rock in 2026, due to no real fault of U2's own. On War, the band is clearly creeping towards the Joshua Tree sound, but they are in a place where their post punk roots, and toothless sound are not yet devoured. As such, War feels, to me, like an album with more character, or at least one with more for *me*. My aforementioned favorite songs here,Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day are a great e,ample of the sound. These songs have the kind of epic, panoramic quality that defines Joshua Tree, but both are more willing to let some real tension, and a little darkness brew. In fact, I almost think of Sunday Bloody Sunday as a goth song. But regardless, I think War strikes this balance more than it doesn't, although, I don't think it ends super strongly. But I still like this way more than Joshua Tree, and I'm definitely happy to have heard it.
It was good to hear back U2, but it was not their best album
I freaking LOVE U2. They have continued to evolve as a band and their sound is legendary. This album was another stepping stone in their evolution, and I'm here for it. It gave off the hits "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day", the latter of which I think is one of their best songs, but that's one man's opinion.
j'ai pas été touché plus que ça jsp ça me parle bcp moins que joshua tree l'autre jour.
Un peu déçu
Pre stadium rock. There is a feeling of mimicry of the bunnymen in the sound. All in all a decent but not great album with a couple of memorable songs
Looking back I never realized how thin sound this is production wise. I looked it up and I understand why it sounds the way it does but that doesn't make it more enjoyable. Ahyhoo, much like the rest of the U2 discography this has a couple of absolutely stellar singles and then quality drops off a cliff. 3 stars.
good bit uptempo album great lyrics
7.0/10 3-4 solid tunes on this album but the others aren't the best...
I am not a huge U2 fan, but New Year's Day was familiar and it was alright. The rest of the songs had that U2 sound and they also pretty decent. As an album overall, it wasn't too bad listening to the whole thing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
opening trio is truly unimpeachable stuff - you don't need me to tell you about tracks 1 and 3, but it's Seconds that might be my favorite thing here, more pliable and layered than anything else on this often very martial record. after that.......i don't know, it's all a bit fucking much, isn't it? hollering and sweating and things cleft in two or joined as one, there's really only so much of it i can handle. plenty of songs that would be fun or invigorating on their own become entirely too insistent when the level of gravitas never lets up. i think it always behooves a young band to sound hungry and eager but U2's never having stopped being eager, their hunger turning into something greedy and insistent, makes these songs age pretty poorly, nevermind the fact that they were my favorite band from ages 4-12. maybe all the music you liked as a child always sounds like children's music! who knows
안듣고싶어여의..
Bueno
3/6
Definitely U2 at their peak. Good album with a distinct sound. Got a little stale for me at the end, but I appreciated the subjects addressed. Also- the hits are bangers. Overall- 3.5/5
It's like I heard it for the first time, yesterday. I enjoyed their really early music, but like The Clash, I started to lose interest over the years. This, though, is wonderful.
es bueno
I don't think it's quite as consistent as The Joshua Tree and I definitely don't like it more than Achtung Baby, but this still has some of their best stuff! This is a mid 4
10/10. No notes. No skips. How did I forgot about U2’s GREATNESS?!?! So glad this brought their music back into my life!!!
Not as rocking as they think it is?
I think Sunday Bloody Sunday is my favourite U2 track, I just love the drumming that dominates it. This is present elsewhere on the album without the same effect. New Years Day is another great track, but there is little great beyond those two. Worse than that ‘The Refugee’ is just shocking
The opening track, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, is one of my favourite U2 songs, and is indicative of the first part of the album in terms of its sound - the military style drumming on this by Larry Mullen Jr works probably at its best. “New Year’s Day” is also a standout track, and another one of my favourites. Both “Seconds” and “Like a Song…” are solid inclusions, both of which working really well. Then, as is often the way with U2, the wheels come off around the halfway mark. “Drowning Man” is dirge, and the less said about “The Refugee” the better. “Two Hearts Beat As One” is the weakest of the singles from this album, and feels a bit out of place with the sound of the first half. The same can be said of “Red Light” and “Surrender” - I don’t mind these tracks, though they’re nowhere near as strong as the first half of the album, and maybe would’ve been better suited to The Unforgettable Fire. The backing vocals just don’t work for me - The Coconuts (of Kid Creole fame) and U2 just aren’t a partnership that works. “40” as a final track is just pointless - you can’t half tell it was done at the literal last minute. This is probably a 3.5* album for me, all things considered, but it’s not as strong as The Joshua Tree (which I rounded up).
I really don't get U2. I will say that I like Sunday Bloody Sunday, but I am completely meh about everything else. It's just ok. 2/5
Niet benoemen waardig, leuke basis maar niks cathies of speciaals. Eerste nummer nog t beste
Strong start, weak ending. As in, side B is definitely less intense, less focused. But pretty good overall.
Good, cohesive album. Would've been more poignant when it came out at the height of the Troubles.
Obligatory 3-star rating because I'm Irish and Sunday Bloody Sunday is on here
emphasis on the 2
Sunday Bloody Sunday is an anthem, otherwise not much to look forward to. I also, like most owners of apple products, have a bit of a grudge against U2 for how they violated us with that one album back in the day. 2.75.
Trying to look past how much I hate this band just personally. I think instrumentally they’re phenomenal at times but it also just runs that level of why is this so grandiose and theatrical for music that doesn’t fit that vibe. Also did my speakers explode or is the mix on this album horrific? It’s so thin. Whatever, I can’t get into U2 it’ll never happen sorry Mr the edge.
I am generally a U2 fan so I’m hoping this is a good one I feel like I’d give it a 4.25 if I could; it’s not quite a 5 but it has been an enjoyable listen
4 stars just for new year’s day i love that shit
U2っていうバンドがあること自体は結構聞いたことあって、でもこのアルバムではじめてU2を聴いた。 初期のアルバムであることも相まって全体的にストレートで熱量のあってこれがロックだという感じで、歌詞の意味を理解できかつロックにもっと深い人はハマるんだろうなと思った。 自分は正直あまり良さがわからなくて、部分的なもの(ビートとか終わり方とか)が良いと思った曲はあったけど曲を通して、アルバムを通してめっちゃいいなって感じることは少なかった。 いずれブッ刺さることを期待して、今は一旦評価としては普通にします 最後の曲は良かったかもー
Eh, some of it was nice but a lot of it was just generic rock. I don't understand how U2 got as big as they are.
Favourite Songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday
It was pretty alright. The polished faux funk of it all made it fade into the background.
I really dislike Bono, but its hard to deny the power of this one. Sunday Bloody Sunday is soooo damn good.
it was better than I expected, but still feels like a boomer Coldplay
No ta.
Having prior only listened to Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, and finding those albums bland, I didn’t have high hopes. I was pleasantly surprised by the first few tracks, and was really enjoying the album. As it went, it started to feel more and more dull. Ending with the dullest of them all in “40”. Some listen it was
"Like a song" stands out. But politics and lyrics reverse of dylan
A very solid classic U2 record with two monster hits in Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day, two of my personal favorite U2 songs. I’m of the opinion that U2, while unquestionably a great and important band, really only had one masterpiece (The Joshua Tree) and several really good albums, and in general 80’s U2 is the best U2 by far.
Meh. its standart american rock-in-roll. Too homogenous: no variation in guitar rythm, no voice/vocal changes, the drumer is not having fun, nothing. Its a wall of same-sounding noise from start to finish.
Not a bad album but i prefer the previous 2 being Boy and October. Some great tracks here though.
I listened to this as a kid. U2 was everywhere and with good reason. Their chemistry and sound worked for the era. It doesn't do anything for me now though.
Again, one of my favorite albums of all time
This wasn’t my vibe, but I can appreciate the craftsman’s ship and the willingness to stand behind their message!
I’m about two weeks into the project, and this is the first album that I already knew very well all the way through. I’m not sure if nostalgia is affecting my review, but this was such an enjoyable listen for me. The songs really hold up. U2 were already a really tight band here, the drumming especially stands out. The three singles – New Year’s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Two Hearts Beat as One – stand out as favorites. Refugee and 40, too. A couple of songs in the middle take this from a 5-star to a 4-star but overall I’m happy with how it holds up.
i always thought early U2 were less cringe, but turns out they're still cringe just in a different way
Man. U2. Stadium Rock. But this may be their best album. It’s really good. The 13 year old in me wants to rip it up and spit on it and just, idk, HATE. But the adult must admit that this is probably U2 at the top of their very impressive game. 4 Boolean: True
My 3rd U2 album and still no sign of the Beatles… weird. Started with Sunday Bloody Sunday which I really enjoyed. I think I enjoyed this more than the last two but still not really connecting with me
Shite
Not one song I liked
Auch ganz cool aber nich ganz so mein Jam.
Iconic songs here, but I think Achtung is the stronger album overall. Honestly, U2 are great.
Quite enjoyable, wouldn't mind listening to it again, but also wouldn't put it on myself again 2,5/5
Dislike U2
It's got some truly great stuff, but their sound does get a bit repetitive.
Overjoyed to see this one come up and revisit the early days of U2. A bit more rough and raw with the passion that made them what they are. Coincided with seeing a tribute band playing their songs and Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day live. Brilliant rock
Actually enjoyable? Why?
Very nice background, good in gym
Great album. Doesn’t reach the heights of Joshua Tree but pretty good
I’m not the biggest fan of U2 but I have to admits some of these were pretty good
Damn do I like U2 now? Joshua Tree was a banger and now this one. I would assume this is the extent of their good albums tho.
nice enough
++: Two Hearts Beat as One, Red Light +: New Years Day, The Refugee, Surrender, 40 +-: Seconds -: Sunday Bloody Sunday, Like a Song..., Drowning Man 4,5/10
If an album has songs I know the lyrics to and I’m not even compelled to sing along… that’s not a great sign.
Aside from Sunday and New year the album let's itself down as the quality of music lessens after these big tunes. A successful album in its day but not one I'd seek out today
Good
Almost great. 4/5
was alright i guess..
Pleasently surprised at times, but overall a very mixed bag, a standout from their early post-punk years, but U2 have always been a playlist band instead of an album band for me, War was unfortunately not good enough to change that for me, also the mixing is abysmal at times, with drum sounds flat enough to pull me entirely out of the song. 1) Like A Song 2) New Years Day 3) Sunday Bloody Sunday Least Favourite: Surrender
A ver, es U2, suena bien de por si. Tiene un gran tema que es el primero Sunday Bloody Sunday. Después normalitos, pero todos buenos temas. 8,5/10
(6.8) While there were some interesting aspects of this record, it didn’t blow me away.
Gab
4,7/5
My two favorite U2 songs are on here, so this one gets a 4.
Good
Love the urgency and the passion. Feel it in every instrument. This is rock and roll.
Sure! There's a couple of hits, but it's a pretty average album overall
Magicial memories. I remember it as if it were yesterday; the feeling is almost visceral. My little brother’s friend owned U2’s albums War, Boy, and October. That was a huge sensation for us in the GDR. His grandmother brought them back from a trip to West Germany (she smuggled the records in and didn't get caught)! Normally, travel from the GDR to West Germany wasn't permitted, but his grandmother had applied for permission, and it was granted. She traveled to Hamburg for a sister’s birthday party. The New Wave scene was all the rage in the mid-80s. My brother’s friend was a true "Popper"—sporting long bangs, a wave in his hair, and, of course, that obligatory little rat-tail at the back of the neck—the kind of thing we blues and rock fans loved to cut off during scuffles and take home as a trophy. But that’s another story. Anyway, in 1983, there was an incredible fear of war in the GDR, yet also hope sparked by events in Poland. That was where Solidarność (Solidarity) was founded in Gdańsk. Usually, worker protests in socialist countries were brutally crushed, but this time, it seemed like something might actually be possible. We were all huge fans of Lech Wałęsa; he was the one who gave us all hope. As I said, I’m talking about a time long before anyone even dreamed the Wall would fall. It was 1983, and the world was on the brink of nuclear catastrophe. I joined the peace movement. Our services were always held under the protection of the church. Stasi agents were always there, watching us and knowing exactly who we were, but we had courage (we were young and inexperienced). We also had an old, highly experienced pastor whom we respected immensely—he was almost like a god to us. In this context, I—the big brother who listened only to blues and rock—was allowed to join the younger ones in the "kids' room." We sat on the floor listening to his "treasures." He had records by The Cure, U2, Sisters of Mercy, Bowie, and a few others. To us, they were like gold dust. You couldn't normally buy records like that where we lived. Nowhere! I had started buying "West German records." I spent all my savings on them. On the black market—if you could even get hold of them—these records cost 120 to 130 East German marks. Back then, an average worker earned less than 800 marks a month. I can still remember my father’s pay envelopes—he was a master electrician; the figures written on them rarely came close to that amount. But back to that "kid's room": listening to those records—it still gives me goosebumps—felt like a holy mass that we would go on to celebrate again and again. We learned the lyrics—often understanding only a fraction of them—and sang along at the top of our lungs. His mother kept coming into the room, telling us not to sing so loudly so that the people (the Stasi) in the building and outside the door wouldn't hear. Those records and that time shaped me deeply; I had always been brave, but even more so after that. Having listened to the music and written this text today—a text most people in this group won't be able to fully grasp, since you had the good fortune to grow up in a different part of this wonderful planet Earth, unlike me, who grew up behind a wall of silence, concrete, and machine guns—I award this 5 stars with tears in my eyes.
First listen
Really high intense vocals, large guitar effects and funky rhythms 4/5
The album that broke them into the mainstream. I was a big fan, but knew that after October, they were in a precarious position. New Years Day was a huge song for them as was Sunday Bloody Sunday. I loved this when it came out and saw them in this tour.
I don't know what U2 did to ever be discussed as a great band. I understand Irish people getting behind them to an extent, but they are not good and somehow they are regarded as an all time great. If I never heard another U2 song in my life nothing in my life would change for the worse. Of course they have a couple catchy songs that everyone knows but musicianship, talent and just being a good band overall lacks, while somehow constantly being praised. I know the reason but can't believe enough people continue to push the propaganda of them being a great band. Anyway average album that everyone else will say is great because you have to, but I am here to tell you you dont have to. You can tell the world they suck one person at a time and start your own reviolution
it's alright, not a fan of the mixing
3.6 2x cant argue it's a solid album
The only thing I knew about U2 before this was Apple Music terrorising all of us by automatically downloading one of their albums onto our devices, so much so that it became a meme. Good times! Anyway, I was expecting all rose-tinted pacifism, but the album's explicit anti-war stance was very welcomed. The songs themselves were catchy and surprisingly intense (the vocals definitely had an electrifying edge of desperation to them)!
Damn, I quite liked it. Three excellent singles in New Year’s Day, Two Hearts and Sunday Bloody Sunday. A few clangers, as expected and Bono is on the absolute cusp of being terminally annoying but there are a few surprises (40 and Surrender) that keep it interesting. For the second or third time on this journey, I will say once again that Larry Mullen REALLY loves that hi-hat.
Give me U2's greatest hits and I'm happy. A U2 album makes me unhappy. They are massively overrated.
As most of U2's output, this is mediocre. Sunday Bloody Sunday is a decent song. The rest are mid.
Growing up, I heard a lot about U2 from my dad, and how he used to be a big fan of theirs. And listening to albums like this it's easy to see why he liked them so much. Admittedly it's not my favorite of theirs (that would be Achtung Baby), but there's a lot to like about this. It, more than most of the other stuff I've heard from them, has a clear point it wants to portray, but there's enough sugar in the melodies and the choruses that it's still palatable to someone not looking for that. It's just a really solid album, and a showcase of what was to come. Favorites: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Red Light
I’ve listened to enough u2, I don’t need to listen to more
One of the better U2 albums i think
I always expect U2 to suck and I'm always surprised that they don't. Gave me good 90's vibes even tho this one was early 80's?! Sick album art. Slightly lost interest for the main bulk of it tho. Favourite Tracks: - Sunday Bloody Sunday - 40
Alright, this is the good shit. Love some deep and heavy pop surrounded by a narrative on war and violence.
Before the overblown ego of gifting everyone a free album , that nobody wanted or could delete, was a bombastic stadium rock band Before that was a U2 at its creative best, taking on important social messages and driving a creative original sound. Bombastic, but with a small b .
u2 rules!!
cool
Such a solid rock album, between Bono's classic 80's screaming vocals and the heavy drums pushing forward and the piano/ guitar/ bass giving distinct personality to the songs it is a very enjoyable listen. Starts very strong, dips in the middle then ends pretty strong as well. Most songs were new to me and learning there's a guy just called The Edge is wild, that's rock and roll I guess. Band is on my radar more than ever before now.
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a great song!
U2 is boring
I liked this a lot more than Achtung Baby. I am still not a huge U2 fan but Sunday Bloody Sunday is up there with New Year's Day as their best single.
I cannot do U2
I really like the Edge, I really dislike Bono. This was inconsistent but pretty good
Melodic and catchy songs. Really enjoyed the songs, though didn’t really pay too much attention to lyrics.
I’m not the biggest U2 fan generally, but I did find myself enjoying more of this album than I thought I would. 4/5.
It was fine, I don’t really enjoy U2 but I can appreciate their talent
U2’s breakout album, this is the one that put them in the rarified air they’ve existed for decades. More grand lyrics than before, with themes of… well… war. A couple of softer songs at the end of each side give a balance to the anger and indignation of harm caused by leaders, especially Thatcher.
pretty good
U2 is so incredibly boring. I saw them live at a festival and it was the same as this album. Starts out ok, yeah, I know this one. Followed quickly by why? I don't want to listen to this anymore.
Fire Album, very fun listen. I will definitely come back to this but there are a few skips for me
there are some amazing songs on here, but also some real stinkers
#380 I like early U2, although I’d only ever really taken a greatest hits interest. I have a general dislike for Bono and U2 these days but it’s easy to understand why they got so big, and presumably why their heads got so big also. Suffice to say, I really enjoyed this album beyond the songs I already knew. Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Sunday Bloody Sunday; New Year’s Day Rating: 8/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a while all that breathless beseeching, fiery indignation and BIG guitar heroics grows a tad wearisome; a bit like being shouted at by someone who means well but doesn’t know when to turn the volume down -- Sid Smith, BBC
Pretty decent rock album. What really impresses me is how well it still holds up today. I don't know if it's the production quality or the musical composition, but this album sounds very modern. My favorite track was "Red Light". My least favorite was "The Refugee". It's too punk-y and is the only track that sounds dated.
Way better than I thought it would be but very boring.
Inte min grej, annars habilt
U2 har alltid känts som att stort band som jag aldrig riktigt satt mig in i utöver hitsen. Det här albumet var stabilt men uppmuntrade inte direkt till att ändra det.
Antar det inte hade blivit nåt U2 som vi känner till dem utan det här albumet, men det når inte hela vägen fram för mig tyvärr.
Sunday Bloody Sunday! Resten bra också men inte lika utstickande.
Listened till 4th song
Back when U2 was an example of polished post-punk instead of synth-laden anthem-rock. Not that their anthemic phase was bad by any means – Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree are perfectly solid – but when you compare U2's "eras", you can learn to appreciate War all that much more. Bono's delivery in Sunday Bloody Sunday is just top-notch. Great expression, frequent voice breaks (so you know he really means it), and a pretty good delivery of the melody. The song sounds difficult to sing convincingly. Not a fan of the self-harmonising towards the end. But that instrumental, particularly the bass and drums, really sell the song's final section. Interacting vocal parts work a little better in Seconds. And man, those drums and bass! Positively relentless, yet still pretty darn simple. New Year's Day can be described in much the same way. Riffs solely placed in the bass part tend to be pretty rare, yet they're genuinely some of the best moments of 80s music in an otherwise kind of lacklustre musical decade. The Edge does some fun subtle backing vocals here. I think I'm warming up to him. A fantastic intro to Like A Song leads to a song that wouldn't sound at all out of place on Synchronicity or perhaps an early R.E.M. album. Bono gets very excited here for no apparent reason. The outro is equally good. Drowning Man peaks with its aggressive acoustic guitar and Bono bellowing political metaphors. It feels like there's a lot going on and yet very little going on at the same time. Super high energy in Two Hearts Beat As One, and at this point I'm thankful the album is 42 minutes and no longer, because we're sorely missing some "ups and downs" in energy. Every song is technically a "banger", in the sense that it bangs up your eardrums, but we need some goddamn ballads up in here. The intro of Red Light is promising but then just completely throws the soft vocals for a falsetto-heavy rock number. Still enjoyable though. Nice trumpet outro. Surrender hits a fun Mixolydian-type mode. Nice track that ends up being a bit unmemorable but still very fun. 4/5 Key tracks: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Surrender
Dated and basic rock. Bono's voice isn't one I enjoy, the drumming sounds horribly recorded (hollow and sharp at the same time), and the guitar is just not exciting or that catchy.
I've listened to this album many, many times. There was a period when I would have put U2 in my top 5 favorite bands. For me personally, this album and "The Joshua Tree" are the best of their albums and when I feel that they were at their best. In my opinion, this album is just one rung below "The Joshua Tree", as I think there are a couple of "misses" on this album, where "The Joshua Tree" has no misses. But I love this version of U2. Songs with a message. The Edge's guitar. Interesting drums from Larry Mullen, Jr. Bono's vocals at their best. "New Year's Day" is probably one of my favorite U2 songs.
Enjoyment: 6/10 Replayability: 5/10 Cohesion: 7/10 Flow/Pacing: 5/10 Artistic Merit: 6/10 Weighted Average: 5.8/10 Review: U2 nails the Rock sound as it evolves in the 1980s with this album. You can hear the frustration of their lyrics reflected in the timbre of their guitars. That being said, there's still some dull stretches where the music all blends together. Liked Song(s): Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? Partly
Really good
Much like their other albums: very top heavy
Cool cover. Nice bright sound.
i cant review this it sounds so generic and yet here i am, giving world famous rock bands 2 stars because they just sound like *noise*. 42 minutes of bland, featureless, noise. honestly considering 1 star. oh does that count as a jesus song?? very tough, i shall decide tomorrow. tomorrow has arrived (actually more than that cause weekend) and... i can think of zero redeeming qualities of this album. nothing stood out to me. the jesus song counter shall progress to 3, but we're gonna say half bc of this and half bc i forgot to tick it up for george harrison my sweet lord (i'm blaming spotify auto-shuffle bc that did strike on his album)
Some songs would slap as tracks to the right movie, and I wouldn’t hate it at a party. Otherwise, it was just fine.
You know, I think I’ve never actually heard this record its entirety before. It’s definitely U2, but several of the songs have a less polished sound than what I remember from their later albums, which I thought was good. Everyone knows “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “New Years Day,” and “Two Hearts Beat as One” because of constant airplay, and I was tempted to skip them on this listen. “Sunday,” at least, was a powerful song when it first appeared, and still is, with the drumming and fiddle beating a rhythm behind “I’ll wipe the tears away.” For the rest of it, I was surprised when “Seconds” came on just now because I’ve always liked that song and honestly had no idea it was U2! The other tracks were definitely U2.
esse é o mais aclamado do u2? acho que isso quer dizer muita coisa sobre a banda DITO ISSO é um álbum dos anos 80 né, sem tirar nem por sinceramente? fui com expectativas mto baixas então nem achei ruim no final das contas extremamente aceitável pra 1983
expectativas baixíssimas. mas foi melhor que o outro deles que passou por aqui. ainda meia boca e mediano, mas fazer o que
On their 3rd album. WAR, U2 provides a protest album that focuses on humanity instead of taking a political side. It weaves human tragedy, solidarity, and anxiety with militaristic rhythms that proves gritty, politically charged post-punk can compete with mainstream pop.
Three U2 albums down, one more to go... I can't stand Bono's voice at all. The band underneath him are usually unremarkably mediocre as well, making U2 music completely irredeemable, irritating awfulness. Granted, this album is at least a little better than the others I've had, with better songs and a slightly- SLIGHTLY- less irritating Bono. But, unfortunately, that doesn't make him tolerable. So it's good in comparison to the absolute piles of shit that are Achtung Baby and All That You Can't Leave Behind, but not good enough to overcome my anti-U2 bias. Sorry, not sorry. This album is ranked #3 of 16 for 1983. Other 1983 albums rated by me: Soul Mining(8/16)-1 Back to Mystery City(15/16)-2
Classic
I like you too! I mean,I like you two! I mean, I like U2! Spelling matters.
Myślałem, że będzie mocno średnie, a naprawdę fajne. Przekonuję się. 4/5
Another classic. Their sound in their subsequent album, The Joshua Tree, is more 'signature U2' to me than what's heard here. War is wider reaching, and has tracks which are much less enjoyable than others. Julia has War on vinyl, bought from a schoolmate who had decided she didn't want to keep it.
I have to begrudgingly give this its dues. U2 at their best, where their arrogance hasn't given away to pedantry.
Its a great background album and the lyrics (from what i heard) seem to make it a great protest album and there are some nice horns but im gonna be real i never loved u2 4/7
Now THIS is the U2 I loved and wish everyone knew. Classic album. Great lyrical content. Well done! (Bono, I’m from the future. Two things. Sometimes learn to not be so preachy. And most importantly…stay off of everyone’s iPods.)
Amazing album. As brilliant now as when it was released 43 years ago! Can hardly believe it's that old!!!!
is some good u2 💥sunday bloody sunday 💥seconds 💥new years day 💥like a song 💥refugee 💥two hearts beat as one
Amazing. I love U2 because my mother loves them, and they make good music.
I just don't care for U2.
I don’t love U2 at all but I like this album *so* much more than The Joshua Tree that it’s getting an artistically higher rating to reflect how annoyed I feel by that album
shit rips RIP the irish people
CSI ass music
Kinda crazy how U2 decides to frontload every album with singles. I get a little lost by the time "Two Hearts Beat As One" rolls around on this one, it's just not a great album experience for me. But the good stuff is great!
You know when you just try to listen to early U2 in a vacuum and ignoring their reputation and legacy and then you realize that they’ve actually been a post punk / new wave band the whole time and have just spent the last 40 years obfuscating this image via self important power ballads and I don’t mean this as an insult actually I really like U2 but let’s not pretend they don’t take themselves a bit too seriously
New Year’s Day still slaps
Ok
Music which was unavoidable when growing up. The soundtrack of the early years of going out. So a trip to memory lane. As band I lost interest in U2 after the Joshua Tree, but the albums before that are still albums I listen to occasionally with a lot of pleasure, so 4/5.
Kult.. hørte på litt som bakgrunnsmusikk så bør lytte igjen med mer fokus!
U2 just aren’t for me I don’t think. Sunday Bloody Sunday is good thematically ofc so I guess it’s a must listen for that reason?? Idk losing the will to live with this a bit, hopefully tomorrows album brings me back 🥲
I dislike u2
nah u2 is echt mid de gitaar is distasteful en hij heeft geen mooie stem
eerlijk was best oké voor een u2 album
The only award U2 deserve these days is for the world’s cringiest band (who can forget Nancy Pelosi condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a poem from her ‘good friend Bono’). But here we get evidence that they did once have something about them. The strength of this album is in the first half, with opener Sunday, Bloody Sunday a powerful way to start (really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday), and New Year’s Day is also a strong track alongside. In all, we get a good rock sound paired with politics remarkably more than vapid liberal symbolism. However, it does tail off in a more placid second half. Enough to hang on for 4 though.
I liked this more than expected, given my general impression of U2 as purveyors of middle-of-the-road rock. In their earlier days, though, they did produce some great post-punk/new wave tracks, as demonstrated here.
This is a decent new wave/post-punk album, all right but slightly underwhelming (a description that fits nearly everything I’ve heard from U2 before). ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ is of course a classic protest song, and definitely one of the best tracks here, along with ‘New Year’s Day’ and ‘Two Hearts Beat as One’, but even those I merely liked rather than loved. ‘Like a Song….’ was good for being a bit more lively and up-tempo, and I enjoyed the percussion and guitar work on ‘The Refugee’, but a lot of other songs didn’t make much of an impression on me.
Finally, on day 851, the album I’ve been looking forward to since day one. My favorite album of all time. The music and lyrics work together seamlessly to support the theme. Consistently sublime from start to finish.
Es mucho mas potente de lo que esperaba de U2. Está guapete.
Further reinforces my belief that U2 are a great singles band without a genuinely great album (perhaps I’ll change that when I re-listen to Joshua Tree). The big singles on this are amazing. Top-tier songs. But so much of this album is dull and lifeless, and sounds like so much else at the time. Moments of unmatched inspiration surrounded by uninspired album tracks.
Didn't take notes during the listen, not my usual cup of tea and was more or less what I imagined, was very fond of the guitar and bass, wasn't a huge fan of the vocalist, quite enjoyable in a chill context but definitely not my first pick.
뭐라 쓰지
This is probably at least a 4 star album, objectively, but that's not the world we live in.
Good
Not my cup of tea really
Thought it was the boy album for a sec
For the longest time I never really gave U2 a chance. Maybe it was their more modern stuff, but I really enjoyed this. 4/5
Was pretty bored
Where U2 finally became themselves; cold and dark and anxious and equally danceable. "New Year's Day" is a complete essential that I'm sure most U2 deniers could recognize the brilliance of. Bono still had some of that lost grit to his performances here too, it felt genuine and fierce and so young (not to say that I dislike what came later, because Zooropa is my favorite album of theirs). This is almost like a different band from the jokes and the stereotypes that have been applied to them in the years since War released.
U2 is one of the top five most overrated bands of all time. Bono's voice is lightweight - he's almost trying to belt (without success) - and lacks a richness that his singing style requires to be impressive. The Edge (fucktarded nickname aside) is a perfectly serviceable guitarist, but not great. Another one-trick pony, Edge's echoes fit the lyrical themes and overall esthetic of the band perfectly, but again, fail to impress. Especially on this album, U2's strength are their lyrics and themes. Unfortunately, Dolores O'Riordan did the neither-punk-nor-traditional-rock version of those themes so much better, that U2 should be forgotten.
Back when U2 were good
This is some Pro Bono work! YEA YEA YEA YEA HELLO HELLO!
Super catchy and a little wild
Me hitting play: https://share.google/eM6stnldNKMJJ7Mng Me resisting the urge to turn it off and listen to more John Zorn: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/02/21/arts/20rewindpix/merlin_168924228_4e15ef97-9294-4d0b-a5c0-4396a71d033b-superJumbo.jpg
Not sure if this should be humanity's final statement on "war," but definitely a good U2 album. Bono's vocals: hungry...and his melodies: not square like they are today. The Edge's guitar: jagged...and his background vocals: angelic. They're still a band here, not an institution. Now listen, I'm a FAN...I saw them live circa 2018, and a few of their songs are personal all-timers, but their LPs often fatigue me. I listened to War the whole way through and didn't want to turn it off once. Then, I pressed play a second time and got about four tracks in before I switched to Bully - Deluxe, lol.
I’ve always fucked with U2 but I’ve never listened to this entire album. Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of my favorite songs to blast in the car it always goes so hard. Red Light was my favorite unfamiliar song for sure. 4.5/5 ⭐️
Sorry Amy but this is not my jam </3
I don’t like U2 at all, but like they were influential I guess so I will give them 3 stars. Also no one should be named Bono.
Always hear people shitting on U2 but I actually quite like their music. Refugees is the one song on this album that my dad played the most, and thus is my favorite of the pack.