War

This band honestly just does nothing for me. Sorry about it.

I’ll be honest — I really don’t like U2, and that probably clouds my judgment here. While listening to War I didn’t feel much. It’s got that early-U2 post-punk energy with bigger, anthemic choruses starting to show up, but overall it just didn’t connect with me. The album is passionate and has some strong moments, especially with the political edge and Bono’s intensity, but the sound and the whole “we are saving the world” vibe that U2 became known for is already present and it irritates me. Maybe I’ll give it another proper try someday when I’m in a different mood, but right now it just reinforced why I’m not a fan of the band. It’s not terrible, but it’s far from something I’d reach for again.

Well this is definitely preferable to later era U2. Still didn't grab me in any major way, but it's alright.

British general Rock'n'Roll

Sunday Bloody Sunday: 8/10 Seconds: 6/10 New Year's Day: 9/10 Like A Song…: 5/10 Drowning Man: 6/10 The Refugee: 6/10 Two Hearts Beat As One: 4/10 Red Light: 9/10 Surrender: 7/10 "40": 8/10

Valió la pena cada minuto del album, lo volvería a escuchar

a transformative album of my youth. Here they perfected their style of embedding these rushing emotional and uplifting moments of passion in their songs, including on "New Years Day" (at "say it's true, it's true"). The trumpet on Red Light always catches me off guard in a good way. beautiful coda at the end with "40". U2 at its best, but not at its most popular.

A really good album. Four stars!

U2 takes a lot of shit from haters. I get it. Bono can be a bit annoying. But up through 'The Joshua Tree' they were excellent. War put them on the map. I'm close to giving it a 5, but it falls just a bit short of that as the second half has a couple forgettable tracks. I don't know if it makes the 1001 list, but 'The Joshua Tree' probably would get a 5 from me.

Yes Bono is a pompous ass but U2 had a moment in the early 80s.

I don't have much use for later U2 but this was just perfection.

At least 40 years, that's how long. (I don't actually hate this album. It sounded pretty good back then and it holds up)

This band has become risible in its later life. But man do I love their early stuff. You can really hear a critical group on the come up here. Such a good album, revealing excellent things to come. Always loved this album. Always will.

H: maybe I just don’t care of this style of rock but I don’t know why this album is in here. All the songs sound the same and it’s kinda boring. 2/10 H fav song: N/A Z: Bono’s energy is the standout here. A passionate take on war and its impact 7.4/10 Z fav song: New Years Day Z for fans of: the peace core and Bloody Sundays

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is such a catchy song barely remember anything else, but know they were all good.

C’est de la bonne musique, mais trop oubliable à mon goût, les deux titres phares font le taff mais j’ai reçu un peu d’ennui à part ça

Despite all the detractors, I like U2. This was a good opportunity for me to listen to one of their albums that I am less familiar with. Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day are two songs I already know and rate highly, the rest of the album was, I think, new to me. I liked it overall. A bit rougher, a bit punkier than their later albums (I know their work from 1987's Joshua Tree onward much better). I would listen to this again.

Si el álbum mantuviera la consistencia magistral de los 4 primeros temas sería una obra maestra, pero a medida que va pasando de va diluyendo tanto musical como líricamente, perdiendo un poco de profundidad en el contexto anti-guerra del álbum, aunque en el lado B hay temas rescatables y buenos, el primer lado del álbum es insuperable y le termina costando caro como obra completa.

I don't care for Bono and especially don't like U2's later stuff. This was solid, but I don't think I can bring myself to give it a higher rating than 3

This was all a bit "whatever", much like how I have always tended to view U2 generally. Nothing much wrong with the songs here, which in the main are perfectly functional and have a propulsive, driving energy to them, but I couldn't really recall a hook, riff or other feature that got under my skin at any point. "Drowning Man" was a notable low point with those horrible wailing vocals. I struggle to understand the fervour for this band.

Well this is certainly a treat, we have a performance from our new exchange student from IRELAND. I have his stage name here, it's uhh "Boner"? No, that can't be it, sorry, BO NO, yes I'm no good with these foreign names. Please everybody give a big "Top o' the morning" to Mr. Bo No. The high school auditorium spotlight jerks towards the freckled, fedora-clad youngster standing proudly atop an empty stage. The seconds feel like hours for the young Irishman, with his heart to spill. He is nervous, yet confident in the depth of his message. His opening salvo cuts the anticipation with an edginess reminiscent of a bald guitarist from another life. "No light! Great Plight! Why can't we just.. UNITE??" He crosses his arms in front of him and gazes upwards, eyes closed, demonstrably thrilled with this passage of what he considers to be his "magnum opus." "War? What's it good for? Oh yeah, we don't like it anymore! Fists Raised! Churches Razed??? Hey man, our hearts pump the same blood, and it's all red, so let's get together and end this BloodSHED." A quiet, but still audible groan rises from the disinterested pulpit. Bono gazes into the lights knowing he will one day eradicate conflict with his poetry. "I swear these kids get dumber every year" mutters the principal to a nearby teacher over a smattering of polite applause from sleepy teenagers in attendance. He musters the strength to go usher Bono off stage who in the meantime has revealed himself to be wearing a white t-shirt with a "bloody handprint" on it and the word "PEACE?" in large black lettering. The talent show continues with a kid in a wheelchair doing some pretty respectable impressions. The best U2 album ever. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Edge's baldness toque

So, I grew up with post 90’s U2. I mentioned in my last U2 review for Achtung Baby that we had one of their later albums, All That You Can't Leave Behind, as a CD, and wore it the hell out. Played that CD in the car all the time. Because of that CD, I liked the band a lot already. But that was U2 to me. Just that album. It wasn’t until just now actually that I’m hearing this album for the first time. It was the same for when I rolled Achtung Baby previously. This is insanely good. Like, so good I didn’t have any idea U2 could possibly sound like this. This is U2 album 2/4, following the previously mentioned Achtung Baby. Seeing and hearing Bono here this young is quite a trip. He’s just a baby. The difference between this album and the post 2000’s albums are actually insane. The hardest part about this album is picking a favorite. That’s how I know, deep down, that it’s a 5 for me personally. There’s the obvious choice, the one song I knew going in, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, but genuinely every song on this album separately has been stuck in my head all day. The guitar playing and singing on these songs is just incredible. I could make a case for every song here. Seriously, I can’t pick a favorite. If I thought there was passion in the later albums, clearly I hadn’t heard this album yet. The sheer extent of the inspiring vocals and instrumentation here is nothing short of incredible. I gave Achtung Baby a 4, and mentioned I was considering giving it a 5. I’m going to skip right to a 5 for War. This very well may be their magnum opus. It’s going to be hard for the other 2 to beat this one for me, but we’ll see. I was one of what feels like a select few people that has no problem with even U2’s latest albums (Yes, even the controversial one that was forced onto our phones), and even I am kicking myself not having heard any of this previously. It’s really, really good and I don’t have any excuses for why I’d give it a 4. I think the first half is a bit more memorable as a whole, but that’s hardly a complaint. The back half is still really good and high energy as well. Ok. I’ve finally decided. I’m going to give my favorite song of the album to “Like A Song”. Just know that this could have gone to any song on the album. I can’t explain specifically why I chose it without just saying it was good, and that picking a favorite one here tormented me all day. So yeah, this was a great album. There’s a non zero chance I go back to the previous album and give that a 5 as well. I’m definitively a U2 fan after this one.

2.3/5 I've never been a big fan of U2 and I've never understood the hype but they have some good songs but nothing that's ever blown my socks off.

1983, man U2 have really been U2'ing for that long huh? I liked this one more than their later stuff, which has become the example of mainstream radio rock fluff. I like the pronounced Irish-ness of this, the politics in Sunday, New Year's Day, Refugee. Irish people aren't angry enough any more after the troubles have ended. It's rawer, less produced. Bono still sounds the same, he's actually kept his voice remarkably intact over more than 40 years. Maybe it's the blue glasses. Anyway, I like these newcomers from Dublin. I wonder if one day they'll put an album on everyone's phones without asking.

Seems like generic 80s album nothing stood out to me.

Why do people hate on U2? At its core, I think it's an aversion to earnestness. U2 started by writing emotional songs about things that mattered, and not about wanting to get laid. Rock music is about getting laid, and U2 said, "No, we want to talk about Bloody Sunday and write a song using a Psalm as lyrical inspiration." It could also be that U2 are not virtuosos. They understand how to create compelling sonic environments using a variety of effects that make it sound like multiple guitars are playing at once. The songs on this record are fantastic. Memorable. Earnest. Classic.

The first half of this album is absolute post-punk perfection. The raw, driving energy and military-style drums create exactly the kind of dark, aggressive atmosphere I love. I honestly thought I was listening to a 5/5 masterpiece because the A-side is incredibly strong, especially 'New Year's Day'. But the B-side completely lost me. It dropped that intense energy entirely and felt like a huge drop-off. Still, the first five tracks are legendary and went straight into my playlist. A solid 4/5

I’m not sure I can completely detach U2 from what they’ve become these days but there’s no denying that they were a great band in their heyday which probably started somewhere around _War_ and the brilliant tracks _New Year’s Day_ and _Sunday, Bloody Sunday_ (the kids are running round, you've got to mow the lawn, wash the car). I think the rest of the album suffers in its wake although I really liked _Surrender_ towards the end too. It’s not the U2 album I would typically reach for but maybe once in a while I would.

New Year's Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday,Two Hearts and a load of filler. But no. Not a load of filler. Actually pretty darn good. Which is sad because U2 is a band I really want to despise. I must learn to separate the product from the personnel. Dammit

A solid set, their most cohesive lp up to this point. Still a great listen.

Mullet era Bono. Have not listened to this since the 80s. Decent set of tunes. I always leaned more into The Alarm. 68 GUNS!

Might try it again sometime. I didn't dislike this record but I couldn't connect with it either.

Seriously? Two u2 albums in a row? Although, 1982 U2 is a hell of a lot more interesting than 2000 U2.

A very solid album and my favorite from U2. Post-punk before they became pop and I appreciate it more than their later music which evolved to adult alternative and abandoned their punk beginnings.

Iconic cover, lacklustre album for the most part

it a good album but im just not in the vibing. fav track: sunday bloody sunday

I forgot U2 is actually a really great band. This is a very good album. It’s fashionable to hate on U2 and I’m over it.

I've been a bit of a U2 hater at times but I have to give props: Bloody Sunday is perhaps their best song and a real strong start to this album. But after that it just kinda faded into the background. But... a bit in a good way? IDK it was just a bit of a better album then most of their other stuff. I didn't want to fall asleep to it is what I think I'm trying to say. 5/10

Perfect album. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" are the masterpieces.

I'm not much of a U2 fan at all, but "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is easily one of the better songs they've ever put out. That driving, militaristic drum beat right at the opening hooks you instantly and gives the track an incredible sense of urgency. "New Year's Day" is another solid highlight on here with that iconic, brooding bassline, but honestly, a lot of the deeper cuts on the tracklist start to lose me. The whole album has this very raw, aggressive post-punk edge compared to the polished stadium rock they got famous for later, which I can appreciate.

A good first half with an okay second.

was always under the impression U2 weren't for me. i actually really liked this, really good opening couple of tracks and i'm thankful to have been proven wrong about them...

I like some songs on this album a great deal!!!! Please do not kill me U2 fans!!!!!!!! Might just require more listens for me to lock in to most of the B side. But I still like the album overall.

Seems one of their less inspired efforts, kind of diminishing returns after Sunday Bloody Sunday

didn't really excite nor captivate me, but it's alright, a somewhat enjoyable experience

I'll give this an extra star for mom but eh U2 is not my jam. I do love Sunday Bloody Sunday but it blended together a bit for me

Bono’s voice has never been for me. Some cool parts of songs here and there though.

A couple great. Mostly good. Not one I'll revisit

A great album by a pretentious band before they become pretentious. 3

This is U2's debut, right? No? It's their third? Hmm, who knew? I knew the two big songs going in and loved them, and I'll probably add another couple to the playlist. The rest of the album is fine. I'd have probably liked it more if I'd grown up with the band properly, and I may like it more with a few more listens. But on first listen it's a three stars. I'm happy to raise to a 4 thanks to its cultural significance.

I think I had unfair opinions on U2 because of their meme-y early 00s stuff that I was more familiar with, but you know what this album was pretty good and I enjoyed it. It was the right amount of sincere anti-war and anti-violence stuff that really worked, and honestly sounded better than the stuff I'm used to of them. Fair play!

U2 are one of those bands where it's a shame they turned so naff because this is actually really good. if it was by a band under a different name I reckon more cool kids would be quite into it the same way they are with other 80s post punk. that's my hot take!

This was fine. I am just not a U2 fan. I'm not sure that I see the hype.

Shite

That whole meme that everyone hates U2 (and I should too) is engrained in my mind, so the first few songs were a pleasant surprise. Sort of reminded me of The Cure a little bit, but with less "charm" I guess. I got pretty bored fairly quickly though. The 'variety' wasn't doing it for me; if you're going to make all your instrumentation sounds similar, you're going to need a lot of diversity in melody and song structure to make up for it... Which this barely did. 'The Refugee' is a good example of the album stretching out a bit. Found myself nodding my head to a lot of the songs, but feeling them blend in quite a bit. Sort of muzak. But I don't 'hate U2' anymore...

Not a big U2 guy but Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day are bangers. Imagine if U2 was your favourite band.

I'm a sucker for catchy guitar riffs. It's a good protest album It feels both modern and retro I enjoyed listening to this.

Smooth music, fun jams!

I mean this album is fantastic. So much fun. There really wasn't a song that I did not like. Although "Drowning Man" was my least favorite. This album is so much fun and just sounds soooo good! The horns throughout but especially in "Red Light" are soooo great! Liked Songs: The entire album

Unremarkable.

Finally, a really good U2 album. Compared to what came later, this was music with balls. Great songs, expertly played. It's a great post-punk album. Sure, it's not perfect and there is obvious filler, but a great experience nontheless. Strong 4/5

Guys! Please! DON‘T give me your love! I absolutely do not want it! Even though you might’ve been trying to rip off early The Cure here (which I appreciate) this is clearly going nowhere. Let’s end this before it begins

Good songs + meh songs

I always enjoy listening to the earlier U2 albums. This one still hits with its messaging and great tracks in a more stripped down sound.

The lyrics stood the test of time, the music not so much.

Eh

listened to a few songs and they were pretty good

Good Diner music.

I liked this a lot less than Achtun bsby

I actually really like u2 but this isn’t my favourite album. Only one really stand out song for me.

Bit preachy and samey

Underwhelmed. Unstirred.

It was okay. I found it droned on a bit.

Never really a big U2 fan, but hard to argue that they make good music even if not quite your thing

Æ huske ikke om det her e et av albuman til U2 det e lov å like, æ tror det (og æ bryr mæ jo lite om ka som e lov og ikke), og æ kan skjønne koffor. Det e lettlytta, sjøl om æ tror materien hadde fortjent en dypere innsats. Det hete tross alt War.

it's aight

U2 es una banda que rescato 1 o 2 temas por disco. Este no es la excepción.

*Distinct 1980s U2 sounds with New Wave influences

No comment (i.e. I have thoughts about U2 but don't want to get into them here)

i thought it was alright, the songs were kind of all in a similar sound which is fine but i want something more diverse, these reviews are gonna become way shorter so yeah

Not my kind of music

war what is it good for

I think the perception of U2 depends entirely on what age were you when you paid attention to their music and what stage of their careers was the band at that time. In my case it was between the Batman Forever song and the Sweetest Thing era. At that point I swam into their earlier discography and quickly became a big fan of theirs enjoying their straighforward and borderline simple instrumentation creating songs that can only becontained in stadiums with great social lyrics being well versed on the injustices of the world. There was always something new to learn on each of their albums. War was the album I listened to the most easily, as much as Joshua Tree. The singles were inescapable, Seconds, Two Hearts and 40 were great discoveries, the whole album experience was very rewarding from start to finish. I never considered this a concept album, but it very well could be seen this way. I'll rate this objectively regardless of their future as a band (and rich tax avoiding human beings).

Classic album that maybe doesn't have as many hits as subsequent U2 albums but also doesn't feel like it is delivering on a promise. Just feels like a band making a good album. If I'd never heard of U2 as an almost cultural phenomenon I think I might even be more charitable to this venture. I've always kind of resented their twee "we care a lot" corporate nonsense. I'm sure they genuinely do as people but they are a commodity form of caring. This album was prior to all of that postulated "radicalism" that wasn't ever radical. It's just a pretty solid 4 for me.

There’s something immediately gripping about War by U2. From the opening marching drums of Sunday Bloody Sunday, the album announces exactly what it is: urgent, political, emotional, and impossible to ignore. The drumming feels militant before The Edge’s guitar cuts through and that electric violin scratchiness that almost feels uncomfortable, but intentionally so. The song constantly pulls between beauty and tension, especially when the bridge softens only to be interrupted again by those jagged sounds. Combined with lyrics rooted in the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it becomes one of the most powerful opening tracks I’ve heard. What struck me most throughout War is how politically charged the album is without ever sacrificing the music itself. Seconds captures the fear of nuclear war in a way that feels human rather than preachy, and it reminded me of the version of Bono and U2 I grew up hearing about, a band deeply engaged with the world around them. Before the over-commercialized image they later developed, U2 felt like a group genuinely trying to say something meaningful through music. They weren’t just writing headlines into songs; they were writing about the emotional toll behind them. New Year’s Day ended up being one of my favourites on the album. The political backdrop of the Polish Solidarity movement already makes the song interesting, but as a Polak it gave me an even stronger connection. What makes U2 work so well here is that the message never overshadows the music. The bassline is incredible, The Edge’s guitar work is instantly recognizable, and the piano gives the song another emotional layer. I kept replaying it because there’s so much happening at once, musically, lyrically, emotionally. Like a Song… show the band’s confidence growing. The lyrics feel almost like a declaration that music should stand for something, while still being catchy and energetic as hell. It has this force and momentum that feels rebellious without trying too hard. Meanwhile, Drowning Man shifts away from overt politics into something more personal, but even then the tension of the outside world still feels present. The love song feels fragile, like two people trying to hold onto each other while everything around them feels unstable. It’s one of the album’s most human moments. I also loved the experimentation across the album. The Refugee brings in a groove that shakes up the sound without feeling out of place, and Bono’s vocals are fantastic on it. Two Hearts Beat as One sounds like the blueprint for the stadium-filling U2 I knew growing up. Even if it’s less surprising than some earlier tracks, you can hear how this band was destined for massive stages. Hearing this album back in 1983 must have felt exciting. The only track that didn’t fully connect with me was Red Light. It’s still good, the horns add a nice texture and the bridge is catchy, but compared to the intensity and emotional weight of the rest of the album, it doesn’t hit as hard. Then songs like Surrender pull everything right back with huge choruses, soaring “whoas,” great bass work, and that massive sound U2 became famous for. The closer, 40, ends the album beautifully. The drumming stands out immediately, and the song gradually builds into something hopeful and uplifting. After all the tension, fear, protest, and emotional exhaustion across the album, ending on hope feels important. I grew up with 2000s U2, where I liked a lot of the singles but mostly wrote the band off because their later music felt too commercial for me. I’d heard albums like The Joshua Tree and some of their 90s material, but War completely changed my perspective on them. This album feels raw, intense, purposeful, and fully realized from start to finish. It has an overarching sound and emotional drive that demands a reaction from the listener. I actually got to see U2 live during the U2 360° Tour when I was younger, and even then it was obvious why they became one of the biggest stadium bands in the world. But hearing War now gives that experience much more context. You can hear the ambition, the power, and the emotional scale already forming here. Overall, I enjoyed War far more than I expected to. It’s an album that balances political commentary with genuinely fantastic songwriting, and every song feels driven by urgency and emotion. More than anything, it made me curious to go back and listen through U2’s discography from the beginning. This is absolutely one I’ll be adding to my collection. 9.2/10

I enjoyed this more than The Joshua Tree. It is rawer, more direct, and more interesting to listen to, albeit a bit on the nose. The first half is definitely stronger, but it was overall a good album and does make me want to reevaluate The Joshua Tree.

Post-punk goes arena!

I had a terrible day and this website now forces me to listen to goddamn U2 of all bands. This cover make me so mad, it fucking SUCKS. Why are you staring at me like this bozo ? Fuck off. I havnt even started to listen to the album. Yeah just horrible ,annoying, uninspired pop rock bullshit or whatever. And bono's voice is still annoying and I hate it. This album is called War because it what it makes you want to do after youve listen to 40 minutes of U2. The Maroon 5 of their time/5

A bit grandiose and bloated, like every other U2 album. Still, they got big for a reason and the music isn't bad. It's just... Bono.

not my favorite U2 album but it feels very "of U2", I think this is where their sound really changes to become heavier which I really like.

Did every teen in the 90s go through a U2 phase? I definitely did. U2 is probably my favorite road trip band. There were a few skip songs for me on this album though, so that drops the score down one star for me.

This was fine. It has Sunday Bloody Sunday on it, so thats a great song, so are many of the others. For a minute I wasnt sure if I was listening to that greatest hits of 80s album.

i’m still not over them putting that album on my phone so i WILL be deducting points

It's a classic, but I think mostly because it has a few spectacularly good songs. The rest are uneven, although certainly there's nothing bad here. Some of the songs just don't feel finished. I was struck by a few things on this listen: - Larry's drumming is really good, and drives the album just as much as the vocals and guitar - Edge's background vocals are (always) underrated, and there's a call-and-response arrangement for him and Bono on the majority of the songs. - This still sounds like a post-punk album more than the Lanois/Eno-produced atmospheric albums to come, but you can absolutely here Edge developing the guitar sounds that would dominate Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.

Good one.

U2 still sounds kind of weird to me. Don't ask me why, something about their sonic pallet just doesn't resonate with me. I did end up enjoying this album on the balance though, I'm going to go 3.5/5

Great listening to this and Achtung Baby on a rainy Friday.

Ok not great

I've never understood the draw of U2 and for that reason this was a first time listen for me. Whilst I appreciate that they speak to a good many people musically and politically, this one won't be re-appearing on my listening list again.

Ютуб ебаный чета там за войну поет, а не хочет Боно в Донецк съездить?

- Some classics, but a bit forgettable otherwise

Im all over the place on this one. On the positive side, this has some obvious merit. There are some great rock tunes in here, the politics of it stand up, it avoids 80's production cliches and the rhythm section stands out especially. On the negative side, it felt quite thin at times. Whilst Bono and The Edge are great songwriters. I dont think they are world class as the front end of the horse. I also have a generally negative opinion of them from a pretentiousness perspective which isnt the worst thing they could be, but its not endearing. I did this 2 times, on headphones, whilst travelling around so cannot be accused of not giving it a chance, but i found it pleasant at times but grating more regularly

Enjoyed this one a lot!! Reading that it was their most political record was also exceptionally interesting. I really enjoyed the stripped back guitars here-- not a lot of reverb or other messing around, just solid guitar solid drums. The pointed political nature of the lyrics was also a really nice change of pace. I figure not a lot of their other records sound this way and I really like it! Highlights: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, The Refugee, Two Hearts Beat As One

kinda just fine

No sé quien me había hecho creer que U2 era malo cuando claramente es algo que me gustaría. Se me pasó super rápido

I am aware of the historical importance, and yes Sunday and new Day are good, but this doesn’t negate the fact that I don’t like Bono as a singer and U2 is only an okay rock band. It’s fairly similar to each other and not a huge range. Legacy and historically importance bumps you up a little, but not to the point of saving an otherwise not great record.

I cannot possibly be objective with the first CD that i ever bought. and, honestly, who gives af about objectivity here? it's not my favorite u2 album, but it's still a great one

fun, good. 3.5

i’ve been wary of u2 ever since their album magically downloaded on everyone’s phones but omgi should have given them a chance new fav album

Brilliant.

Pretty decent

Woof

Volvería a escucharlo

so wild to kick things off with sunday bloody sunday and still have the rest of the album be this good

i didn’t even finish listening to it lol

By the mid 80s, U2 were treading an interesting line with War between post-punk rock, new wave and pop. New Year's Day, with a bass line inspired by Visage's Fade To Grey, became their biggest hit so far, creeping into the UK top ten, and they were becoming everyone's favourite up-and-coming band. It was nice to look back on this as I listened to this album for the first time in 30 or so years. It's amazing consistently strong album, with high points being the aforementioned New Year's Day and Two Hearts Beat As One. Like A Song and Surrender are strong album tracks and I also have a soft spot for Drowning Man. Sunday Bloody Sunday starts well but meanders around too much in the middle of the song and 40 is an odd choice for a closing track. Lyrically, the band don't pin their colours to any particular mast too securely - people lose in war, no matter whose side they're on. They've pretty much followed this manta throughout, supporting the morally right ideal and speaking out against idiots. A fine example of some of their earlier work. 4 stars.

Pretty good. Come back to listen more

Rating:★★★★ Classic Album. So many great songs that I find myself coming back to, so once I saw this album pop up, I knew I was in for a treat.

awesome one. I've slept on this hard. Mix for some U2 stuff drives me crazy sometimes though, I just want it to sound clear!!! And I'm not even an audiophile at all

Never would I have thought that I would rate a bloody u2 album 4/5. This list reveals parts of yourself that you may not be ready for.

War surprised me despite my usual feelings about U2. The first six songs are outstanding, packed with urgency, memorable melodies, and emotional power. After that, the quality drops to an average level, making the second half noticeably less engaging. Even so, the incredible opening stretch is strong enough to make this an excellent album deserving my highest rating overall.

Tveir stórir anthem bangerar og svo ágæt lög sem venjast vel við hlustun. Fer ekki í fimmu, en þriðja hlustunin borgaði sig.

Some usual favorites but U2 doesn't quite hit for me anymore like they used to. Appreciate their focus on social issues, etc.

i see why they put it oln every pihone

Esa batería militar, seca y al frente de Larry Mullen Jr., combinada con los riffs afilados y espaciales de The Edge, son exactamente el sello de ese sonido "espeso", crudo y urgente de los tempranos 80.

The huts are obviously good but my god does the back half of this album suck! Also the remastered version version sounds like ass it’s like someone cranked a clarify slider all the way up but really it sounds like the whole band is playing in different rooms

I thought I’d have more nostalgia for this because my parents would play it all the time during long car rides, but this goes so against my tastes these days I just find it relentlessly boring

I’d give it zero if I could, fuck U2

Une ouverture puissante portée par des classiques incontournables. Un enchaînement très solide et cohérent, sans aucun vrai faux pas. Un très bon album, efficace du début à la fin.

I recognized a few songs in the beginning. Overall, it was fairly meh.

U2 were such a great band when young. They have become a sometimes great band in their older incarnations, IMHO.

It's nice to return to a time when U2 didn't have all the complicated sociocultural baggage associated with them, and just admire this excellent early album. The earnestness feels sincere and anthemic and not too pompous. About half the album is just terrific, and the other half isn't any worse than most other 1983 post-punk stuff (we forgive the horn squalls on Red Light). Not quite up to The Unforgettable Fire level, but it's getting there.

There’s a reason 'War' was the record that dethroned Michael Jackson's Thriller from the charts and introduced U2 to the global stage. Few artists have managed to make music this overtly political while still retaining such a broad, anthemic accessibility. From the opening march of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” the album’s percussion carries a militaristic tension, echoing the constant threat of violence and unrest hanging over Ireland. Meanwhile, Bono sings less like a conventional frontman and more like a prophet witnessing the apocalypse unfold in real time. His lyrics are filled with moral panic and spiritual anguish. Stylistically, this is still very much a post-punk record. U2 hadn’t fully evolved into the rock, but the transition is already visible. This was the last moment where U2 felt primarily tethered to Ireland: its violence, its faith, its political wounds. By the end of the decade, the band’s gaze would shift outward toward a new philosophical obsession: United States. Albums like The Joshua Tree would trade local conflict for the contradictions and spiritual promises of mythic Americana with the same fervor 'War' once reserved for Ireland.

Sunday bloody sunday and new years day are awesome. But this also has some mid tracks.

An album that has Bloody Sunday and New Year's day is surprisingly dull. Maybe those two songs just set the bar too high but I was very underwhelmed with the rest of the album.

This is just a reminder that U2 was once a pretty good band that wrote good songs before they were trying to “save rock and roll” or whatever.

Ojalá pudiera volver a escucharlo como que si fuera la primera vez, pero es bueno pero no excepcional

This is the last “innocent” U2 album before critical acclaim made them more intentional in their musical choices. “New Year’s Day” is forever amazing.

a true neutral for me

I used to listen to this a bunch as a kid because my mom loves U2, still as good as I remember

De base, j'aime pas U2. Mais faut leur accorder, ils avaient quelques bangers dans la poche arrière à leurs débuts.

It's boring, like everything U2 released. There are a few things I don't mind listening from them, but I never willingly listen to this band. It really is nothing that great about them. I give this a 2 because Sunday Bloody Sunday is a good song.

Mejor que el anterior que escuché. Pero sigo sin enamorarme de nada. Nota: 3.0

A warning shot, revolutionary album with raw lyrics and talent overflowing for what's next.

solid i liked it

Haha, I was practically camped outside the record shop when this album came out :-) It’s a real gem in my collection, so it definitely deserves 5 stars...

I love U2. They should install one of their albums onto every single iphone.

Not a U2 fan but this wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Favourite tracks: Sunday Bloody Sunday & The Refugee. Probably not one to revisit. 3/5

U2 just not for me, 2.

There's some very good songs on here, and the first half of the album is very good. Sunday Bloody Sunday is a 9/10 track for me. That being said, I feel like the back half falls a little flat. Solid, 3/5

I really fuckin hate U2

Long before U2 became Bono and Friends, and long before they started writing entire albums' worth of inane charity singles, they were a righteous group of guys intent on lifting the curtain on the Troubles that ravaged their home island. This was the first time all the elements had come together for U2: armed with a bigger budget and an utterly cracked, furious songwriting approach, the marching-band theatrics of the opener "Sunday Bloody Sunday" signaled that the crown prince of rock superstars had finally arrived. The album keeps the momentum going by-and-large, with the equally massive (in scale) single "New Year's Day" sings about the Polish Solidarity movement. The subject matter was not only timely, but it signaled a global ambition; in this era, U2 shouted "revolution!" and meant it. Even the cover art makes reference to this: the band got the same young boy to pose for their debut album, "Boy" as they did for this album. This time, the boy has aged 3 years, and his scowling expression hints at the dissatisfaction the band felt at the worsening conditions of their homeland. The non-singles might easily be dismissed considering just how huge the 2 A-side singles are, but each one has a little something going for it. "Seconds" has this absolutely beautiful fade-in chorus, the minor single "Two Hearts" is underpinned by its slinking bassline and arena-ready scale, and "Surrender" is a controlled flame of a protest song in contrast to the raging wildfire of the 2 singles. In essence, a listener could cut the grandiose ambition with a knife when they put this album on. U2's star would only continue rising from here as they became the biggest names in rock a mere 4 years later. Key Tracks: Sunday Bloody Sunday, Seconds, New Year's Day, Surrender

Really good, I guess they were in the right when protesting against Sellafield but I promise their practices are better now!

Damn - this album really fucking rips. From the jump, the first 4 tracks are perfection. While the rest of the album doesn't hit as high of a mark, its still fucking solid front to back. While Joshua Tree is probably the top U2 album to include on this list, War is a close second and probably more of my personal taste.

A classic

2,4/5

I’m still never forgiving these guys for forcefully downloading their shitty album to my phone in 2014 All jokes aside definitely better than I thought it would be, Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day are pretty good songs. Pretty interesting to look at this one from a historical perspective with the Troubles going on at the time. Musically everything’s well executed; the Edge’s guitar style is pretty unique and yet just fits seamlessly into all these songs. I know a ton of bands took influence from their sound so pretty cool to see where it all started I really don’t have a whole lot of qualms with this one, but other than the two headliners I don’t think a whole lot captivated me. I think Bono’s voice is solid but it definitely does start to wear on you close to the end I have a couple of problems with Bono but I do think the messages in this one are pretty well intentioned. Haven’t really listened to U2 a whole lot thanks to the aforementioned 2014 incident, but I wouldn’t be opposed to getting more U2 albums

lowk kinda boring

The only thing I can say about this album is that it sounds good. There are moments where the album gets boring, but overall it sounds good and has the excitement which is pretty much all I need in an album.

Full disclosure, I groaned when I saw this come up. I've never really liked U2 despite never really listening to them or disliking them for any real legitimate reason. Just whatever I got from cultural osmosis was an impression of them being annoying. That said, I've definitely heard the songs Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day before, and those are good songs. Didn't really know U2 were a post-punk band (albeit a much poppier/commercial version of the genre). This album is definitely better than I was expecting though. I was expecting more of a commercial pop sound, and while that's still here a bit, the post-punk does shine through. What I don't like though is how most of the time Bono is constantly at 110%, belting everything out. Not that it's necessarily a problem in this specific song, but The Refugee is a pretty terrible song (along with Red Light. That opening was weird and the sax was entirely unneeded). But songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday and Drowning Man are Bono with zero restraint. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But yeah, better than I was expecting, but whether I'm merely just whelmed, or my preconceived notions are getting in the way, I'm not particularly feeling this either. Probably not a band I'd go back to outside of this list.

Sunday bloody sunday is great, everything else a bit meh

U2 was the soundtrack of my youth so I have quite some nostalgia attached to some of their songs. I quite enjoyed this album because it was nice and because of this nostalgia. However it wasn't a stand out album to me and without the added nostalgia I probably would have liked it less.

I think that this album is good, but not great. There's nothing that truly stands out to me, and while the album feels very timeless, there was nothing that really gripped me. I wish I had nostalgia points, but sadly, this turned out to be quite an okay experience.

opening with a protest song will get me anytime, but starting off with three political songs on the topics of military occupations, authoritarianism, nuclear warfare, and the slaughter of innocent civilians helped make this album captivating

Yeah, this is really good

This is a pretty solid album, I've never really considered myself a U2 fam, but the number of songs I've added to my Playlist is slowly rising thanks to this list. Mid 4.

This week's albums are hitting my childhood hard. I saw U2 touring this album in October, 1983 when they played in Hamburg, Germany. Life changing.

I want to preface this to say that I listened to this while sick so that could have impacted my listening experience. I really did not care for this one. I didn’t even hate it, I just feel truly indifferent about it. I felt nothing while listening to this album, and honestly, I think that’s worse than hating it

Has some really good songs on here (SBS) but kinda bleh for one of the biggest bands around. 3/5

Iconic 80s record from an iconic 80s band. 100k/5

surprisingly much better than i expected, he turned that stupid pedal off on his guitar, sounded more like duran duran than u2

El disco que hizo grandes a U2 (el que los haría inmortales es The Josua Tree, y el que los haría imprescindibles Acthung baby). No se pudo despedir mejor Steve Lillywhite. El comienzo justifica una carrera: la batería de Larry, dispara baquetazos por doquier con Sunday Bloody Sunday. U2 en su mejor expresión: guitarra, batería, bajo, voz y sobre todo inspiración. Seconds era otro temazo (gracias Adam )entonces y ahora. New Year's Day , poco se puede decir que no se haya escrito (no recordaba ese vídeo) . Que lo haga Chris Martin. Like A Song... sube revoluciones pero no descarrila. The Refugee claramente influida por Echo and Bunnymen. Drowning Man anticipa The Unforgetable fire y Josua Tree, Red Light es como The Electric Co en Boy, un ejemplo del buen hacer de The Edge, pero con unos coros que enriquecen el tema y le dan más profundidad (lleva incluso una trompeta!!) Surrender (con ese cencerro y esa atmosfera) y 40 son otros clásicos. Un perfecto final para un disco que nunca decepciona porque carece de las pretensiones de los U2 más conocidos. Yo creo que es uno de los discos que sigue sonando como el primer dia. Fuerza, post-punk, inspiración... lo mejor de los primeros U2. Boy era un buen disco, pero con War adelantan a Joy Division y Echo & the Bunnymen... De aquí a la cima.

Not my type of music but it's not Bad at all.

Not bad, but Bono just doesn't really do it for me. I really like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" though.

I like post punk U2 before they went full on bombastic. This album is full of bangers. For some reason the violin in Sunday Bloody Sunday is especially pleasing, I wonder if he really did approach Bono at a bus stop. I had this on a cassette someone made for me with Boy on the other side. Fun times

Back when U2 was still on the rise. Still cool. It’s all very earnest and heartfelt. That made it exciting and powerful to listen to as a teenager. The band are really tight and propulsive. The Edge hasn’t fully got into his effects heavy period yet. It’s still great guitar work and full on early 80s post punk flavour. Similarly the bass is strong and sounds to me like Eno worked on the sound

Aggressively mid and forgettable, which is not to say it is bad. I don't know if I could tell you one bad thing it does, but also I couldn't tell you one good thing it does. IDK maybe I just don't love U2. 2.5/5

banger ngl 7.3/10 i love bonos voice

pretty good, lowk not as good as I expected but it was better than I expected

The sound of a band finding themselves. Political and noisy and still new wave. Every instrument has a place in this racket and it's good. Some of the filler is filler but the singles are edgy and great. Imagine writing Sunday bloody Sunday and getting away with it! 40 shows what they're building towards, and my favourite album unforgettable fire comes next.

The starting point for U2 as a tier 1 band for me (the end being Zooropa). From the jump it pulls you in, with Sunday Bloody Sunday's iconic drum and guitar intro. It maintains the early 80s post punk roots for the most part, with monster hooks interspersed throughout. Some filler preventing it from being a 5 star album, but still great.

Standaard u2. Beter dan verwacht, niet mijn genre

7/10… irish rock / new wave / *1983

Whenever I’ve listened to u2 I’ve always thought it’s really much better than I expected. But then when I finish I can’t remember any of it and have no urge to listen to it again. This seems like a good u2 album. But still don’t want to listen to it again.

U2 are a strange band. Overrated by the masses. Severely underrated by most internet-dwelling music nerds. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.

Music critics will call Syd Barrett outsider music but then call this good. Jesus, what a slog to get through.

i love u2

This is a very good album, i listen very little the U2, but there's a lot of variety on it. Also the first take on listen is a easy one, but probably isn't enough to get bored and it's not seems from 1983 at all.

start strong, gets boring

Well, it was better than Achtung Baby, which I gave a 2/5. The themes would probably mean more and hit harder if I was Irish, but I am not. I legitimately enjoyed ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘New Years Day’, those were good songs. This album had a harder edge to the music, which I liked as well, but not enough to elevate it past a solid 3/5. It was good, but not great, and I’m not a fan of Bono’s voice.

Way better than I was expecting. Really enjoyed it

its ok, i dont remember one song though

Blend of 80s and what I hear as 90s style. The mixing feels raw and I really like the sound. A few standout songs, and overall good listen

I'm kind of shocked? This was so much better than what I imagined and for some reason not the sound I would have expected from U2. Almost sounds like something I'd expect from The Cure.

I've heard all of these but I did not relisten to it because I just really don't enjoy listening to the me too band.

Very 80s. Starts off strong, couple of great songs on here, but gets a little boring as it goes on...

No lo volvería a escuchar, pero tengo que admitir que tiene buenas canciones.

Pleasantly surprised. I dont know why, this album sounds like U2. Maybe I like U2 more than I thought?

The first of many of their great albums

Excellent

Better than some of their other records.

I shouldn't have been surprised. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" have always been two of my favorite songs by this band. But I was fooled by the singles from the other two albums I've gotten from them on here so far, so I was wary. I loved this album. I also was stunned to recognize it absolutely is UK post punk. I had never thought of U2 as one of those groups. My main awareness of them is from the 2000s. This project has given me a ton of UK post punk and I've started to recognize it. I usually don't like it. This album is among the best the genre has ever produced. The main difference is that Bono's vocals feel vital instead of disaffected and, to contrast the genre further, are well produced and in key. Really loved this.

I’ve Never listened to this U2 album, and have good songs that I will add to my playlist

bono me beija na boca seu delicia, o the edge pode vir dps

Não vou me render ao U2

Protesto e musicalidade se encontram perfeitamente. Simplesmente, o exemplo perfeito de como se misturar musicalidade tradicional, atitude revolucionária, letras criticas e líricas sem soar cafona ou chato. São músicas que tem estruturas, sonoridade e estéticas únicas Pessoalmente, adoro as guitarras e os vocais extremamente altos e surpreendentes deste álbum. Porém, em certos momentos o álbum se torna levemente monótono e repetitivo. Salvo isso, um ótimo álbum

tentei gostar mais, infelizmente, a versão do sambô é infinitamente melhor

Would rate 3.5 if I could. Liked it more than most of the albums I rated 3 stars, didnt like it enough to give it 4 stars.

Sunday Bloody Sunday is such a banger. The rest of the album is go but forgettable

stone cold classic

Extra for old times sake

2+ Stars (6/15)

didn't really feel much of anything when listening to this, the instruments were nice i guess.

I didn't care much for this album when it was released. Worked in a record store and maybe it was overplayed or my tastes were different. Listening to it now I see I was wrong. It's a very good album.

Damn. Loved this actually. Sorry U2 I was not familiar with your game.

Thumbs up

segundo álbum que escucho de U2 y segunda vez que me sorprende para bien la verdad increíble banda 10 de 10

Really fucking good rock album and was pleasantly surprised because the last U2 album I got was shite. Sunday Bloody Sunday was my fav song and first listen of the album. New Year's Day and Like A Song... were my other highlights

Strong album with an even stronger message. Unfortunately, Steve Lillywhite's sparse production hampers the experience tremendously. Even the 2008 remastered edition feels like Larry Mullen is in another room because the percussion is so muddy.

😐

So far on this journey, this is coming off as possibly my favorite U2 record, at -very tolerable- and also -easily replayed-. Bono's voice doesn't seem to annoy me here, in fact the U2 sound doesn't really feel like it exists here yet. I appreciate that. It's still not something I'm gonna be playing frequently in the future, but it's been a very agreeable experience regardless. Nice album art, with the implied hands behind the child's head, dramatic but produced, I think it works really well representing the overall sound. 3.15/5

mid

Ikke dårlig, men ikke for meg.

Bloody Sunday is good!

Its alright not amazing tho

👍🤷

just not interesting to me. I like the hits but the rest is not it

alright

75

I don’t want to blame anything in this album’s comment

You know what, I like that one

Hearing the name U2 makes me cringe at this point but 40+ years ago? This album is consistent as hell and the hits are hits for a reason. Awesome bass. Sunday Bloody Sunday is the best track but the album doesn't lose much steam afterwards.

Didn't mind this. I liked it.

Early album from the Irish band

Based on only knowing a couple of songs off the album (the iconic Sunday Bloody Sunday & New Years Day), I thought this may well be a 5 star contender. Whilst there are a couple other songs where Larry Mullen Jr hits the skins *hard* that go close to capturing the anger and angst of the above classics, there are also a few tracks towards the end of the album which have a whiff of "high quality filler not killer" about them

Some really good songs on this joint

Not my thing

A few iconic songs I've heard plenty and some new ones I enjoyed. Not that interesting of an album. U2 has some much better ones for sure

pas fou a part bloody sunday jcrois

I’ve already admitted to being a U2 apologist. This album I’m not so familiar with, besides Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day and 40. The rest of the album, whilst not up to the lofty standards of those three, seems to be perfectly enjoyable. Will probably listen again to cement my thoughts

Very Very good album, 8.5/10. The sound is very good Stand out songs: Sunday bloody sunday The refugee Surrender

I warmed up to this album as it played, but I still can't really embrace U2's sound.

Непонятно. Сначала я такая бляяя ю2, потом мне вдруг понравилась первая песня. Но потом весь альбом странное ощущение, вот вроде все очень красиво, но ниче не цепляет

Nice, might look into this band more later

Sunday Bloody Sunday is pretty good, and then it goes quickly downhill from there. I really hope The Refugee is the low point. A dreadful song. Turns out it was the low point. All in all, a pretty naff album really

First time listen. I only knew the hits here ("Sunday Bloody Sunday," "New Year's Day" "Two Hearts Beat As One") and I like them okay. "Like A Song" is good as well. Interesting to hear them sound vaguely punk-ish on "The Refugee," not a sound I normally associate them with.

Au top !

This was fine. The Edge finally played with strength. I still dislike U2 very much

Eghh

Lot of iconic songs on this one

fuck yeah

I'm pretty glad that the current top voted review of War simply quotes Alan Partridge's misunderstanding of Sunday Bloody Sunday. It's funny because the Alan character wouldn't remember a British military massacre in Northern Ireland twenty-five years earlier, unlike us, the viewers. Well, certainly you and I, we went to the Bloody Sunday tribunal with school, didn't we? I did anyway. Hard to forget Bloody Sunday where we're from anyway. One feels a little sympathy for Alan though: Bono's lyrics, as on The Joshua Tree, which we've discussed, tend to be idealist rather than concrete. The images in Sunday Bloody Sunday are more deliberate and more intelligible than those others and one can piece them together if you have a bit of sense. Still his specific call to action is difficult to discern: peace? togetherness? pacificism? I'm not entirely sure what would have been an adequate call to action fifteen years into the Troubles. These unclear ideals could be a demerit, but I suppose they may also work to the songs advantage. When Bono sings that "we could be as one," he is invoking a love song cliché that doubles for community solidarity. It is a dirty trick of Christian rock to sing of the relationship between the singer and Christ in the terms of a romantic relationship. Bono pulls off something similar here and if it manages to stir feeling in the heart of man, without directly naming Derry, the Parachute Regiment, or the IRA, maybe that is for the better. Bono wasn't afraid to make his position clear, even if not directly in the song: he would preface it in concert by stating it was not a 'rebel song'; at a show in San Francisco, he harangued a fan waving a banner with the letters SF on it, because he thought they were supporters of Sinn Fein. It's a mistake as foolish and honest to character as Alan Partridge's. I think Sunday Bloody Sunday stands as a better comment on the North by a Southern artist than Dolores O'Riordan's Zombie, another song that is frequently removed from its context. Zombie, written about the later Warrington Bombing, in which the IRA murdered two young boys, has a more hectoring quality, somewhat aloof and dismissive, as O'Riordan distances herself from the situation: "it's not me, it's not my family," she sings, with little understanding that there were those of us whose family it was or our neighbours or our community. Bono, with greater understanding and less distain, recognises that the conflict elicits a battle call that many people rejected. Maybe more should have rejected it, but it wasn't so straightforward a decision. Bono may be a limp pacificist, but he knows it ain't easy to go limp when the situation tries to harden you. Unlike O'Riordan, Bono was affected by the conflict in the North: he lost a childhood friend during the 1974 Dublin bombings by the UVF; the traumatised brother of the dead boy became a heroin addict. We can become too limp in the face of the violence. The band does a respectable job, then, in putting this song of peace to a military beat. In concert, again, Bono would raise a white flag of surrender and wave it like an army standard. A simplistic image maybe, but not without its potency. I know that I am affected by Sunday Bloody Sunday when I hear it. And others are affected too, even if they don't know exactly what it's about. It may be silly that Alan Partridge read the song as being about "the frustrations of a Sunday," the things you have to do even though it's your day off, but he's not entirely wrong: it is a song of contradictions, a song about doing something when you don't want to do anything, about rousing us and energising us to the state of sublime peace. The hopeless O'Riordan sings that "your violence causes silence," while Bono sings "how long must we sing this song?" For her, silence is death, for him it is peace. Death is unavoidable, peace must be won. She singles out "your" violence and separates her family. He includes us all: we can be one, we must sing the song. This bizarre universalisation of a very specific day in Derry makes the song almost useless as a Troubles document, but it makes it useful as an anthem. Emotional to some. Invigorating to others. Almost certainly sanctimonious to many. But never sneering. There is no sense that you might feel unwelcome by the song or the album. And the album continues on like that for the next five or six songs, opening up political situations into abstract expressions of togetherness and love that I don't pretend to fully understand. Held together by Mullen's bombastic drums and the most energetic guitar-playing of the Edge's career, it ploughs ahead enjoyably. It drops off towards the end, but I don't mind too much. 3 The striking thing about War, when you work your way back to it from the ‘big’ U2 albums as most of us do, is the sense of evenness in the band. Larry and Adam actually have something like a musical identity on this record. The production - which has none of the sweetness of Eno and Lanois - is part of it; I love the snap of that dry snare throughout. But those two are actually trying things as well; odd fills, melodic twists and turns and even some dissonant moments in the bass. The Edge’s guitar lines are less domineering (and irritating) than they would become. Bono’s lyrics lack a cutting edge (as they always would) but the naked pursuit of a theme is enough to lend the first half of the album a sense of darkness that makes it compelling even if it all evaporates in the second half. I don’t think any of U2’s best songs are on War but it is a better album than most that came after it. I like the cover. 2/5

I love this album but it’s not one I have sat down and listened to start to finish as much as most of their later catalogue. It feels at once so raw and yet already such an accomplished album. Clearly a progression in songcraft from boy yet it remains the album before a real breakthrough. You can hear all the elements of their trademark sound (well pre 90s version anyway) but they are as yet not fully polished and refined. The singles, as overplayed as they are on commercial radio, still have new elements to reveal. I love Larry’s urgent march and edge’s opening riff to open to Sunday Bloody Sunday and the keys and interplay with backing vocals on New Year’s Day. But I also find album track such as Seconds and Two Hearts Beat as One command a listen. The winding ambience of surrender would have fit nicely in their next album, an Unforgettable Fire. 40’s lush melody with the backing ‘ahhhhhhhh’ form a perfect finish.

A solid 80s rock album, no doubt. The drums are a delight, mixing the typical 80s sound with complex rythms, shining through the mix. New Year's Day has to be the standout track from this album, it is truly amazing. The guitar work on this album is excellent. The guitar tone itself is amazing, the stereo effects and its changing role from being very prominent and very reserved, as well as other effects are great, too!

ballads. for a cause. the fight!

Favorite track(s): Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Drowning Man, Two Hearts Beat as One, Surrender

Generally good. Having grown up knowing this band as the iPhone album guys, it's cool to hear where U2 was at first. They were a post punk band that were really good live. Sunday Bloody Sunday is effective and so are some other tunes though as an album, I don't come away with plenty to discuss. I'm so tired and it's late and this album exists. "He's not Bono" (7/10, 3/5 on this scale)

Hard to believe that at this point, Bono was still relatively unknown and the whole world was yet to find out what a colossal twat he is. This era of U2 is kind of goth-tinged angsty rock. Sure The Edge had a distinctive sound, but it tips over far too much into the pretentious for me

Outside of the 2 well known singles, haven't really been missing anything else on here. Exceptions being '40' and maaaaybe 2 Hearts.

Quite different to how they normally sound, found it boring regardless

This album is very grandiose in the world that it presents and for a lot of the songs on the LP it adds a lot and makes the quieter moments stand out in a positive way. The slower part in Sunday bloody Sunday is a very good example of this. I do not really know how often I will go back to this record but I exceeded the expectations I had for it. Fav tracks: Sunday bloody sunday, Like a song..., and "40"

Trash

Nice

Definitiv besser als s letzte

Tried twice. Sunday Bloody Sunday is a great track, but I just don't like the rest of the album.

I LOVETWO HEARTS BEAT AS ONE THIS SOMG IS SOOOOOOOJVGGOOOODDDDD the rest of the album is also good I also like the refugee VERY CERY VERY GOOD ALBUM I like how it’s a bit faster paced compared to a lot of their other music

Low 4. I enjoy their punk sensibilities more than their ballad/arena track sensibilities

8/10

I hate to admit it, but this album was actually pretty good.

War? More like... Bore. Gottem.

I wasn't familiar with U2 outside some of their radio hits and the controversy surrounding the free album on iTunes more than a decade ago. That said this turned out to be the tip of the iceberg of controversies surrounding the lead singer Bono. Nonetheless, I went in open-minded and found a pretty enjoyable record albeit too on the nose about its political messages. It didn't really click but the guitars tunes were good and it sounded really well put-together. I liked "New Year's Day" and "Surrender".

someone needs to explain to me why U2 had such a chokehold on pop culture because I do not get it from this album. 3 stars.

Really fun listen! Smooth and pleasant.

7.5/10

There's something unsettling about this album for me. At first I thought it was something with the percussion, but I think it's more the way the percussion interacts with the rest of the music. It's alright, but I would never choose to listen to this over other music.

I might not have loved the album itself, but I loved a lot about it. U2 is a band I've overlooked forever, but this generator will change that. Really the only thing that takes away from this album is that it can get a little boring and repetitive. I want to come back to this album and other albums by U2 after listening. Pretty good.

One of a kind. Great band and Great Work

Out of the gate with some bangers. Tails off a bit towards the end.

Интересно, но не запало

U2 was always a bit of a joke to me since I only knew them by their 90’s songs and stadium tours. It is interesting to go back to when they were still a bit raw.

Most times its nice to have you're opinions of a band confirmed, in this case it was not. I was hoping that possibly I had missed something. And that there would be something here to make me re-evaluate them as not the most overrated 'rock' band in existence unfortunately it just wasnt there. Purely on the number of (unjustifiable) major hits on this album I was going to be generous and give it a 2, but do I really rate this above the prodigy? No, I don't.

This is a truly great album. There’s early signs of the evolution of their sound that was to follow, but the individual musicianship of Larry, Adam and The Edge really shines through. Especially Adam’s bass playing that makes this an unexpected dance album too!

Its not every day I listen to a U2 album, in fact it's not happened outside this project in 25 years and that was ironically Achtung Baby. This was much better than I remembered since it was played to me in the 1980's as Dad liked them. Away from the singles, 'Surrender' was a belter, the rest was not offensive to the ears either.

Solid

3.5-4 for me, but going for 4 cuz they’re my momma’s favorite band so U2 was sort of the soundtrack of my childhood. Very nostalgic. Sunday Bloody Sunday is an awesome song.

Nope

Ikke så ille, men blir fort bakgrunnsmusikk.

Synes ikke Bono e no fét

E bare ikke for mæ

Kan skjønne at det va ganske friskt på starten av 80-tallet. Ikke ille i det hele tatt, bare ganske forglemmelig. Syns heller ikke hitsa fra denne e så sterk.

Hørt på solsenga på Granka. Herregud så forferdelig å høre på? Ikke en eneste redeeming låt på hele plata.

Et par hits og en drøss plagsomme og kjedelige låter. Visste faktisk ikke at Bono er så irriterende å høre på i lengden.

Inoffensive, MoR, fine

This was one of the first albums that hit when I was in early teenage years, so it was an important album for me and my friends. Haven’t listened to the whole album in many years. It is quality in my opinion. Actually heard it differently now that I’m old.

My favourite u2 album, much more like the clash and other post punk bands. This album from u2 is far less produced and much more at home in bars than arenas

Apparently I may have listened to like one U2 song ever? I thought I had heard "Sunday Bloody Sunday" but I may have only heard covers. Solid rock album. I like the things they do with drums/guitars at parts.

Это надо переслушать в более сконцентрированной состоянии, а не пока я егэшку решаю

War U2 My April Fools day prank is that I have to listen to a U2 album. Thank gosh it’s short right… 1. Lowkey I like this song. “There’s many lost but tell me who has won” 2. Lowkey this guy is like actually slaying I’m not going to lie. I am enjoying this song a lot. 3. Pretty good. 4. Pretty slay. 5. Was okay not bad not too great though. 6. Meh 7. I don’t really like the chorus the rest was good though might relisten. 8. Meh feels stalkerish 9. I like this. I thought he was saying Savannah at first though lol. 10. Okay but bad

Good irish album with some classics on it. However I am not the biggest fan of u2