Reviews (page 6 of 13)
As a young man who enjoyed Achtung Baby (my first U2 album), I went and explored their back catalog and somehow convinced myself that I didn't like War, and I haven't listened to it since. What the heck? It's a great album. It has a wonderful rawness that caught me by surprise, despite being familiar with Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day, of course. The Edge's guitar never sounded so good. Maybe I wasn't ready for it back then? Who knows. (Side note: I was also caught off guard by the similarities to The Clash on this album. I haven't heard that talked about before. But it's definitely there.)
This is a very good album with some legit classics. When I listen to it, I feel like it's maybe the last album U2 made before they fully transitioned from post-punk to whatever amalgam they became of rock/pop/etc. And, I won't lie, I like their next 3 albums better.
Not a ton of depth beyond the two hits and 40. It turns out Under a Blood Red Sky really is a better “early” U2 document and there are other U2 albums that have a more cohesive and distinct idea rendered.
This is pretty good stuff, and is when U2's career started to take off. But - I think they made much better records later. Especially, Bono's vocals got much better than the whiny wail he overuses here. And the songwriting improved too.
3.5/5 - The first 3 tracks and "40" drive the album. I tried to imagine listening to this for the first time, beyond the familiarity of the 2 big hits, and I think it's a way above average early 80s rock record and it shows where U2 was headed. Rounding up because naming yourself The Edge and then becoming a superstar is a badass move.
I always thought Bono was a bozo but I think that was because I only knew U2 during the “one, two, three, catorce” era. This album was surprisingly awesome and I get why U2 were so popular.
It's ok. Got kinda boring eventually.
Sunday Bloody Sunday, and New Years Day are still great songs. I didn't recognize anything else on the album. Musically, the instrumentation is great, guitar work is iconic. I really like how the drums come in to start the album off, it really sets the tone on the whole album, drums were really good throughout, and Bono's vocals are always recognizable.
The drums go crazy on this album. Liked it way more than I thought I would Favorite Songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday, Drowning Man
Bom pra kct
This is #day429 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this is the 1325th day of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my home country, where I'm based. I've always liked early U2, particularly October and this one. Sure, Joshua and Achtung are the band's masterpieces (and, as I've mentioned before, I've got a soft spot for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, my first U2 record from my teenage years). Still, there's something about those early albums: youth, romance, rebellion... "New Year’s Day" is one of my favorite songs by the band. Also, the cover art is one of the most iconic out there. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day430.
U2 ne. Bom mas não é aquele trem todo
Actually very good. Huh. I was expecting Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day to be the only standout tracks here but this rocked Take it with a grain of salt, my taste isn't very "cool", I LOVE the Police and early Coldplay. But as far as very polished and atmospheric post-punk? This is wonderful. I get it, I really do. Shame U2 became as lame as they did, this is really something excellent.
It's alright. Production seems a bit flat - I think I remember at the time maybe only hearing the songs I know on Under A Blood Red Sky where they sound MUCH better. That sounds like an exciting band, whereas this doesn't much to me. I prefer Sunday Bloody Sunday without a violin. It's not changed my general ambivalence towards U2.
Great early U2. Another band that came out of the gate fully formed.
Et jevnt bra album fra U2. Trekkes opp av låtene «Sunday, bloody Sunday», «40» og mesterverket «New Year’s Day».
Of their popular hits, Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day are two of the better ones. Sunday Bloody Sunday makes a solid opener and statement piece; New Year's Day is just a fun, propulsive jam of a song with a simple, but iconic bass line. Like a Song... is a jam as well. Fat bass line on Two Hearts Beat As One -- I can get down with it. Surrender sounds a bit like a Police song with the shimmering guitars, fat bass, and layering. While this isn't something I would go out of my way for, this was a very solid album. The hits are huge and deserving of their place in the spotlight and the rest of the album is enjoyable -- especially the more upbeat / propulsive songs. This falls in at a low 4 for me.
Another plus album by U2. This one is a bit heavier especially with one of their most popular and political songs in Sunday Bloody Sunday. I am always happy to see U2 come up and this one is a stronger 3.
As much as I like U2 I am not fully sure I have listened to this album all the way through. It had some really great parts but some pretty low parts. One really weird 80s synthpop sounding song was really random. Sunday bloody Sunday is such a banger of an opener. And New years day is also incredibly good
Sunday Bloody Sunday is a classic. New Years Day always sounded like it inspired the Smiths. Jam of a song. I think I like U2
A lot more diversity on this album than the 2 Songs I previously knew ha
I really liked War and i don't know if I'm shocked to say that or not. Considering i have now made it to 600 albums, i definitely think that the album to hit that milestone should definitely be a good one and this one more than delivered on that promise. Every song here was enjoyable and catchy no matter which vibe it had, from relaxing and playful to more pump up anthems which you would expect from an album that is literally called War. I also think that this is yet another album that got it's length just right, not too long, not too short. I don't have many bad things to say about it, Its just a really good album and worthy of being my 600th album. Best Song: Sunday Bloody Sunday Worst Song: The Refugee
2 bangers and a lot of filler
It's fine. Maybe one of the better U2 albums, but not by much. All I can think about is the one time U2 teamed with Apple and tried to force their album down everyone's throat. I'm still bitter about it.
Ensimmäinen levy, mikä löytyy omasta hyllystä. Tätä ei oo hirveästi viimeiseen kolmeenkymmeneen (!) vuoteen tullut kuunneltua, mutta muistijälki tästä oli, ja se vei 90-luvun alkuun. Ihan ok levy. Suosikkibiisejäni on edelleen avausraita ”Sunday Blood Sunday”, ”New Years Day” ja ”40”.
Classic U2 rock sound. Rebellious spirit against social injustices presented as lyrical romantic martyrdom
458/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Nothing special, but the band was in-sync and cohesive on this.
Dude being guys music, least enjoyable kind. Ended up being okay background music, but ultimately not enjoyable.
great opener and flatlined after that
love
Fortunately this album has Sunday Bloody Sunday which is like the only U2 song I like. The rest was not that good
U2 - War 5 STARS This is a harder album than the previous two and includes one of my favorite songs of theirs "New Years Day". This is when they were young and raw and their first three albums will always be my favorites. Undeniably good.
Really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday.
I've never been a big U2 fan, but this album has always worked for me somehow.
Bono is so fucking annoying. Here’s an idea, if you want to make an activist album and get people to listen to your message, maybe you should make your music bearable to listen to. I think I’d rather go to war than listen to this one again.
What ist the difference betweeen Bono and God? God knows he is Not Bono.
#40 may be one of the most underrated great songs of all time.
Très cool, des tubes connus (new year's day, sunday bloody sunday) et d'autres que j'ai découvert, c'est varié, les percussions sont au top, vraiment sympa
Ni chaud ni froid de U2 de manière générale mais je reconnais que cet album est bon, même très bon ! Ça me réconforte un peu avec ce groupe
U2’s *War* delivers raw energy and urgency, even if I’m not the biggest fan. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” stands out with its sharp political edge and fantastic drumming. While some tracks don’t fully grab me, the album shows flashes of greatness and a powerful rhythm section worth hearing.
Great Songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, The Refugee, Two Hearts Beat As One, Good Songs: Seconds, Drowning Man, Red Light Mid Songs: Like A Song...,, Surrender, "40" Bad Songs:
Not necessarily my taste. Ending number 40 was kinda okay. 4/10
Painfully obvious on this one that Bono can't sign.
Sunday bloody sunday, new years day 3.5 , not bad vocal -
Better than other U2 project but still not great as an album. Sunday Bloody Sunday is a hit, no doubt about it, and I found the album more coherent and lsitenable. But there is still a lot of filler song on there, and the ambition of the band sonically is not there. I am not mad at this inclusion, but is it a must listen gorgeous thing, no. It's not reinventing anything, it's just nice enough.
It was good but I feel like I have heard it and what it inspired a lot
J'aime U2 de Boy à Zooropa. Ensuite j'ai perdu foi.
Tellement une agréable surprise! Je suis tombé sous le charme de la guitare de Edge et de la voix puissante de Bono, à ma grande surprise. J'avais un a priori négatif, j'aime pas la persona politique de Bono. Il y a quelque chose de vraiment fort dans les textes, avec des emprunts fréquents à la littérature de la Bible et les messages d'amour universel. Ça me fait penser à Dylan, apparemment ils se sont même plutôt liés d'amitié dans les 80s (j'ai lu hier avec grand intérêt une entrevue accordée à Dylan par Bono en 1985). Le son est résolument 80s mais avec quelque chose qui traverse les époques (je m'attendais pas au côté New Wave/Rock d'un The Cure ou Tears for Fears). J'avais écouté le Vertigo Tour en version IMAX au secondaire en voyage à Boston et ça m'avait endormi. Je trouvais ça trop léché / épate-galerie, mais en vieillissant les goûts changenr faut croire.
U2, c’est Joshua Tree. Le reste de leur carrière était une tentative d’accoter ce chef d’oeuvre. Les singles ici sont bien, j’ai toujours aimé beaucoup New Years Day. Le reste sonne vraiment de son temps, très 80s. Interessant mais pas d’écoutes répétées.
It’s nice that U2 put together an album which includes statements of anti-war and other social issues. The two singles from the album (‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘New Year’s Day’) are the best tracks. However I never have been a huge fan of U2, so the remainder of the album is totally forgettable.
Bono looks really young here. I don't remember if we had any U2 albums yet, which is probably not a great sign. Are they really "post punk"? Well, I will credit 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' for teaching me that Bloody Sunday was a thing (in the past, I mean, not right this second). I guess U2 were the Derry Girls of my generation. And this album came out before they were super oversaturated, I guess, pre-Apple debacle and pre-'Sweetest Thing', so if I were around for it, I probably(?) would have liked it more than I like U2 now. In fact, I do like this album better than I like U2 now. It's pretty unobjectionable; the singing is a little more "generic britpop" and less "plaintive yodel". It's not that interesting to me but it's not bad to have on in the background. Highlights: 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
Politisk arena rock. tidligt alternativ rock fordi det blander noget punk med rockens energier. overall super godt, kan sgu godt lide lyden af U2
I've never really given U2 a listen before this and I didn't really know what to expect. I've heard many people call them crap but I know a few fellas who obsess over them as if Bono is the second coming of Christ. And I don't really get where either side is coming from. It's nothing to rant and rave about, but it's not shite either. Decent, inoffensive rock really.
For me, U2 is one of those bands that I liked a few of the hits you heard on the radio, but never enough to want to listen to more from them, so this is the first time I’ve listened to a U2 album. My original thought holds. The hits are good, my favorite is Two Hearts, but the rest was just ok.
The first big album from U2 that truly made them mainstream. “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day” are just two of the iconic songs from this collection that you are forced to sing along with. Catchy beats and Bono’s unique singing make this one a pleasure to listen to. Not quite the perfect album in my opinion to receive a “5” rating, but this is no slouch either. I hadn’t listened to it in a while and I’m glad this one made the rounds to be reviewed.
I spent a lot of time with the early U2 albums when I was younger. War shows the promise of greatness that the band would later find but also clear evidence of their greatest faults: the inability to know when to enough is enough and their undeniable love of themselves in the music. On tracks like Sunday, New Years, Two Hearts and 40, you hear the evocative lyrics supported by powerful yet simple compositions, a formula they would perfect on The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum (both significantly better and more successful albums). But you also hear the indulgent, unedited bullshit that plagued Zooropa and Atomic Bomb all over songs like Red Light and The Refugee (which I swear must be a Bow Wow Wow song). Some of this bravado can be written off to 1983, but these guys were aficionados of the style and carried it far into their future. Stick with the singles on this one.
Like most, Sunday Bloody Sunday was my introduction to U2. The marching rhythm of the snare drum, heavy bass line, Bono shouting his message on stage waving that huge white flag in the video. 10 year old me was too young to understand any of this, but damn it he had my attention. I was in from the first tap of that snare. This is the type of song you feel, U2 was delivering their message and demanded your attention. You feel a little bit of a punk soul on this track. I really like the beginning of the album Seconds keeps the heart of Sunday Bloody Sunday and introduces a bit of rhythm, then New Year's day gives us a beautiful soaring chorus, Like a song returns us back to Bonos angsty vocals but this time kick drum takes the lead. Really nicely composed set of songs. Rest of the album is really good as well, I was happy to be reminded how great a song Two Hearts is. Is Bono a pretentious douchebag? Yes, he is. Is U2 insufferable, yes, they are. I'm not a U2 fan for the most part, I like them fine. But they can write a hell of a song, and in this case they wrote a great album.
Great album.
Idk U2 kinda sucks
Classic and good to listen to, its interesting to see this in a Album, always listened separately
Still sounds ground- breaking even after hearing Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day a million times. Several album tracks I didn’t know, all of high quality foretelling of U2 glories to come.
I've probably listened to this album 15-20 times straight through. U2 is one of my favorite bands, but this album is not one of the top couple favorites for me. Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day and 40 are all good and in the normal concert rotation. Two Hearts Beat as One is probably my other favorite from here. This definitely has the early U2 vibe where the rhythm section drives most of the song. You can hear the punk/Ramones influence here still
I'll start by saying I love this album - it's just not quite in the S-tier of U2 for me so I can't quite justify 5 stars. However - the highs are very high in terms of their overall discography. New Year's Day is certainly on my personal greatest hits album, and Like a Song and Drowning Man have always been massive favorites of mine that have never gotten the same level of attention. The guitar work and harmonics on the latter are like nothing else they've really ever done and are just stunning. I love the way this sits at sort of the transitional period between the more raw post-punk energy of Boy/October and the more anthemic Unforgettable Fire/Joshua Tree era. Perhaps the sociopolitical themes here are more pronounced than any other U2 album, even for a band known for their public activism. A few songs that are more forgettable than others that probably hold this back from getting into the top tier for me, but still a personal favorite.
An album that I feel got the singles totally right. Sunday Bloody Sunday still hits hard, as New Year’s Day. My favorite was the album closer (40) which I listened to on repeat a few times. I’m not a U2 person so I don’t think I have ever really heard it.
This is my favorite U2 album.
War marked the closing of one door and the opening of another. Having wandered through doubt, rumination and realization U2 transformed from boys to men as they navigated through real world happenings and how it changes mindsets and worldviews of the people around them. The transformation extended to the music, as the band formally gathered the tools necessary to craft together what would soon become their signature sound, even if that meant taking detours down a new wave/dance vibe that wound up becoming a one-off or something to be explored with more maturity somewhere down the line. War, with the bookend of a rallying cry and a solemn hymn, is the beginning of U2 as the world will soon know them, for better and for worse. This is a better time, no matter how harrowing the topics and circumstances. Wipe the tears from your eyes, wipe the tears away.
Still don’t get u2
Usual U2 album. Was never a huge U2 fan
Typical Bono-slop. Pretentious but not horrible
Not bad for U2. Lots of recognisable hits.
A few good songs, and the rest were decent as well. Why do I not see any anti war albums anymore? Seems like a dying art.
Love this classic U2 album!!
Weird album that has my two fav U2 songs and nothing else I want to listen to.
As ridiculous as U2 has become, I have such a soft spot for this album.
I'm not totally sure why I wanted so badly to hate U2. I'm also not sure why I expected to. I had to really, REALLY fight my bias on this one. The reality is, these boys cooked here. Maybe it pisses me off because it has that 80s tendency to lean ever closer to radio-pop. But they're still talking about strong stuff, and the music itself really works. So, I'm sorry, Bono. I would also apologize to the Edge, but Jesus fucking christ that's a stupid name, so, no.
solid rock, I see why older folks enjoy U2. Bono‘s voice still annoys me though.
Pretty decent album, ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ I knew but most the others were totally new to me
Huh. I’d never actually listened to a U2 album before this, probably due at least in part to having been a very contrarian grudge-ready fourteen years old when they did that stunt where they forced their new album onto everyone’s iPhone whether or not they had any interest in it or indeed knew who these U2 people even were yet. This is pretty good stuff though. I’d go back to it for sure. I’ll probably keep slamming that skip button out of spite whenever a Songs of Innocence number turns up in my life, but I won’t hold it against the band’s prior work anymore. Hearts and minds were changed today. That’s why we do this project I guess
Nice to remember what U2 was like in the before times. Great songwriting, distinctive sound, sincere and political in a way that I actually believe.
Full disclosure: I'm not a U2 fan at all. I respect what they do, but they just don't appeal to me. That said, this album rocks! Solid and a different sound for the 80s. I'm impressed.
U2 has a distinct, classic sound that absolutely earns them a spot on the 1001 albums list, even if it’s not really my style. ‘Two Hearts Beat as One’ and ‘Like a Song’ stand out enough for me to give it 4 stars. 8/10.
We all know that U2 have great albums, this was not one I had heard before and I was a little surprised and how rough and angular it was - it's a world away from The Joshua Tree. I still really enjoyed it though.
Brilliant and timeless
Song you know and songs you don;t
Tho is my u2
The best song on this album is Sunday Bloody Sunday.
1. Sunday bloody sunday, only one of album I'm already aware of. Super cool to listen right after I've finished reading Say Nothing, can hear the angst I read about in the book. 2. Really liked new years day Like this album released right
'WAR' opens with 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', basically the sound of someone whacking a frying pan in a shed whilst Bono scream shouts like he discovered war all by himself (spoiler, he did not). 'New Year's Day' is actually a brilliant song, hypnotic bassline, slay piano and some fucking fantastic drums, alas, Bono ruins everything yet again, floating on top of the like a man who thinks rhyming 'you' with 'true' is Nobel prize worthy. The rest of the band are inventive and locked the fuck in, Bono's main contribution is making every track feel like work place mandatory training, I simply did not sign up for. An album meant to be stirring is a reminder that U2's biggest legacy will always be, 3 brilliant musicians and one man determined to shout over them. 3/5 (Bono tax applied) - HF xo don’t like u2 cba to listen ThE eDgE! get a grip your a grown man not a sharp surface cunts/5 FTW Don't give enough of a fuck about Bono to review what will likely be dribble with 16 effects pedals. 0.3/5 MTW
Great anthems, cool hints of their layer art pop
It was fine 7 out of 10. To preachy
The moment the guitars harden to approximate a peel of machine gun fire 40-seconds into “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is, without a shadow of doubt, one of the most uplifting, edifying and powerful in the history of guitar music. It’ll bring a tear to my eye, even standing shoulder to shoulder on a commuter train – but always a tear that’s quickly followed by the usual guilt one experiences when they realise they’re enjoying U2. A sensation of “Bono, what the fuck man?” that marks the complicated status of attempting to enjoy U2 in 2025. By now they’ve been a lot. The sort of band Patrick Bateman is taken to by his boring friends; the sort of band that adds their albums to your iTunes account pro-Bono (with eternal credit to Sinead for that joke); the sort of band you half notice as being on the soundtrack of a sports highlights programme for the past ten years. They’re still U2, of course. The biggest band on the planet … but they’re also all that other shite too. Anyway, to War. This record was never done justice by the speakers in Dave’s Renault Megane. Across “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “New Years Day”, “Like a song…” The Edge absolutely soars. Indeed, across the record, he and Bono feel locked into something special, a precious alchemy reminiscent of then-contemporaries Morrissey and Marr – a mercurial pair who were also grounded by an ultra competent and modest rhythm section. And as it is so often with The Smiths too, the best songs on War feel like a proper band effort. It’s a U2 I feel I’ve never known (the one I know is that of Partridge: “How’s Bono?”; “How’s The Edge?; “How’s Adam Clayton?”; “How’s … the drummer?”). And it’s very, very good. War has obvious stand out tracks, but the record doesn’t suffer for their appearance. There’s no real filler (though a couple – “Two Hearts Beat As One” especially – must have been strong floor fillers once upon a time) … just a young and hungry band wanting to say something and doing it with electrifying clarity. There’s a reason they’re the biggest band in the world, after all. And it isn’t because Bono is a pain in the arse.
ohhhhh BROTHER, THIS GUY STINKS!
I can just imagine Bono in a recording studio listening back to this, rubbing his thighs vigorously and telling the producer "More Bono".
Honestly... not that memorable
Enjoyed it.
3.5
eh
After making a name, U2 makes a point with War. This is their most confrontational album. A slap in the face of the audience, and a kick in the butt of the band that propelled it further. Plus, it sounds amazing.
U2 at their best. I know they're easy to clown on especially when they had that album automatically downloaded on everyone's phone... but this album is incredible
Best Song Sunday Bloody Sunday
"Sunday Bloody Sunday". What a great song. It really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday, doesn't it? You wake up in the morning, you've got to read all the Sunday papers, the kids are running round, you've got to mow the lawn, wash the car, and you think "Sunday, bloody Sunday!" 3/5
170925 18:55 4
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” was definitely my favorite of the album. Nice beats.
Don't listen to the haters, this is a great record. Sure, not every song is perfection, but the ones that are more than make up for it. This album is the same age as me and it has better staying power than I'd ever hope to have.
Rock, Pop. Tight, complex, driven. Almost perfect.
Still a bit uneven. I prefer later works.
Bra album! Gillade det mer än vad jag trodde jag skulle göra honestly :p
Ah, 1983, j'avais treize ans. L'âge ingrat par excellence, l'âge des premières clopes en cachette, des premiers émois maladroits et surtout, l'âge où la musique commence à vous pétrir le cerveau pour ne plus jamais en sortir. Cette année-là, un disque en particulier a laissé une marque indélébile sur le papier peint à fleurs de ma chambre d'ado. Un disque au titre aussi simple que définitif : "War". Et les auteurs de cette petite bombe n'étaient autres que quatre Irlandais qui allaient, pour le meilleur et pour le pire, marquer au fer rouge les décennies à venir : U2. Je me souviens encore de la claque monumentale que fut la découverte de "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Ce roulement de caisse claire, sec comme un coup de trique, cette guitare qui sonne comme une sirène d'alarme, et cette voix... cette voix de Bono, pas encore le messie à lunettes de soleil qu'on connaît, mais un jeune type de 22 ans qui gueule sa rage et son incompréhension face à la violence aveugle. "I can't believe the news today". Nous non plus, on n'y croyait pas. On sentait l'urgence, la sincérité d'un groupe qui ne jouait pas. "War" c'est un disque qui vous chope par le col et ne vous lâche plus. Il y a une tension palpable du début à la fin, une électricité dans l'air qui rend l'écoute intense, presque éprouvante. La production de Steve Lillywhite est rêche, sans fioritures, il a su capter le son d'un groupe en état de siège, un son martial, presque brutal. La basse d'Adam Clayton est tellurique, la batterie de Larry Mullen Jr. est une machine de guerre et la guitare de The Edge... ah, The Edge. Ce type a inventé un son à lui tout seul avec trois fois rien. Ses arpèges cristallins, ses échos qui se perdent dans l'infini, c'est la bande-son parfaite de l'apocalypse imminente. L'album est un champ de bataille. Des hymnes à gueuler à s'en péter les cordes vocales comme "New Year's Day", avec son piano glacial et sa ligne de basse inoubliable, aux charges plus frontales comme "Seconds", où The Edge prend le micro pour nous parler de la menace nucléaire. C'est un disque qui ne baisse jamais la garde, qui vous regarde droit dans les yeux. Et putain, qu'est-ce que ça faisait du bien à une époque où la pop commençait à se poudrer le nez et à enfiler des épaulettes. Alors pourquoi 4 sur 5 et pas la note maximale ? Eh bien, comme sur tout front, il y a des moments où la ligne faiblit. L'album est un monolithe, mais un monolithe avec quelques fissures. Des titres comme "Red Light" ou "Surrender" (qui s'appelait à l'origine "4th of July", comme pour bien enfoncer le clou) manquent un peu de la puissance évocatrice du reste. On sent le groupe qui cherche à varier les plaisirs, avec des cuivres sur "Red Light" par exemple, mais ça tombe un peu à plat, comme un soufflé qui n'aurait pas pris. C'est pas mauvais, loin de là, mais face à des monuments comme "Sunday Bloody Sunday" ou "New Year's Day", ça fait pâle figure. Et puis il y a "40", alors là, je sais que je vais me faire des ennemis. Cette psalmodie biblique qui clôt l'album, devenue un incontournable de leurs concerts, m'a toujours un peu laissé sur ma faim. C'est le moment où le U2 prêcheur, le U2 donneur de leçons, commence à pointer le bout de son nez. Cette tendance à vouloir nous unir dans une grande communion mystique, c'est un truc qui, avec le temps, a fini par me gonfler sévèrement. Sur "War", ça passe encore, c'est la conclusion un peu naïve d'un album coup de poing. Mais on sent déjà poindre le Bono qui, quelques années plus tard, nous expliquera comment sauver le monde entre deux jets privés. Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir. "War" reste un album essentiel. Un cri de rage et d'espoir lancé à la face d'un monde qui partait en couilles. C'est le disque qui a fait de U2 un groupe qui compte, un groupe capable de remplir des stades sans pour autant perdre son âme. Du moins, pas encore. Pour le gamin de 13 ans que j'étais, ce fut une révélation. Un disque qui disait qu'on pouvait être jeune, en colère, et que la musique pouvait être une arme. Et rien que pour ça, il mérite sa place au panthéon. Même avec ses quelques petites faiblesses, "War" reste un témoignage puissant, un disque qui, quarante ans plus tard, n'a rien perdu de sa pertinence ni de son urgence. C'est un classique, un vrai.
uninteresting
Finalmente l'ho ascoltato tutto, è da almeno un anno che ho la cassetta lì. Bello bello
I’ll probably listen a couple times to get used to it. Softer rock vibe imo
5/5
It's alright 7/10
It was surprisingly good
As a Bosnian I kind of see Bono the same way that Palestinians view Macklemore. Anyway, I think U2’s cringe reputation precedes them and I’d probably like this way more if I didn’t know at least one Bosnian in his 30s called Bono
Heard too often
Good
Best Song: New Years Day It's a good album. New Years Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday were both bangers. The back half is a bit weak though. 4/5.
It was ok I didn't hate it or love it i
A very good record which features a pretty interesting sound for U2.
Pretty good. Sad they fell off.
Such great raw energy! Great stuff.
I liked it but was not obsessed with it
Solid album nothing crazy 4.1/10
Liked Joshua tree better. Still good
We've had bad U2 so long people forget we used to have good U2.
yeah it sure is U2
Enjoyable
Good album, no song was offensive to me. Mastering was OK. Enjoyable album, some songs I already knew.
Okay album.
top 3: - sunday bloody sunday - new year’s day - like a song … special mention: - drowning man
80s rock.
I like this, but it's not my favorite U2 album. several of their hits and a great sound for them overall but some of the tracks fall flat to me
Another large blind spot, only really aware of their singles. The podcast 'Are u talking U2 to me' helped open my mind about them. This album starts really strong, really crisp sound to everything. Some weaker songs but more enjoyable than I thought! 4 Heard before? Just the singles Owned: Yes. 8/1001, 9/41 (21%) Will I get? Maybe
I've realized after listening to War that U2 - at least, this generation of U2 - are a new-wave band masquerading as a rock band. I hear little difference between this and The Police, Talking Heads, The Cure etc. I've heard my fair share of New Year's Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday via Classic Rock Radio to fool me into thinking they were big boys of rock, but among this collection, I heard them differently. Anyway what I'm trying to say here is that I'm not at all a fan of new wave, and by extension, neither am I a fan of this album.
I've always thought of U2 as being a highly overrated band. Even so I don't think I can give this less than 3 stars as there are a couple really fantastic songs here and the rest of the album is decent.
It's U2. It's...fine. I'm sure it had impact for people who lived through a certain moment of time. It's pretty benign to listen to, nothing I love but nothing I especially dislike.
Wouldn’t listen again.
I have a soft spot for U2. I've been a fan since I first heard "Pride (In the Name of Love)." They've produced at least two undeniable masterpieces (Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby), but they also have several albums that are near-masterpieces and WAR is definitely one of them. U2 creates such a unique and original soundscape that I feel it is often unmatched by other bands from the same era. This record is solid from start to finish, never overstaying its welcome with a 42 minute runtime. Fantastic listen.
U2 just makes solid music, man.
I liked about half these songs, but the album kind of peters out (in my opinion) at the end: 4 awesome songs, 3 great songs, and 3 meh songs, which unfortunately end the album. Which left a bad taste in my mouth. This album should probably be a 4 star, but I have to be honest: those 3 last songs really blew it for me. 3 stars, good but not great and certainly not awesome.
U2’s breakthrough album. The overall sound and guitar work are great - Edge is already a master at using ambient reverbs and stacking guitar parts in an engaging way. Bono has an incredible voice. The album sounds rich and full without sounding overproduced and without any of the instrumentation crowding other parts out. Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year’s Day, Two Hearts Beat As One, and Surrender are probably the best songs on the album. Other notables include Like A Song and 40.
way better than expected! this was really cool!
I never got very into U2. Listening to this again didn't change anything.
pretty good
I was dreading when the eventual U2 album would show up. I have NEVER liked the band. Luckily for me, it has one of the only mainstream songs I can stomach from them... Sunday Bloody Sunday is a jam. Blew through that one on the first track. So what about the rest of the album? Listening to all these U2 tracks that I've never heard before, I've finally figured it out. It's Bono. It's always been Bono. He's what I've hated about U2 all this time. The band is amazing. And they're amazing on almost every track. I had one song where my brain said, "they need a double whip right here" and a millisecond after the thought, Bam, there it was. They know what they're doing from a musical composition standpoint. Where they lose me is Bono. Can't stand the guys voice. I came into this album expecting to rank it a 1 or maybe a 2 just for SBS alone, but the music itself is tight, and I think it deserves a 3. Would probably be a 4 with nearly any other singer. Anyway, SBS will make the playlist, obviously.
I'm perhaps in the minority in that I neither love nor hate U2. I do not own any U2 albums, but if U2 comes on the radio, I'm not going to jump to change the station. They're just meh in my book. This album is perhaps a little worse than meh. There are some songs that I did find a bit irritating.
Some great tracks but not yet peak U2
The lead singer is a sanctimonious douchebag. If you knew anyone who acted and talked like that in your daily life, you'd want to smack the shit out of them...but give him a microphone and a band and all of a sudden he's some rock icon. It's not the fact that he has political/social beliefs, it's how he goes about expressing them that's a turnoff. And if he's bad, their fans are worse. Look here in the reviews, you'll find mentions of how The Edge is the most revolutionary guitarist since Hendrix which is insane. No doubt he's a great guitarist but that claim is going a bit too far and ignores Eddie Van Halen who might be able to lay claim to being the best guitarist ever. This album is fine. I really don't care for Sunday Bloody Sunday but New Year's Day is pretty good. You won't catch me saying that they're bad musicians because that's not the case...this is a band that has top shelf musicians at every position. Bono, despite being insufferable, is a great singer. Clayton's bass slaps throughout this whole thing, Mullen's drumming is fantastic. Would I listen to this again? Hard to say, I can't say this is a bad album or bad music, it's just not what I really want to listen to if left to my own devices. I'm not sure if that's because I hate Bono or if the music doesn't grab me...probably a bit of both.
Sunday bloody sunday is a generational bop obviously but the rest of the tunes on this are banging (though don't have the same impact as SBS for me and I can't name any of them as I type this). Defo worth a re-listen for me and will be on rotation in the next few weeks.
Different to what I usually think of when I think of U2. Sunday bloody Sunday was instantly recognisable, but the rest was new to me. Overall it was pretty decent.
Nie
I expected more.
I never heard U2 before, but both of my parents love them. And this album was such a pleasant listen. Sometimes it felt a bit repetitive and slow, but other times I was really enjoying the music. The opening song Sunday Bloody Sunday was my favourite and it gave the album a good starting vibe and mostly the album never lost that charm. I would rate this album 3.8/5
2.5
A real classic from U2. The hits on this one are timeless, the stuff in between has it’s moments, but definitely not their best imo. Still love it regardless
theres no way. i might like u2
I grew up too late to really appreciate the growth of U2, but the legacy they’ve left behind is incredible. War is a masterpiece
In my life and in general this album was a game changer-everything was different after this, their 3rd album - not a note out of place from start to finish, a fantastic journey that begins fiery and rebellious but ends with the soothing and reassuring 40. For me I will follow & New yrs Day are old favorites I lovelovelove this album!
I haven’t gone back to listen to this album for a very long time. I was stunned how good this is from top to bottom. Not a skippable track to be found. This album rocks hard. Bono‘s vocals are in peak form and remind me what an absolute force he was, as is the Edge and his original shredding sound. His haunting solos on Surrender are awesome. Energy is off the charts.
I thought I’d like this album more. There’s songs I could listen to on repeat for days and others that I don’t connect as much with overall.
Say what you will about u2 (and people do say things) you can't take away their back catalog. Especially their 80s run. Earnest - fine. Self serious - sure. But effective. Especially to my teenage ears - and mind. I try to listen to the albums that I didn't just know but memorized - like flip the tape over and over and over - and over. I can't ever escape that. I can't listen with fresh ears. But what I do know. What you can't fake. This album still moves me. Nostalgia? Maybe. I don't care. Even though I know it's coming the solo on NYD still gets me, the initial snare hit on SBS, the groove of Seconds, the textures production of Drowning Man hints of things to come. Bass really enters the picture here. Part of the pack no more. 4+
Bland. I can see why folks like it, but this isn't for me. Soft rock, with a teenage level politics undercurrent. Love songs seem to be rather prominent.
irish folks r badass
Solid
oh yeah
Good album, and one I feel like I need to relisten to a couple more times. Some great protest songs, and just an overall enjoyable album to listen to.
Starts out strong, ends kind of meh. Like many U2 records.
Pretty decent
3/5 ihan ok rok
Not as much to my taste as Achtung, but some good diamonds in the rough here: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" "Two Hearts Beat as One" "New Years Day" "40" Favorite lyric: "I waited patiently for the Lord/He inclined and heard my cry/He lift me up out of the pit/Out of the miry clay/ I will sing, sing a new song/I will sing, sing a new song/ How long to sing this song?/How long must we sing this song? How long, how long, how long/How long to sing this song?"
It's weird how Bono can be so unlikable but also respectable at the same time. I think as time went on he was more relaxed but still had this air of trying to be cooler than he was. I don't know what that really has to do with the music but that's all I remember about this the next day. Sunday Bloody Sunday was the only one here I was really familiar with before.
Back in the days i was a dedicated follower of u2. Their second album October struck me bij lighning. Still does. But War is nearly as good.
Outstanding from start to finish. Exemplary rock album but one of the best political bands of all times. The drumming is intense and places you in the War zone. Nothing beats the opening number Sunday Bloody Sunday with a wind down that occurs on Surrender the second to last song. Amazing journey with a premier band from start to finish.
Probably the best U2 album, but that’s not a high bar. They’re an accomplished band but I find them somewhat…unlikeable.
Brought me back. Fun album.
Good
New Year’s Day is one of my favourite U2 songs. Sunday Bloody Sunday is a classic. The rest was… fine I guess. The lyrics to The Refugee made me cringe - so patronizing.
This album is more interesting than it is good. It feels like you're listening to U2 at a real turning point in their career. Do they take the leap and chase their pop aspirations... or do they stay a moody post-punk 80s alternative band? Obviously they chose the former... and I think it was a good call. I don't think they would have received the respect they craved as an alternative band.. especially with Bonos cheesy, peace and love lyrics that sound like ad slogans. I will say that I like the vibe of this album over other U2 albums we've reviewed. I like that it's a little shaggy, a little punky, a little strange (for U2). You can feel that 80s punk/alternative influence on this, the Smiths or echo and bunnymen etc, especially on the deeper cuts. Also there's some 80s coldwar nihilism sprinkled throughout this thing which i dig. I much prefer that to the optimistic peace and love bullshit of the later material. It's nice to hear a stressed out and anxious bono for once. I can relate to that more. The 2 big hits do sound like the U2 that is to come but with a little more grit which i do like. I'm a fan of Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day... they are solid tracks. I'm also intrigued by Like a Song... which doesn't sound like U2... it's very moody 80s alternative rock. It's neat. The rest of the deep cuts are mid to bad. I did not like The Refugee or the closer. The lyrics, his use of annoying cliches, definitely bring this thing down. Again, i found this album more interesting to think about than to listen to... which is not really a compliment. I guess it's a 2.5, but i'll round down.
Still don't like U2 but this album was not a bad one
"You may hear me say U2 are overrated... but, that is from a few years after this record... this record is what U2 were all about... it's what made them popular around the world... i was lucky enough to see them, even before this album came out... and i witnessed their phenomenal rise to popularity in the USA, and the world... these Irish guys had passion... and commitment... and energy... and... GOOD SONGS... whether it was in the small venue i saw them in, or the next time they came (this album) to a regular concert hall... the time i saw them after that was in the Sun Dome... a 10,000 seater, and the time i saw them after that was in Tampa freakin' Stadium... but, that's another lifetime from this album... every song on this album is great in its own way... "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" opens it up... "Seconds" is so intense... then "New Year's Day"... whoa... "The Refugee", "Two Hearts Beat As One" are a couple other highlights... the album ends with the epic "40"... Five Stars..."
"War" is the third studio album by Irish rock band U2. Post-punk is the Wiki-listed genre. Yeah, and their last one. It was U2's first overtly political album as lead singer Bono said "war seemed to be everywhere in 1982." The band wanted to address not only the physical aspects of war but the emotional ones as well; with crimes dramas on TV and news reporting of deaths everyday, what was fact and what was fiction? Besides Bono, U2 was and is the Edge (guitars, bass, piano, lead and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullin Jr. (drums, percussion). Commercially, the album hit #1 in the UK knocking Michael Jackson's "Thriller" off the top and #12 in the US. There were generally positive reviews in the US but some British journalists criticized it. Hmmm. The militaristic-sounding drum beat and a melodic guitar open "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Along with the bass, those drums create the hook. Steve Wickham enters on the electric violin giving this a very unique sound. Bono on lead vocals in this protest song of an observer of the troubles in Northern Ireland and in particular "Bloody Sunday" where, in 1972, British soldiers shot on 26 unarmed civilians. Great echoing backing vocals and exceptional guitar playing mimicking gun shots by the Edge. The Edge takes over co-lead vocals in "Seconds." Pounding drums, acoustic guitar and a deep bass in a song about nuclear proliferation where an Armageddon could be caused by an accident. Drum ticking, a piano-led melody, rolling bass and Bono screaming "Yeah" begin "New Year's Day." The churning, echoing guitar comes in slowly and beautifully. A great intro to a song. That crunch of the Edge's guitar. Bono originally wrote this as a love song to his wife but rewrote it inspired by the Polish solidarity movement. Guitar-piano interplay leads to a few guitar solos. The song climaxes as Bono yells "Maybe tonight." A song suddenly optimistic turns as Bono realizes nothing changes on New Year's Day at the end of the song. Not all songs are serious; one of the best songs on the album is "Two Hearts Beat as One," a simple love song. Guitar slashes. The bass and drums giving a dance beat. Definitely, the best groove on the album. The Edge gets his steel pedal guitar going in "Surrender." Kid Creole and the Coconuts on backing vocals at the end. Bono singing about Sadie as she goes up to the 48th floor to.... Is it suicide? Is it prostitution? Is it just a business job? Maybe any of the three but having a strong sense of faith in God seems to be the theme of what she needs to have. And of course, they needed a song to end the album and they quickly came up with "40." Clayton had left so the Edge plays bass. Bono came up with the lyrics from "Psalm 40." And, yes, this song ended the set of their last concert (in Las Vegas). I checked. "War" was U2's first album where all the Chicago rock radio stations started to play their music. I remember first hearing "New Year's Day" and being immediately drawn to that echoing guitar sound. There's something to like in each song on this album whether it's a steel pedal guitar, the dance beat, the trumpet, the backing vocals, the vocals or the hard guitar. Their previous album, "October" had serious religious and spiritual overtones. This one does but not quite as much. That's one thing I noticed today. The other thing was the significant leap from "October" in the level of drum and bass playing from Mullins and Clayton. It's forward in the mix too. This is the last of their Lillywhite-produced post-punk albums. Looking back, they were at a fork in the road musically. They obviously went with Brian Eno as their next producer into more atmospheric areas. I've always wondered what they would have sounded like taking the other direction into more of a hard rock direction. Maybe they burn out. Maybe not. Anyway, this is a great album and one of their best.
War by U2 [1001 albums]: 6/10, Starting off with the great Sunday Bloody Sunday, this is a gradual descent in quality across the tracklist. Without much of a background with U2 other than a vague idea of their presence, XXX by Kendrick Lamar, and having heard Sunday Bloody Sunday once before, I didn't really have any specific expectations for this album. By far my biggest complaint here is Bono, he did choose a pseudonym that literally means great voice, and it's clear why: he has a big ego. While Bono does undeniably have a good voice, there's a lot more beauty in restraint than a constant need to show off as much as possible. What makes Sunday Bloody Sunday so good is the cohesion between the instruments and the vocals, there's no over-the-top vocal performance and the instrumentation is very present. The rest of the album struggles with the exact opposite, Bono is constantly putting himself at the center with unnecessarily flashy vocals that still manage to be vaguely uninteresting because there isn't much quality melody writing behind them. Other than my very clear issues with the vocals and the gradual decrease in quality as the album goes on, there's an undeniable level of initial quality that really could be better captured by a band more focused on cohesion and restraint.
Sunday Bloody Sunday - 8/10 Seconds - 7.5/10 New Year's Day - 7.5/10 Like A Song - 9/10 Downing Man - 7/10 The Refugee - 8.5/10 Two hearts beat as one - 7/10 Red Light - 7/10 Surrender - 8/10 "40" - 7.5/10 77/100
This was great - deeply nostalgic in places, fantastic songs. I can forgive U2 for their stupid iTunes stunt because of this.
Almost a 5 for me. Stands the test of time
Songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day, Two Hearts Beat As One, 40
Looking at the track list and seeing Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day I expected to be in for a treat. After all, clearly they were able to write great songs early in their career. Unfortunately, other than the hits, the songs I didn't already know didn't do much for me. Bono seems to be emoting 100 percent at all times.
I enjoyed the hits and a couple of the other songs. Not sure I would throw this album on again. In terms of being a U2 fan - I think I’m a greatest hits fan. Though choice between a 3 and a 4…
scale: 1 - instaskip, 2-meh can be skipped/reaches point to skip, 3 -nothing wrong/easy listen/not seeking out, 4 - would listen to again, 5 - must listen Sunday Bloody Sunday- 7/5 Seconds-3 New Years Day-5 Like A Song- 4 Drowning Man-3 The Refugee-2 Two Heats Beat as One-4 Red Light-3 Surrender-3 40-4
01) Sunday Bloody Sunday - 10,0 02) Seconds - 8,5 03) New Year's Day - 10,0 04) Like a Song... - 8,5 05) Drowning Man - 8,5 06) The Refugee - 8,0 07) Two Hearts Beat as One - 8,5 08) Red Light - 8,5 09) Surrender - 8,5 10) 40 - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,75 (88/100) Current ranking: 82/642
scale: 1 - skipping if heard it again/actually skipped it 2- meh can be skipped/reaches point to skip 3 -nothing wrong/easy listen/not seeking out 4 - would listen to again 5 - must listen Sunday Bloody Sunday - 5 Seconds - 3 New Year's Day - 5 Like a Song - 4 Drowning Man - 3 The Refugee - 2 liked what they were trying Two Hearts Beat as One - 3 Red Light - 3 Surrender - 3 40 - 4 3.5/5 some all-time greats and enough other to stay above water
Album is okay once again, has a few goof familiar songs. Probably will have to revisit but has a very 80s rock vibe
sounds like U2
Little bit of a train wreck from the start. Not good. The mixing and sound is pretty bad. A few tracks are just meh. 2 stars
Good album. Doesn't wow me but doesn't offend me.
Classic era. The “hits” still sound great, and the lesser known tracks hold up.
Suprised by the large number of people calling this one of the best albums of all time. It was okay,, but that's about it. Achtung Baby was much better.
U2 has a distinct, classic sound that absolutely earns them a spot on the 1001 albums list, even if it’s not really my style. ‘Two Hearts Beat as One’ and ‘Like a Song’ stand out enough for me to give it 4 stars. 8/10.
SUCH A GOOD ALBUM! Start to finish all tracks resonate with me and suddenly my brain is on a road trip to the big city with a car full of friends in the late 80's listening to Boy and War and October and wondering why it took us all so long to twig to U2 in the U.S. This is a freedom song. Or rather, this is the soundtrack of freedom, racing towards adventure under hot blue skies.
The more I listen to U2, the more annoyed I get by how pretentious yet untalented they are. Obviously the band's biggest strength and selling point is Bono's powerful voice; however, his vocal delivery comes across in this very self-important and over-dramatic way (makes sense, knowing his personality) that often makes it hard to enjoy. Even worse than that is the guitar. There is no good reason why The Edge should be a household name, considering that he is the one of the most amateur guitarists to ever be so famous. His playing sounds mechanical and lacks any human feeling, and his guitar "solos" are either strumming a chord or two kinda quickly, or climbing a basic scale at the "breakneck" speed of one note per second. The guitar solo on "Sunday Bloody Sunday", for example, is just so thoroughly lame and disappointing. The drummer is alright, but doesn't have a lot of variety in his playing. I also didn't like the songwriting on most of the tracks here. Lots of fluff. I don't even think they should considered a rock band. They're just a little bit more rockin' than Coldplay, which isn't saying much. (I feel a bit guilty writing this review, considering that my dad likes this band lol. At least I like some of the other music he likes)
In terms of song writing, arrangement, performance, and production, “War” is a significant improvement over its predecessor, “October”, which was a somewhat uneven album. “War” contains several outstanding tracks, with “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day” standing out as classics that have surpassed the album itself in recognition. That said, it is an album that is still a little rough around the edges in places, lending it a certain charm. Overall, “War” remains a strong album albeit now overshadowed by what followed. As an album it still holds up, and flows nicely. It deserves a rating between four and five stars. Focusing on its strengths, I rate it five stars. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? I did. 1 "Sunday Bloody Sunday" - A real statement of intent for the rest of the album. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is instantly recognisable by its martial drumbeat and jagged violin, setting a sombre and confrontational tone. Bono is earnest and raw. Great guitar solo. - 5 2 "Seconds" - “Seconds” is a short, punchy track. It addresses the threat of nuclear war. I have always loved this song. - 5 3 "New Year's Day" - Arguably one of U2’s most iconic songs, “New Year’s Day” is built around The Edge’s stark piano and Adam Clayton’s driving bassline. Explosive and dynamic. - 5 4 "Like a Song..." - Loud, brash and punky in its delivery. - 5 5 "Drowning Man" - A quieter, more introspective song. Atmospheric and delicate. - 4 6 "The Refugee" - “The Refugee” picks up the tempo again, blending urgent percussion with a slightly chaotic arrangement. Experimental. - 4 7 "Two Hearts Beat as One" - “Two Hearts Beat as One” provides a touch of 'pop' optimism amid the album’s darker themes, and its catchy chorus makes it a standout. - 5 8 "Red Light" - 4 9 "Surrender" - 4 10 "40" - The album closes with “40,” a song adapted from Psalm 40.A simple, spiritual song featuring The Edge on bass and Bono on vocals, with the band members gradually departing the stage as the song fades out. a gentle, uplifting way to end the record. - 5 Total - 46 Average - 4.6
Gott band en mér fannst þetta hálfleiðinleg plata
yeah it was good
This album has quite a punky vibe to it which I didn't expect and also a rawness. There are some catchy tracks here and I think Bono is a highlight on vocals. The drum sound is really loud and heavy which I enjoyed and there's some really cool guitar licks throughout. I have to say that I've had two albums from U2 now and I've really enjoyed both of them. I feel like U2 are a band that get an unfair bit of hate but I'm now a fan, and I think they're bloody great.
Didn’t like it or hate it, but I was hyper aware of the fact that I was listening to U2. I was glad to be done with it when it finished, though.
I'll never forgive what they did to our apple libraries 11 years ago
have a good day! thanks, u 2 XD not mine. not for me.
It's just absolutely fucking nothing, close to rating this a 1 just because of how nothing it is for me Fav song: Sunday Bloody Sunday I guess
Basic rock, ich schlaf ein 4/10
Classic
One of my favorite U2 albums, hauntingly beautiful rock in equal measure.
Awesome album from iconic band
Ég er ekki alveg á U2-vagninum. Að hlusta á þessa plötu lætur mig samt fatta að þetta er hljómsveit sem var að reyna ýmislegt. Tengi samt ekki alveg við þessa plötu.
Not my type of music. While I understand the album is iconic, it feels like they had 2-3 great songs and decided that should be enough to carry the album.
thoughts: a bit all over the place genre-wise but unmistakably U2 in both intent and execution. the two big hits are still standouts four decades later, but even little groovy tracks like “the refugee” and the sincerity of “40” work in the context of the album songs: “sunday bloody sunday”, “the refugee”, “40” rating: 8.2/10
I like the singles and closer but I didnt dig the rest at all honestly!
Some great songs but too many average songs for me to really get into it.
Old memories
A difficult album to rate for me. Like most U2 albums in my opinion, it's a mixed bag. Some songs are great, while others are more forgettable. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" remains a powerful song to this days despite its overuse over the years, and "New Year's Day", although a bit cheesy, is an iconc hit of the 80s. Listening to it again after so many years, I also gained a new appreciation for a few overlooked tracks (I really enjoyed "Like a Song", and "Drowning Man" wasn't bad), while others remained... meh. I was suprised to see that this album is so old (1983 !). I remember hearing Sunday Bloody Sunday everywhere in the early 90s - a testimony to its lasting popularity. Not my favourite kind of music, but clearly a landmark in the landscape of mainstream rock. It was ahead of its times, and it aged much better than I would have imagined.
Defining album of a defining band !
apart from a few songs ("Sunday bloody Sunday", "New Year's day") and the album photo which marked their era and have become timeless, this album is not the best of U2 and is quiet average... but luckily they did not "surrender"
It’s hard to ignore how much this album shaped my big sister’s musical taste, or to separate it from everything that happened to the band afterwards, to take War as it must have sounded back in 83. Stripping away any emotional bias, I hear an album that was remarkably mature for its time, but beyond its two timeless tracks, it’s clearly not U2’s peak. Still, two of its singles and some more songs have won over my wife, my daughter and myself, and honestly, that alone makes it a win.
When I was 4, we had a barn cat that one day started making these horrible moaning sounds. I panicked, thinking she was dying. Turns out, she was giving birth to five kittens. To this day the sound she made is all I can think of when I hear Bono’s voice. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is amazing in spite of him. No thanks to the rest.
Not my vibe. I appreciate the political message and that Bono is an icon to many, but it’s not doing anything for me.
War is U2 at their most urgent and defiant, an album that takes the raw passion of their early work and gives it sharper focus. From the opening drumbeats of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” it is clear this is not just another rock record — it is a statement. The band channels political unrest, personal conviction, and a sense of moral urgency into songs that still sound fierce decades later. “New Year’s Day” blends icy piano lines with one of The Edge’s most memorable riffs, and Bono delivers every lyric like it is a call to action. What makes War so powerful is how it balances intensity with melody. Tracks like “Two Hearts Beat as One” and “Seconds” have a propulsive energy, while “Drowning Man” offers a haunting, slower moment that deepens the album’s emotional range. There is no filler here; every song feels like it belongs. War stands as one of the definitive rock albums of the 1980s, capturing a young band at the height of their conviction and creativity.
as raw, mushy, touchy, vibrant, and warm as the living heart pumping blood to veins and arteries
to be honest I put this album on in the background while I was doing other things and was only half paying attention to it. for that reason it was my favorite u2 album
The title is apt because musically, this album is very good, but Bono’s histrionic vocals are sometimes at odds with what his band mates are doing. The first half is very solid, but the album loses its way around halfway though; track 6 “The Refugee” is still one of U2’s worst songs. Fortunately, “War” finishes really strongly with “Surrender” and “40”. One of U2’s best albums, only let down by a few moments of pretentious self indulgence. It’s U2 though; it’s what they do.
This is just superb. Rocking from the start with Sunday Bloody Sunday, and New Years Day the standouts.
It was a good listen and I enjoyed it.
Some of their best songs are from this album.
Like Bono thinks he's in a war as he just shouts continuously. Lazy song writing.
Sunday Bloody Sunday / New Year's Day are absolute classics - mixing angry politics with great pop/rocks sensibilities. Rest of the album unfortunately pales by comparison - have listened to it 3 times and none of the other tracks have really made any impact.
War Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day are clearly great tracks, Larry Mullen’s drumming and the Irish Folk acoustic guitar and fiddles of Sunday Bloody Sunday underscore the sadness of the theme of the song, while New Year’s Day is a very evocative and atmospheric pre mega fame U2 song. Whether it’s due to being far less familiar with the rest of tracks or whether they just aren’t as good, nothing particularly stood out or was particularly memorable, apart from the closing Surrender and ‘40’, the former escaping the shackles of the scratchy rather generic post punk on the rest of the album with a nice bit of melody and muscularity and the latter foreshadowing some of their later arms aloft crow pleasing stadium songs. Ultimately I think this lands as a solid 3, Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day are great tracks, Surrender and ‘40’ are very good and the rest, while in no means bad, just don’t stick long in the memory in comparison. Perhaps indicative of them looking to leave their more angular post punk behind and find the pop rock bearings that would take them to mega-stardom. 🪖🪖🪖 Playlist submission: New Year’s Day
Looking back on my past U2 reviews, I have, on both occasions, given reluctant praise to Bono and co., enjoying the big hits especially. It's no different here. Surely 'Sunday, Bloody Sunday' is their best song. Alongside the singles, 'Drowning Man' is very interesting indeed, and is pretty aligned to Blue Nile ambient, mood-pop, and as a result I thought this track really excellent. Whilst never dipping below the hurdle of decent quality, things certainly do tail off in the second half. I find 'Two Hearts', 'Red Light' and 'Surrender' a little characterless. Although '40' is a nice ditty to close out. The album has some great moments. I was going to award it a three, but if I had discovered this by an obscure band I think I'd be rather impressed into low 4 territory. So that's fair.
The bass lines are so groovy. Thoroughly enjoyed this especially as someone who plays bass.
War was the album where U2 stopped being just another band and became a movement. It laid the foundation for their dominance throughout the '80s and beyond.
no mucho que decir, tipico de la epoca, pero no me ha aportado nada en exceso. Aun asi estaria bien oirlo mas veces para tener una mejor opinion
Okay, see, yesterday was Coldplay, and today is the band that whips Coldplay’s ass and tells it to stop being such a copycat whinerbaby. Fuckin U2 in 1982 was unstoppable.
Really liked this. Some excellent parts (e.g. Drowning Man), others were a bit shouty and repetitive, but I suppose the album name is "War" so what did I expect?
Those snare cracks to open up the album. Iconic. “Two Hearts Beat as One” is the hidden gem here. "Surrender" is also a strong track. Not having heard some of these deep cuts in a while, they're pretty fun. This is the first truly big U2 album, in terms of viewpoint and commercial reception. Also the album where Edge relies the least on his delay pedals. It’s worth hearing. FOUR STARS
War was released the year before I started high school and being an album that straddles genres, it appealed to most people with otherwise differing opinions on music. As a result, I listened to this album a lot in my formative music years, maybe too much? I think that most people would agree that War is not U2’s best album, it is their first really good album. Their decision to rock a little harder and faster, while also changing the rhythms to be a little more dance-like, veers the band into what we’d now call pop-punk or power-pop territory. These production decisions, executed by the growing talent of some remarkable musicians started the band down the path toward superstardom. So, the album was important for U2, with better more influential albums to follow. This is a selection I would love to discuss with the author, but I digress. Given how much I listened to this album in my teens, it had been awhile since I’d listed to it all the way through. Sure, I continued to listen to many of the tracks, there are several that would become U2 mainstays, just not the entire album. What struck me most during this process, is that I started my listen grooving with the music, but by the end it all started to seem a little “samey”. At least until the final track “40”, which end things solidly. War is a very good, in not great record, from an obviously important band. I like it, I just don’t love it. As my partner pointed out while we were listening, it would be more enjoyable is you listened 20ish minutes at a time. For me it is a 3.5* record, which means I will have a decision to make at the end of the day. In practice, which direction I fall is mood-dependent. It is a Friday and I’m headed on vacation next week, plus there is a lot of nostalgia, which bodes well for the band. This is important for Bono and gang because where end up landing, writing thoughts that nobody else will read, is obviously a make of break moment for the band.
Definitely U2 at their most credible
What am I missing?
Familiar with Bloody Sunday, but its so repetitive and boring. The album only gets more boring from there on. U2 is really not for me. Bono is a less inspiring and less inspired Bowie.
Scathing soundtrack to the violence of the time. Fear, unfairness, uncertainty and at the end, hope.
decent
3 great songs with the others being decent. Extra star for the message
It’s hard to look past what U2, but mainly Bono, has become in the 21st Century. However, there are some songs on this that are good. There are also some that aren’t good. The ones that are good are sadly the blueprint for what U2 would become and churn out in ever-reducing quality for years to come. It’s no more than 3 stars, though if I could award decimal places I would have scored it 2.6/5.
Love me some U2! Top 3 bands of all time!!
After 13 straight days of music from the Uk, I get to travel a whole 12 miles Ireland to get an album from what may be my least favorite band of all time. This is album 131, I don't know how much more of this self induced torture I can take. I listened to this album with an open mind, as I have done with the previous 130 on this list. And to my surprise this album was actually really bad. I don't like U2 as previous stated, but honestly had a bit of higher expectations being the younger and the more raw U2 might actually deliver something strong and enjoyable...nope. This only strengthens my belief that they are the worst band. More specifically, Bono is annoying and tiresome. His lyrics could be pure magic, but I can't make out the words because I can't stand his voice. The music is fine, the vocals just make my skin crawl. Sorry U2 fans, we all have our things and this ain't mine. 2.5/10 131/1001
Myönnän että tämä on tosi pätevä albumi! Vähän jeesusteleva, jos niin haluaa kuunnella, mutta lähinnä täynnä suurta aika naiivia tunnetta. Vallan iskeviä biisejä.
Album of a generation? Certainly in the conversation... This was the album that put U2 on the map in the mainstream culture. I probably listened to it 1000 times. At one point or another, I bought it on probably every single format except 8-track tape and open reel . This is the album where the power hinted at in their earlier work all fell into place. The Edge is arguably the most innovative and influential guitar stylist since Jimi Hendrix and this is the album where his sound blossomed. Bono's passionate protester persona (about what, we're not sure, but it doesn't really matter, just keep waving that white - blank? - flag and we can project our own causes onto it) is in full effect and the bass and drums hold it all together in a very simple and powerful way. Being 12 when this album came out, it probably took me 6 months to hear about it. I don't even remember how I learned about it, but I was so into this album that me and my friend camped outside the Hartford Civic Center all night to buy tickets for the follow-up album's tour even though it hadn't come out yet. I went with my friend and her little sister and her little sister's friend and about 30 years later my wife and I realized that she was my friend's little sister's friend!
I'm not a huge U2 fan, but it's hard to deny that they made a big jump forward with "War", especially their three big singles. I'm not all that familiar with the other songs on this album, so it was also nice to hear new-to-me and decent U2 songs like "Seconds" (especially having The Edge singing vocals), and the somewhat uneven tracks "The refugee" and "Surrender". Watching the video for "New Year's Day" reminded me again how similar Bono and Sting look (although the video itself is weird and not very interesting or well-done, and I still don't really get the connection between a love song and the Polish Solidarity movement). It's also funny how the "1001 Albums" entry is right next to Police's "Synchronicity", almost a handoff from a megaband to one about to enter that limelight.
3 Courics for Bono and 3 stars for U2! __because I'm just not into them__
Was actually alright
Left me wanting more. Starts off with Sunday Bloody Sunday which is awesome. Rest of the album disappointed
Was sceptical, but actually a really nice album for a listen.
how long to sing this song?
First two songs were good, very emotional and I enjoyed that. But it got quite boring and flat, I forgot that something was playing in the background and it didn’t impact me in any way.
I was expecting this album to be more raw and unpolished since it was released in 1983, but it sounded like the U2 I am familiar with. It's all there already. Edge, the strong heavy rhythm section and Bono were playing music like no one else in the early 1980's. I can see why this album is on the list. It's way ahead of its time, it's vastly different then anything else being released then, and this kind of sets up U2 for the rest of their career. Original album from an original band. 4/5
Not my favorite band but they had some good classics in here
Great tunes and lyrics, thx!
One good song! That's more than normal for U2!
I liked this more than I expected. Bono is so far up his own a*** but I respect the message. A lot of the tunes had a good driving rhythm and some good licks from The Edge (daft stage name) it did end up feeling very samey
I always thought the amount of hate U2 got was unwarranted and just the typical Irish not liking someone for their success. I no loger think that, fuck these guys. The only thing that could make this better is if Bono paid his taxes. Or if the all of the songs were different.
lustig wie man ein album neu hören kann: in den gehörgängen wird das erwartet, was bereits in der jugend tausendfach gehört wurde - und ein remastering macht ein neues album daraus.
Ein Album mit herausragenden zwei Songs und viel durchschnittlichem das die Zeit nicht überdauert hat. Es gibt besseres von U2.
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 (I wasn't even affected by the whole iTunes shoving their album down everyone's throats episode, although that definitely wasn't a good look). That said, I've definitely heard the songs Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day before (who hasn't), 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.
Here's U2 coming into their own with confidence and energy.
It isn’t interesting and the singles are blah. I liked seconds the most.
Okay I actually liked this a good bit more than I expected! Starts off really strong and even though the back half isn't as much my taste, it's still pretty good.
If you would've asked my before I dove into this album, I probably would've told you something along the lines of "I really like U2 but I'm only really familiar with their singles". And while their singles are good - the rest of this album doesn't reach those heights. There were a song or two that caught my ear, but it never really crossed the threshold past pretty good.
Very solid collection of tunes! Nothing especially groundbreaking to my ear, just good good songwriting the whole way through.
Especially being that this was my first U2 album, this was pretty good overall, with my only complaint being that Bono was definitely doing too much on some songs. Sunday Bloody Sunday has been stuck in my head all day.
Everything sounds solid, with standout trumpet moments and killer bass throughout -- but other than that, it somehow kept slipping into background music for me. Maybe it just needs a relisten, but for now it lands as “pretty good” and not much more. Also, Bono weirdly sounds like Robert Smith from The Cure. I can't explain it. Standouts: Like a Song... • Two Hearts Beat As One • Red Light
Really enjoyable! A solid album all the way through that has a great core idea but switches it up enough not to be boring. I really enjoy Bono going hard as hell on this album, especially compared to their other efforts. I listened to this three times today.
I never “got” U2, but re-listening now, I think I do. Solid album.
All really distinctive sounding tracks and it doesn't feel like a rock record from the early 1980s, it feels more modern than that.
One of the first albums I ever bought. I was deeply into anything that wasn't just love songs and this went head on into politics, conflict and social injustice. Was and conflict run through every track, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" being the hit that caused me to buy it but there's not a dud track on the album. "Seconds" and "Like a Song..." probably resonate the most with me. They have that martial, pounding beat, filled in with a sharp and jagged guitar. It feels punk, but it feels polished. I don't think this was their first album, but for me this is when U2 starts. They became very polished after this, still socially relevant, but not as raw (which I love). This is a must have.
1. On Apple Music, the album cover is animated and the kid blinks. It is a little unsettling. 2. I consider myself an odd sort of U2 fan, in that I was not a huge fan of anything they did in the '80s. I didn't DISlike them and actually liked some of their songs, but never went and bought an album of theirs until Achtung Baby. My friends all went nuts over Joshua Tree and I just never got caught up in it. 3. But when I bought Achtung Baby I got a little obsessed with it and nearly wore out my copy freshman year of college. And later on my roommates had all the early stuff so I was able to go back and listen to the things I had been missing. 4. I finally saw them live in 2011 and was blown away. I think I actually turned to Elizabeth during the show and said "OK, I get it now. I understand why everyone is so crazy about these guys." Nonetheless, Achtung Baby is still the only album I have really been crazy about. 5. So all of that being said, let's listen to War... 6. Of course I knew the hits off this album, and always liked (never loved) them. I don't remember the violins being so prominent in "Sunday Bloody Sunday" - I wonder if the version I'm more familiar with is a live one. 7. One thing I'm struck by listening to this is how YOUNG they sound. Which, well duh, of course, but being used to the polish of their present-day mega-stardom you can practically hear their youth in these songs. 8. I thought this album was good (maybe very good,) not great. I think it is more important as a big part of U2's history than as a complete collection of great songs though.
This could have been a fantastic album. But is isn't, it is way too varying in quality. Let's be clear: the highlights of this album are possibly some of the best music of the eighties. Yes, 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' is a fantastic song. But it completely bleaches next to 'New Year's Day'. That is such a fantastic song! There are a couple more very strong songs on this album, but also some very weak ones. Lowlight is definitely 'Red light'. You gotta be kidding... It's horrible. The beginning sounds like a Mylene Farmer song, not exactly what you expect on a U2-album. It could - and should - have been a fantastic album. Nevertheless, this is an album that proves how good of a band U2 could be. Didn't mention it, but this is probably The Edge at his best.
Strong album of good post punk pop rock.
Think I enjoyed this more than All That You Can’t Leave Behind
U2 logró, al menos con este disco, hacer un clásico atemporal. Escuché tantas veces en la radio Sunday Bloody Sunday que en mi cabeza era algo super actual y no del '83. Luego de escuchar esas canciones que ya tienes en tu ADN sale con cosas super lindas como los loops de batería en "Like a Song..." y la voz de Bono en Red lights que me sorprendió muchísimo. Si pudiera ponerle 4.5 lo haría, sorry.
Sunday Bloody Sunday, Seconds and New Year's Day are all great but some of the album tracks sound like odd facsimilies. Is The Refugee thek trying to be Talking Heads (I'm sure Eno would have done a better job producing it) and is Red Light about Jesus or Bono's attempt to rewrite Roxanne by The Police.
Love Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day. The rest doesn't stand out much to me.
Easy to listen to
Some pretty big hits that almost make up for Bono's over-the-top wailing
I had forgotten how good an album this was
pretty much reflects my experience with u2. sunday bloody sunday is their best song and the one i can leave on when i hear it. they made a cohesive album, but it does basically nothing to move me personally, least of all bono, who rarely shushes up. never understood that dude. it’s not bad, but it doesn’t move me.
U2 is not a band I can just put on and enjoy. When the stars align, it’s good. Sunday Bloody Sunday is so fucking good, New Year’s Day… so fucking good. The rest of the album might as well be muzak. Just doesn’t stick with me. They are talented mfers but I can do without a lot of their songs.
Very well-produced, but nothing really resonated with me emotionally. Favorite tracks: Like a Song...
Um disco que ainda apresenta um som bastante cru, notado principalmente pela cadência militar da bateria. Excelente trabalho de guitarras, que se destacam, mas sem tirar a força do conjunto da banda. Um ótimo disco!
Typical U2 shimmery guitars with Bono's plaintive vocals
Very boring album. Hookless songs that drag on for far too long. Mentions of revolution as a buzzword with no declaration of morals worthy of revolution. Poorly mixed.
Not as awful as some albums we've had on here, but nothing to suggest they should have lingered in the public consciousness for as long as they have.
I guess many years before I was born U2 used to release really strong albums like Boy, October and War. Who knew! War U2's third album is a solid Rock N Roll album with exceptional production. Not a boring track to be found. Don't bother looking there are none. Truly one of those albums that I believe would appeal to just about all Rock fans. There's nothing not to like and heaps to love.