Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Is iconic for Sunday Bloody Sunday. A good U2 album, not as essential as Joshua Tree. Has a different sound than future U2 albums.
i will never forgive U2 for what they did to my iphone in 2008
Good album, a bit dated now though
Couple good songs
Fav: Surrender Least Fav: The Refugee U2 hate is boring and should only apply to their iTunes album
good enough
Pretty great album, few awesome hits I was familiar with but it was nice hearing lots of songs off this album I had not heard before.
Sunday Bloody Sunday slaps. The rest of this sounds like a whiny pile of shit.
All in all, a solid worthwhile rock and roll album
I liked it more than I thought I would
I mean it’s good but I wasn’t blown away.
Guess I like U2
I liked it. And then let other related music play after. Best album ever? Nah. But enjoyable.
I listen to this album twice, not because I enjoyed it a ton but I felt like I was missing something. Of course, Sunday Bloody Sunday is always going hood a special place in my heart but honestly the rest of the album just sounded like variations of that. That drum beat is cool, but not for every song. And not every song has to be minor.
I was kinda getting into it but the Two Hearts Beat as One track threw me off completely. Is this band for like kids and moms in their 40s?
U2 is gewoon niet mijn ding. Geen slechte liedjes, maar ik kan er niet van genieten.
War, what is it good for? A great listening experience. SBS and New Year's Day are phenomenal.
early 80’s post-punk with a political edge to it. solid effort from one of ireland’s top musical exports.
Not bad. A few hits, nothing skippable, mostly not very memorable.
3.8
Not my cup of tea
Amazing
4/10 Top 3 tracks: 1. Sunday Bloody Sunday 2. 40 3. Two Hearts Beat As One
Great album, classic
I will not be listening to U2. Ever.
I still feel this is the best U2 album, by far.
U2 was actually really good before they loaded that annoying album on everyone’s phone. Bono has a great voice
That was fun
Better than I remember. The non-radio songs are good
Good album. A few classics. The rest are kinda forgettable.
Never listened to this album from beginning to end. Solid Rock album
Solid album, never heard this one in its entirety. Can’t believe this is over 40 years old!
Not my favorite U2 album , has a couple of radio hits but ‘Like a Song’ is an underrated banger
I'm glad this album was suggested because it made me change my opinion of U2. I thought they were douchier than what I heard on this album.
Not much of a big U2 fan but this is a good introduction to their work and not all of their later crap. Disgruntled Irish people hating the British is fire.
Love the rawness of this. U2 would be very polished later in their career. This is a young U2 with a lot to say.
Fantastic album that got a 1,000 college radio stations to spin up 1,000,000 new U2 fans. Great album
It's not that I don't see where the U2 haters are coming from - Bono's messiah complex, the wheels coming off circa Pop, that automatic iTunes download, yada yada yada. But Sunday Bloody Sunday is still a remarkable sounding record, and this whole album reminds you why U2 became big enough to get on our collective nerves in the first place.
Meh.
Escuchar este disco me lleva a los 90. A los no comment de La2. Y a una época en la que U2 importaba. Bono está muy enfadado y grita su enfado en cada tema.
4 estrelas pq tem dois hits porrada - e determinou de vez o som da banda
Really good album, it has the sound that to me a lot of the 2010s rock music (poorly) emulated. My favorite U2 album
There are some great moments. Sunday Bloody Sunday is undeniable. I could see how people might find Bono insufferable, but consider what California rock is doing at the time. Cum on Feel the Noise indeed. I do start to drift. It’s not a perfect album, but a good one.
There are things I really like about this album but not enough to get a 3 but I can't validate giving it a 1 either. The whole album just sounds off to me with the singing and other parts
really liked quite every song solid 9/10
I know Bono is a wanker and everyone hates U2 for their album autodownload thing, but old U2 is just undeniably epic to me. I love the passion in Bono's voice, the guitars, and the rough, unfinished sound of this album. It's not my favourite, but it's a great one.
Listened in the truck via YouTube. Tried YouTube Music and Amazon music first but the mix was real thin with no bass. Turns out that just may be the way the record was mixed. All in all the singles were bots for a reason and the rest sound like B sides. There’s definitely some remnants of influence from the Cure and some glamrock in the tracks. Fun record overall.
Great
Where the really made their mark. Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day, Two Hearts Beat As One, all epic. Then close it out with 40 as they’ve done at so many concerts over the years, what an album!!
a probao sam stvarno, ali mi se ne dopada. džošua čri zapravo bolji
SBS is a tune, but the rest sort of blended into one - 40 was a decent album closer
Classic U2, not all the songs are bangers but it's got some hidden jems
Meh. It's like a bunch of dudes who wanted to be The Clash as well as be commercially smash popular got together, and came up with this. It's fine, but opened the door to a lot of late-career bullshit from U2.
1983 was not the best year for music, but here U2 take the sounds of post-punk, rock and pop and fashion them into the most boring pap imaginable. How long… to sing this song? How long?
It’s hard for me to say anything nice about U2, but War is actually a very listenable album. There are a few great tracks here, and the energy throughout keeps things moving. I guess early U2 is something I can digest a lot easier.
This is a banger, peak U2 for me before they got swallowed in the hype.
ok
this one is on my top 10 of my life! 😍
A classic. One of their best. The music overcomes the crap recording.
Horrendous. Even the singles aren't good. This is 1 of maybe 3 albums now that I couldn't finish. U2 SUCKS
Nahhhh
Good message. No hook though
U2's second best album. Good album with no skips!
Political and energetic.
More punk-adjacent than I expected
Not a U2 Fan
Still trying to get U2. They seem so famous, but I've never heard anyone mention them, never heard of Harley anything they've put out. This one was ok, but still didn't blow me away by any means
The music is OK on this one, definitely better as a whole than Achtung Baby. However it suffers from the same problems. Each song stops developing musically after the first minute, yet the band insists on playing for another 4 minutes. Additionally, most of the tracks are very safe early eighties rock. Finally, Bono's vocals are average at best, and the production fails to lend any edge to the music. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
Significantly better than expected, still suffers from having Bono at the helm
I didn't hate the songs as much as i expected. There were some solid ones in the, even though i generally don't like U2. I was going to give it 3/5, but the 2008 mix/remaster is genuinely horrible. The drums are muddy and barely audible. I might've liked it a lot more on CD
Furious and political. Still very relevant IMO.
This is admitted a lot better than Achtung Baby which was not good at all. Not too bad at the start but then just stops being interesting. U2 aren’t very good are they? Still have the one everyone holds up the highest somewhere on the list maybe that will fare better.
Aquest és un àlbum que ja havia escoltat, no sencer però algunes de ses seves cançons si, ja que és un dels grups preferits dels meus pares. Així que top, a mes, es un álbum molt reivindicatiu amb la guerra i tal.
U2 cannot escape Bono. This earlier stuff is obviously influential, and I very much like the protesting nature of it. But I really dislike U2.
As I write this, a significant portion of the planet is attempting to decipher social media messages from the "leadership" (scare quotes intentional) of Israel, Iran, and the United States to try and determine whether we're going to have World War III or not. Alongside that endeavor are various attempts to propagate, detect, and/or guard against misinformation, scams, bullshit, slop, and flat-out stupidity of various kinds, any of which could conceivably push humanity materially further towards midnight on the doomsday clock. Mistrust is a reflex at this point. The trenches dug within our hearts, indeed. (I got bad news for the refugee being sung about on track 6 - the war may be slightly colder here in America but it isn't any less warlike.) Everybody who thinks Bono & Co. are just such damn pretentious blowhards for making rock music about the Big Issues of Life needs to explain why, when the Big Issues of Life are really weighing down, a 1983 album from the damn pretentious blowhards is a better and more honest listen than pretty much anything else out there. No atheists in foxholes and all that.
Literally the coolest altruism has ever sounded
couple of memorable tunes, but nothing grabs me
No. Did not listen. You know what you did
Great album! War is an album that I've always enjoyed. Listening to this one was fantastic!
I would say that this is the first of the brilliant run of U2 albums. Ones that follow this I think are better but this one definitely starts the ball rolling and it doesn’t let up till Zooropa. Then unfortunately, in my opinion the quality starts to dwindle. Anyway, this is a fantastic album and I just love 40 at the end.
Good
Somenhits but I've never been huge u2 fan.
I still hate U2.
Not a huge fan of U2, but enjoyed this more than I expected too. Was even thinking four stars for a bit, but the back half was weaker and brought it down to three.
It's strongly tied to the time it came out in.
Stands up OK, but only just.
Vaak gehoord. Betrouwbaar, beetje saai?
Overall, a really strong album. It makes me wish I had gotten into U2 earlier. I love Bono's voice, and the guitar tone used on this album. I also think that the drums and bass are strong on this album, particularly on songs like New Years Day and Surrender. It is a very good listen. Best Song: New Year's Day Worst Song: The Refugee
The more I listen to U2, the more I find myself mostly unimpressed. Not bad, just kind of…meh. 3/5 Highlights: Sunday Bloody Sunday The Refugee “40”
Probably kinda biased since my dad really likes U2. This album was chill. Reminds me of songs I listened to growing up. The political climate right now while listening to it is… yeah.
Though I wasn't there as a fan at the beginning, I'm definitely a fan now. And I appreciate what they did at the beginning. Some amazing songs here.
New Years Day, Seconds, alot of great songs
Pre-Achtung Baby U2 is better than post-Achtung Baby U2
It’s ok. They’re so overhyped though the fans love it, but I think most hate it because of what they became.
Brilliant.
Takova oddechovka, cekal jsem to horsi.
Dig
Meu primeiro album do U2. Não me impressionou muito, porém, tem uma bela sonoridade e algumas músicas muito boas.
U2 bad
No m'ha agradat, despres del que venia fent u2, aquest disc es fluixet.
Some bangers. Some filler. We're supposed to love U2, but I just like U2. Four stars for the quality of the strongest songs.
Opening track starts the album strong. For me, it felt downhill from there. Didn’t think it would include as much hollering as it did. Too many eight note high hats.
Look, I know U2 is important in the history of rock and roll but I’m just not a huge fan anymore. This album has a couple great ones but otherwise I would never turn it on. I think I probably just overplayed the U2 greatest hits CD in my car in high school
no thank you
Sunday Bloody Sunday is an epic track and the only playback here. Bono the social activist is on the move! This is the stuff that gives U2 a histrionic reputation—heavy-handed in lyrical theme (War!) and musicality (screechy vocals ... and screechy guitar) and album cover (split-lipped child).
ngl this is pretty good - definitely helping me understand where u2 came from. still a little overly serious for me but who am I kidding, I like Radiohead - this u2 album can stay.
The problem with U2 is that they're U2 - it's hard to come to their albums without all the baggage of Bono and his nobbishness. So I pretended that this wasn't U2 and just stuck strictly to the tunes - as is the key part of being in a band. It's earnest to say the least. The music is good - the vocals can get a bit much. Is this only in here as it's U2? I'd think their two key albums are enough. Best Tracks: Sunday Bloody Sunday; New Year's Day; Two Hearts Beat As One
U get 2.
I had listened to this record back in high school, during my formative years (music taste wise). It's a solid record altogether, with undeniable hits such as Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day. As a full length U2 project, this is my second favorite, behind Achtung Baby (one of my favorite records ever), but I can't deny that revisiting War has been a very pleasing experience. U2 rocked.
Best U2 that I’ve heard
- ganz stimmig und kurzweilig, nicht unbedingt etwas, was ich mir so anhören würde, aber war unterhaltsam
A few goodies, but not really the album for me
It was quite olright
Sunday bloody sunday
What a grand album, loved every song. The lead vocalist has an amazing voice and knows how to use it. Really glad that this was my introduction to U2.
Not good, not bad. It is fine.
• 5/5 • U2’s best album and the height of their post-punk phase - loaded with great tracks, especially New Years Day, Sunday, Two Hearts and 40
There are times when I can be convinced that Sunday Bloody Sunday is the greatest opening track in rock history. It's a shame that latter day U2 can't figure out how to write anything half as good as even the least impressive songs on War.
86/100. A great album. Classy, grounded, and powerful. It carries a strong sense of urgency while still feeling refined. I've always appreciated the band's sound, and aside from The Joshua Tree, this stands as their best work.
Good album, but nothing outstanding
Liked it, I get some of the U2 hype now. Especially interesting coming off of Say Nothing, have some context for it. Doesn't hit my personal vibe as much as my sad boy bands but enjoyed the listen. Probably won't revisit much.
I am not in to U2, but was slightly intrigued by an earlier album that supposedly is more post-punk than it's later bland rock music. I guess it was better, but man the production and the sound of this band is just too much for me.
Genuinely a very beautiful album, sounds ethereal
One of my favorite U2 albums. It was more direct, overall rawer and harder than the older ones, and political during a time of great uncertainty and fear of war.
Given my general apathy towards U2, including the opening track, I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed this one overall.
Great singles, good album tracks
There are some great songs, but the lead singer's voice gets so annoying over the course of the album. The two good songs are not worth the rest.
Nostalgia trip, Mom listened to this a lot.
Same as the last U2 album we had, the singles are good anthems but are smothered by the less good filler tracks. Probably why they were such a stadium band ignoring the obscure stuff.
Annoyingly I really liked U2 today
Love the political messaging, really urgent and direct album. Wailing lyrics ebbs frustration and so does the almost sympathetic production? Idk how else to describe it, but there is a powerful and uniting sound across the whole record. There’s a sense of community and rallying, more accessible than that of, for example, Rage Against The Machine. Storytelling also emotive and direct. The last song, 40, is a really great ending, a call to arms, a question of how long will the messages of the record have to be spread until War ends? Thought that was a nice touch, especially with the metaphors of the ‘song’ ending both figuratively and physically. All in all, the album is brilliant and really hit me in an emotional place. Also perfectly concise at 42 minutes and 10 songs, a great collection of killer material.
decent, low 4
Great band. Great music. Not afraid to sing about what concerns them. Refreshing.
Sunday Bloody Sunday is my favorite U2 song and really the only song of theirs I enjoy. I am so glad the album began with it, unfortunately nothing else quite comes to that level. However, I enjoyed this album way more than I thought I would, its rock music with a message, and they do it well. It does overstay its welcome a bit, but man, I cant fault them for the quality they put out. Pretty good entry.
Pretty good! Kind of peters out as it goes in but the highs are pretty high!
Just can’t get into U2. Overproduced arena rock.
Trash band
I prefer their 90s records, but this one is okay too
Another that might not warrant so high a rating as it got based on the pure musicality, but lands some solid nostalgia points.
Ik
Ya se le veía la zanca al pollo. Vivillos desde chiquillos. Rolas que se volvieron emblemáticas de la banda alberga éste disco, como "Sunday Bloody Sunday" y "New Year's Day", pero "40" era una pieza que nunca había escuchado y captó bastante mi atención.
Ech. I just do not like U2
Pretty complex musically and interesting. Surprised how funky it is. Many different influences — vocally and lyrically not as into it, but the music, yea cool
Know a lot of people hate U2 and I always felt like it was a bit wrong to like them, but fuck it I really liked this album and their sound in general.
Some alright songs but overall boring 5/10
4 - yeah, it's good.
Liked the first few songs.
Skip. Maybe later
Good album but not Joshua tree
More whining from Bono
Love the message but the music is wack
Amazing opening song, super political album but great
After hating U2 for years and giving actung baby a 2 previously on this list, I've come to realize I don't hate U2. I hate later U2. This is some good shit.
No private session used for this one. I have listen to this album a lot in the past, but who hasn't? Once U2 got big it was a great one to go back to for more U2.
Aggressively okay
Started strong and became pretty fast the level of a free iTunes album
I had the misfortune of growing up around late 90s and 00s U2. This tiff was actually okay.
Good album
Dont like u2, first song was okay
Masterpiece
Bonio is very shouty on this one.
Great album from one of my favorite bands. Enjoyed being reminded of this album as it's been awhile since I listened to it!
Solid early U2 but I don't think they had hit their stride yet. "Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby" will always be peak U2 to me. I even really enjoyed "Zooropa" which I saw as a brave exploration of where they could push their sound to. "War" is good but not the greatness they would later reach.
3/5
0/5, U2 suck
Sunday Bloody Sunday 4 Seconds 3.4 New Year's Day 4.3 Like a Song… 3.6 Drowning Man 3.5 The Refugee 3.3 Two Hearts Beats as One 3.4 Red Light 3.4 Surrender 3.3 40 3 Score: 3.52
Absolute banger. One of the best from a hungry young band on the cusp of greatness.
Quite melodic in places.
I was a serious U2 fan in the 90s and have had them mostly on the shelf the last 20 years - for reasons both deserved and not. This was a great reminder of why I loved them so much.
Дивись: я не первый человек на земле, который пришел в мир музыки с уверенностью, что группа U2 - это кринж, не в последнюю очередь из-за инициативы Apple по пропихиванию их последнего(?) альбома в каждый ифон вселенной. И всё же это хороший альбом фо риал. Лучшая песня - New Year's Day.
Most of the songs sounded the same. And I dodn't like the vocals
They should’ve made this the U2 album automatically downloaded in apple music a decade ago
I liked Sunday, Bloody Sunday, but every other song slid right off me. It sounded too samey across the album.
U2's "War" is a raw post-punk album propelled by Mullen's formidable drumming and tracks infused with profound anger, yearning, and despair. Although the Edge's signature guitar sound is present, it frequently takes a backseat role to the driving rhythms of the percussion and bass. The album also hints at the band's gradual shift towards a more anthem-like sound. I particularly appreciated the balance between political songs, exemplified by "Sunday Bloody Sunday," and heartfelt tracks that explore human connection, such as "Two Hearts Beat As One." Furthermore, the album features one of my personal favorite U2 tracks, "New Year's Day." Overall, "War" stands out as one of the band's finest albums in their discography
hate them.
Sunday Bloody Sundays is all I can write home about. Feel like the sound hasn't aged that well. Wouldn't go back
#91 - Again one where maybe I have the privilege (or curse) of not being tinged by nostalgia. This is very listenable and its own sound but utterly unmemorable for me. Might have been breaking when it came out but if it came out today it would be ignored.
I liked it
I grew up on U2 thanks to my Dad and I still love them very much even though I know that’s not like cool now and I still really want to see them live one day. Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of the world’s great songs to me and there’s heaps more on this album to admire. I always hesitate to give a 5 for some reason but I’m just gonna go for it again here because at the end of the day I just love this and if that’s tinged by nostalgia so be it.
The first track off this album, gotta be my fav track by this band. Not a big U2 fan, rarely listen to them but when "Sunday Bloody Sunday" comes on, i love it. Cool album. I know that this album is legendary. I'll rate it 4-stars.
Liked it far more than when it was originally released.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of U2's first 3 albums. I'm more into the ones that came after "Unforgettable Fire". But there's no denying that "War" is a great album. Sunday Bloody Sunday is an iconic song. 4 stars is fair.
U2 isn't one of my fave bands, but there are a number of songs I really enjoy by them, and they happen to be on this album. Good to listen to front to back.
Pretty good! Nice vibes, good drums!
Really only know the U2 hits. Really liked this one. Red Light stood out, with New Year's Day still probably being my favorite. 3.5/5
An ok album. I guess I’m so used to pitch perfect production.. some off pitch vocals were a bit jarring.
I really love certain U2 tracks. I’ve listened to a few albums and they’re always solid but I think they’re a greatest hits band. I dig their sound and this album was a good listen. Strong 3.5 for me but going with a 3 because there’s not a ton of stand out tracks aside from SBS
Gonna be honest, I didn’t get much out of this album. Lyrically, it feels very repetitive. Bono shouting doesn’t really do it for me. I like the idea of what U2 is about, but I just didn’t feel it through the album. Never been a big U2 fan and I think that’s going to continue.
Really starting to firmly believe that I’d have more of an appreciation for U2 if I was born in the early 80s. On the fence between a three and four with this one. Always enjoy lyrics that are a direct response to issues going on around the world, and I should expect nothing less from Bono, but that doesn’t mean it makes for the best music. Going with a four because I came back and listened to this one again over the weekend and enjoyed it more the second time.
If it wasn't for Sunday, Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day, this would be a mediocre three star album. I do think those two songs elevate this to a four, but I'm not sure if it's because they're good or just recognizable.
The modern version of classic rock. More rocking than vibing, but great sound and riffs
Not a fan of U2
I've always avoided U2. Why? I really don't know, they just dont appeal to me at all. One of the reasons for joining this generator for me was to force myself to listen to albums like this that I'd never choose to. It hasn't converted me into a U2 fan, but it's a solid album and I can understand why they became so big. A couple of big hits and few songs that were surprisingly good. 6/10
I normally dog on U2 (even though I think they have some great songs). But this album is different. I personally think of this record as their masterpiece. To me this is the band in their full force, even Bono.
Much last atmospheric than the last U2 album I had (Joshua Tree), about I enjoyed it to about the same degree. 6/10
I can't stand U2 to be honest - it's not that it's bad, I just find it so tedious. I hear the lyrics are good, shame I can hardly understand them.
very hard listen I cannot lie
Great opening song and pretty consistently good after that. 4 syars or B+.
Nope! Hate Bono and have never gotten U2, severely overrated in my opinion.
WOO A BAND I LIKE YAY Sunday Bloody Sunday: 5/5 gosh I love this song Seconds: I like the intro. The bass line is cool though. Little repetitive but I quite like it. 3/5 New Year's Day: yeah 5/5 Like A Song: Pretty good! I like the drums a lot on this album, really stand out to me on this song. 4/5 Drowning Man: 3/5 a little slower and less drums so I don't like it as much but still good! The Refugee: Kinda funky. My least favourite so far though. 2/5 Two Hearts Beat As One: wow another song that I know and like 5/5 Red Light: Pretty good, not my favourite but wow brass instruments. I do like it so 3/5 Surrender: Alright song yeah. The guitar sounds cool. 3/5 "40": A little slower. Nice. 4/5 Overall, 4/5
Lori- 7.5 Mike- 7 Michael- 6.5 Miles- 7 Cole- 7
Incredible album. I love Bono's style of singing on this; it feels very passionate and grandiose. The guitar work is also great. It has a particular and identifiable style but I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. I didn't delve into the lyrics but it seems like they're really trying to say something. Favorites: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Like a Song
Before this band sucked and Bono’s ego ruined it all. Not great, but pretty solid.
Vanilla.
a classic
yeah me too
Not a huge fan of U2, with the exception of Achtung Baby which is an uncharacteristically fantastic album. On War, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" still stand as classic tracks. The rest is never less than listenable but a lot of it is relatively indistinguishable from other, "lesser" bands of the period like Flock of Seagulls, China Crisis, Simple Minds. Not terrible, some great playing, particularly some of Clayton's basslines, but not mind-blowing.
Maybe my 5th or 6th fav album of theirs but still good
Not to interesting and got a bit boring but nothing too bad to hate so probably a 3 star
Solid rock album but nothing that spoke deeply to me.
Soke solid songs, but at the end of the day it was U2.
Made me feel nostalgic! Heard songs I haven't listened to in quite a while. Not the best album, but definitely not the worst.
Decent album with some powerful hits (Sunday Bloody Sunday will always get me going) here and there and some good political commentary, but doesn't really stick the landing.
The drums are on point, sunday is a good song. But I struggle to take serious any guitarist who calls themselves "the edge". Bono's vocals leave a mixed impression, he's really trying but I just don't always like that sound.
The album as a whole is really same-y. There's not much that distinguishes one song from another. Not necessarily a bad thing, as long as the album doesn't go on for a long time, and there's enough difference between songs that they can at least keep you engaged as a listener. I enjoyed the album, but I wasn't completely engaged, partially due to the same-iness of it all. I think this album would also benefit from a re-listen (and honestly, probably multiple). "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song that will just pop in my head all the time, though, in a great way. Favorite Song(s): Sunday Bloody Sunday
I refuse
I think you can make a case for this being among the greatest punk albums of all time - if you define punk by spirit (urgency, honesty, community) rather than sound (overdriven guitars, three chords, machine gun bass drum, etc.) The Edge is starting to really deliver on the promise he started making with the opening of I Will Follow. And Bono … as kids we would’ve followed him into battle, but he was insisting that we find love. Like Prince, these guys have had so many chapters that everyone can fairly defend their favorite. Mine is their next studio album - The Unforgettable Fire. For me thats when the sound matures but the urgency and emotion are still driving the project.
It's a classic, but is it good? Eh...it was better before U2 jumped the shark.
It’s fine. Highlights are Sunday Bloody Sunday and Drowning Man.
Tea prepared by a new friend. The speaker is kitschy, plastic and already breaking. Dropped during a move, it's a memory that is shared and laughed over. In its spot on the windowsill it sits between two plants. The plants aren't named, but they've named themselves. Nothing deep, nothing consequential. Pleasant, kind, warm. I don't know if I'll remember this afternoon, but I'll carry it with me. Somewhere up there.
U2 was pretty big from their first couple albums. 1983’s album War vaulted them to international stardom, especially the hits Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day which brought attention to the conflict (civil war) in Northern Ireland between the IRA and Ireland/Britian. The album is edgy, fast paced, and well polished. Three big hits and all others songs OK, it ties together well. I’m sure there were others wars going on as well, but I remember’83 for other reasons… L = (3.0*s) J = (3.3*s)
Aside from the two known hits this album is just ok, mostly missable. It's not bad per se, it's just not really for me. Plus, the more I know about Bono the less I like the band in general. This album feels like a Christian Rock band going political. Throw some random shrill horn on top (see "Red Light" at 1:55) and call it a day. I will not "Surrender." 2.35 for coming out in 1983 and not being totally cheesy though.
I have not listened to this album in its entirety (or much pre/post "Joshua Tree") prior and "War" is a good one from U2. Couple known great hits with not really a bad track throughout. Not surprised an 80s Irish band would take a political stance on the situation with the IRA and the "Long War" at the time. There will be more from these guys which belong on the list but I hope it doesn't dip into anything post early 90s. 3.15 for Bono and not Mr. MacPhisto.
War isn't an album that moves the needle for me. It's an OK U2 entry, but nothing special. Side One is significantly stronger and includes the 2 biggest hits, while Side Two is mostly forgettable. I'm a fan of U2, but there are other albums by them that I would prefer to see on this list over War. Not sure this is one I need to hear before I die, even if it isn't bad, it's just mediocre. 2.50 stars
Nice to hear that again, after so many years.
Approve the message but not a fan of this band
Good start. Last track good. Middle a bit filler.
It’s difficult to separate the 2025 reputation of U2 (both good and bad) and set yourself in the headspace of 1983 U2, but I damn well tried for this one. The contrast with their more contemporary work is immediately apparent—while still well produced, there’s just a bit less polish over the whole thing. The sound’s not quite as lush. Listened to: walking in Flatbush. Favorite tracks: Red Light, “40”, Sunday Bloody Sunday
Tråkiga
Skränigt
нормалек, но есть у них песни и покруче.
Repetitive. Got old pretty fast.
Starts off with Sunday Bloody Sunday which I've always loved. And then it just goes downhill. Seconds, The Refugee, and Two Hearts Beat As One were mildly interesting, the rest were just boring. Best song: Sunday Bloody Sunday
My first impression of U2 was in 2014 when they put their album on everyone’s ipod/iphone. I never listened to their early stuff which got them their notoriety. This album questions the actions of war. Waking up to crazy news about people dying so close to home, and how to react. Acknowledging that you don’t have the answer to a conflict, but know that something has to give. The drawn out words give it a sense of sadness and frustration. I like the album overall.
It's aight. Not really my thing.
Classic
Never really been a fan though this is not the worst album.
Great album
This is the only era of U2 I can stand. Some of these tunes are very good (e.g. Sunday Bloody Sunday) but I've never been able to take them very serious given how sanctimonious and stupid Bono is.
Decent. Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day stand out.
Bono may have huffed too many of his own farts in the interim, but it's clear he's genuine enough that he doesn't know he's pompous. This album is unsubtle but morally sound, so no complaints there. I'm familiar with the hits, I don't think I've ever listened to it through, so there are some surprises. I'm surprised by how much seconds sounds like the talking heads. I'm surprised at the variety of sounds. I'm surprised how...80s some of those sounds are. I'm surprised at the production - seems flatter than I recall from hearing these songs on the radio, and I'm listening to spotify's 2008 remaster. I'm surprised that I enjoyed the full run.
Started amazing. Then New Years Day. But the rest was pretty bland.
I don't even want to listen to this. It got played way too much when I was growing up 40 years later I'm still sick of it. My girlfriend however is a big U2 fan so I'll tell her it's the album of the day and tell her that I had listened to it and give it a big upvote for her
Es hat ein par gute Songs, aber nach einer Weile klingt alles etwas gleich.
Daleko da je ovo od ne znam top 10 ili 20 post punk albuma ali ovaj šarm i mladenačku energiju poslje nisu imali
Not a big U2 fan but it was a little better than I figured it would be
whatever
Energetic with a good start, but becomes predictable and boring. Overall, average. Lyrics - 3 Vocals - 3 Production - 4 Originality - 3 Cohesion - 4 Replay - 3 Emotion / Vibe - 2 Replay Value - 4
Awesome!
First U2 album I tried wasnt it, but this worked well for them. A good first half for the album. For the second half, the songs dont stick out.
Muy bueno
bono is not number 2!!!
The snare cracks a march and a shimmery guitar arpeggiates. Yeah, mmm. How long must we sing this song? Had this on tape, still have it on vinyl and CD. My 6th grade teacher —easily the coolest in the school — introduced the whole class to U2. If the opening three songs don't hook you like it did me, there isn't a reason for you to continue. War isn’t a flawless record, but its potent mix of The Edge's post-punk guitar innovations, Larry Mullen Jr.'s martial inflected drums, Adam Clayton's deceptively perfect bass and Bono's raw emotion hits me every time. Year's later, it’s still an album I want to hear from start to finish.
1.5 this is angry dad music
U2's first three albums (this being the third of those) are much simpler than the albums that followed. Of the three this is by far the best and after Achtung Baby my second favorite U2 album. The Edge's simple guitar complements the bass and drums rather than the opposite being true for most rock albums. U2's strength has always been their rhythm section of Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr and this album shows that wonderfully
Hmm I don't know. Liked the first song. The rest reminded me a lot of The Cure. Very brittish. I didn't really listen tho, was kinda unfocused. I've never really listened to U2, but their later stuff is a bit more "pop pop" right?
Bono plz
U dont know how broing it was 2 listent to you. U2
Post-punk is like pop rock's younger, slightly less ugly sibling, in my experience. Like, it's sometimes fun, sometimes catchy, and there are some bangers made within the genre (Joy Division), but most of it makes me feel absolutely nothing. War is kinda more of the same. Can't say it's bad, but I'm largely indifferent to the music here. I also don't like the production that much. It sounds clean, sure, but it's so thin and weak.
On paper, I should like this album, but I don't. I've never really listed to the band except for that one time when their album just came with my neat new iPod touch, but somehow there is still this deeply rooted aversion to anything U2. 2.5/5
Not too bad. I like Sunday Bloody Sunday the most. 3.5 stars.
I don't like U2
I perhaps haven’t given U2 their fair shot earlier. I prefer this one to The Joshua Tree, and I developed a new appreciation for “The Edge”’s guitar playing and tone. I felt like to rest of the band and producer did a better job at complementing his sound. Favorite Track: Seconds
I liked this more than I expected to - certainly better than the other U2 album I listened to for this project. Sunday Bloody Sunday 3.5
Also not bad. Not great either, but unsure why U2 gets such a bad rap.
Not a fan really. Couldn’t get into any of the songs :/
Is good for absolutely nothin'.
I do not like U2, I always found them pretentious but not in a good way. But this is very good
Probably my 3rd favorite U2 album. The Edge's guitar is amazing and the drums really drive the music. Love it. Favorites: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, Like a Song, Surrender Would I listen to it again: Yes
God, Bono sucks so hard
Bono is a pretentious turd but this album is incredible. Lyrically thoughtful, musically tight, emotionally engaging, very well produced.
Ok. Not one of their best if I am honest. Pretty average
Carried by Bloody Sunday tbh
The album was a classic, powerful and meaningful songs that have lasted the test of time. Ive never been a huge fan of U2 but this album is a winner.
Sunday Bloody Sunday was the best tune for sure
Not for me
Sunday bloody Sunday is my favorite u2 song and I could listen to it alone on repeat for awhile. The rest of the album was enjoyable rock and left me with a more favorable opinion of U2 than others albums have.
It was ok, nothing special
mid when i was listening the music was barely even being processed in my brain because it sounded Not Nice
did not like, was making me fall asleep on the highway
Actually good U2 album??? Can’t be
Pretty nice and chill. Would have liked it more as a moody teenager.
I haven't liked some of their other albums, but this one is actually pretty good. It's got a lot of propulsive energy to it. 3.5 rounded up.
I only heard War once when I listened to all of U2's discog with my boyfriend and it was an obvious highlight by the simple fact that it was all the best parts of their early era while also going more "big" like they would later on, it's crazy that only one album later they'd put out The Joshua Tree (to my dismay) but you can see the seeds of what would become that, but all wrapped up in a "post-punkier" packaged, not yet the U2 we know and tolerate today. I think what makes this album stand out from Boy or October is simply that there's more things going on in the music, more instruments, more soaring choruses, more influences from general rock things, more EVERYTHING which makes the album more of an interesting time, I mean you hear something like Sunday Bloody Sunday and it's hard to forget the main riff and the extra instruments they add, or then have something like New Year's Day, a total pop tune with some of the neatest rock riffs. Even other songs like "Like a Song...", "Two Hearts Beat as One", and "Surrender" really do the most of the post-punk sound but poppier and larger in a way I forgot really was as enjoyable as it sounds! The other songs are fine but fine, not as exciting but in this album there's more fun things to get out of it than there are boring or corny ones, which may be some people's hang ups with this (I can tolerate Bono for so long, mind you) but if you like something post-punky that sounds more uplifting and just big, then why not War?
Sunday Bloody Sunday is my favorite U2 song. Actually, it’s really the only U2 song that I actually like. All the rest are at best ok, and that pretty much sums up this album. I guess New Year’s Day is probably fairly good. The remainder of this album is filler at best.
I've never really been into U2 and to be honest War did little to change my opinion on them. It's fine
At times stunning for its sound.. it’s like they reinvented what a rock anthem can sound like and expanded the genre into new social areas. There are few weaker moments but the ambition is pretty breathtaking when it works musically
I understand why I’ve only heard one of these songs before. It’s fine.
Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day are hits, rest of the album unremarkable but ok.
Literally the only album by U2 I find listenable
Two all time classics and then a handful of decent tracks
Surprisingly into this one
I like this album despite not really having much fondness for U2. The drums and guitar stand out to me in particular. Great bass. Even the vocals are great, if you can get past Bono's self-importance. But the album is mixed well, recorded well, produced well. It is a really good sounding record. One thing I notice is that this was sort of before The Edge (dumbest name ever) really leaned into effects so the guitar parts are still pretty raw and I think that's much better. I don't think this is as good as Joshua Tree, but I do actually like this album. I'm not sure I'd play the whole thing again though so I suppose it loses some points for that. I'm having trouble rating this, it's between 3 and 4 but I don't feel like I can give this one a 4. 3.5/5 but rounding down.
They're so good at building tension, letting an atmosphere develop, creating an enveloping mood and then doing that dew point drop thing where it all releases, shifting on a single beat. The heavy new-wave post-punk influence on the bass and drums gives them a hard edged tone and a driving beat. The soaring guitars are a thrill - glassy crunchy and direct - simple parts crafted perflectly to echo and bounce and create a huge space for the vocals to fill. It's so big and bombastic and ambitiously produced it's really an achievement, and not even they're best.There are three of the best songs of the 80s on here that still hold up however overplayed they are. The rest isn't as good, but never drops to being mere filler, they're probably both a Greatest Hits and an albums band. This is probably the first album I was ever really into even before I had my own music, I remember the CD and asking to always put it on in the car as a like 9 or 10 year old, so 0 bias here...
3-4
Jlassiskt. Mycket känsla.
Listened Before? Y U2 was just beginning to develop into the powerhouse that they would become here. While I know a lot of people prefer this early protest music style - I believe their later works to be better in almost every way. Music doesn't always have to want to change the world. Good early one from the boys. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: 40
my first album from irish band U2 was a bit of a let down its not as i expected but this albums pretty forgettable in general except of course for the intro song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" which is probably U2's best song. I like the message her and Bono's singing is nice to listen to 7/10 Favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday Least Favourite: Surrender
a very easy listen and really enjoyed it. Will definitely listen again.
The music and vocals on this album are terrific, even with the overall theme.