1001 Albums Summary

Tracks 1-3 are extremely iconic with beautiful instrumentals and an amazing vocal performance by Bono and expertly chosen lyrics. Bullet The Blue Sky (track 4) is a very different feel from the previous three tracks, but not in a bad way. The instrumentals, unlike the past tracks, sound almost ridged and Bono’s vocals complement it very nicely. The lyrics keep up a nice rhythmic pattern, while still serving the listener a great message about the problems that the US was causing in other countries. The first few seconds of Running to Stand Still (track 5) sounds almost like a country song. A very calm track from start to finish. And a chilling performance by Bono on this one and very sweet performance by Edge, as well as an unexpected harmonica which felt like it completed the song. Red Hill Mining Town (track 6) almost keeps the calmer theme from the previous track, but then around the one minute mark, begins to build up, like a rollercoaster. After that, the song keeps the kind of louder sounds, with a pattern of up and down, up and down. Having a calmer sound for a moment, then starting to build up with the once again flawless vocal by Bono and phenomenal performances by Edge, Adam and Larry. The seventh track in the album, In Gods Country, starts off with a very quick intro by the rest of the band, soon accompanied by Bono, with great vocals and masterfully crafted lyrics. Trip Through Your Wires (track 8) starts off with a very almost sharp feeling harmonica and slow yet rhythmic drums, then begins to open up with more instruments, until Bono then follows with a very unique performance. The whole track feels very much like the wrote and composed the whole song on horseback with a piece of wheat in the mouths, a beer in one hand and a pistol in the other hand while riding throughout America. Track 9, One Tree Hill is great. Not much to say, or at least that I can think of. Track 10, Exit starts with an almost eerie beginning, with just the sound of what might scratching, bass and Bono’s whispering voice, then begins to build up, adding more instruments, everything is getting louder, things are getting more complex within the instrumentals and vocals, everything grows and gets louder, until a drop. Not the drop you’d expect. But a literal drop. Music and all stops for a slight moment, until the instrumental begins to kick back in, slowly and quietly, as it grows back into form. The sounds get louder, thicker as it quickly gets to its climax and begins to drop back down, but not quite. The instruments fall behind. Returning to how the song began, with only a few light sounds rising up to a climax, only this time, it’s opposite, as the instruments go from very thick and loud, to quieter and flimsier. Then the song ends. Mothers of The Disappeared is the final track in the album and it starts off as if to continue the previous track. With a very quiet sound, like something rattling, as it slowly begins to add more to the song, with bass, guitar and drum, only this time, only thing stills sounds slow and somewhat quieter that usual but then everything begins to shape when Bono begins his vocals. Bono’s vocals and the entire band is feeling very slow and delicate. At around the three minute mark, the song begins to get slowly louder, yet Bono’s vocals stay just about the same. The instrumentals begin to build up, only getting slightly louder every second, until the instruments begin to fade out slowly. Overall, The Joshua Tree by U2 is an absolutely beautiful album. Starting off extremely strong with such great tracks such as With or Without You, then entering the middle section of the album, the song begin to feel more “American” somehow. The album then slows down for its ending, with the last two albums feeling like a dream. Even though I’ve listened to this album before writing this, I never really thought to actually pay attention to the masterfully crafted lyrics and every little detail. At the end of the day, I Rate this album 10/10, a masterpiece that will never be forgotten until the end of time.