U2 80s Discography Review

It's one of my favorite songs on the album. I think it adRAB a little edge to everything so yeah I think it's essential.
 
I haven't given the full breadth of U2's 80s material a good listen for years. The Joshua Tree is ace, and I remember liking War and the Unforgettable Fire a lot.

Looking forward to this.
 
That's a good choice.

My Joshua Tree would look like this:

1 - Where The Streets Have No Name
2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
3 - With Or Without You
4 - Running To Stand Still
5 - Red Hill Mining Town
6 - Bullet The Blue Sky
7 - In God's Country
8 - Trip Through Your Wires
9 - One Tree Hill
10 - Exit
11 - Mothers of the Disappeared

Not because I like Bullet the Blue Sky or anything, but because it would flow better that way.
 
I think it has some of Bono's best lyrics on it...and I think it was a nice departure for them. I also think that "Do You Feel Loved", "Staring at the Sun", "Gone", "Please" and "Wake Up Dead Man" are among the band's best tracks. Sure, it has some real clunkers on it, but pretty much every U2 album since Achtung, Baby has. If anything, this one has the least amount of filler. (Up to their new offering, which is probably their most solid effort since 1991. Minus the middle, of course.)

I just feel it's underrated because so many fans immediately list it as their worst album, when it's far from their worst. I'd take a colossal flop over an effort in mediocrity (R&H, Atomic Bomb) any day.
 
Rattle & Hum/Pop [Island; 1988/1997]

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I decided to review these two albums at the same time because I found myself saying similar things about them when I tried reviewing them individually. There
 
War [Island; 1983]

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War is U2’s most powerful album, no matter what decade is considered in the comparison. The band will never be this electrifying and naked again. Its successor and virtually every album afterward will be produced by Brian Eno, who gave the band too much density, giving with it weight and stage power, but before Eno (and Flood, and a billion others) there was only Steve Lillywhite, Mullen’s underrated drumming, Clayton’s funky bass, Edge’s fantastic guitar and Bono’s soaring voice, which will coincidentially never sound this young and unlidded again. There are no synths to add mood nor a guitar mixed to become so predominant that Bono’s voice takes the back seat. It’s just the band and the listener, and that’s why War is so powerful. Every rhtyhm aims at your spirit, hoping to grip a nerve and sticking to it with all its might, and they often succeed.

In War, U2 marry the punk spirit with rock grandeur to be the superheroes they were considered to be for such a long time. But unlike what's often considered punk and rock, War is a record you can listen to and rebel with without your parents knocking on your door, asking whose awful voice they hear.

The album’s short comings are only evident if you like the post Eno U2 better, which is the U2 most of us are familiar with. It takes a lot to discard Eno’s take on the U2 sound, and for those who hate the band, it’s tough to discard what’s arguably their most accessible sound. U2 detractors wouldn’t know what to think of War. I mean, it’s not sh!t, and that’s what they expect. They expect soaring hooks and choruses, like with “Pride” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Mysterious Ways,” “Beautiful Day” – you name them, they aren’t here. They expect tracks their Danielle Steele reading wives will like and would love to get married to - they aren't here. War is catchy and accessible, and there certainly are hooks, but they aren’t produced the same way, so they don’t resonate with radio stations. That’s why you wouldn’t hear “The Refugee,” or “SeconRAB” on the radio. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” manages to be a huge hit thanks to its inarguably powerful rhtyhm and unforgettable chorus, and “New Year’s Day” is also popular because its reminiscent of Eno’s sound. If you do hear any of the other tracks on the radio, then count it as a rare occasion. Why play the rawer U2 that audiences today probably wouldn’t recognize (save for Bono’s voice) when their hits are still just as catchy as they have always been? It helps that the two aforemtioned tracks from the album were released as singles, but so was “Two Hearts Beat As One.” How many of you know how that song goes? Okay, now how many of you can sing along to it? There you go.

War is everything that Boy and October did but streamlined, refined, and put together better, making for a much more rewarding experience. Unfortunately, though you might love what it stanRAB for, subsequent U2 albums will be easier to listen to, keeping War below The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby in terms of popularity. But as U2’s most powerful and alive album ever, it’s a blast to listen to, so do listen to it. You might just respect the band afterward.

9.4/10​
 
Angel Of Harlem is a fantastic song - it'd be my favourite U2 one if it weren't for that one song off the Joshua Tree that I've mentioned before. Other than that, Rattle and Hum's pretty forgettable. Pop, on the other hand, is just absolutely terrible.
 
War & Boy are probably my favorite among the first 3 albums. I would hate to choose between them. "An Cat Dubh/Into The Heart" might be my favorite early 80's U2 song. I also think I might be one of the few who prefers the studio version of "40" to the live version. October has some great moments IMO, but it seemed a bit rushed, and I know Bono's lyrics were stolen. Don't forget many of the U2 B-sides and non-album tracks through out the 80's. Many of the tunes are better than some of the album cuts IMO.
 
Personally, I like the track .. It's a bit bleak and apocalyptic, but in a good way :D

Also, it has a clear political message which something I'd expect from one of the band's greatest albums.
 
My favourite of the first 3 albums this, and one I haven't listened to for years. Still a good album though - New Year's Day is probably my favourite track off it.

Great review, great thread. Keep this going man.
 
I'm trying a new thing: Saying more by typing less. Hope it worked!

The Unforgettable Fire [Island; 1984]

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The Unforgettable Fire is U2
 
I forgot how much I really like War until I read this. I'm being assaulted by the drums on "Like a Song" as we speak. It's probably my favorite U2 release that I've heard.
 
I agree that none of the albums are good, but I find enjoyable moments on both. On Rattle & Hum, I can sort of enjoy Desire, Hawkmoon, Silver & Gold, Heartland .. On Pop, Gone, Miami, Wake Up Dead Man. I don't think they're awful, but mediocre perhaps. But of course, mediocre albums from such a big band are gonna disappoint.
 
i was thinking about it, but we all know they're mostly mediocre albums. would you like me to do a few more reviews? i'd love to : )
 
A lot of people on this forum like to bash that one and I can kind of understand because so many of the songs on it are really over played. But it really is a great album, there's not a single bad song on it.
 
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