The Joshua Tree (studio album) by U2

This has one of the greatest beginnings of all time to any record with 3 absolute classics in a row that start off the release in style. The height they reach at the start isn't reached again throughout the rest of the release but none of the remaining songs are poor and there are quite a few that fly under the radar a little as well. One example of this for me is Trip Through Your Wires which seems to get stuck in my head every time I listen to this album. The chorus on this song just stands out and I think Bono gives a brilliant vocal performance on here as well. Bono is also extremely consistent throughout the whole record with this being his strongest display in my opinion. The instrumentation is probably at its best as well or is at least at its most infectious with some of the guitar work being of a significant quality and it is also extremely memorable. The Edge is fantastic throughout and the partnership he has with Bono is something truly special with them making this an exceptionally cohesive listen. Despite this, I do find the ending to drag out a bit especially the final two tracks which feel like they could be cut as they are pretty average. Overall, this is the groups best work as it has their greatest songs as well as their best performances making it an essential part of musical history.

The best first three songs of an album ever.

The rest of the album is pretty mediocre.

Well done, but frontloaded and quite boring for me, I prefer their earlier stuff. First four tracks are amazing but then it becomes more and more dull.

Good album

My favourite U2 Album. Side one is as good as it gets and side 2 isn’t too bad either. This Album took U2 to another level and they were never to match it again. Favourite songs Where The Streets Have No Name, Bullet The Blue Sky and Red Hill Mining Town.

There is a reason this album and the songs on it blew up. It is much much more than the first few tracks, this track shows a band at the absolute peak of their powers.

It was the record that turned U2 into the global behemoth that they still are to this day, and it's without question one of the most iconic and original sounding records of the 1980s

From Jboy56 02/16/2022 16:46

U2 masterpiece, this must the most frontloaded album ever, 3 supersongs in a row

I love this album and reading the comments there are quite a few U2 deniers who also have to acknowledge that these are great tracks. When something is good forget the surrounding fanfare and what annoys you and just listen to the music - that after all is what we are hear (lol here) to do is it not?

Wow - those first 5 tracks are insane. The best first half of an album ever in my opinion. It's a shame there is a drop-off in the second half but to be fair it is impossible to follow the first 5. Track 6 onwards is pleasant but nothing special - if these tracks were stronger I would be ranking this album right at the top. Running To Stand Still is one of the saddest most beautiful songs I've ever heard. With Or Without You is in my top 5 songs of all time - that guitar is incredible (thankfully as I was born in '94 I didn't have to deal with the song being overplayed as I'm sure it inevitably was). Bullet The Blue Sky is completely unlike everything else U2 have done, but I love it. Where The Streets Have No Name and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For are classics too.

"You gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice"