There are a lot of U2 haters here I know, but you know, I’ve reviewed albums I don’t like, had no interest in and ended up not liking any more after I’d heard them, just because some of you asked me to. So now I’m listening to something I want to. Skip it if you want, but while I’m no U2 fan I don’t hate them. Say what you like, they’re one of the first bands who put Ireland on the map. Gotta give them props for that. Sure, Bono’s a gobs
hite. But he’s
our gobsh
ite!
Title: The Joshua Tree
Artiste: U2
Year: 1987
Chronological position: Fifth album
Previous experience of this artiste?: Hey, I’m Irish, y’know? I’ve heard a few of their albums, and who can live in Ireland and not know of U2? Love ‘em, hate ‘em, you can’t be Irish and ignore ‘em!
Why is this considered a classic? Their breakthrough album, when they embraced America as their salvation and wrote songs specifically themed on the US. Also produced three massive hit singles for them.
My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great, but I know all these first three tracks
One track in --- Again, great but what about later?
Halfway through --- Great
Finished --- Great
Comments: Let’s be honest here: everyone knows the opening three tracks so as it’s getting near my bedtime I’ll skip them, and we head right into “Bullet the blue sky”, which has a dark, menacing vibe about it, both in the almost doomy drumming of Larry Mullen and the pulsing basslines from Adam Clayton. Kind of a feel of Memphis blues about it too. The Edge does some of that faffing about on the guitar that I don’t like --- I respect his talent, but sometimes it really is just guitar wankery --- and I kind of don’t really like this track much. “Running to stand still” is a thousand times better, though it does tread a little too closely in the footsteps of “Bad” from the previous album. Love the piano and the fadeout harmonica. Sweet.
“Red Hill Mining Town” starts off a bit in a folk/country vein, but then amps up and becomes a striding rocker with gospel overtones, lot of drama and heart in it. Look, say what you like about him --- and many have --- but Bono’s a decent singer and he really puts passion into his music. You never feel like he’s just going through the motions while counting his bank balance. Much better from The Edge as we find ourselves “In God’s country”, rocking along nicely; more the Edge from “Where the streets have no name” than the one from “Bullet the blue sky”. I’m sure many think him an overrated guitarist, but he does have a distinctive style.
More fine harmonica as “Trip through your wires” sounds like the Adventures meet the Waterboys and invite the Sawdoctors along, Nice bluesy boogie tune, with good heavy drumming from Larry and a nice bit of organ there too. Somehow I’m expecting an Irish reel or something. Does it come? No, it doesn’t. All of these songs seem to have a backstory, but probably the most poignant is “One Tree Hill”, which has nothing to do with the TV show but is in fact a tribute to Gregg Carroll, one of U2’s roadies who died in a motorbike accident. I would have expected a ballad, but no, it’s pretty uptempo, though you can hear the pain in Bono’s voice as he sings about the man who was his friend. Sumptuous strings section too. Love the gospel-style ending.
That leaves us with “Exit”, which you have to think was a title tailor-made to close an album, but it’s not the closer. Kind of a muggy feel to it, the bass humming and fading in and out while Bono sings sparingly: a minimalist U2 song? Well, getting a bit stronger now as The Edge comes in with the acoustic guitar and then electric as the percussion cuts in too and the song takes off. Impressive. I see now it’s about a serial killer, so understand the heavy, almost fuzzy production. We’re heading out then on a real emotion-wringer, as Bono speaks out about the people kidnapped, tortured, killed and just never seen again in Nicaragua and El Salvador. “Mothers of the disappeared” gives me a very Peter Gabriel feel, sort of like his “Biko”, though it doesn’t really sound anything like that song. It’s just the vibe I get. Parts of the song’s structure mirror “Biko” a little, and I feel Bono must have taken some inspiration from the Gabriel classic.
It’s a low-key vocal, with the bass and percussion again to the forefront, The Edge’s guitar quite restrained, almost in respect or reverence for those vanished by various dictatorships.Much of the vocal seems to be just a wordless lament, which is probably quite appropriate. A good closer certainly, and a pretty much flawless album all round.
Favourite track(s): Still haven’t found what I’m looking for, Where the streets have no name (One of my alltime favourite U2 songs),
With or without you, Running to stand still, Trip through your wires, One Tree Hill, Exit, Mothers of the Disappeared
Least favourite track(s): (If I have to choose one it would be
Bullet the blue sky)
Final impression --- An album truly deserving its status as classic. I don’t think there was one track on it I didn’t like, and a whole lot I really loved. Sure, the quasi-political/save the world messages are a little annoying, but you can’t argue with the music. Excellent album.
Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?
G) Enjoyed this album just purely on its own merits
H) Glad I listened to it
This is a clear A and our first
