U2 – The Joshua Tree (1987)

Stewart Lee does a routine, about being the sort of comedian people think they ought to see, rather than want to see, likening this to visiting the site of a wartime atrocity near a European holiday destination.

That's what I feel about this album.

I enjoyed U2's early albums, and bought the live Under A Blood Red Sky (and probably will again if I see it cheap), but by 1987 I'd tired of Bongo's earnestness, and the all-conquering superstar status that he, The Hedge and the other two had achieved.

But I remember the hype around this album's release, and the excitement of others, which I staunchly ignored. But on seeing it for pennies at a boot fair, and my wallet already being out, I picked it up.

It's a grand opening, three hit singles one after another. Where The Streets Have No Name opens with a gentle brooding Eno influenced start, before guitars and drums kick in, and while it's a decent song, I don't feel it quite lives up to the fantastic opening. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For is a well constructed and delivered anthem. I can't be the first to ponder that if in fact the streets did have names, Bono might have found what he was looking for. With Or Without You is another fine song, gently building to a crescendo.

Sadly, this high standard isn't maintained. Bullet The Blue Sky is a solid piece of bluesy rock, but no more, while Running To Stand Still is a dull ballad. and Red Hill Mining Town a ponderous, overearnest plod. Things brighten up on the likeable In God's Country, even if it does feel at times like Bono is having to drag every word from the depths of his soul, and Trip Through Your Wires is a bouncy throwaway number, similarly One Tree Hill. Exit is monotone and bombastic, and simply not an interesting listen, However, the band close with the poignant and moving Mothers Of The Disappeared, a fine closing to a mixed album.

This is a decent, if unconvincing album, with a number of enjoyable songs. But it's not the finest rock album ever, or other guff I heard at the time. I don't think it's even close to being the best U2 album.

Link to album tracks

3* - a decent enough listen without even approaching greatness