we are really having a discussion about this? pretty obvious that its good.

oh god... speaking of U2, a cover band called Zoo2 is playing the Kell's Irish festival in Portland. Lord have mercy...

I've never heard The Joshua Tree in its entirety. I've heard the main singles, but never sat and listened to the whole album from start to finish.

looks like i may be going to this on friday. i dread.

ditto for me....

i also like unforgettable fire as well

I like Achtung and Joshua, but Unforgettable Fire is the only one I still pop in on occasion.

heh, I just pm'd Radcliffe about the Clumsy Lovers, who are also playing. They sound like they might be fun. To be honest, I haven't done the Kell's thing in 3 or so years now, but was looking for something fun to do on St. Pat's weekend. Fun, but at the same time, annoying with the suburbanites and their extended families rolling in.

this album, along with Pavement's S&E and CRCR are the reason I couldn't bring myself to vote in that poll the other day. Played this thing to death when it came out. Don't listen much anymore, but will pop it in from time to time. If I want U2 these days, I, too, usually reach for The Unforgettable Fire.

It was right up there for me for most disappointing release when it came out. And it was followed up by that big piece of shit, Rattle and Hum. Over the years I've grown to like The Joshua Tree, but it's definitely not a favorite of mine.

1. Where The Streets Have No Name
2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
3. With Or Without You
4. Bullet The Blue Sky
5. Running To Stand Still

It would be hard to name an album that starts off with five strongs so strong, and seemingly perfectly sequenced, each setting a sonic and spriritual context for the next song... these five songs would have to all be in the group's top 20 songs.

This is a monumental album. As was said, one of the best "complete" works, albums, ever made. (Although Unforgettable Fire is my faovrite for personal reasons of self-destruction and redemption). JT is kinda a Celtic, 80's alt. rock version of Hotel California (another over-played archetypal accomplishment that is probably also hated here). Overplayed, unlistenable now... but for a U2 fan now, when you see them live and the crank the rattle and strum up to heroic portions in the opening of Streets all of the power of this work is in tact.

I have this on vinyl, but I've never put it on and listened to it.

I used to really like it. And while I still acknowledge it as being a good album, it's not one I come back to often as far as U2 albums are concerned.

For me, too.

When JT came out I was living in the godforsaken burbs of Toronto, sharing a house with two born again Christians. One of them had a shitty band that would practice in the basement, and they'd play "With Or Without You" over and over again just to make sure Jesus heard them. Holy fuck did I ever hate The Joshua Tree.

That sounds like one of the best sitcoms I've never seen.

Bullet the Blue Sky is one of the best songs of all time in my opinion.

I can't deny the brilliance of this album. Works really well as a unified piece, nearly every song a killer single too. Bears up under repeated listening, sounded good the first time (and I was at the time much more of an REM fan).

That said, I want some U2 it's Unforgettable Fire every time.

when i was too young to know that liking U2 wasn't "cool" i was sad that i didn't like U2.
i think it was the first band that my older brother liked that i didn't.

Yeah. Tracks 1-3 I've heard so many times it makes no difference if I put them on and play them. Definitely great songs that don't have much impact on me anymore.

But 4-11 I still consider all time favorites, particularly "Running To Stand Still, "One Tree Hill," and "Mothers Of The Disappeared."

And, yeah, it's mighty impressive as a unified piece.

Top 10 album.
"Bullet The Blue Sky" = Top 100 song.

Me likey.

Bill "Daniel Powter" Zebub

U2 know how to sequence the hell out of the first half of their records, but things usually go sour (or at least sketchy) on side B. Their classic records, like JT, Achtung, Boy are good because they had enough worthy songs to fill out the last half and don't seem as front-loaded. This is a band that should only release EPs.

Without "Streets" as an opener, though, the record would be a lot different and I don't think as universally loved. Such a great, great track 1. Always kills live, too.


Their last couple records have some phenomenally bad songs in the 6-12 position.