U2 80s Discography Review (metal, pop, punk, rock, single)

Roygbiv · 03-23-2009, 12:28 AM

So, my sister has all the U2 albums so far and I thought, "why not?" They are the most shamed band on this forum, and possibly of all popular culture. If not, they certainly have made their once respectable name infamous. Maybe what we all need is to "dream it all up again" and give them a second chance.

I've divided this discography into two parts because their 80s material is so vastly different than their 90s and turn of the century material that it's unbelievable.

U2 in the 80s were, according to allmusic.com, "rock and roll crusaders," and when you think back to that most interesting decade and what was dominant musically, you do think of synthesized pop and hair metal. Not U2. In the 80s they were right up there with Bruce Springsteen: grandiose but accessible, the voices of millions. Ironically, their ideas where better realized when they were younger than when they grew old. The late 90s and within our present decade, U2 (especially Bono) have attempted to regain their youth by all the wrong means. But before they lost their purpose (or rather before Bono's own doucheness completely ruined the band), they were real, they were punk, they were raw, they were alive and we weren't ashamed to close our eyes and feel the music for a moment.

Guybrush · 03-23-2009, 05:02 AM

Great idea

I haven't heard a post-90s U2 album and in the 90s, they were so and so, but still I think they are underestimated on MB in general .. I quite like a lot of their 80s stuff despite it being regarded as perhaps a bit "safe" today. Other than that, well written start and I'm looking forward to reading your reviews.

However, you might wanna keep your asbestos suit close by.

jackhammer · 03-23-2009, 06:13 AM

The first three U2 records were fecking great. Looking forward to this and balls to the rest of the forum.

Bulldog · 03-23-2009, 07:42 AM

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.

Schizotypic · 03-23-2009, 11:10 AM

^ Yeah, I remember hearing from my sister that The Joshua Tree was really good album.

**Janszoon** · 03-23-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schizotypic

^ Yeah, I remember hearing from my sister that The Joshua Tree was really good album.

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.

Bulldog · 03-23-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

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.

With Or Without You irritates me to no end, but otherwise I agree. One Tree Hill is one of the best songs ever as well.

**Janszoon** · 03-23-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldog

With Or Without You irritates me to no end, but otherwise I agree. One Tree Hill is one of the best songs ever as well.

I actually like "With or Without You" but it certainly is one of the most overplayed songs from the album. I'd say "Trip Through Your Wires" is my favorite on the album though.

Guybrush · 03-23-2009, 12:27 PM

Red Hill Mining Town I guess is my favourite from that one. If any song from that album irritates me, it's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Other than that, I think the bleak "Bullet the Blue Sky" is interesting because of it's sound (compared to everything else from them at that point) and of course it's political message.

Seltzer · 03-23-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldog

With Or Without You irritates me to no end, but otherwise I agree. One Tree Hill is one of the best songs ever as well.

Definitely, One Tree Hill is gold.

03-23-2009, 12:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Roygbiv marquee moon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 759	U2 80s Discography Review So, my sister has all the U2 albums so far and I thought, "why not?" They are the most shamed band on this forum, and possibly of all popular culture. If not, they certainly have made their once respectable name infamous. Maybe what we all need is to "dream it all up again" and give them a second chance. I've divided this discography into two parts because their 80s material is so vastly different than their 90s and turn of the century material that it's unbelievable. U2 in the 80s were, according to allmusic.com, "rock and roll crusaders," and when you think back to that most interesting decade and what was dominant musically, you do think of synthesized pop and hair metal. Not U2. In the 80s they were right up there with Bruce Springsteen: grandiose but accessible, the voices of millions. Ironically, their ideas where better realized when they were younger than when they grew old. The late 90s and within our present decade, U2 (especially Bono) have attempted to regain their youth by all the wrong means. But before they lost their purpose (or rather before Bono's own doucheness completely ruined the band), they were real, they were punk, they were raw, they were alive and we weren't ashamed to close our eyes and feel the music for a moment. __________________ Roygbiv's Review Revue LATEST REVIEW SILENT SHOUT BY THE KNIFE

03-23-2009, 05:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Great idea I haven't heard a post-90s U2 album and in the 90s, they were so and so, but still I think they are underestimated on MB in general .. I quite like a lot of their 80s stuff despite it being regarded as perhaps a bit "safe" today. Other than that, well written start and I'm looking forward to reading your reviews. However, you might wanna keep your asbestos suit close by. __________________ Something Completely Different

03-23-2009, 06:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	The first three U2 records were fecking great. Looking forward to this and balls to the rest of the forum. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

03-23-2009, 12:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Red Hill Mining Town I guess is my favourite from that one. If any song from that album irritates me, it's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Other than that, I think the bleak "Bullet the Blue Sky" is interesting because of it's sound (compared to everything else from them at that point) and of course it's political message. __________________ Something Completely Different

03-23-2009, 07:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	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.

03-23-2009, 11:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Schizotypic Souls of Sound Sailors Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mojave Posts: 759	^ Yeah, I remember hearing from my sister that The Joshua Tree was really good album.