U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987) | Classic Album Review

When U2 were recording their fifth studio album The Joshua Tree, they had barely broken in the US. However, with the moderate success of The Unforgettable Fire and their captivating performance at Live Aid, they were starting to gain a buzz. The album was largely inspired by the band's recent tour in the United States and their fascination with Americana. This album was to be different from anything that U2 had put out before. With The Unforgettable Fire being a much more European sounding record, they wanted to approach The Joshua Tree with more of an American feel in terms of song structure. This idea was introduced by Bono. The Edge was hesitant to work within the confines of such a defined song structure, but agreed in the end.
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[@DonJoeBob]

This is one my top 5 all time bands/artists and this album was that pivotal album that pushed me over to level of appreciation. I love every song for various reasons. 'Where the Streets..' swirling guitar harmonies and nearly constant crescendo is such a great intro for the album. 'I Still Haven't...' and 'With or Without You' are fantastically crafted songs that happened to be huge hits and introduce so many more fans to the band. For me, it's rare for big hits to continue to still fresh and enjoyable years later but these do. 'Bullet the Blue Sky' turns the corner from a soft introspective album into a heavy rock blast with darker themes and succeeds perfectly. I could go on with the rest of the album playing out like a good book, I can't wait to turn to the next chapter until it's mesmerizing closer 'Mother of the Disappeared' - another fantastic soundscape yet still very accessible and listenable song. Daniel Lanois deserves the major credit he gets in this albums creation as you highlighted.
One of things that helps me love and appreciate the album even more is the follow-up documentary and album 'Rattle and Hum'. It shows us what happens after creating such an iconic album with the following tour and how it affected them and the eventual creation of the curiosity that is the 'Rattle and Hum' album (which I love as well). All of this resulting in the infamous breakdown and reinvention with 'Achtung Baby'. All of this ties into the success that was the brilliant 'The Joshua Tree'.
As a big fan of Dream Theater as well, I love their cover of 'Red Hill Mining Town' they did for a fan club xmas ep and suggest you check it out at least (it's on TH-cam of course).

[@PolyphonicPress]

That's awesome! This was always my favourite U2 album. And yeah, Rattle & Hum is a must-watch for any music fan!

[@jackdawson2161]

Great review !

[@spookybuz7803]

Good job. It's always difficult describing an album and offering a subjective opinion without the actual tracks themselves, but I found it interesting. There's a quote from Brian Eno in which he reckoned about half the recording/production time for the whole album was spent on Where the Streets Have No Name. I was surprised you saying there were no synths though. Take another listen... there are keyboards on almost every track! Also, you mention the number of key changes on Streets. I'm unsure whether you meant 'chord' changes, but there are no 'key' changes at all. Sorry to be fussy. I'm a music teacher! :)

[@Mohinur-rj5ph]

The Joshua tree, sold over 25 million records World wide, No:1 over 20 countries.

[@bills8857]

This is a great review. But since you question yourself I know that Peter Gabriel definitely gave voice to the working class of Euro in particular the mining Community. Don't Give Up that he did with Kate Bush off of the So album as a great example.
I'd also add that as someone who was 17 years old when the Joshua tree came out, I definitely knew of U2 before this album came out. You're right then that Joshua Tree was a super smash that introduced them to a lot of people but the Unforgettable Fire definitely gave them a lot of traction America, Particularly among the younger set.

[@vestiario77]

Great job

[@PolyphonicPress]

Thank you!

[@ccowboysfan08]

Where did you get footage in HD of that tour. I would love to order it. Thanks

[@jazzyjeff7431]

The movie Rattle and Hum was released on blu-ray,i'm thinking maybe thats where the footage is from.

[@Alex-kf5ji]

It is

[@Flux799]

I always wished U2 would write a straight up dark post-punk style record.

[@rorycampbell7360]

I wish they could come up with something worth while, of late.

[@zackzallie8735]

Achtung Baby and Zooropa were kinda close because of its industrial and dance-rock influences.

[@curly_wyn]

Personally, I think anyone who says that synthesizers and other electronic instruments are not real instruments but also uses a lot of effects on their guitar is a hypocrite. Effects are also electronic.

[@johnmcmahon4870]

Bored

[@johnmc3862]

Get a job.