Advantages: A musical masterpiece by the Dublin Masters
Disadvantages: Only drawback? Its success inspired U2 to make "Rattle and Hum!"

..."The Joshua Tree" is more than an album; it is a work of art. It is more than a defining album for the Republic of Ireland's greatest export; it defined a generation. "The Joshua Tree" is easily the best album to come out of the Eighties, both in content and in being musically way before its time. Where to begin? How about the 3 number 1s that came off this album: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Where the Streets Have No Name," and "With or Without You?" Whole reams of paper have been and could still be written on these three songs alone (not to mention their videos). These songs never age; they are still as relevant today as they were 20 years ago. For example, I was in the U.S. the night U2 performed "Streets" at the Super Bowl. The way they re-contextualised that song that night gave it a whole new layer... Read review

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Advantages: A great album
Disadvantages: A couple of weak tracks

...The Joshua Tree released in 1987 is widely acclaimed as the album that finally gave U2 their ticket to superstardom status. Many have proclaimed this album as THE album of the mid 80's,with this album U2 could do no wrong. The Joshua Tree was to show the world that U2 had homed their skills into a more sophisticated sound. The Joshua Tree adds to their unique rock sound a mixture of blues and folk influences in an album, that pays homage to many overtly political issues as well as looking at finding inner spirituality. Gone is the rawness of preceding albums. What The Joshua Tree does is serve up a rich cocktail of different sounds. The politic message is still there but in a more subtler form. What you have to remember is that The Joshua Tree was recorded in the aftermath of Live aid and the famine in Ethiopia of the mid 80's... Read review

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Advantages: twas something else amongst all U2 albums and blessed are the fruits of its groove Joshua
Disadvantages: just another doze of some Irish "silliness" ? accd to snobs

...to turn on my first backslidden angry teenage years (although it ain’t that far too rebellious though as it may sound like) – ‘tis such of an experience like when your parents got you so ticked off that you wind wrecking your most precious vinyl record LP smashed and broken up to pieces in a fit of rage, and then going outside to burn the entire wrecked up copy of the album that you have -- that however IS the very case that I have with my very first copy of THE JOSHUA TREE. Released in 1987, on the midnight of Saint Patrick's day March 17 (exactly three years after when I have converted into the light of true Christianity incidentally), THE JOSHUA TREE stands for what U2 have attempted to implore right from their conceptualization way back in their beginnings from Dublin Ireland, as one of the first rock bands to ever profess to bear... Read review

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Advantages: Great music and lyrics
Disadvantages: non

...I first heard 'The Joshua Tree' a few years ago at my mates house, who's dad was playing it when i went to see her and straight away i loved it and straight away i needed it. I eventually bought the album on C.D from a car boot sale for an amazing £3 (that's what i call a bargain). I have seen the album priced in the shops from £8.99 up to £12.99, as we all know you need to shop around to get the best price. Released in 1987 'The Joshua Tree' was a global hit and the powerful and meaningful songs helped U2 get recognised worldwide and made them stand out from all the other 80's groups that were around at the time. The album cover is in plain black and white and shows the band standing infront of some mountains, it sounds very boring but it looks really good. The first track on the album is 'Where The Streets Have No Name... Read review

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Advantages: Some great tracks!
Disadvantages: Some tracks you wonder how they got onto a best of

...What can be said about U2 that hasn't already been said in thousands of column inches in the musical press? From humble beginnings in the pubs and clubs of their native Dublin the band were to become iconic stars who can sell out stadiums in minutes! Most people if you ask them could name at least one U2 track such is their fame.More than likely it would be one of the tracks on the 1998 Best of U2 1980-1990 CD U2 weren't a band in the 80's I was particularly in to. I own a couple of their albums from this era namely War,The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum. But what appealed to me about this CD was the fact it charted the bands development from the humble beginnings of Boy released in 1980 to their near super stardom which allowed them to release on the back of the success of the Joshua Tree the rather higgledy piggledy album... Read review

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Advantages: Overall a fantastic album, atmospheric and anthem spawning
Disadvantages: A couple of duff tracks.

...While the first U2 albums housed some of the best rock and roll fervor available, "The Joshua Tree" went all out to cement the foundation for U2's place in history, and provided the band's springboard for social change. U2 draw from their cross-country American tours, and Bono's Central American experiences, to supply the album's blood flow. You can imagine the songs being dreamt up on a cramped tour bus as the band travel by night through the heart of the desert Southwest. And there is perhaps no song better suited to get the heart pumping than the album's kickoff "Where The Streets Have No Name." If you, like the band, find yourself driving sleepy-eyed across America, there is no better song to put in the tape deck. By the time "the city's a flood," you'll be awake enough to drive through to Cleveland's Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful
Disadvantages: none

...(excuse me for my english,i want to be better..) This is the U2's sixth alcum,and is the most beautiful album i've hever herad of this irish band. The date in wich was released is 1986,and with it u2 became famous in the usa,and became the most famous rock band in the world,in the 80's. The first song,"where the streets have no name"is a song of freedom,in wich Bono is tehe best,and he sing about the freedom of him and another person.The edge is great with his guitar. 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' has a spiritual effetc,and he had a gospel version in the album "rattle and hum"(1989) 'With Or Without You' is the most famous,a beautiful ballad,in wich bono is very clever. After there are many songs,and for exemple"mother of disappear"is very beautiful song..But all the songs are full of emotions... Read review

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Advantages: Desert Island Disc.
Disadvantages: The Bands Subsequent Decline.

...U2's sixth album is unquestionably their most accomplished. It was released in 1986 in the wake of an incendiary performance at Live Aid, the year before, that saw them catapulted into the realm of genuine contenders. Their previous albums had the melody and fire but lacked that swagger of invincibility that the Joshua Tree so espoused. 'Where The Streets Have No Name' is as good an opener as you're likely to get. Searing like dead heat its huge organ drenched beginning is gradually torn apart by the Edge's sprinkling guitar inflections. The vocals could have proved disappointing after such an epic awakening but the energy that fuels Bono's outpourings is exemplary. Up there with some of the best opening tracks of all time. The sweeping gestures of the grand opening are toned down a little as the subtle intricacies of 'I Still... Read review

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Advantages: I picked them, they're good!
Disadvantages: No place for it, should be a place for it

...In America, and it is that version that is my favourite of the two. Absolutely outstanding, a classic. Sunday Bloody Sunday From the album War and Live on Wide Awake In America Early? Yes. Raw? Yes. One of U2's greatest songs? Hell YEAH! Sorry about that, went a bit crazy for a second there. As Bono put it on Wide Awake In America "There's been a lot of talk about this next song, maybe, maybe too much talk. This song is NOT a rebel song, this song is Sunday Bloody Sunday" And it is. Plain and simply, it is U2's biggest anthem and one of their best songs. From the strong drumming to the huge but very raw vocals from Bono, this was the song that really launched U2. Tremendous stuff. With Or Without You From the album The Joshua Tree What a song. Probably one of the few songs that appeal to people who dislike U2 (Grrrrr... Read review

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Advantages: Old hits and superb new tracks
Disadvantages: A pointless snippet of Jimi Hendrix playing "The Star Spangled Banner"

...'t instantly recognise the song and only until the second riff kicks in do they go wild. Very odd these Americans. (4/5) ANGEL OF HARLEM --------------------------- One of the new tracks lifted from the album as a single. It's all about Billie Holiday ("Lady Day got diamond eyes" etc). Odd for a rock act like U2, it has a late 60's northern soul rhythm to it. Characteristically, Bono's in his element but you can hardly hear Edge over the soul horns that permeate this fine, if overexposed, track. (3/5) LOVE RESCUE ME -------------------------- A country ballad. That's how best to describe this tune. Bono sounds distant and echoey and Edge's slide guitar weaves in and out of a forlorn tale of longing. Fans hoping for the tree-hugging of The Joshua Tree or offbeat anti-apartheid of The Unforgettable Fire will be disappointed. (3... Read review

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