cobl04
45:33
G’day everyone! I went out and bought The Joshua Tree yesterday. It takes my collection to four studio albums, one best of and a DVD. The first thing that hit me about this album was that it wasn’t that good I thought it would be. But then I remembered I was reviewing it as if Streets, ISHFWILF and WOWY did not exist. Now I wished that instead of getting the 80/90 best of a few months ago I got TJT instead because I’m used to those three tracks now. I believe this album would sound so much better if Streets, ISHFWILF and WOWY were not the openers. Leave Streets there, but move the other two. Because I keep forgetting that they’re a part of the album. But on to the review now.
Where The Streets Have No Name – 5/5
I heard this first on the 80/90 best of and first thought, what’s fuss about this? But then I listened to it a second time and it was amazing. It’s been my second favourite song since.
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – 4/5
I heard this first on the 80/90 best of as well, and have always liked it, especially the chorus. I love the title line. I think this song is underrated.
With or Without You – 4/5
Also heard this first on the 80/90 best of and I always thought it was a bit lacking in lyrics, because most of it (apart from the start) is just the title line. But it’s got a lot of emotion, and I really enjoy it.
Bullet the Blue Sky – 3/5
Hated it at first listen, liked it better second listen. It’s a pretty good song actually, right up until the “A man’s face is red” verse. That wrecks it. It was alright live, too.
Running To Stand Still – 4/5
I’ve always liked track 5 of every album I’ve bought – COBL, Kite, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Wild Horses. This one takes a while to get exciting, but I really enjoy listening to it. The verses are really good, and I like the finish, too.
Red Hill Mining Town – 3.5/5
It’s a bit like So Cruel – for the fact that it takes ages to get to the end. There is a lot of lyrics. It’s also one of the few songs where I enjoy the verses more than the chorus. Still sounds really good, though.
In God’s Country – 3.5/5
The first guitar piece is pretty good, and I really like the verses. The lyrics are well written. The song at 2:57 is far too short in my opinion.
Trip Through Your Wires – 3/5
This one was tough to get my head round. It doesn’t really match the rest of the album. I’d have to say it’s one of the worse songs on the album. It’s a bit too Poppy in my opinion. But it’s okay to listen to.
One Tree Hill – 3.5/5
I know Axver likes this song, but I can’t say I liked it straight away. The chorus is really good, and it’s enjoyable to listen to with its soothing back beats but it didn’t really catch my attention.
Exit – 3.5/5
This song’s a weird one. It would sound a lot better if first 30 seconds or so was on One Tree Hill not this. It’s not the right mood. The actual song in itself is really good, I love how it gets heavier and heavier as the verses are sung, but there’s too much instrumental.
Mothers of The Disappeared – 3/5
Like Exit, there’s too much instrumental. It would have been a lot better if it was shorter. The gaps between the verses are too long. I love the ‘we can hear their heartbeat’ lines throughout the sing. The lyrics very interesting.
All in all, after three listens, I’d give this album a 4/5. As I mentioned above, it would sound so much better if Streets, ISHFWILF and WOWY had been mixed around or if I had of just gotten TJT instead of the 80/90 best of all those months ago.
It’s weird, for the arguments I made against Achtung Baby, so far I prefer AB to TJT. I need to give it time, I know. I never thought Achtung Baby would come close to being a favourite album of mine, but now I’ve bought the other U2 ‘classic’ I have something to compare it. I like it more than I realize.
Three questions – what are the favoured songs in the opinion of this forum (apart from the first three)? Am I the only one who doesn’t really like Bullet The Blue Sky or Trip Through Your Wires? Do people agree with my reviews of Exit and Mothers of The Disappeared?
Edit – I don’t think this review will cause as much of a stir as my last one did.
Is everyone else's copy of this album a bit dodgy? My back cover is just white, with a picture of a grey tree in the background, and the songs. The CD has all the names on it too and it looks poorly produced. Is there a part of One Tree Hill on Exit for everyone else as well?
I paid $26 for it. I'm gonna be pissed off if I have a bodged version.
Where The Streets Have No Name – 5/5
I heard this first on the 80/90 best of and first thought, what’s fuss about this? But then I listened to it a second time and it was amazing. It’s been my second favourite song since.
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – 4/5
I heard this first on the 80/90 best of as well, and have always liked it, especially the chorus. I love the title line. I think this song is underrated.
With or Without You – 4/5
Also heard this first on the 80/90 best of and I always thought it was a bit lacking in lyrics, because most of it (apart from the start) is just the title line. But it’s got a lot of emotion, and I really enjoy it.
Bullet the Blue Sky – 3/5
Hated it at first listen, liked it better second listen. It’s a pretty good song actually, right up until the “A man’s face is red” verse. That wrecks it. It was alright live, too.
Running To Stand Still – 4/5
I’ve always liked track 5 of every album I’ve bought – COBL, Kite, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Wild Horses. This one takes a while to get exciting, but I really enjoy listening to it. The verses are really good, and I like the finish, too.
Red Hill Mining Town – 3.5/5
It’s a bit like So Cruel – for the fact that it takes ages to get to the end. There is a lot of lyrics. It’s also one of the few songs where I enjoy the verses more than the chorus. Still sounds really good, though.
In God’s Country – 3.5/5
The first guitar piece is pretty good, and I really like the verses. The lyrics are well written. The song at 2:57 is far too short in my opinion.
Trip Through Your Wires – 3/5
This one was tough to get my head round. It doesn’t really match the rest of the album. I’d have to say it’s one of the worse songs on the album. It’s a bit too Poppy in my opinion. But it’s okay to listen to.
One Tree Hill – 3.5/5
I know Axver likes this song, but I can’t say I liked it straight away. The chorus is really good, and it’s enjoyable to listen to with its soothing back beats but it didn’t really catch my attention.
Exit – 3.5/5
This song’s a weird one. It would sound a lot better if first 30 seconds or so was on One Tree Hill not this. It’s not the right mood. The actual song in itself is really good, I love how it gets heavier and heavier as the verses are sung, but there’s too much instrumental.
Mothers of The Disappeared – 3/5
Like Exit, there’s too much instrumental. It would have been a lot better if it was shorter. The gaps between the verses are too long. I love the ‘we can hear their heartbeat’ lines throughout the sing. The lyrics very interesting.
All in all, after three listens, I’d give this album a 4/5. As I mentioned above, it would sound so much better if Streets, ISHFWILF and WOWY had been mixed around or if I had of just gotten TJT instead of the 80/90 best of all those months ago.
It’s weird, for the arguments I made against Achtung Baby, so far I prefer AB to TJT. I need to give it time, I know. I never thought Achtung Baby would come close to being a favourite album of mine, but now I’ve bought the other U2 ‘classic’ I have something to compare it. I like it more than I realize.
Three questions – what are the favoured songs in the opinion of this forum (apart from the first three)? Am I the only one who doesn’t really like Bullet The Blue Sky or Trip Through Your Wires? Do people agree with my reviews of Exit and Mothers of The Disappeared?
Edit – I don’t think this review will cause as much of a stir as my last one did.
Is everyone else's copy of this album a bit dodgy? My back cover is just white, with a picture of a grey tree in the background, and the songs. The CD has all the names on it too and it looks poorly produced. Is there a part of One Tree Hill on Exit for everyone else as well?
I paid $26 for it. I'm gonna be pissed off if I have a bodged version.
Why did I not think of that? That's so obvious. Thanks, typhoon.
