Joshua Tree: C/D?

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What do people think of this album? Don't write about how much you hate Bono or about Tomb Raider or whatever...just like to read opining on Da Tree.

― John S., Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The first half of that album is extremely classic. The second half of the album is a turgid, uninvolving mess.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tomb Raider?

― Daver, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic, although I'll always prefer WAR.

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There was a remix of "Elevation" on the Tomb Raider soundtrack. Funny how that song was the best single off of the latest album, yet the least successful.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dan = OTM. The most one-sided album I can think of, "Trip Through Your Wires" is the worst song they ever recorded.

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

To those who dis the B-side of Joshua Tree, just remember that Eno produced it. Remember Bowie's 'Berlin Trilogy' how the A-sides were all semi-accessible singles and the B-sides were arcane ambient mood music. Joshua Tree is the same way. Straightforward Anthems of the A-side; moody, experimental stuff on the B-side. (Kind of reminds me of a prog-rock Midnight Oil, on qualuudes, especially "Red Hill Mining Town" and "One Tree Hill")
Wow, I didn't anticipate anyone would complain about "Trip Through Your Wires"; People usually get worked up about "Bullet the Blue Sky."

― Lord Custos III, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Trip Through Your Wires" is the worst song they ever recorded.
Naw. "Lady With the Spinning Head" is the absolute pits. It even worse than the worst track off of Pop.

― Lord Custos III, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The album that by Scott Stapp's own admission inspired Creed into existence. It therefore has a lot to answer for. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's probably the album I've listened to more than any other album...ever. Between 1987 and 1991, especially. The only I don't really care for (and never have, really) is "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

― paul, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Stapp is fulla crapp. His handlers made him listen to the a-side of Pearl Jam's Ten and said "We want something like that...but not so...rambunctious."

― Lord Custos III, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Bullet The Blue Sky" is one of their best and most popular songs, though! Honestly, when everyone I knew was deep into U2-mania, everyone adored the entirety of the first side. (At any rate, "Bullet The Blue Sky" has more experimental avant-garde leanings than ANYTHING on the second side.)

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think both "In God's Country" and "Red Hill Mining Town" both have a lot to recommend them.

― Clarke B., Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Here, Here! You tell 'em Clarke B.

― Lord Custos III, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I really have to disagree, Clarke; in fact, "Red Hill Mining Town" was the first U2 song I heard that I actively loathed. (I don't remember "In God's Country" at all beyond disliking it the first time I heard it and never playing it again.)

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was really disappointed when I finally got around to hearing the Joshua Tree version of "Bullet the Blue Sky" - the live one is much, much better to me. "Red Hill Mining Town" is so bombastic it's almost like U2 doing a parody of themselves - but the descending part of the chorus is good stuff, and I can't separate my thinking now on it from my early teen luv for it. I'll try to pull it out and report back. (Please don't take my last sentence out of its context here.)

― Clarke B., Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Am I bugging you? I don't mean to BUG ya.

― Bono, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(Please don't take my last sentence out of its context here.)

Oh, you're no fun.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

...All you rock'n'roll doggies...

― Lord Custos IV ("Zoso"), Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll try to pull it out and report back. (Please don't take my last sentence out of its context here.)
Are you suuuure you don't want to me put on the soundtrack to the Full Monty?

― Lord Custos IV ('Zoso'), Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Kinda gave up on it awhile back and haven't listened to it in years. Still, I like "One Tree Hill", "Exit", and "Mothers Of The Disappeared" a lot.

― Chris Barrus, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Strange how "Red Hill Mining Town" was one of my absolute favourite song when I was 10 years old. I havent heard it in ages, like the rest of the record. It's classic, without a doubt, although the fact that I now despise U2 and have despised them for a decade now kinda prevents me from really saying anything nicer about the record or the band. That's a strange phenomenon. The Rolling Stones, for instance, released far many more bad records than U2, and made real fucking bad moves etc., but this does not change my undying love for them. On the other hand, my dislike of U2 now has a strange retroactive effect. Does this happen to you sometimes?

― Simon, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dud.

― sundar subramanian, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic because of "Red Hill Mining Town" -- Seems everyone here either loves it or hates it. It's my favorite U2 song, along with "The Unforgettable Fire."

― Tim DiGravina, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd actually forgotten which was "Red Hill Mining Town" -- had to look it up -- count me with those who like it. I think this is a classic album. I'd probably enjoy it on a long drive sometime. But the chances of me putting it on any another time are slim.

― Mark, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think the second half of the album is stunning. 'One Tree Hill' being my favorite. Something about the rising tension in the last stanza and how it echos/resolves in that "oh great ocean" bit. To be honest, it always reminds me of the classic short story graph with conflict, climax, etc. The structure sits well with the writer in me.

― bnw, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three months pass...

I discovered "Joshua Tree" in my early teens. It is the most memorable albumn I have ever heard. Dont like the second half? Thats my favorite. Especially In Gods Country, and Red Hill Mining Towne

― Nate M. Lowrie, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 01:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Weird. I've always loved Red Hill Mining Town. Makes me think of an old love-well duh. Anyway that was my New York period and who would have known 10 years on I would be living amongst Joshua Trees-shit my street is Joshua Hills Drive. Gotta go play that record.

Chris

― Chris Krohn, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 03:26 (twenty-three years ago)

U2 "play the blues" with thumpingly stupid melodies and hilariously bad song titles. "With Or Without You" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" have nice sounds, but the rest is a warmed over Unforgettable Fire outtakes...

― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 13:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Organic. Layered. Strained. Quiet. Windy. Dusty. Gone. Heroic. Light. Dark. Classic.

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 20:04 (twenty-three years ago)

There are more songs on the album than just "With Or Without You", Pinefox.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 20:16 (twenty-three years ago)

didn't kirsty mckoll tracklizt it ,her favourites first ?

― a-33, Wednesday, 16 October 2002 13:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I think JT is brill, but i'm suprised nobody's mentioned The Complete Joshua Tree that incorperates all the B-sides into a CD-length release. Like so:

SIDE A:
1. WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME, from JT album
2. SILVER AND GOLD, from Where The Streets Have No Name single
3. I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, from JT album
4. SPANISH EYES, from I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
5. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, from JT album
6. LUMINOUS TIMES (HOLD ON TO LOVE), With Or Without You single
7. WALK TO THE WATER, With Or Without You single
8. BULLET THE BLUE SKY, from JT album
9. RUNNING TO STAND STILL, from JT album

SIDE B:
1. RED HILL MINING TOWN, from JT album
2. IN GOD'S COUNTRY, from JT album
3. TRIP THROUGH YOUR WIRES, from JT album
4. THE SWEETEST THING, Where The Streets Have No Name single
5. ONE TREE HILL, from JT album
6. DEEP IN THE HEART, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking
7. EXIT, from JT album
8. RACE AGAINST TIME, Where The Streets Have No Name single
9. MOTHERS OF THE DISAPPEARED, from JT album.

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 14:31 (twenty-three years ago)

eleven years pass...

this album is so volatile. it sounds different depending on the space i hear it in. paradoxically, it sounds great in my parents' high-ceiling living room. I would have thought overproduced stuff with artificial reverb would be totally destroyed in that environment but, in fact, mid-late 80s stuff sounds quite clear and sharp.

― brimstead, Saturday, 12 July 2014 00:19 (eleven years ago)

I've actually thought the album sounded pretty no-muss, as far as '80s production goes. Drums are crisp, guitars draped in a lot of delay and stuff but not totally artificial. In fact, a lot of the album sounds pretty live.

― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 12 July 2014 03:10 (eleven years ago)

Agreed. My first reaction on the first listen was how direct Eno and Lanois made it sound compared with their vagueness on Unforgettable Fire. Most of side 2 sounds live.

― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, 12 July 2014 03:37 (eleven years ago)

Side two sounds live? The 80s were that bad??!?

― brimstead, Saturday, 12 July 2014 03:42 (eleven years ago)

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