Reissues of U2’s “Boy”, “October”, and “War” coming this July
Would it be considered blasphemous if I told you that my favorite U2 albums are not The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby (though I certainly do like those albums quite a bit)?
Rather, I’ve always found myself hearkening back to the band’s early days—and I mean their very early days. Therefore, I’m very happy to learn that U2’s first three albums—Boy (1980), October (1981), and War (1983)—will be re-mastered and re-released this July in both standard and deluxe editions.
I’ve always felt that U2 could’ve called it quits after Boy and they would still be considered one of the greatest bands of all time. And one of my favorite U2-related memories is of listening to October while driving with my parents across Nebraska in the middle of the night, the album’s more atmospheric songs drifting over my headphones. And as for War, I just need to mention two songs: “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day”. ‘Nuff said.
Now all that’s needed is for The Unforgettable Fire—that sadly underappreciated gem of an album—to receive the same kind of lovin’.
Comments
The Visitor
April 15, 2008 8:16pmi completely agree with you. everything before The Joshua Tree was a masterpiece, especially The Unforgettable Fire. i love The Joshua Tree too (i have the limited edition box set), but after that album, fame seems to have done something to them they no longer had that “anger”, which was what made the band special in the first place.
i’d even venture to say that The Joshua Tree was the last true great rock album. rock had nothing left after that. (except The Cure)
neil
April 16, 2008 10:14amyep. totally agree. I really enjoy their last couple records, as well, but the first 4… VERY SPECIAL. I have to listen to October every October 1st. It’s just what I have to do. Who are these kids that claim Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby (?!) as favorites? Kids these days… (Okay, sorry, just had a little “I’m older and better moment;” I know these are just opinions...) Anyway, sheesh. Rock on young Bono!
Chris
April 16, 2008 1:50pmThe first three albums ARE U2. Everything afterwards just ranges from OK to awful. Personally, October is my favourite U2 album, filled with classic tracks. Boy has some great moments, but should have included 11 O’clock Tick Tock, whilst some of the songs on side two (yes old enough to have first bought it on vinyl!!), are a bit average. War is good but the albums suffer from shabby production from the over-rated Steve Lillywhite. The two already mentioned songs might be the most celebrated but Like a Song, Drowning Man, Red Light and Surrender steal the album for me. And The Refugee is terrible. The slide began with The Unforgettable Fire, which was patchy to say the least. The Joshua tree IS the most over-rated album in the history of music. Rattle and Hum was bland over-indulgent rubbish. After that I lost interest. The odd track reminds me of what they were capable of, but like The Cure, they haven’t made a decent album since I was a at school. I’ll always have those first three albums though and will lap these remasters up with glee.
Nicholas Loup
April 17, 2008 8:21pmAgain, I think Unforgettable Fire is the best. I actually have that one on vinyl and CD, so it would have to have a heck of a lot of good stuff added on for me to buy it once more, but then again, if even one extra song is any where near the caliber of the ten on UF, I think Bono and Co. will be getting a little bit richer off me, though if these are anything like the Echo and the Bunnymen re-releases, they will all be worth re-buying. U2 run on.