The rest of the album has some definite highlights as well. There's the moving rocker “In God's Country”, which is catchy and a bit more stripped down than some of the anthems, but still sounds huge. “Trip Through Your Wires” has hints of blues, country, and rock and roll roots in its swagger and its harmonica bursts, with lyrics to increase that feel. “One Tree Hill” hints at some of the more dance type songs that U2 would really explore during the 90s, but also has sweet flowing lyric and a great catchy feel and chorus. “Exit” starts with a haunting almost gospel-esque feel, but slowly morphs, building from complete subtlety to a massive sound with pulsing drums and gritty guitar layers, with an almost proto punk rough edge, that grind and surge back and forth and echo a mystic feel that really seems unlike U2 if you're used to listening to purely the hits. Another one of my highlights, and then the closer, “Mothers of the Disappeared” again has elements of the more experimental U2, but pulls back into a soft counterpoint to “Exit”. The two songs compliment each other well and kind of echo elements back and forth, the latter sounding a bit like a subtle “clouds parting” type of climax to the first, building into massive layers of sound by the end before trailing off to close the album.
Although this album will surely remain one of rock's legendary albums for producing some of U2's major hits, I actually think it works better as a complete work and is just a great album to listen to. There are a variety of styles, but they all sound firmly like U2, never sounding out of place or out of character, even in their more artistic moments. It's actually a pretty dark album, with a feeling of sorrow flowing throughout and a sense of weight. These are heavy ideas but they work and the band sounds determined, thought provoking and epic from start to finish, never completely melodramatic. With all U2 albums there are some great lyrical lines that have great imagery and often political or social weight and this a good example of the band's skill at song and lyric writing. At the same time though, it is an extremely personal album and it's very easy to see one's own soul in these songs, even when they're at their most epic and I'm sure thats part of why I think it's so great.
Article comments
1 - jerry
Great article! Nice breakdown of the whole album. I have seen them once and its still one my best concerts ever. Every time I hear "Where The Streets Have No Name" its like you a starting a new journey each time.
2 - Allegra
Thank you so much for writing this wonderful article. Most people these days are writing about how they hate U2 and Bono when they don't have a clue what they're talking about or they're just jealous. Not only does The Joshua Tree stands on it's own, the songs do as well, espeically live. Hearing those songs live at a U2 show totally takes it to a new level, and one cannot understand the power of them unless they are there in person. I have been a fan of U2 since the mid 80's, but I didn't become a huge fan until I saw them live for the very first time during the Elevation tour in November of 2001. I've heard Streets for years and years, and I've always have loved The Joshua Tree album, but after hearing those songs live, my eyes well up everytime I hear it. Why now and not back when I first heard the song in the 80's? It's not just Streets, it's all of U2's songs. Everytime I hear any U2 song randomly played on the radio now, I start getting choked up. U2 has a special power, but I think in order to get the whole package, you need to see them in person as well.
3 - JC Mosquito
Yeah, everyone luvs J Tree. I was more moved by their previous album, War. I like some of their newer stuff too. J Tree and Unforgettable Fire both seem so overproduced after the first three albums stripped down rock and roll to their essentials.
I think the previous comment aboout how you have to hear these songs live is probably accurate - the arrangements would have to have to be at a minimum for a four piece band to pull them off without backing musicians.
4 - CYNTHIA
Nice review of a fantastic album. "Streets" is my favorite song also - in person, at a stadium of thousands of people, it's like soaring on wings. I always think Bono is spot on when he says their music is "ecstatic" music, that they want to achieve "liftoff." I have always felt that "Streets" is the definitive of ecstatic and liftoff, IMHO. ESPECIALLY live. There is nothing like it. They are the best band in the world - ever.