release date: Oct. 20, 1981
format: vinyl (ILPS 9680) / 2 cd (2008 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland
Track highlights: A) 1. "Gloria" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "I Fall Down" - 3. "I Threw a Brick Through a Window" - 4. "Rejoice" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Fire" - - B) 1. "Tomorrow" - 3. "With a Shout (Jerusalem)" - 6. "Is That All?"
2nd studio album by U2 following one year after the fine debut is the difficult sophomore album. With this the band undoubtedly showed new sides to their talents, but the album was generally met as a disappointment from almost everyone who fell for the energetic catchy songs on the debut. The tracks are generally slower, although the album contains two of their most beloved songs: the Van Morrison composed "Gloria", and "Rejoice", which alongside "I Will Follow" from the debut was the band's signature tracks before The Unforgettable Fire. I used to really like this album, but I also found it lacking in coherency. Having said that, the album is still a solid and unique release on its own terms.
The 2008 2-disc remaster comes with the addition of 17 tracks, which mostly count live versions and radio sessions with three outtakes, and generally makes it a fine album with extra material unlike the Deluxe Edition of War.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]
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| 2008 remaster |
