Passionate, angry, political and lyrical

Passionate, angry, political and lyrical, this is U2 at their youthful best. Before they became overly wrapped up in their image as "pop" stars, U2 was a great, great rock band that truly believed it could change the world through music. The early, hungry U2 remains my favorite, and "War" is that band at its absolute peak. With heart-rending love songs like "New Year's Day," "Two Hearts Beat as One" and the haunting "Drowning Man," along with the politically charged and equally passionate "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "War" remains arguably the best album U2 has ever produced.

Back When They Had Something Uniquely Irish

I just have to speak out--for myself, I guess. I agree with what's been written here. This is the best, most important album of the 80s. It could be the best rock album ever made.



What really has to be asked is, why? Why did they give it up--a sound that they were pioneering (not alone, of course; there were others, but they were the best). Why give up a uniquely Irish perspective on life and on world-shared issues? Why give up a sound world that was Irish?



It's funny. Van Morrison makes a career from American music, and succeeds. Elton John had early success in it. U2 turned away from their own roots to America, and hasn't made anything as compelling since WAR!!! I just don't get it.



There are artists who lift up their own time and place for all to share--the local becomes the universal; with U2 this was so, 'til they went for the universal and lost much of their core (what made them the best there was). Now they're just good. The Amazon review at the top states that this album was the last before they broadened their sonic palette; I defy anyone to be as startled by an album's sound (by U2 or any band) as this one. The first sound is a violin, heralding in an Irish way the otherworldly bombast to come--U2 never topped it.



To anyone who says U2 had to move on to grow, I have two words: Neil Young. There, I said my peace.

Emotional Energy Similar to Chameleons UK and Wired Remorse

An amazing record and a masterpiece production from Steve Lillywhite. The energy and emotional urgency resembles bands such as Chameleons UK and Wired Remorse. The vocals are always straight from the heart and the echoing feedback guitars, courtesy of the Edge, are often intense while still remaining atmospheric. "Like A Song" is the true gem here but there are so many other moments. This is one of my top albums of all-time! If you don't already have it, get it!

U2 already had the sound, with "War" they find their voice

Obviously "The Joshua Tree" was U2's breakthrough album, but in retrospect I would make a case for "War" being their most pivotal work. In a word, this is the point where the lyrics catch up with the music. You can listen to "Boy" and "October" and find the sound, which in the beginning was focused on the Edge's jagged guitar riffs ("I Will Follow" is the best song from those two albums), but the lyrics are pretty much just something for Bono to do while the band plays on.



However, when we get to "War," things have clearly changed. If the title and the cover shot (a young boy, his lower lip bloodied, his hands locked behind his head a standard pose of submission), then the lyrics of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" quickly settle the matter. Along with "New Year's Day" and "'40'" they place "The Troubles" at the heart of the album's gestalt. The political position they are taking vis-a-vis the sectarian strife in Northern Island is rather nebulous, but there is a potency to the music and the lyrics hitherto unfelt in U2's songs (forever captured in the music video of the group performing the song at Red Rocks). But then there is nothing wrong with offering awareness and concern rather than solutions. This is a problem that has been boiling over for centuries.



When an artist or group makes it big, there is a tendency among their true fans (defined as those who were in on the action before the bandwagon loaded up after the big breakthrough album), to look back at one of their "early" albums with great nostaglic affection. For U2 that album would obviously have to be "War," even with the presence of "Two Hearts Beat as One," a song that is basically just there to dance to.

U2 had the sound, but with "War" they find their voice

Obviously "The Joshua Tree" was U2's breakthrough album, but in retrospect I would make a case for "War" being their most pivotal work. In a word, this is the point where the lyrics catch up with the hard-rock music. You can listen to "Boy" and "October" and find the sound, which in the beginning was focused on the Edge's jagged guitar riffs ("I Will Follow" is the best song from those two albums), but the lyrics are pretty much just something for Bono to do while the band rocks on and his intial attempts at communicating any sort of message seemed youthful indulgence at best.



However, when we get to "War," things have clearly changed. If the title and the cover shot (a young boy, his lower lip bloodied, his hands locked behind his head a standard pose of submission), then the lyrics of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" quickly settle the matter. There is still anger and dispair, but now there is an undeniable sense of passion as well. Along with "Seconds," "New Year's Day," and "'40'" they place "the Troubles" at the heart of the album's gestalt. The political position they are taking vis-a-vis the sectarian strife in Northern Island is rather nebulous, but there is a potency to the music and the lyrics hitherto unfelt in U2's songs (forever captured in the memorable music video of the group performing the song at Red Rocks). But then there is nothing wrong with offering awareness and concern rather than solutions. This is a problem that has been boiling over for centuries.



The love song "Two Hearts Beat as One" might seem out of place amidst the righteous anger of these other tracks, especially with the mix of disco rhythms and funky guitar, but then love is but another battlefield where desperation reigns. Even in that regard U2 can clearly be seen as moving on to the next level in their ascent. When an artist or group makes it big, there is a tendency among their true fans (defined as those who were in on the action before the bandwagon loaded up), to look back at one of their "early" albums with great nostaglic affection. For U2 that album would have to be "War."