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The Joshua Tree
U2
Retail Price (not our price): $13.98
Release Date: 1990-06-15
Manufacturer: Island
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1

Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...

Disc 1

Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com essential recording
Having nearly exhausted their capacity for pop-song politics on War and The Unforgettable Fire, U2 turned toward themes of personal identity and complex relationships on The Joshua Tree. Not that the group was willing to come down off the barricades entirely: "Mothers of the Disappeared" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" turned a jaundiced eye toward Central America and the United States' role there. But the predominant mood here is one of self-discovery and the hunger for something more on tracks like the pulsating "Where the Streets Have No Name" and the gospel-ish "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." The album's masterstroke, however, is "With or Without You," a nasty love song dressed up as an ode of devotion and care. It ranks with the Police's "Every Breath You Take" as the most misread smash hit of the '80s. --Daniel Durchholz

2) Amazon.com
U2's most successful album (their first No. 1 album and the 1987 Grammy award-winner for Album of the Year) is also their most dour. From the stark, black and white cover photography, with U2 looking like missionaries (or at least M*A*S*H extras), to the existential angst at the heart of each track, The Joshua Tree is one long, atmospheric wail at the abyss. Producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois turn in an austere production that heightens the drama substantially. --Rob O'Connor

3) Album Details
Same as USA Version.

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1) I still haven't found what I'm looking for   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I'm not really much of a U2 fan. I do enjoy some of their music, all of the music I like by the band comes from the 1980s. THE JOSHUA TREE is my favorite U2 cd from that era. The band may be Christians and express their beliefs through their music on this album but what I like is that the songs on this album is more spiritual than religious. The themes on every song can be easily relatable to anyone of any faith (or no faith), like on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where the Streets Have No Name". After all these years I still cannot get tired of listening to some of U2's biggest hits like the aforementioned tracks, and "With or Without You". My personal favorite song on the entire album is the gorgeous lush ballad "Running to Stand Still". The song still sends chill down my spine. "With or Without You" is a another great ballad that I still love after all these years. It is never cliched or condescending. Bono's lyrics on the album are like poetry in my opinion. The rest of the band compliments Bono's lyrics and functions very well as one cohesive unit. Bono may be horrified or embarassed of this era but frankly he has nothing to be ashamed of, it is current work that he should be embarassed for. THE JOSHUA TREE remains an eternal classic unlike the band's last studio album.

2) Best ever   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I've been listening to it for twenty years now. This is the best album of any genre ever recorded. The only other one to come close is "Kind of Blue".

3) Beautiful simplicity   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
The music is simple and melodic yet original. The band's output in recent years has been disappointing. When you compare everything they've done post-2000, it just doesn't come close to Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, and a few of their other earlier albums.

4) Coming to America!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
U2 is one of the most successful rock bands of all-time, and prior to 1987, built a strong foundation of deep, prophetic rock that touches the listener's soul. U2 has always been praised with their deep concern with the state of humanity and the planet we live on including efforts towards Amnesty International and the Live Aid and Live 8 concerts. The effort that ensued in the Joshua Tree is one of the most intelligently crafted, deep, meaningful and creative pieces of music ever created. U2 created this album as a tribute to the United States, and the freedom and beautiful land that it provides. The album never relinquishes its beauty, and sends chill through the air when the opening riff of "Where the Streets have no Name" echoes through the air. A magical achievement in music that few have equalled.

5) Sorry, I DON'T GET IT, either!   [Rating: 3 out of 5]
I give it a three, because I like the way "With or Without You" builds, which reminds me a teeny bit of "The Unforgettable Fire," but misses that mark--that song is like a symphony, this is just a single movement. I listened from the beginning--Gloria, I Will Follow (off Boy and October, which were kind of uneven albums, IMHO), but I liked War (New Year's Day is really good), and I loved The Unforgettable Fire, mostly for that track, but the rest is good listening as well. This album was just SO hyped, and like many have said, "Where The Streets.." and "And I Still..." are just too over-the-top, and they sound alike. (I love what the Pet Shop Boys did to "Where The Streets...," to which Bono cunningly(?) borrows a PSB song to ask them, "What Have We Done To Deserve This?" :-) Too big for your britches, and it gets worse, I fear. I think I'll like them again with Achtung Baby and POP!