The Unforgettable Fire by U2

Pros: The shift from blatant post-punk rock to more ambient textures is documented here with some worthwhile experiments.
Cons: It kind of falls apart near the end. "Elvis Presley and America" may be the worst thing U2 has ever recorded.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there was a U2 before The Joshua Tree. OK, I'm sure you knew that. And I'm sure you probably knew that they were already good before they busted out what many consider to be ...

Pros: Strong start and middle with kudos to Pride (In The Name of Love) and Bad.
Cons: Elvis Presley in America (among a few other songs)...

In the mid 1980’s, U2 was at the top of their game. Or so we thought. Three impressive albums (Boy, October, War) within four years put them atop the list of best artists of the decade. Nobody could have foreseen the success that U2 was about to ...

Pros: Some shining masterpieces, the first album of my U2
Cons: 2 really weak songs on side B spoil the second half for me

There are moments in life when you feel something’s about to change. You feel it coming... especi ...

Pros: The title track and Bad deserve far better company than they're stuck with here.
Cons: Pride sucks the buffalo jerky, as do some of the others. Always has, always will.

Let me just say this, and anybody who’s familiar with my reviews knows it’s true: I don’t stop and hold the door open just because an artist is a legend. Part of the price artists should pay for getting to live the life we all wanna lead is that of ...

Pros: Beautiful texture plus extremely hard work from the instrumentalists equals much more than a transition.
Cons: A few throwaways on here, and it's certainly no "Prelude to The Joshua Tree".

OK, OK, I know, five stars? And why would I, an avowed synth-o-phile and guitar-o-phobe, review a U2 album in the first place? Have I lost it? Verdict's still out on that one, but stick with me, my story gets better. Read other fine reviews on ...

Pros: Bono's best vocal performance, the Edge's growth as a guitar player
Cons: Elvis Presley and America is AWFUL

As band's grow and mature, they usually reach some sort of turning point. The infamous "point of no return," at which point they make a conscious decision to change the music they are making, be it to make it more "socially conscious" or to make it...

Pros: "Bad", "Wire", "Pride"
Cons: lyrics, not lengthy enough

For Christmas I recieved "The Unforgettable Fire". I had all but one of U2's post "Joshua Tree" albums at the time, and none of the albums previous to that famous grammy-winning masterpiece. On "The Unforgettable Fire", U2 still shows some of their New...

Pros: Some of the best songs in U2's catalog
Cons: Some of the worst ones, too

After 1983's War, U2 had established itself as a hard-rocking band that loved grand, sweeping soundscapes that caused one's spirits to soar. The band also made some biting political statements backed by music that was absolutely gripping.
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Pros: Music with a mystical atmosphere; a band that sounds like it's working well together
Cons: bad lyrics

The Irish band U2 started off as a band in which three of its members professed conversion to Christianity. They were never exactly an evangelical type of band though and Bono, the lead singer, was usually promoting liberal causes when he wasn't...

Pros: The origins of "The Joshua Tree" and some brilliant music and an excellent whole
Cons: Some slighter tracks

Which is the best U2 cd? This question is impossible to answer, maybe "The Joshua Tree", maybe "Achtung Baby". U2 have been one of the most successful bands of the 80's and 90's, with almost every single release of the greatest...

Pros: Beautiful album from U2, Lanois, and Eno
Cons: none

After the success of "War" and the live "Under A Blood Red Sky" record, U2 were now becoming one of the big new bands in the 1980s. For their next album "The Unforgettable Fire", the band recruited Daniel Lanois (who's done...

Pros: moving, timeless
Cons: misunderstood by media

First of all, I'd like to admit something. I am a goth/industrial girl who adores U2. *gasp* While it's rare you'll hear an admission such as that (although slightly higher of an instance than a goth listening to Britney Spears other than as a joke at a...

Pros: Atmospheric, Moody, A Good 'Vibe' Record
Cons: None

Sometimes a great album is defined by superior songs and songwriting; sometimes, the performance is the thing, and the album grooves on a phenomenal rhythm section or drives home on soaring guitars. And in other cases the album is defined by a...

Pros: Excellent craftsmanship and songwriting
Cons: Not enough tracks

The Unforgettable Fire is the first album that saw the boys from Dublin break with Steve Lillywhite's raw rock and roll production to a more ethereal sound with Brian Eno. Eno is famous for his pioneering work with "soundscapes", and layering...

Pros: Melodic tunes, excellent production values
Cons: May be too preachy and repetitive for some

When looking at the U2 catalog, one is tempted to bypass "The Unforgettable Fire". Sure, it contained the all-time classic "Pride (In the name of Love), but otherwise, it's considered a stepping stone between the breakthrough popularity...