2017 sees the 30th anniversary of one of U2’s
classic albums – The Joshua Tree. It was
the culmination of all the band had been working towards in the 80s. It has soaring choruses, widescreen
soundscapes, and at least three classic songs.
In celebration of the anniversary U2 have announced a stadium tour of
the US and Europe for 2017.
For a band that has always looked forward, this trip back 30
years seems a little odd. Sure, to
promote the tour, they’re saying things like:
“It seems like we have come full circle from when The Joshua Tree songs were originally written, with global upheaval, extreme right wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk,” reflects The Edge. “To celebrate the album - as these songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too - we decided to do these shows, it feels right for now. We’re looking forward to it.”
“Recently I listened back to The Joshua Tree for the first time in nearly 30 years,” adds Bono. “It’s quite an opera. A lot of emotions which feel strangely current, love, loss, broken dreams, seeking oblivion, polarisation… all the greats...”
But it still feels strange that a band where wanting to feel
“relevant” (whatever that means) is part of its DNA is doing a retro tour.
Having said that, in light of these comments, I thought I’d listen to the album
and see if those themes do resonate in 2017 as much as they did in 1987.
The main thing that hits you on re-listening to the album is
that it is a really great collection of songs.
There’s really not a dud song on the album. It starts off with the three above mentioned
classic songs (Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m
Looking For, With or Without You) but the quality doesn’t drop even for a
second. In fact, the album is quite
varied. There are rock songs (Bullet the
Blue Sky), bluesy numbers (Trip Through your Wires), epic songs (One Tree
Hill), moody jams (Exit) and probably the best U2 single that never was (Red
Hill Mining Town). It’s really
great. I think it would make for a great
concert!
By the time you get to the end of the album it does feel
that Bono’s words aren’t entirely misplaced.
There are tales of love and loss and broken dreams. The themes do resonate today (I mean it’s no
shock that U2 write political songs).
While there is obviously some marketing spin about the album being
relevant in 2017 the comments aren’t without merit.
Special mention should be made about some of the B-sides
(remember them) released at the time.
These can be found on the deluxe edition bonus disc. Songs like The Sweetest Thing, Spanish Eyes,
Luminous Times and Walk to the Water certainly hold their own alongside the
album. It really shows what a rich
creative vein U2 were mining at the time.
The cynic in me thinks that there’s another reason they are
doing this tour. After the debacle
surrounding the release of Songs of
Innocence (good album, terrible marketing campaign – no need to mention the
downloading onto your iPhone thing again is there?) they needed to do something
to clear their plate in the minds of the public (so to speak). What better way than to tour your most
popular album and then (as has been promised) release the follow up to
Innocence - Songs of Experience later
in the year.
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