February 28, 1983 - U2 and War

Six days after my last release a new band joins my library when rock band U2 released their third album "War" on February 28, 1983. I have no full albums by U2 in my library, but this record does contain two successful singles that I like. But who are U2? They are a four-piece rock band from Dublin, Ireland consisting of Bono (lead vocals), The Edge (guitars, keyboards), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums, percussion). This album was much more political than U2's previous works and both the songs I have feature some dark subject matter, beginning with the first song off the album "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Mullen starts it off with a really catchy drum beat that sounds pretty good and The Edge plays a nice light guitar riff to set up the main verse. Bono comes in to sing the first verse and I think his voice sounds decent but I'm not a huge fan of his. The lyrics he sings are about The Troubles, a period of conflict that was ongoing in Northern Ireland when this was made, with lines likes "bodies strewn across the dead-end street". It paints a powerful image and has a nice militant beat to back it up as things flow right into the chorus. It's an underwhelming one for me, as Bono simply sings the name of the song several times while holding some notes. They return to the main verse but this time they play the chorus halfway through, before finishing the rest afterwards in a bit of a weird scenario. After the verse finally ends The Edge gets a chance for a solo, but his guitar still sounds very light; I think it would've sounded way better if it was electric and heavier, but oh well. He plays a decent little solo that trails off at the end as Clayton keeps pace with some nice bass and Bono holds some more long notes in his vocals. This turns into another chorus and a final verse, but before the verse is even over they play the chorus so we hear both at the same time. It's rather just hear the verse, but they really seem to be obsessed with the chorus as Bono says the name of the song a whole lot and right until the end. The other song I have off this album is "New Year's Day" and it's hook is a pretty catchy keyboard riff that starts right from the get-go. Bono lets out a yell as The Edge drives this opening, playing the catchy keyboards as well as some cool guitar in the background. When the keyboards drop out Clayton plays a nice backing bass riff that sounds great as The Edge comes in and out on guitar. The catchy keyboards return as Bono begins singing in a nice voice overtop. It's an ominous main beat that sounds pretty good but it leads into a more pop-y chorus that I find much less entertaining. Apparently these guys should just stick to writing verses as when they return for the next verse things sound better again! The decent verse is followed by another chorus before they return to the opening riff with the catchy keyboard hook leading the way once again. It takes a bit, but eventually a guitar solo emerges as The Edge plays a slow but solid solo that matches the mood nicely. The keyboard hook is back for a bit more before they play a much shorter verse that leads into a final chorus. Instead of ending there, they end with a final verse; a nice change I think as things slowly fade to an end. Both these songs were cool, but most of the time U2 is not a band I want to hear. Onward!