Listened to U2’s WAR on a bit of whim after I saw a friend on Facebook post a YouTube video for “New Year’s Day”…
Seemed fitting, seeing how yesterday was the 1st and all. I can’t remember the last time I listened to WAR in its entirety. It may have been in the late 90’s when I purchased it on CD (replacing both a Cassette and 12” pressing - I also have in my collection) at a local music store I used to visit in Novi called - Switched On CD’s…
The opening track “Sunday Bloody Sunday” instantly transported me back to my youth and seeing U2 perform said song at the infamous Red Rocks (Under a Blood Red Sky) show. I think I instantly gravitated to the song because it contained the term “bloody” in it…
The video however that I remember most was the one for “New Years Day”… what I recall was the 4 members of U2 braving some ridiculous Hoth like conditions to capture a lipped synced video.
Said video was enough for me to ask my parents to get me WAR on vinyl… I think it took about 2 or 3 complete listens before I decided that “Seconds” was my favorite track on the album.
I liked it so much that I recall wishing that U2 would perform that song at Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. Given the subject matter… it was possibly “too soon” to do so.
I can’t believe how solid this album is after all these years. Songs such as “Like A Song…” begged to be blared loudly.
It’s even crazier to think that some of their finest moments wouldn’t come until The Joshua Tree.
Still tho’… I think I need to consider mentioning WAR as one of my desert island 5 albums. ”Drowning Man”, “Two Hearts Beat as One” and especially “the Refugee” seem almost fitting to listen to over and over if ever left alone on a desert island.
Incredible work by Steve Lillywhite (producer) who also manned the knobs on the following records I enjoy listening too: XTC - Drums & Wires, The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs & Talk Talk Talk and Morrissey Vauxhall and I