Boy V October

Forget about TJT v AB. This was the first battle of the big boys.

The debut album of the decade against the most under rated album of the decade.

Boy has big songs, Edge's trademark guitar and is full of invention & passion.

October released only 12 months later is a more mellow album you can listen to all the way through. But from the moment Bono says '2,3,4' you know there will be some big songs mixed in.

October

Objectively, Boy is the stronger and more confident album, yet October just has an openness and peace about it that's difficult to describe. It's my "don't panic" album, the one I listen to whenever I want to clear my head, worship God, or just get a burst of energy. It's unlike anything else in their discography, with the unfinished and rushed nature of it producing peace and calm instead. It's easily in my top five.

In fact, I think I'll listen to it now.

Yes I can have an October 30 minutes. Not often I listen to a whole old album these days. But October has that power.

Boy I will get an urge to listen to an individual song or two. Although like all the songs on it 

Tough choice, but October. I absolutely LOVE Rejoice, and then you've got those beautiful hushed tunes like the title track and Scarlet. Boy is a bit more monochromatic, October has more sonic depth and complexity.

Boy is not only a great debut album, but it's just a great album. Songs like An Cat Dubh, Another Time Another Place, The Electric Co., Twilight, and Shadows And Tall Trees are some of my favorite U2 songs. I don't think there's a weak spot on the whole album.

That said, easily October.

Apart from IWF which I’ve never liked, Boy is a strong LP. October is better, however.

Still undecided although created the poll!

For a debut album that had no hit singles & didn't make U2 a big band,  'Boy' blew me away when first hearing it in 1985. But also remember liking October when hearing it.

Boy is not only a great debut album, but it's just a great album. Songs like An Cat Dubh, Another Time Another Place, The Electric Co., Twilight, and Shadows And Tall Trees are some of my favorite U2 songs. I don't think there's a weak spot on the whole album.

That said, easily October.

Voted Boy for the reasons you said you like it.

Some of the songs are my all time favourites, standing alongside songs from the multi million sellers.

October is great to listen to all the way through, however listening to Boy all the way through again wouldn't be a chore.

October sounds better and has higher highs, but Boy is a much better album overall.  It has only two or three skips, whereas most songs on October are skips.

October sounds better and has higher highs, but Boy is a much better album overall.  It has only two or three skips, whereas most songs on October are skips.

I think my only skips on October are songs that I like live, just not on the album (Brick and I Fall Down).

Quote from: Loyal Deserter on January 05, 2024, 08:23:24 PM

October sounds better and has higher highs, but Boy is a much better album overall.  It has only two or three skips, whereas most songs on October are skips.

I think my only skips on October are songs that I like live, just not on the album (Brick and I Fall Down).

I skip Rejoice, Fire, With a Shout, Stranger in a Strange Land, Scarlet, and Is That All?

I don't seek out I Fall Down or I Threw a Brick, but if they come on I will listen.  The other 3 are incredible, oh and so is A Celebration if that counts.

Brick is a top ten U2 song for me. Gloria, Rejoice, Tomorrow, October, With A Shout, and Stranger In A Strange Land are all among my top thirty or forty U2 songs, too. I enjoy all the others songs as well, and I think Is That All is a perfect closer for an album.

It sounds a lot more powerful than Boy, and it's more raw and atmospheric than War. Maybe the lyrics are worse, but if I wanted good lyrics I'd read a book.

Brick is a top ten U2 song for me. Gloria, Rejoice, Tomorrow, October, With A Shout, and Stranger In A Strange Land are all among my top thirty or forty U2 songs, too. I enjoy all the others songs as well, and I think Is That All is a perfect closer for an album.

It sounds a lot more powerful than Boy, and it's more raw and atmospheric than War. Maybe the lyrics are worse, but if I wanted good lyrics I'd read a book.

Well said. I don't think I'd really made up my mind about Boy vs. October until this thread. Boy is such a strong debut (and ACD/ITT is so incredible, especially for a bunch of teenagers on their first album), but October has so much more going on. Miss that band.