War v The Unforgettable Fire

Another tough one.

The classic NYD gave U2 the hit they needed. Jacko stepped aside as War went straight to number 1. The public loving the power of SBS, Like a Song & Red Light.

UABRS was released the same year & suddenly U2 were the worlds best live band and Bono 'The Boss'. But how would they follow it up?

I'll tell you how. By releasing TUF. Pride crashed into the charts.  ASOH, Wire, Bad & Elvis & U2 were 'the band of the 80's. By 1984!

When TD was still a fun guy, he set up an Album League in the forum.

The fixture between WAR and TUF was a one-sided affair.

https://forum.talku2.com/index.php?topic=6982.0

I'll be an outlier in voting for War then.  While Unforgettable Fire is more sonically interesting, I think War is a more consistent record.  There are just more songs I go back to on it.

If I was allowed to consider the Wide Awake in America versions of UF tracks and those B-sides, it would be a different story.

I'll be an outlier in voting for War then.  While Unforgettable Fire is more sonically interesting, I think War is a more consistent record.  There are just more songs I go back to on it.

If I was allowed to consider the Wide Awake in America versions of UF tracks and those B-sides, it would be a different story.

I’n my arms, brother!

I’ve been wondering forever who had voted with me for WAR in that poll… 

Quote from: Loyal Deserter on January 16, 2024, 12:15:40 AM

I'll be an outlier in voting for War then.  While Unforgettable Fire is more sonically interesting, I think War is a more consistent record.  There are just more songs I go back to on it.

If I was allowed to consider the Wide Awake in America versions of UF tracks and those B-sides, it would be a different story.

I’n my arms, brother!

I’ve been wondering forever who had voted with me for WAR in that poll… 

The mystery goes on, I'm afraid.  I missed that poll.

Quote from: MPare1966 on January 16, 2024, 12:41:23 AM

Quote from: Loyal Deserter on January 16, 2024, 12:15:40 AM

I'll be an outlier in voting for War then.  While Unforgettable Fire is more sonically interesting, I think War is a more consistent record.  There are just more songs I go back to on it.

If I was allowed to consider the Wide Awake in America versions of UF tracks and those B-sides, it would be a different story.

I’n my arms, brother!

I’ve been wondering forever who had voted with me for WAR in that poll… 

The mystery goes on, I'm afraid.  I missed that poll.

Great! Means there’s actually THREE of us 

Apart from Pride, which I’ve always hated, TUF is a near perfect LP. War is great, too, although I don’t like Lillywhite’s production. Eno did a much better job as reflected in other U2 LP’s such as TJT, AB and OS1.

Two fantastic albums. Forced to chose thoough...i have to go with TUF. I just like it that ickle bit more than War.

Apart from Pride, which I’ve always hated, TUF is a near perfect LP. War is great, too, although I don’t like Lillywhite’s production. Eno did a much better job as reflected in other U2 LP’s such as TJT, AB and OS1.

Makes you wonder just what magic Passengers could have accomplished with Pride (in the name of love)

Love them both, but TUF is my 2nd fav overall, while War doesn't crack the top 50%.

TUF by a good margin. War may have 3 gold standard tracks. The rest is rather average by their standards. TUF has double the amount of gold and there is very little average about it.

If U2 released WAR today it would be considered their greatest achievement and a massive success. 

Or

People would trash it,  refer to songs like Sunday Blood Sunday,  New Years Day,  and Two Hearts Beat as One as "Dad rock"

If U2 released WAR today it would be considered their greatest achievement and a massive success. 

Or

People would trash it,  refer to songs like Sunday Blood Sunday,  New Years Day,  and Two Hearts Beat as One as "Dad rock"

I think the problem is that if they did write those songs today, they would overproduce them.

Love them both, but TUF is my 2nd fav overall, while War doesn't crack the top 50%.

War is the most dated/least timeless album they made. On the other hand, it escapes that reputation because NYD and SBS are classics.

The band clearly realized that they were veering into sounding too much like 1983, and made a gigantic course correction.

I still can’t believe that the public accepted UF.