It's very anti-war and keyed up from the beginning on such classic well-knowns as "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day," two songs that really broke the way and established this up-and-coming band in the early 80's, eventually putting them in the major leagues of rock and roll. But it's not all energetic anthems by a long shot on "War." For instance, "Seconds" is a pretty sparse and simple song, yet it's packed with undeniable melodicism and campfire sing-a-long type lyrics. From the sounds of even the first three songs, you can tell "War" is a very special album, everyone definitely clicking on all cylinders. If it's your first time hearing it, don't worry, it's like candy for the ears.

"War" features one outstanding tune after another: the highly melodious "Like a Song," the beautiful and touching "Drowning Man," the beat-heavy and jungle-esque "Refugee," and the romantic likes of "Two Hearts Beat as One" and "Red Light." Some of these songs may even be sugar-coated too much, although that can be deceiving. Make no mistake, "War" mostly contains lyrically dark themes that are simply overshadowed by the upbeat, bouncy music which often sounds joyous and free with abandonment. These songs ring out like heartfelt musical poetry, and there's definitely a touch of religious hopefulness, amid the likes of war and mutiny.

"Surrender" stands out as one of the best unreleased U2 songs ever - a waiting radio hit that never was. No less than a stirring guitar chime leads off and ends the awesome and strangely reflective song. "40" is a closing hymnal-like song, a truly beautiful and fitting way to end an album put out for the sake of peace worldwide. It almost makes one forget the nine rousing songs that proceeded it. What U2 sacrifice for future imagination's sake on "War," they more than make up for with ten great, lasting songs. These guys are in a class by themselves, no matter what decade it is.


I'm weird, but 2 hearts is my favorite U2 song   July 7, 2005
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is my favorite U2 album; I feel like it was made at the crossroads of their career; their songwriting skill had matured beyond the atmospheric feel of "October" (another album I love) but hadn't yet become big megastars. The songs are still more "raw" than "cooked" like they were to become in the 1990's when Bono seemed to become a lost, self-parody who's biggest talent was wearing sunglasses - what was that about?

I'm not the only person who points out that "Two Hearts Beat As One" is an underrated tune and, along with the tracks which make the "best of", part of the winning hand on this set. It was one of the first U2 songs I ever heard and immediately I knew there was something different about this band from the usual new-wave fare. It's something that hockey fans routinely call "heart" and, not to mix metaphors, but this song has it in spades. Bono sounds like he is standing on a mountain peak, shouting the words:

I try to spit it out
I try to explain
The way I feel...oh, yeah, two hearts...

The rhythm section is driving and Edge's guitar line is propulsive with a riff that constantly invades my memory. I don't know, maybe you had to be there...hard to believe that was 22 years ago and that I'm that old!



U2's finest moment, a genuine masterpiece   October 27, 1999
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

For a long time I considered myself too "punk" to give U2 a fair shot. Supposedly classic albums like the Joshua Tree did little to change my mind. Then I heard War, and as much as I wanted to, I just couldn't deny the brilliance that went into the album. I've *never* heard another song that sounds anything like New Years Day; it is completely trademark U2, with some of the most gorgeous sounding guitars ever recorded. Like A Song is also majestic. From the militant trumpet calls of Sunday Bloody Sunday to the sad and pretty closing "40", U2 have never put out another album this good, but who could expect them to? An essential (and often overlooked) part of any record collection.