The Joshua Tree

No noise. This is a great album set. I had to up the tracking force about .05g on my TT (B&O RX) to get it to sound right, since these are really heavy and tall records, but do they sound great. If your first impression of them is sounding flat and bland, try upping your tracking force. I have listened to the originals on many occasions and even the best quality I've heard from them is not nearly as detailed or as expressive as this set. Really worth the price to get the new release on quality vinyl.

A simply superlative effort...still U2's best album to date (although many subsequent come close). Given the innumerable positive reviews that appear hear of this work, I thought I'd narrow my analysis down to a synopsis of perhaps my favorite song by the band (and easily the best song on this album), "Mothers of the Disappeared."This song became burned into my consciousness ever since The Joshua Tree's initial release in March of 1987 and I've continued to trump it as their everlasting masterpiece (although I totally love the ethereal Bullet The Blue Sky, Red Hills Mining Town and Running To Stand Still).Is there anyone alive who can hear this and not stop completely in their tracks and feel the exacting emotions that a mother must endure following the brutal abduction of her child? Bono has captured what few artists have been able to...translation of true human grief and agony into a musical composition that is altogether stark and captivating. This song slowly builds from a simple synthesizer keystroke into an all encompassing orchestral melancholy soon punctuated with Bono's searing lyrics:Midnight, our sons and daughtersCut down, taken from usHear their heartbeatWe hear their heartbeatIn the wind we hear their laughterIn the rain we see their tearsHear their heartbeatWe hear their heartbeatNight hangs like a prisonerStretched over black and blue.Hear their heartbeatsWe hear their heartbeats.In the trees our sons stand nakedThrough the walls our daughter crySee their tears in the rainfall.To hear this over the band's moaning background is simply pure agony...I've never heard a song that conveys such a terrible outcome so resolutely. And it is one that is completely timeless...whether you Google it or listen to it on YouTube or any of the many other online mediums that feature music these days, I challenge anyone that has thoughtfully listened to this to not come away emotionally broken...this song goes far beyond popular music. It sends a powerful message like none before it.As stated, the remainder of this album is pure genius...U2 became universal following the release of "The Joshua Tree," with emotionally draining works like "Mothers of the Disappeared" being their forefront. Stop and take the time to truly internalize this song...you'll come away from it with an intentional melancholy rarely experienced in other works.

I had this as a UK import back in the 80s and was blown away by the sound. I now have two versions on CD the first bought in the late 80s sounds very flat compared to the album. I bought the expanded CD version in the 2000s which sounds great as far as CDs go.I bought this album as I had done the unforgivable and sold the album some years back, thinking it would be similar to the UK import version, but it didn't quite jump out at me the way the import did. I also found to my chagrin that the side 3/4 disc had a warp on it , and it would not sit flat on my turntable.This is a first for me, I have never bought a brand new album that has had a warp , and after just buying LA Woman The Doors and finding it also having a warp, beginning to wonder how Amazon goes about transporting and storing Vinyl. Better quality control required !I have to report the replacement version of Joshua Tree came back without issue, but i did notice that someone else also reported an issue with the same disc.

The excellent job done breathing even more life into the classic tracks of what is arguably the best U2 albums (and one of the best rock albums) ever made has brought me a new level of appreciation for this music. While some may decry the remastering of earlier rock albums (I'm thinking of the negative reviews I read about the vinyl remaster of Pearl Jam's Ten), the difference is all for the better in my opinion.This remaster was done with a light touch and relatively passive listeners may not even notice a difference, especially if your equipment is sub par. However, a friend of mine and I did an A/B comparison with the original vinyl pressing. The first thing to jump out is the power of the low end frequencies. From the rumbling growl of the pipe organ opening on "Where The Streets Have No Name" to the punch of Adam Clayton's bass, the low end is bigger and more present while also being more distinct. The second big deal is the expansion of the sound stage. The different instruments and vocals actually have a physical presence and direction rather than just sound coming out of a speaker. When I put on a nice pair of over-ear headphones with this album (Audio Technica ATM50) I am suddenly in the middle of the band's practice space. A great album, lovingly remastered and worth every penny.

U2 packaged this one nicely following off the poor packaging of past sets. The music is great and book is okay. Could have used a bit more reading material for the popularity of this one back in the 80s. I just felt that after releasing a box set a few years back, that this new version lacked a little luster. Yes, a live set was included but one could have had this for $20. U2 needs to step up their creativity for this box sets with a little more bang for the buck. Classic album and nicely packaged.

Well worth it to have the September 28th, 1987 concert at Madison Square Garden as an archival document from that era of the band. This is truly a timeless album. For being 30 years old, the music holds up exceptionally well. Looking forward to seeing the LIVE tour of this album.

Be aware if you buy this as an investment and don't open it, one of the discs in mine was out of line within the sleeve and thus stuck with adhesive to the internal sleeve. Unfortunately I only found this out after tearing one of the disc openings trying to rotate it to get it out, then to find it had paper adhered to it. I should have stopped at the first point of discovery of a defect and returned the package, and certainly after removing the disc and finding adhesive on it, but I attempted to clean the adhesive off. It does play tracks 1-15 but not 16/17. As you also get a digital download it is not the end of the world for me as it was not intended as an investment / pristine item, but nonetheless disappointing. I would point out that this is an manufacturing issue nothing to do with Amazon. If I was buying this to keep boxed and pristine it certainly comes well packaged, card outer box, foam inner box then the actual box set is also shrink wrapped.

Ive gone back to vinyl in recent years and had to have this as such its such an iconic part of my younger days. Its an incredible album and sounds fantastic on this release. The sleeve and booklet give it a luxurious feel. Top marks.

Nothing to say about the record that it sounds too eighties. But I discovered U2 with this record and it sounded epic and misterious. The extra CD is not best one of that tour. If they have a catalogue of that era it'd been great to listen the last concert of the tour in Tempe. I own the Madison bootleg show and lacks at least one track and some parts are edited. Overall is a nice touch to have it with better sound with a official release. U2 should take advantage of their live catalogue and released gigs from Unforgettable Tour, Love Town, Outside Broadcast era.. and so.

Many find this the best U2 album. It is unquestionable the success that he made at the time of launch and brings to this day good references. This commemorative edition is more than deserved and the 2 disc with a show of the time presents the fans. All the tracks on the original album are very good and bring great memories of the time. Disc 2 brings almost every track on the live album plus the band's previous hits in great context. Great! Note 9.5.

I am a younger U2 fan and this is there best album in my opinion. Out of the ones I have listened to this is the most consistent and sophisticated. What makes it great for me is the lyrics. Every song is passionate written and I love the variety of topics ,from war in Bullet the Blue Sky to Bono's Māori friend in One Tree Hill. I love how U2 blend rock and blues and in the same way Led Zeppelin did. If I was forced to pick a favorite I would have to say Running To Stand Still. It is pure passion and magic.The Joshua Tree is a masterpiece and easily one of the best albums of the 80s. If you new to U2 don't bother with the greatest hits and just start here.

Possibly U2's most famous album and the one which brought them to stadium sized live attractions. The additional live cd attracted me to buying another version having seen them on this tour and having a number of bootlegs from the tour itself. The sound on the live cd is excellent and although the show is only one cd long it reflects much of the tour. Well worth purchasing.

Never heard this before just the singles and oh boy what a bargain. A faultless album and cracking live album as a bonus disc, I haven't stopped listening to it since I've received it

Great album at a great price (at the time of purchase).

There is nothing I can add that already has been said regarding this incredible album. The live 2nd disc is excellent. If you like Rattle & Hum dvd then you'll love this recording. The best band in the land sharing their journey of America. Few things come close. Also great packaging. Just buy it and enjoy.

Amazing album from an amazing band. Where the Streets have no name and With or without You have been redone live but still great. Every song is pretty brilliant really. This was the first album I remember, I heard of the earlier ones afterwards, and I think still the best album. Used up previous copy.

Best album I have ever heard it's iconic it up there with Sgt Pepper, and Led Zeppelin

I can remember when this first came out and is perhaps my favorite album by u2 although this was bought for someone else it I think only had scuff marks on the box as its second hand the book incl is good and the second disc is great and thers a dvd of a concert and other material - Great!

Poor Vinyl pressing let’s down a great album. Serious inner groove distortion at end of side one and elsewhere.

Got this on vinyl. Thought I’d buy the cd version. Excellent.

Good