The Joshua Tree [VINYL]

I was unsure about buying this on vinyl because fans have complained of poor pressings of U2's remastered albums. But I took a risk because this is a new pressing to celebrate the album's 30th anniversary which is now made in Germany at a highly rated plant and there were good reviews on Discogs. I couldn't believe my ears. I recently sold my deluxe remastered CD version and on this pressing of The Joshua Tree it breathes with a space, power and presence the CD - excellent as it is - just doesn't have. I won't bore you with superlatives but if you have a good system like mine The Joshua Tree becomes an experience. I struggle to believe this is the same band from four years earlier which made War. My criticism is the front photo and the gatefold image. I will never forget seeing these back in 1987, aged 14. Up until then I had little knowledge of rock music. Everything was limited to Top of the Pops. Out of the desert came these four mysterious men, beguiling and transfixing. But the image reproduction is not great. The front cover appears like it was badly scanned, too dark - as is the gatefold image. However, it's how the vinyl plays; pristine quality, it's like hearing The Joshua Tree soundscape you always dreamed of.

Decided to replace my long-lost copy recently, and very glad I did. There isn't a bad track here, and this is the album which really established U2 on the world stage. For me it's a reminded of what music sounded like in the 80's. There may be a lot of younger listeners who only know U2 from their 'Greatest Hits' collections, and they would do well to listen to this- an album of songs intended to be heard together.This, like Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumors', is an album you can revisit over and over.

I have listened to this album repeatedly for fifteen years. Why, then, review it now? Because with every increase in the technology of my audio equipment, the amazing complexity and sheer musicality of this album has become more and more apparent. Also to say that as well as the genius of the band and their totally inspired music the engineering and production techniques of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, enhancing Steve Lillywhite's strong foundations, gelled together to create this work which must surely be one the best albums ever made. And that is without a remastering.Other reviews point to the strength of individual tracks - and they are substantially different from one another, but all jaw-droppingly good - so there is no need to repeat this detail. There isn't a weak track. Some albums are particularly strong on melody, harmony, rythmn, vocals, ambience or lyrics. However, JT is remarkable for being strong on all of these, but more than that is a totally coherent work as a whole, like a book. I hope that any readers who have not really concentrated on a dedicated listen to The Joshua Tree will find time to do so, and they will soon see why all the fuss is made about this album dedicated to an unusual Yucca plant from high altitude in the Mojave desert.

Bought as a gift for my husband. He loves it and the vinyl is a good weight for playing.

Decent version of a great album with a very good concert on disc 2, nice to have a expanded anniversary album that doesn't just have a disc of pointless remixes.

The live cd on this is essential if your a U2 fan - and much rather have this than the b sides I've already got several times over - so great value imo - the set jumps from the speakers and almost as good as being there (which I was. In Birmingham 1987) - wish they'd have added the missing tracks and split over 2 CDs - but this is great ! Only gripe - where's bono's add lib at the end of with or without you live when he breaks into another song over the end? It's on rattle and hum and was present when I saw them but missing here so I knocked a star off . Really need a rattle and hum reissue now

Bought as a gift but delighted that I received a copy in my amazon music library. I bought the Joshua tree the first time around on LP and have been a die hard fan ever since. Have all the albums and been to several of their tours ..just recently the 30th anniversary concert in London, which was awesome. This album never ages and songs both lyrically and musically are as significant to me today as they were 30 years ago. A true classic with favourites like With or without you, I still haven't found what I'm looking for and where the streets have no name, I find details it hard to believe it is 30 years old.

Love an old classic.