Was The Joshua Tree U2’s Pinnacle?

U2's 'The Joshua Tree' album was released to the world 32 years ago in March 1987. It was an incredible album from a band that was still relatively early in their career, but was it the pinnacle or did they go on to bigger and better things?

'The Joshua Tree' was the band’s fifth album and they would again tap Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois up to produce it. It went number one in both the UK and US selling 25 million records and counting. It was nominated for four Grammys in 1988 winning two, one of which was the biggest prize Album of the Year. In reality, The Joshua Tree is the point at which U2 became the biggest musical act in the world.

The album was the culmination of all the things U2 had worked so hard to accomplish and they did it their way and with integrity. The first three songs alone are jaw droppingly brilliant. “Where the Streets Have No Name” has to be one of the best album openers of all time with it’s goosebump producing guitar and drum. Throughout the album is a spectacular blend of ebullience, contemplation, anger and compassion. There is little that could be improved and it really is a masterpiece. And I must say, "With Or Without You" is one of my all time favourite tracks.

Never Bettered
For me though, U2 never bettered 'The Joshua Tree'. Its follow up, 'Rattle and Hum' started them on the downhill spiral, it was always going to have the bad luck of following up Joshua Tree and in that respect I still think it does quite well. With the exception of 'Achtung Baby' which almost reaches the heights, subsequent albums were self-absorbed experimental forays with U2 overestimating their talent.

The downhill curve really started to steepen with the release of 'POP', who had lots of the same topics and themes from their previous albums but just didn't quite deliver. In effect they fell off a cliff with 'POP'!! Some really long term fans say U2's last earnest album was 'War' and they sold out starting with 'The Joshua Tree' but I’m not having that.

I know it's hard for fans that got into U2 after 'Achtung Baby' and later to understand that they’d already reached their peak but it's true. And don't get me wrong either, after getting used to the 'Achtung Baby' it turned out to be their second best album for me. But they really haven't done anything special since then. 

The nineties and noughties really were patchy decades, yes they had occasional highs, indeed ‘Beautiful Day’ probably saved their careers and their legacy when it came out. I won't say they were terrible because they weren't, but what U2 have done since 1993 just doesn't do it for me any more. Interestingly, when I now go back and listen to the albums I do love of theirs, such as 'The Joshua Tree', 'War' and 'The Unforgettable Fire' I still enjoy them a lot. 

Pinnacle
For me, the peak U2 years were from 1983 to 1993. That doesn't mean everything after that has been crap, it's just that my enjoyment level hasn't been that consistent. I think 'War', 'The Unforgettable Fire' and 'The Joshua Tree' as a run of early albums was incredible for such a young band, always going up in big steps. The energy in tracks like "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Pride" and "New Year’s Day" is incredible.
Just watch the video below and you'll understand.

Any critic or true music fan who doesn’t appreciate the mastery and impact of “The Joshua Tree” is simply not being honest with themselves or others. The album has had untold impact on the popular music scene for over thirty years. Whatever the consensus on the recent offerings from the band, “The Joshua Tree” deserves respect for what it was and has come to signify. I can therefore only reach the conclusion that yes, it was the band’s pinnacle.