While there are several tracks that show the promise of things to come, Boy just doesn’t quite hold up across its 11 tracks.
Admittedly, the Irish foursome did it exceedingly well, but they were far from breaking the new ground that later outings would accomplish. In fact, memorable tracks like I Will Follow, Out of Control, and Stories For Boys have become classics in the U2 catalog.Īnd yet, the album sounds like much of the same kind of post-punk stuff that was all the rage at the time. At least, it’s not what most of us have come to recognize as the true U2 sound.įor a debut LP from a new post-punk band just getting its footing, it’s a splendid listen. My reasoning for its low placement on this list, though, is simple: it’s just not U2. In fact, Boy is an excellent record with a lot to offer. Many will be surprised to find U2’s debut album, Boy, so low on this list, and that’s reasonable. U2’s debut album, Boy, shows the promise of a young, energetic band searching for its sound. Yet, any true U2 fan or post-punk aficionado will find a lot to love. October was never going to reach the heights of U2’s more mature work. Yet, the creativity and skill of this metronomic rhythm section packs enough punch to keep you listening. It took Bono and the Edge one more project to come into their own. and bassist Adam Clayton are the core that holds this spotty record together. More importantly, Gloria sees Bono approaching his lyrics with a sense of honesty and self-revelation.īut what of the rhythm section? Simply put, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. In this anthem, we find an early version of the Edge’s jangly guitar work and Bono learning to let his voice soar. Gloria, the opening track and closest thing to a radio hit on October, features many of the hallmarks of the classic U2 sound. In fact, the early stirrings of what would ultimately make U2 great pop up throughout their second record.
The band’s debut, Boy, was far from a smash hit, making the lackluster October less a failure and more a learning experience. And many have dubbed U2’s sophomore outing as such a slump. We’ve all heard of the “sophomore slump”–that second project that just doesn’t seem to measure up to the stronger debut. October is probably the least-known of all U2 albums, but it’s still worth a listen.
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