The Most Iconic U2 Album of All Time

2025-06-18

The rock band U2 sitting on a couch.

U2 has some of the greatest rock albums in the world. Here, Audio Ink Radio presents its pick for – ‘s most iconic album of all time. – Author: Anne Erickson, U2 photo by Olaf Heine

Don’t pretend that you don’t enjoy U2. It’s funny how many rockers say they don’t like U2’s music, only to realize that, yes, they do like the band when U2’s songs comes over the loudspeakers. Either way, there’s really no denying that U2 has created some of the greatest albums in rock music.

U2 famously formed in Dublin, Ireland, in September of 1976. The band features longtime members Bono on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, the Edge on lead guitar, Adam Clayton on bass guitar and Larry Mullen Jr. on drums. While the style of U2’s music has changed over the years, going from a more post-punk sound early in their career to a more atmospheric, anthemic rock style, what hasn’t changed is how the music centers around Bono’s emotive vocals and the Edge’s effects-laden guitars.

Bono’s lyrics are really among the most defining in popular music. They touch on everything from spirituality to sociopolitical topics to personal battles. With so many fantastic songs in U2’s discography, it’s difficult to pinpoint the band’s one greatest album, but at the same time, one does stand above the rest in terms of influence. Here, Audio Ink Radio presents its pick for U2’s most iconic album of all time.

The Greatest U2 Album Ever

When “The Joshua Tree” arrived on March 9, 1987, it was so different from anything out there. This was during the hair metal era, and it in no way was hair metal. It also strayed from the college rock that was popular at the time. “The Joshua Tree” was just its own thing, totally novel and refreshing.

What’s funny is that in their review of the album, which came out in April of 1987, Rolling Stone called “The Joshua Tree,” U2’s “most varied, subtle and accessible album, although it doesn’t contain any sure-fire smash hits.” Well, this review did not age well, because “The Joshua Tree” went on to score U2 a ton of hits, including “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With or Without You,” to name a few. It’s hilarious to see someone say that there were no “sure-fire smash hits” on here. Perhaps the writer thought the music was a bit too deep or contemplative than what would appeal to the masses, but the album obviously proved that writer wrong.

Mojo also named “The Joshua Tree” their No. 1 U2 album of all time, noting, “The apotheosis of their spacious, post-Eno guitar scape, a perfect fusion of post-punk with trad rock, soul and gospel, with songwriting to match the sonic architecture at last.”

So, why did we go with this album as U2’s best? “The Joshua Tree” is simply a strong, anthemic, graceful and beautiful album, from start to finish, and it’s gorgeously constructed. It also created almost a new genre, in anthemic, cinematic rock music. Not many bands have tried to copy U2, because it just wouldn’t work, but many bands have been inspired by U2, and “The Joshua Tree” is a big part of that inspiration. For it’s beauty and legacy, we believe it’s U2’s greatest album of all time.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Features, Music, Rock

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