But as tentative as its predecessor is brash, with Bono left floundering after his lyrics were stolen, the 11-track collection has perhaps been judged too harshly. The work of an unprepared band on the verge of meltdown - Bono and Edge’s faith questioned the rock ‘n roll lifestyle - U2’s second album has been notably absent from their hits compilation and setlists. Pride surely isn’t what he associates with ‘October’ - a snapshot of a life he’d rather not recall. As Bono wrote on Rolling Stone’s website a few weeks ago: “I’m proud of this little Polaroid of a life I can’t fully recall.”
The unstoppable ‘Stories For Boys’ reasserts their unbridled enthusiasm, the cocky ‘A Day Without Me’ makes that prophetic mention of ego, ‘Another Time, Another Place’ marches with the persistence of an army, ‘The Electric Co.’ might be the closest the Dublin foursome get to The Clash, and introspective closer ‘Shadows and Tall Trees’ reveals a startling maturity to these four boys who are so much more than the sum of their influences. Together they propel opener ‘I Will Follow’ into the stadium anthem hall of fame - a mission statement on a par with ‘We Will Rock You’ lend ‘Twilight’ the brooding mystery and flourishes of light it demands embrace the eerie atmospherics of Siouxsie and the Banshees on ‘An Cat Dubh’ explore sonic textures and landscapes on the cinematic ‘Into The Heart’ and act their age with the careening ‘Out Of Control’.
But the real revelation is the guitarist, whose playing ranges from the high-speed thrashing of his punk idols to the reflective, chiming chords now synonymous with The Edge. Adam Clayton slips in, nearly unnoticed, with his laidback bass playing holding the sometimes fragile, occasionally unfocused songs together. Larry Mullen Jr beats the drums with all the military precision of a kid who once played in a marching band. Despite singing “like a girl” (the frontman’s recent assessment) and his largely improvised lyrics lacking precision, the man born Paul Hewson attacks the songs with a zeal that would later be seen as arrogance. Startling, yes, but nothing compared to how supremely confident U2 sound on their debut album. U2 go back to where it all began, with expanded reissues of their first three albums, ‘Boy’, ‘October’, and ‘War’, tracking their ascent from playing Dublin’s pubs to headlining Red Rocks Arena.īono waits a whole eight songs before mentioning ego.