Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 06/15/1990
Run Time: 42:19
In many ways,
U2 took their fondness for sonic bombast as far as it could go on
War, so it isn't a complete surprise that they chose to explore the intricacies of
the Edge's layered, effects-laden guitar on the follow-up,
The Unforgettable Fire. Working with producers
Brian Eno and
Daniel Lanois,
U2 created a dark, near-hallucinatory series of interlocking soundscapes that are occasionally punctuated by recognizable songs and melodies. In such a setting, the band both flourishes and flounders, creating some of their greatest music, as well as some of their worst.
"Elvis Presley and America" may well be
Bono's most embarrassing attempt at poetry, yet it is redeemed by the chilling and wonderful
"Bad," a two-chord elegy for an addict that is stunning in its control and mastery. Similarly, the wet, shimmering textures of the title track, the charging
"A Sort of Homecoming," and the surging
Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" are all remarkable, ranking among
U2's very best music, making the missteps that clutter the remainder of the album somewhat forgivable.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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