Top 500: 27. The Joshua Tree

I have always been a fan of The Edge. I love his minamilistic ideas and the textures that he creates. He is a true artist that is creating something unique, that no one has quite done that way before. The rest of the band I have had trouble with. Bono's pretensious vocal stylings have been a huge barrier to me. It takes over the whole sound. Bass and drums are never that interesting. They tend to just be there to keep Bono and the Edge from going over the cliff and keeping them grounded. 

That being said, I know that U2 is a major force in Rock and this is considered by most to be their best album. So, I set out to 'get it.' I listened to this album over and over again. Then, I listened to it again. There was no real epiphany, just a slow and steady growing on me kind of thing. I do have a new found appreciation for this album and for U2 in general. I can listen through the Bono thing and not cringe. So mission accomplished. I am still not sure I think that this is as great as the rest of the world does, but that is probably my own short sightedness.