U2
The Unforgettable Fire

The Unforgettable Fire

Reviewing a U2 album is difficult. Very difficult! Reviewing this album is even more difficult! I didn't know whether to make this review long or short, in the end, I made it long :)
This record is one of the "trilogy of wonders," meaning one of the three albums that made U2 a world-famous band. I can already hear the mega-fans' voices: "The greatest, the greatest"! (The other two are "War" and "The Joshua Tree").

After the huge success of "War," especially with "Sunday Bloody Sunday," U2 found themselves in the global spotlight of that era, and after an exhausting worldwide tour, they retreated directly to the famous Irish "Slane Castle" to produce a new album. They also found a new producer: Brian Eno (who brought Daniel Lanois along).
During that period, there was a significant change in their way of playing.
The first thing you notice when listening to the album is the evolution of The Edge's sound. The static and distorted sound of the first three records gives way to a clean, delay-rich sound that characterizes the entire production. An almost obligatory choice, born from the relaxed atmosphere of Slane Castle and the need to renew themselves.

From a musical standpoint, the songs are long improvisations, pieces cut and played on various occasions and then put together and made cohesive! The lyrics further emphasize this way of working, being cryptic and ambiguous in many parts. Bono was a bit in crisis when it came to writing, and in some points, the lyrics are little more than drafts. However, the singer was deeply affected by Martin Luther King's death, and references to that event can be found throughout the album. Some songs are a bit thrown together, others are beautiful. The voice remains the predominant instrument, Bono proves to be a great singer here.
Personally, I would give the album 5 points, my favorite, but perhaps a 4/5 is more appropriate.

---- If you want to read a small introduction to the album's best songs, continue otherwise skip below
The album opens with "A sort of homecoming," a long sung piece open to many interpretations, but always returning to the same theme: coming home. Returning from a world tour, returning from a war (the lyrics seem to talk about this), returning to oneself. The title is actually a quote: "Poetry is a sort of homecoming." . . Who knows!
"Pride": what to say about the most famous song and first single of the album? Nothing, apart from the fact that the last verse is clearly a reference to M.L.K. Born during the War tour, it was completely rewritten afterward.
"Wire" is a beautiful rhythmic piece, talking about drugs. Striking, that's what I can say. And it brings the album's pace back up a bit.
"The Unforgettable Fire," the song that gives the album its title, refers to the two atomic bombs dropped during World War II. However, the content is completely different. They just liked the name and kept it. The piece is very beautiful musically though!
In the middle of the album is "Bad." The deepest song in the album and the most difficult to understand. It talks about a friend who died of a heroin overdose. The Edge's riff repeats endlessly, and in the end, Bono gives the listener the best of his voice. (Rarely can he manage to perform it live)
Indian Summer Sky is hard to understand. I like it because it's easy to listen to and breaks the intrinsic slowness of the album. Beautiful music. Beautiful rhythm. But.. BO!? It vaguely reminds me of Native American stories, even in sound.
The album concludes with two tributes, the first to Elvis (the base is a reversed A Sort Of...) painful and suffering with "Elvis Presley and America," which narrates the downfall of a man (or at least it tries, given the quite improvised lyrics). The other, with M.L.K, is a tribute to Martin Luther King, a kind of farewell - lullaby, moving and conclusive for the album. --------

In this album, there is more U2 soul than in all the others combined. The Irish soul, a bit sad but deep of this band, clearly emerges from the notes and the voice of the songs. Absolutely not overused, the magnificent 4 took their time (even too much because, in the end, they had to hurry to meet the dates). Maybe initially it doesn't strike as much, but after a while, it is captivating. U2 effect! Also a bit slow overall for those used to the other records. 4/5 because it's not yet perfection, which will come with "The Joshua Tree," after the American journey.
sorry.. it's the last time I write such a long review! but I couldn't resist! Moreover, I didn't know what genre to assign, so I put a bit randomly! What genre is it!? HELP