October

The sophomore slump was real for U2 as October is sandwiched between the auspicious debut of Boy and the turn the corner 3rd album, War. There's nothing truly awful here, it just feels basic and uninspired next to Boy and War.

Standouts: Gloria, I Fall Down, October

Dropouts: I Threw a Brick Through a Window

Often put forward as a forgotten hidden gem and maybe even 'the U2 album people who don't like U2 might like', 'October' certainly has a more understated feel.

This could be the work of many bands around at the time you feel, an impassioned post-punk set without the arena bombast or too much over emoting from Bono. The songs are...decent, not too memorable but yes decent, and the overall sound is almost 'pretty' at times, reasonably evocative.

'Gloria' and 'Rejoice' do hint at the future ... read more

this shit better than joshua tree and idc. it is a bit uninspired and forgettable at points tho but gloria and tomorrow are great and also carry the whole album tbh. scarlet and stranger in a strange land is pretty weak tho icl but its still better than some of the lows on joshua tree so idc

You put the needle down on the turntable, and right away the damp hits you—Dublin, 1981, that raw, unrelenting October fog that crawls into your collar and stays there. Not the pretty postcard Ireland; this is the real one, streets still carrying the bruises of the old colonial mess, The Troubles boiling just across the water like a pot about to blow. Bombs, grief, families torn apart, the whole world feeling one bad decision away from the edge. And in the middle of it, four young ... read more