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Critic Reviews
80
The songs may occasionally show some weakness ... yet the band's musical and lyrical vision keep Boy compelling until the finish.
13y
75
This erratic record’s punkish attack and universal themes ... made it heady listening in the postpunk years.
10y
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the debut album from the first band I ever listened to. That is... that’s a doozy man.
If it isn't already clear from its title and cover art, the main theme of "Boy" is youth. It’s everywhere within the album's lyrics, whether it be related to the creeping fear of adolescence (“Twilight”), one's dawning sexuality (“An Cat Dubh”) or believing that the world could go far if they listened to what you said ... read more
Oh no the worst band ever, U2...
No wait, they ain't, I obviously think they did great stuff in the 80s and 90s and this is a pretty nice debut album. Of course it's quite raw and green, but this is some very good and consistent light post-punk experience. The tracks are fast-paced and nicely produced with Edge's catchy riffs and Bono's good singing.
Actually "I Will Follow" is probably one of their best 80s tracks. Of course their sound will evolve more in their later albums, but ... read more
I had to keep stopping myself from holding this up to R.E.M's debut 'Murmur' as the comparison was not flattering and also this was released three years earlier and a lot can change in three years. Still, this is a proficient debut but lacking any of the sort of magic you usually expect from a classic band's respected first outing.
The sound is very 'meat and potatoes' really, somewhat satisfying, certainly not a bad guitar sound and the first four songs and a couple later have some memorable ... read more
Boy by U2 — A Raw Cry from the Edge of Youth
You put the needle down and it’s Dublin, 1980, straight in the face. Rain-slick streets, council flats, the last fumes of punk still hanging in the air like cheap cigarette smoke. Four kids—barely old enough to shave—are holed up in Windmill Lane with Steve Lillywhite, turning every ounce of teenage confusion, grief, lust, and defiance into something that feels like it could split the sky. Boy isn’t a debut album. ... read more
Originally written: 31/5/25
Getting back n2 U2 (1/14): A decently enjoyable, but thoroughly unexceptional debut.
I’ve chosen U2 as the next band that I’m going to go through via my “one album a month” review format. They’ve always been one of my favourite artists & I think it’s about time I gave their extensive discography a proper reappraisal. I’ve enjoyed them for literally as long as I can remember on account of both my parents being U2 massive ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | I Will Follow 3:37 | 91 |
| 2 | Twilight 4:22 | 83 |
| 3 | An Cat Dubh 4:46 | 80 |
| 4 | Into the Heart 3:27 | 79 |
| 5 | Out of Control 4:14 | 86 |
| 6 | Stories for Boys 3:02 | 81 |
| 7 | The Ocean 1:35 | 68 |
| 8 | A Day Without Me 3:13 | 75 |
| 9 | Another Time, Another Place 4:32 | 77 |
| 10 | The Electric Co. 4:46 | 84 |
| 11 | Shadows and Tall Trees 4:36 | 72 |
Total Length: 42 minutes
