There's a moment when I listen to U2's classic album, Joshua Tree, as soon as those first sweet, sweet notes of Where the Streets Have No Name come on, that I can't help but think of something a friend of mine once said: Joshua Tree's first three tracks comprise the best introductory one, two, three punch of any album ever. Quite the statement, no? But looking at the three tracks in question, it's not exactly an outlandish one. Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With or Without You are without a doubt, classics in the U2 catalog and music in general. But best ever? As much as I was inclined to agree with my friend, I still needed, nay, demanded a more scientific study be done. And so, today's post was born for you, my three readers, to enjoy.
In order to reach a more proper answer to the question at hand, I started with 50 acclaimed albums from different genres of music. To keep this list manageable and because of an age bias on my part, I only included albums released in and after 1987, the year that Joshua Tree was released. I also only included albums I've listened to more than a few times, since I have no way of judging anything I have not listened to. I tried to keep genres balanced as best as I could, but it turns out I listen to hip hop way more than anything else. As for my criteria, I looked at what made Joshua Trees first three tracks so special and came up with this.
1. WTSHNN, ISHFWILF and WOWY (I'm gonna use acronyms for these tracks from now on because goddamn, these names are long) are full songs and not intro skits or instrumental free thought. No GOAT one, two, three punch can include a track that's not actually a song.
2. All three tracks are critically and popularly acclaimed/adored. If you ask an average fan of the artist in question, he or she should not only recognize the three tracks but enjoy them as well.
3. To take number 2 a bit further, if one was to make a U2 top ten list, all three tracks can fit in that list, easily. Here's the first list I pulled up off a Google search for best U2 songs and you can see WTSHNN at #2, ISHFWILF at #5 and WOWY at #6. One could probably even make the argument that these three tracks could comprise a top 3 list on their own. One would be mistaken though, because Pride is the GOAT U2 track. (Side note: I LOVE this cover of the track by The Roots.)
4. All three tracks are iconic in the grand scheme of music and not just its genre, although this may be more due to U2 than anything
