U2: Boy (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

You can be young and have things to say! In 1980, U2 was young, very young even. Their toys were those offered by David Bowie, English rock and Irish folk. To listen to "Boy" is to watch a child live, to enjoy his games, his clumsy steps sometimes, his carelessness or his seriousness when he wants to do well.

U2 plunges us into a fresh rock, throwing a bridge between punk and new-wave to extract a youthful and crystalline pop. He deploys a beautiful energy on most of the tracks, 'I Will Follow' in the lead but this until the end of the album and an 'Electric Co.' connected on 1000 volts which seems to race with itself! These two titles also have in common to propose in their middle a softer break. So of course, the tracks are simple and repeat themselves a bit and we feel a clear filiation between "Out Of Control" and "Stories For Boys" but this is just the beginning.

What is most surprising is the depth of the lyrics. Thus, when U2 chooses to leave free to its reveries, we get a pearl such as 'An Cat Dubh', hypnotizing and magnetic, pursued by the very quintessence of a child's dream ('Into the heart'), simple and not simplistic, tender and pure.

"Boy" is only the first try of a young band that is still searching for itself but the potential is there. The Edge will never be the man with the dazzling solos but he already knows how to propose a clear and identifiable sound between thousand. Bono's singing is also clearly defined. However, he will learn to control his impulsiveness, to set his intonations, to modulate them gently. Adam will never be the man of many notes, he will be the one of the right note and will dream of "Always playing the same note, on the same string, indefinitely", as he will confess later. As for the self-effacing Larry, he will be the pledge of a flawless rhythmic, brilliant and generous, restrained and meticulous. - Official website

U2

BOY

ISLAND

ROCK