The 1983 U2 release, "War," features a boy with haunted eyes on the cover, and the song cycle displays an increasing political awareness by the group, with "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Seconds," and "New Year's Day."
What caught my attention back in the day was the video for "New Year's Day" played in high circulation on MTV. The band playing their instruments in that snowy field was cool, but I really liked the powerful bassline and piano melody. The Edge's slashing guitar style was unlike anything I'd heard before, and Bono's vocals are passionate and evocative. This remains one of my favorite U2 songs.
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" invokes images of Irish history, and with its rat-a-tat-tat martial drums and guitars, it's more choppy than "New Year's Day" but more anthemic. This really hit home with the Red Rocks video when Bono was waving that huge flag. It's a powerful song.
"Seconds" benefits from being sandwiched between these two songs, but the cold war lyric and intertwining vocals of Bono and the Edge, along with the largely acoustic tracking, make this an interesting piece.
Another standout is "Two Hearts Beat as One," which does not usually make the best of compilations, but is an underrated nugget with a propulsive guitar line and vocal performance by Bono. "Like a Song" moves with youthful energy and urgency, and the band captures excellent dynamics. "40" is a short closer, but another anthemic rouser that was captured well on the live Red Rocks EP.
While less atmospheric than "Unforgettable Fire," the songs on "War" are full of heart and soul and the band's personal convictions. They're playing like they mean it.

This is my favorite U2 album; I feel like it was made at the crossroads of their career; their songwriting skill had matured beyond the atmospheric feel of "October" (another album I love) but hadn't yet become big megastars. The songs are still more "raw" than "cooked" like they were to become in the 1990's when Bono seemed to become a lost, self-parody who's biggest talent was wearing sunglasses - what was that about?

I'm not the only person who points out that "Two Hearts Beat As One" is an underrated tune and, along with the tracks which make the "best of", part of the winning hand on this set. It was one of the first U2 songs I ever heard and immediately I knew there was something different about this band from the usual new-wave fare. It's something that hockey fans routinely call "heart" and, not to mix metaphors, but this song has it in spades. Bono sounds like he is standing on a mountain peak, shouting the words:

I try to spit it out
I try to explain
The way I feel...oh, yeah, two hearts...

The rhythm section is driving and Edge's guitar line is propulsive with a riff that constantly invades my memory. I don't know, maybe you had to be there...hard to believe that was 22 years ago and that I'm that old!

War is the most overtly political album of U2's career. They touched on political subjects on their first two albums, but on War they take up arms. The album opens with the anthem "Sunday Bloody Sunday" which finds the band outraged at the situation in Northern Ireland. "Seconds" is about the nuclear arms race. "New Year's Day" is an apathetic song about despite all the rhetoric, nothing really changes. It contains a lovely piano and strong Edge solo. "Like A Song" is another anthem-like song, a declaration for solidarity. "Refugee" finds Larry Mullin providing a pounding drum beat to a fierce Bono vocals and Adam Clayton bass gives "Two Hearts Beat As One" it's driving backbone. Despite all the anger, "40" closes the album on an optimistic note. The song is based on Psalm 40 and the band states that there is chance for peace and understanding all though things are bleak. War broke U2 in America as it was their first top twenty album. They shifted away from making another album this political, but War's spirit still continues to permeate their work.

There's a real energy and vibe to this album that transcends most of what passed for rock and roll in the 80's. U2 has always had it all: a contientous, pro-peace lead singer who just happens to have a voice that would shine in any world-renowned choir, searing and creative guitars by The Edge, tight drumming by ace Larry Mullen Jr. and, best of all, A+ rated songs worth shouting about forever.

It's very anti-war and keyed up from the beginning on such classic well-knowns as "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day," two songs that really broke the way and established this up-and-coming band in the early 80's, eventually putting them in the major leagues of rock and roll. But it's not all energetic anthems by a long shot on "War." For instance, "Seconds" is a pretty sparse and simple song, yet it's packed with undeniable melodicism and campfire sing-a-long type lyrics. From the sounds of even the first three songs, you can tell "War" is a very special album, everyone definitely clicking on all cylinders. If it's your first time hearing it, don't worry, it's like candy for the ears.

"War" features one outstanding tune after another: the highly melodious "Like a Song," the beautiful and touching "Drowning Man," the beat-heavy and jungle-esque "Refugee," and the romantic likes of "Two Hearts Beat as One" and "Red Light." Some of these songs may even be sugar-coated too much, although that can be deceiving. Make no mistake, "War" mostly contains lyrically dark themes that are simply overshadowed by the upbeat, bouncy music which often sounds joyous and free with abandonment. These songs ring out like heartfelt musical poetry, and there's definitely a touch of religious hopefulness, amid the likes of war and mutiny.

"Surrender" stands out as one of the best unreleased U2 songs ever - a waiting radio hit that never was. No less than a stirring guitar chime leads off and ends the awesome and strangely reflective song. "40" is a closing hymnal-like song, a truly beautiful and fitting way to end an album put out for the sake of peace worldwide. It almost makes one forget the nine rousing songs that proceeded it. What U2 sacrifice for future imagination's sake on "War," they more than make up for with ten great, lasting songs. These guys are in a class by themselves, no matter what decade it is.

Review no.153.Originally released in early 1983,as 'War' was U2's third album and the one that more or less made them a household name.I remember the day this lp came out and the 'impact' it apparently had on some people.I think I may even still have my cassette copy of this relic.Impressive cuts like the boot-stomping "Sunday Bloody Sunday",the extremely well-written "New Year's Day","Surrender" and "40" deals with Ireland's political issues.The only tune here I never cared for was "Two Hearts Beat As One".Maybe it's just that I've heard one TOO many cover bands play it.A must-have for any and all true U2 fans and followers alike.Recommended.