My Top 20 music albums for 1980 No 2

Boy 7 ( 1980 )
I Will Follow / Twilight / An Cat Dubh / Into The Heart / Out Of Control / Stories For Boys / The Ocean / Day Without Me / Another Time, Another Place / The Electric Co. / Shadows And Tall Trees

U2 made a name for themselves in their local Dublin while they were still teenagers. CBS records became interested for a while - releasing a three song EP by the group. Awards followed in Irish Rock magazine 'Hot Press' and ultimately the group were picked up by Island records. They apparently started writing songs only because they weren't good enough to perform covers to their own satisfaction. Energy and passion carries them through this debut set, with a few genuinely good tunes thrown in as well. The guitar of a certain 'The Edge' also helps to carry them through. And Bono? Well, he sounds like Bono, and always will. But hey, 'I Will Follow' is great! I really dig the guitar riff and the middle section of the song. Is that a middle eight? I guess so, it's good too. Great energetic, nervous and anxious performance. The bass guitar is prominent on second song 'Twilight', with The Edge already marking himself out as a distinctive guitar player, as early as this. 'An Cat Dubh' may surprise fans of latter day U2 unused to hearing them experiment too wildly within a rock format, but yeah, they do that here. It's slightly dubby, only slightly, mind. The lyrics make no immediate sense, and then Bono goes off on a 'oooh, whoo ha ha, ooohhhh....' vocal thing which is very enjoyable. 'Into The Heart' is atmospheric, though rather dull, makes you wonder what a Brian Eno might have done with such an atmosphere, doesn't it? Hey! It happened a few years later!! 'Out Of Control' is propulsive, the rhythm section falling into place. All the elements that U2 have ever displayed are right here on their debut, albeit in primitive form. 'Out Of Control' is clearly post-punk, though with much of the energy of punk retained, and is all the better for it.

'Stories For Boys' opens with rattling drums, The Edge sounds good on guitar, almost a surf guitar sound. Can't play, or can only play adequately well? What's the solution? Well, to play and play and play, gig yourself to death, drive yourself to the limit, acquire passion and energy. Have determination. U2 did all of this, they didn't 'happen' by mistake or luck. They made their own way, credit to them. 'The Ocean' is a little strange, very minimal, but it fits the album. By the time 'A Day Without Me' arrives, you could be forgiven for getting a little tired though, it's a repetition of the first half of the album but with less inspiration all round. 'Another Time' has some interesting rhythmic things going on, 'The Electric Co' a great urgent and energetic song right up their with the anthemic 'I Will Follow' as a genuine highlight of this set. 'Shadows And Tall Trees' is half a song, lacks much considered structure, attempts some creative experimentation but never quite holds itself together. The sound of this album is very live sounding, producer Steve Lilywhite acting not much more than an engineer, as far as I can tell listening to the record. 'Boy' is a fun listen ultimately, although certainly no masterpiece.

Highlighted Tracks
I Will Follow
An Cat Dubh