Reissues of U2’s Boy, October, and War coming this July

Would it be considered blasphemous if I told you that my favorite U2 albums are not The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby (though I certainly do like those albums quite a bit)?

Rather, I’ve always found myself hearkening back to the band’s early days — and I mean their very early days. Therefore, I’m very happy to learn that U2’s first three albums — Boy (1980), October (1981), and War (1983) — will be re-mastered and re-released this July in both standard and deluxe editions.

I’ve always felt that U2 could’ve called it quits after Boy and they would still be considered one of the greatest bands of all time. And one of my favorite U2-related memories is of listening to October while driving with my parents across Nebraska in the middle of the night, the album’s more atmospheric songs drifting over my headphones. And as for War, I just need to mention two songs: “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day.” ‘Nuff said.

Now all that’s needed is for The Unforgettable Fire — that sadly under-appreciated gem of an album — to receive the same kind of lovin’.