Favorite Albums: 142 - 141

142. The Unforgettable Fire by U2 (1984)

This is probably one of U2's more forgotten albums, which is understandable, since it was sandwiched between two of their most well known, War and The Joshua Tree. Obviously, everyone knows "Pride (In the Name Of Love)" but that's probably the only song on this album that a lot of people know. The lead track, "A Sort Of Homecoming," is one of the better openers on any U2 album. Pretty much "Sunday Bloody Sunday" from War and "Where the Streets Have No Name" from The Joshua Tree are the only two I personally would consider better. This album was where U2 first started falling in love with American pop culture. Two songs about Martin Luther King, Jr. ("Pride" and "MLK"), "Elvis Presley and America," "4th Of July." While some of the songs on this album are somewhat, well, forgettable, there are also some of the best songs of U2's early years. "A Sort Of Homecoming" and "The Unforgettable Fire" have more texture than anything on any of the three preceding albums. "MLK" is just beautiful. "Pride" and "Wire" come out attacking. And "Bad" is one of my absolute favorite U2 songs. It basically became the blueprint for a lot of their later work - slowly build up from a sweeping understated beginning to a concise and explosive climax, then quickly pull back again to the sweeping understated end. Just a stellar song.
5 Best Songs:
5. "Pride (In the Name Of Love)"
4. "The Unforgettable Fire"
3. "MLK"
2. "A Sort Of Homecoming"
1. "Bad"

"MLK"


"A Sort Of Homecoming"


"Bad"


141. Synchronicity by The Police (1983)

The fifth and final album by The Police, Synchronicity was also their most successful and, well, best. I mean, just look at the songs on this album: "Synchronicity II," "Murder By Numbers," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," "King Of Pain," and, oh yeah, a little known tune called "Every Breath You Take." Is it a perfect album? Of course not. "Mother" is one of the worst songs I've ever heard, and "Walking In Your Footsteps" is barely any better. "Miss Gradenko" is so-so at best, and "Synchronicity I" and "Tea In the Sahara" are decent but not great. But really, when it comes down to it, the five classics mentioned above more than make up for the rest of the album being average. "Synchronicity II" is a pretty bad ass song, but can get kind of old kind of quick, especially if you listen to a certain Cleveland radio station that has decided it needs to be played at least 8 times a day. "Murder By Numbers" is kind of the same, but it takes a lot longer for it to get annoying since it's a bit better of a song. "Every Breath You Take," the ultimate stalker song, is the obvious choice for "masterpiece" on pretty much any music site I've ever visited, not just when it comes to this album, but when talking about The Police in general. And while it is, indeed, a great song, personally I like "Wrapped Around Your Finger" and "King Of Pain" better. Not sure why really. Probably just because they've never been played as much as "Every Breath You Take." And while this is a decent album, for most people the singles collection would be better to get than this album.
5 Best Songs:
5. "Synchronicity II"
4. "Murder By Numbers"
3. "Every Breath You Take"
2. "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
1. "King Of Pain"

"Every Breath You Take"


"Wrapped Around Your Finger"


"King Of Pain"