A kind of grace through simplicity...

This is U2's most developed and mature album both lyrically and musically...

In spite of itself War is another example of rock music's impotence and decay...

'Complementing U2's lyrical growth is a newly developed dark sense of humour, which the band uses to striking effect throughout ...

A Celebration goes to No 47 in the UK charts

U2's contribution to the progress of rock is that they've divorced guitar heroics from the idea of a dazzling guitar hero.

October is a musical and spiritual growth for U-2, a passionate and moving LP for me.

U2 will endure. October hits that home magnificently. It's just how they will endure that'll trouble us come U2 '3' or '4'.

U2, I guess, will continue to "move" in live performance, just like James Brown. But they will only move on the lightest surface.

'Needs time to work its way into your heart...'

'It's not a fashionable record either, because it needs time to work ...

Boy released in US and reaches No 63 in the chart

Boy released in Ireland and UK. Peaks at No 52 in the British charts

As is common with most debut LPs these days, 'Boy' is a compilation of life-time best. (Hopefully a beginning. U2 have a long way to grow.)

I wouldn't worry about U-2 selling out because I know they will

U2 take us over the top

The sheer exuberance that redeems these 11 songs is admirably fresh...
Boo Browning in The Washington Post

With a deep, rich production U2 makes music which is hypnotic in its swirling images and textures...

Play to 15,000 at first open-air festival in Ireland with The Police and Squeeze

U2 sign major international recording deal with Island Records.

U2 play to nine people at the Hope and Anchor, Islington