OCTOBER...ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED DELUXE EDITION...

A darker, more audacious effort than Boy, and comparatively less reaching than what War would go for,  October is one of the better U2 albums in their catalog, the sound of which is now vastly improved thanks to a superior remastering effort.

This album is part of what seemed a powerful and rich triumverate, with Echo & The Bunnymen's "Heaven Up Here" and Psychedelic Furs' incredible "Talk Talk Talk".

These 3 albums, it seemed at the time, were at the forefront of something distinct and special, steering punk away from the generic, emotionally direct path it had been on since its inception!

It was now okay to be consciously creating "art"

There was a piercing, post-punk sound around, The Jam was growing way beyond their borders, the sonic explorations of groups like Ski Patrol, Killing Joke, Adverts, Au Pairs, and the entire Batcave-pre-goth era  - a new sound and October was an effort to lead it, quite typical of the confidence of this band, even with only one album under their belt.

Played alongside Heaven Up Here and Talk Talk Talk, this makes perfect sense. Played alongside War and Joshua Tree, it is just as powerful.

These are not songs that find you -as on War- but ones you have to seek out, which may account for the reputation of it as difficult.

The reach and grace of stuff like "Tomorrow" and "A Celebration" are the mark of a band with something special to say.

The extra tracks here are well worth the extra price tag. A couple of dynamic live performances, the crucial single "A Celebration" (a precursor to War both lyrically and sonically), and "Trash Trampoline" in its pre-U2-Incorporated state purchase.