The first U2 record of the ‘90s saw the band take a major shift in their sound. The new decade saw the band make a shift in their sound, incorporating elements of Alternative Rock, Industrial Rock and Electronic Music. Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, who had held the reigns on ‘The Joshua Tree,’ were back to produce this record. On the intervening record, ‘Rattle and Hum,’ the band had further paid tribute to American music, exploring its roots. Critics labelled the attempt as pretentious and the band were increasingly accused of being self-righteous and sanctimonious. The band keen to shake up their sound, went to Hansa Studio in Berlin, famous as the studio where Bowie recorded his Berlin Trilogy, on the eve of reunification to seek new inspiration.

During U2’s meteoric rise in the early ‘80s, the band fell in love with the US after multiple months-long tours. Their strong affection for the country inspired them to write ‘The Joshua Tree,’ their love letter to the US. By this stage, they were, by all accounts, an incredibly successful band. They’d enjoyed #1 albums in the UK, Australia & New Zealand and already had a few hit singles under their belt, but it was this record that made them the biggest band in the world. Love them or hate them, U2 created a masterpiece.