U2’s concerts are magical affairs and, to a lesser degree, so are its albums. "The Joshua Tree" (Island Records), the Irish band’s fifth album since 1980, is a continuation of the sound and concerns heard on previous records.

The music, for the most part, is that of an overpowering guitar-led rock ‘n’ roll band, but U2 breaks its repetitious bent by tossing in some country guitar licks ("Running to Stand Still") and a bit of gospel vocalizing ("One Tree Hill"). If the music itself doesn’t steamroller you, the lyrics will.

Lyricist and vocalist Bono (Paul Hewson has dropped Vox as his stage surname) is one heavy dude. He tackles subjects ranging from U2roadie Greg Carroll’s death in a motorcycle accident ("One Tree Hill") to religious fait h ("I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For") to political prisoners ("Mothers of the Disappeared") to drug addiction ("Exit"). It’s all admirable and makes U2 this year’s social-conscience band.

"The Joshua Tree" came out of the pressing plant a million-seller, and who’s to deny the band commercial success? U2 has put its music, money and energy behind projects such as Live Aid, Self Aid (a Dublin benefit for unemployerymen) and the Amnesty International tour, but it would be nice to od-humored rock ‘n’ roll on an album. It doesn’t have to be mindleup a bit on the glo By Russ DeVault

- DEVAULT, RUSS Atlanta Journal 

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