Sorry, Joshua Tree is good enough I can't stop thinking about this. Had to add on....
Seriously. The early tracks, Where the Streets Have No Name the organ is deep ominous and powerful. Dynamics are impressive, there's never any edge (heh) or grain and the next couple hard rocking tracks are clean and clear. Running to Stand Still you have almost Doug MacLeod quality harmonica floating in a deep black stage. Its these quieter tracks where you really appreciate the recording quality. Personally while I like the first few tracks they get a little hard on my ears but not from the sound quality just from the volume that makes these tracks sound so good. The Edge does something a little different to get a signature unique to each song, and the recording (and playback, I really think you need to find some better systems to hear this on) distinguishes among them easily. You hear every lick clean and clear, and there's a wonderful bell-like quality he's engineered into his signature sound. On lesser systems you lose the decay and bell quality, it can be almost like a washboard. Not here.
The later tracks are wonderful. To me they get better and better as there's more and more interesting sounds. There's a wheel turning with something scraping on it and it makes for one of the most fascinating sounds I have ever heard on any recording.
Records do vary tremendously from copy to copy. Its entirely possible I lucked out and got an exceptionally good one, while the vast majority are crap. If you're listening to digital then of course it is all crap. The only way I know of being sure to get a good copy, one at least as good as mine, is here https://better-records.com/search?q=u2
Yes they are worth it. Unfortunately they can only sell them when they can find copies good enough to be Hot Stampers. When they do though boy are they good! I like Joshua Tree enough to buy a White Hot Stamper (if I ever see one) but it would have to be White Hot as mine is probably already just about Hot Stamper level. But Joshua Tree is good enough to be worth it. For real. If you're not hearing it, its not the recording. Somethings wrong somewhere else.
Seriously. The early tracks, Where the Streets Have No Name the organ is deep ominous and powerful. Dynamics are impressive, there's never any edge (heh) or grain and the next couple hard rocking tracks are clean and clear. Running to Stand Still you have almost Doug MacLeod quality harmonica floating in a deep black stage. Its these quieter tracks where you really appreciate the recording quality. Personally while I like the first few tracks they get a little hard on my ears but not from the sound quality just from the volume that makes these tracks sound so good. The Edge does something a little different to get a signature unique to each song, and the recording (and playback, I really think you need to find some better systems to hear this on) distinguishes among them easily. You hear every lick clean and clear, and there's a wonderful bell-like quality he's engineered into his signature sound. On lesser systems you lose the decay and bell quality, it can be almost like a washboard. Not here.
The later tracks are wonderful. To me they get better and better as there's more and more interesting sounds. There's a wheel turning with something scraping on it and it makes for one of the most fascinating sounds I have ever heard on any recording.
Records do vary tremendously from copy to copy. Its entirely possible I lucked out and got an exceptionally good one, while the vast majority are crap. If you're listening to digital then of course it is all crap. The only way I know of being sure to get a good copy, one at least as good as mine, is here https://better-records.com/search?q=u2
Yes they are worth it. Unfortunately they can only sell them when they can find copies good enough to be Hot Stampers. When they do though boy are they good! I like Joshua Tree enough to buy a White Hot Stamper (if I ever see one) but it would have to be White Hot as mine is probably already just about Hot Stamper level. But Joshua Tree is good enough to be worth it. For real. If you're not hearing it, its not the recording. Somethings wrong somewhere else.