I was really big on U2 throughout my high school days.  I adored Boy, War, and about half of The Unforgettable Fire.  So raw, so compelling.

Shortly before graduation in 1987, The Joshua Tree was released and catapulted the band to superduperstardom.  The ultra-smashy smash hits came like gangbusters - "With or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "Our Song Titles Still Aren't Long Enough So Here's Another Platinum-Selling Single People Will Hate Typing When They Do Worthless Music Blogs No One Reads", I mean the hits just kept on coming.

I merely went "eh."  Seriously, as much as I can appreciate what went into making it, I just never enjoyed that album all that much.  However, there was one glittering jewel amongst the morass of "meh" - the wonderful "One Tree Hill."  That song was also a #1 hit... in New Zealand, the only place it was released as a single (the actual One Tree Hill is located in Auckland).

I love this track dearly.  I love its dynamics, with its crescendos and decrescendos.  I love Larry Mullen's drum part, and that's saying something, because I never thought all that much of him as a drummer.  I love that delayed, staccato guitar part.  I love those strings and that bass line.

And Bono is just fabulous on it.

YouTube fanvid for "One Tree Hill"

Wikipedia blurb