For some strange reason, "War" is considered the high-water mark of their early work as a band. It replaced Michael Jackson's "Thriller" at the top of the charts, becoming the band's first #1 album in the UK. There were three huge singles in America and the record was eventually ranked number 221 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Objectively, "War" was U2's worst album until 1997's "" came along. Admittedly, the first three tracks are excellent. The record kicks off with the martial-drum intensity of "Sunday Bloody Sunday," then segues into atmospheric nuclear nightmare "Seconds," and…yet another atmospheric nuclear nightmare (not to mention one of their best songs), the classic "New Year's Day." At this point we're running full steam.