"Shadows and Tall Trees" by U2

SONG TITLE: "Shadows and Tall Trees"
ARTIST: U2
ALBUM: Boy
YEAR OF RELEASE: 1980
WORDS: macphisto
DOWNLOAD: right-click here

Bono and the boys were barely 20 years-old when they released their first album, and their youthful vigor still electric 25 years later. Bono's voice on this collection is nearly unrecognizable from later releases - it's primarily The Edge's unique guitar sounds that make it clear you're hearing the same band.

I've always thought Bono must have had a cold or something when they were recording this album. The studio track of "Gloria", which didn't make it onto the album, sounds like a man in desperate need of Benadryl. "Shadows and Tall Trees" has much the same nasal quality, though to a lesser extent than the other.

There are lots of great tunes on this first disc, but "Shadows and Tall Trees" always stood out as my favorite. I can't really say why; I guess the melancholy feel just appealed to my morose early 80s self.

Anyway, the song popped into my head this week while studying the tall skinny Ashoka and Palm trees at my hotel in India, and it's been great to rediscover an old favorite.