BBC Music’s 1984 albums list has one big problem

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I love that BBC Music puts out so many lists – it’s awesome! They usually have some really great picks, though honestly, every list seems to have something I disagree with. That’s just the nature of ranking music, I guess – you can’t make everyone happy. But it’s still fair to point out when they get something wrong, right?

BBC Music recently published a list of the best albums from 1984, and they made some great choices. Placing Prince’s Purple Rain at number one feels perfect, and Depeche Mode’s Some Great Reward at number 14 is also well-deserved (the list only includes 15 albums total). However, the omission of U2’s The Unforgettable Fire is a clear mistake.

U2 was creating some truly incredible albums – including The Unforgettable Fire, which came between the equally impressive War and The Joshua Tree – making a remarkable three-album streak. However, in 1984, they only released one album, and it stood out as very different from the popular music of the time.

BBC Music’s ranking of the best albums of 1984 missed an important one from U2

During an era when MTV heavily influenced rock music, bands needed both great songs and visually exciting music videos to succeed. U2, however, decided to create an album that didn’t focus on catchy, danceable singles or videos at all.

Produced by Brian Eno, the album was characterized by its atmospheric, textured sound and melancholic tone. It experimented with soundscapes, creating a foundation for U2’s future musical direction. This marked a departure from their earlier, angrier post-punk style, forging a completely new path for the Irish band that would go on to achieve massive success.

Often, people didn’t understand U2’s artistic vision, expecting them to follow the typical path for bands: release an album, make music videos, and cater to popular tastes, even if that wasn’t their style. U2 has always resisted this pressure, occasionally acknowledging it with a touch of irony, similar to Andy Warhol.

It’s not crucial that U2’s The Unforgettable Fire was left off BBC Music’s list, but it absolutely deserved a place somewhere on it. Along with other great albums like XTC’s The Big Express, David Sylvian’s Brilliant Trees, and the Smiths’ first album, U2’s fourth album – and one that often gets overlooked – should have been included.

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2026-05-06 21:00