<P> The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2 . It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno , and was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records . In contrast to the ambient experimentation of their 1984 release , The Unforgettable Fire , the band aimed for a harder - hitting sound within the limitation of conventional song structures on The Joshua Tree . The album is influenced by American and Irish roots music , and through sociopolitically conscious lyrics embellished with spiritual imagery , it contrasts the group 's antipathy for the `` real America '' with their fascination with the `` mythical America '' . </P>
<P> The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2 . It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno , and was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records . In contrast to the ambient experimentation of their 1984 release , The Unforgettable Fire , the band aimed for a harder - hitting sound within the limitation of conventional song structures on The Joshua Tree . The album is influenced by American and Irish roots music , and through sociopolitically conscious lyrics embellished with spiritual imagery , it contrasts the group 's antipathy for the `` real America '' with their fascination with the `` mythical America '' . </P>
where does the joshua tree get its name
where does the joshua tree get its name
Irish roots music
Irish roots music