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 | Title : U2 - The Best of 1990-2000
Author : U2
Release Date : 20021112
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $11.50
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Editorial Reviews :
U2's second decade often seemed as preoccupied with the band's burgeoning superstardom--and how to confront/confound it--as it did with creating music. The band managed only four albums during the era (only half of its '80s output), projects whose gestations seemed perennially plagued by turmoil as much as mercurial creative instincts. But as this anthology chronicles, U2 ultimately managed a considerable feat: producing a memorable, lasting body of work in a decade where one of pop music's chief attributes was its disposability. The disc mixes hits like 'Mysterious Ways' and 'One' with seductive soundtrack cuts (the title track to Wim Wenders's Until the End of the World, Batman Forever's 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me'), new mixes of 'Discotheque,' 'Staring at the Sun,' and 'Numb,' and a pair of strong new tracks, the Orbit mix of 'Electrical Storm' and 'The Hands that Built America,' the title track from Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York.
Buyer Reviews :
If you were expecting the qualitative equivalanet to U2's first compilation of singles, 'Best of 1980-1990', you will find this one a bit of a disappointment, even if you liked the music of U2 from 1990 to 2000. Here's a song-by-song review:
1. 'Even Better Than the Real Thing'. As the fourth single from their most successful record of the decade, 'Achtung Baby' (1991), this pop dity, appropriately the opening track, has excellent guitar work and a lyrical irony that would characterize the 'reinvention' of U2 in its second decade.
2. 'Mysterious Ways'. As one of their most popular singles and live songs from 'Achtung Baby', the underwater guitar sound, the funky bass-line, and a distinct lyrical shift into the secular (or is it?) would yield success of U2's debut as a pop band. (NOTE: For U2 fans, a line is changed from the original at 1:43.)
3. 'Beautiful Day'. If you don't know this one, a dose of optimism and heavy guitars hearlding the first single from the 'return-to-their-roots' record, 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' (2000), you have probably been living under a rock.
4. 'Electric Storm' [William Orbit Mix]. As the first of two new songs on this release, it is curious that the band included a remix on the original compilation. While the first 50 seconds are appropriate for the accompanying lyrics, this remix lacks the venom of the original version of the song (included only on the Limited Edition bonus disc), the quality of which lies somewhere between just-good and classic.
5. 'One'. If any song of U2 in the 1990s will be remembered, it is 'One', a bittersweet ballad with multiple interpretations, which has been covered by a number of artists (e.g., Johnny Cash, R.E.M.) and would have been just as big of a hit as the other contender for U2's best ballad ('With or Without You') if it had a catchier chorus.
6. 'Miss Sarajevo'. This sleepy tune is the one single and sole entry included from the U2/Brian Eno collaboration, 'Passengers: Original Soundtracks' (1995). Unfortunately, because of the deletion more than one minute, what was a stunning guest performance by Pavorati on the original version seems awkward immediately following Bono's subdued verse on the edited version here.
7. 'Stay (Faraway, So Close!)'. This relatively traditional and mellow single from U2's exploration into art rock, 'Zooropa' (1993), moves along nicely, with its value as a U2 classic derived from the lyrical imagry and fine vocal performance by Bono.
8. 'Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of'. Although the lyrics are a bit hokey for Bono, this single was originally an ode to the deceased INXS singer who killed himself in 1997 that took on new meaning in the nationwide grief post-9/11. Nonetheless, it seems a bit out of place among the tracks from the 1990s. (NOTE: This single was not actaully released until 2001, which is when the Grammy-winning 'Walk On' and Elevation' were also released, leading me to wonder why these stronger tracks were not also included.)
9. 'Gone' [New Mix]. As one of the three tracks from the much-maligned 'Pop' (1997) record, this one was not a single, but it is hard to argue against its inclusion on this compilation, as this plodding rocker is a lyrical highpoint of the U2 canon and has remained a live staple. On this 'new mix', certain vocals and guitar parts have been re-recorded and the middle section has been re-arranged to mirror the live version - unfortunately, the result is flat and uninspiring when compared to the original.
10. 'Until the End of the World'. This is another strong non-single rocker, this time from 'Achtung Baby', which lyrically a conversation between Jesus and Judas. It has rightfully remained within the U2 live set for a decade.
11. 'The Hands That Built America'. This is the other new song on this compilation and the theme to the upcoming film 'Gangs of New York'. Initially, it comes across as a over-orchestrated and uninteresting balla back
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