U2

BEST OF U2-1980-90

Who says the 80s was a total drought?

Review Score:

(10/10)
When we had U2? If you only buy one 80s U2 recording, get the Best of. Alright, as everyone always says with Best of albums, it doesn't include every track - but you can't fit every track. Really, if you own this and Achtung Baby, you've got a pretty good U2 collection already.

Here's is a track-by-track. ***** songs are classics, **** songs are very good, and *** songs are decent. Because its so good, nothing is * or **.

Pride (In The Name of Love) - ***** - From the first notes, a classic. Brilliant tune, vocals, guitar...it just all comes together in the classic U2 style.

New Year's Day - ***** - Built around an unforgettable bassline, it has an excellent tune and a beautiful cry of 'I will be with you again'. A sense of motion, bulding drums, fantastic guitar.

With Or Without You - ***** - Another classic, one of the best U2 songs ever. Heartbreaking.

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - ***** - Stratospheric, soaring vocals, fantastic lyrics, beautiful gospel sound.

Sunday Bloody Sunday - **** - A great protest song with good tune. To be honest, they could have arranged it better, but it's still great.

Bad - **** - Sensitive and intimate, a beautiful tune, lovely, understated guitar, building throughout.

Where The Streets Have No Name - ***** - Another classic with one of the saddest chord progressions around, brilliant production, shows the brilliant songwriting ability of U2.

I Will Follow - **** - The only track from U2's first album Boy, it has been slated, but it is a good, raw number with a punky edge displaying U2's early promise.

The Unforgettable Fire - ***** - Soul-searching, beautiful number with lovely atmospherics and Bono at his most soulful and seductive. Classic tune.

Sweetest Thing - **** - Very catchy pop song. Not as deep as some U2 numbers, but you will know this - its just one of those songs that everyone knows even if they don't associate it with the band that sung it.

Desire - **** - A very popular U2 song. Not my absoulte favourite, but its instantly catchy and memorable - "dee-zi-i-i-i-i-ee-err!" Good guitar solo-y bits.

When Love Comes To Town (featuring BB King) - *** - Not an absolute success. BB King is a great singer/guitarist and U2 are a great band, but this doesn't quite work. The bluesy song style doesn't fit fantastically with U2. It's still not at all bad, but not the best idea they ever had.

Angel of Harlem - **** - Big, upbeat number with a celebratory feel. Funky tune, big horn parts, good hooks.

All I Want Is You - ***** - Another classic. Such a beautiful love song with painfully touching vocals. Bono sounds so heartbroken about 'all the promises we made'. Builds up and is utterly brilliant.

Overall, 7 of the 14 songs are classics, which is utterly amazing. The other 7 are excellent and only one song has serious faults. This and Achtung Baby are the only 2 U2 CDs to buy if you can't afford any more. Absolutely wonderful.

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