U2

BEST OF U2-1980-90

U2 Lite - For casual or lazy fans only...

Review Score:

(6/10)
How could you screw up a greatest hits collection of the peak period of one of the greatest bands not only of the 80s(right up there with the Police), not only of the last 20 years(giving Aerosmith a run for their money for old farts still rocking out), not only of Great Britain(a notch or two below the Beatles and Zeppelin, for sure) -but surely the greatest of the earnest rockers(imagine Midnight Oil with good songs or Big Country with more than one good album)?!? Well, as anyone whose seen "Rattle and Hum" can believe, they sure botched this one.

The Bad - Including edited versions of "New Years Day" and "Where the Streets Have No Name". I thought CDs were able to hold as much as you could fit on there. And if they were really concerned about space, they could have left off "Angel of Harlem", "When Love Comes to Town" and the commercial prostitution of their latest single, the remix of "Sweetest Thing". 2. Nothing included from "October" (apparently their least selling CD-no need to entice fans to buy some of their best, but least commercial material). 3. The songs certainly don't flow together. Putting them in chronological or even alphabetical order would have worked better!!

The Missing - 1. "Heartland" - the 2nd best song off of "Rattle and Hum" 2. "Running to Stand Still" from "Joshua Tree" 3. "Gloria", "October" and possibly "Tomorrow" from "October" 4. Live versions of either "Electric Co." or "A Sort of Homecoming" 5. The most glaring ommission - "40"...how can you not close their "Best of" CD w/out the sing-along set-closer of their glory years?!?!(Its only 2 minutes long for goodness sakes!!)

Much like the movie made about them, U2 deserve better. My recommendation is to find the import version of this CD which also includes the B-sides. Its worth the extra $$ and includes "Spanish Eyes" and "Luminous Times" from "Joshua Tree" singles, plus "3 Sunrises" and "Love Comes Tumbling" from their "Wide Awake in America" EP. For new fans, go out and get "Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby". If you like the former, try "War" and "Unforgettable Fire" next. If you like the latter, check out "Zoorapa" or better yet, quit while your ahead.

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