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Despite Pop's patchiness, the songs' zeitgeist experimentation and fundamental nonchalant attitude to their own position in the U2 scheme of things are both invigorating and satisfying. Notably though, they've been reworked (i.e., finished) here: "Staring at the Sun" apparently suffering from "mid-temp syndrome". The new versions are better, and the new songs "Electrical Storm" and "The Hands that Built America" are stronger still. However nothing comes close to the dark, bruised masterpieces from Achtung Baby, particularly "The Fly". The track order is odd, with some telling omissions ("Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses") and strange inclusions ("The First Time"), which just goes to show how hard the band have considered the songs as they see them today. Let's hope that after their current back to basics attitude they'll go all weird again soon. --Ben Johncock
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Personal highlights include, Even Better than the real thing, One, Stay, Gone and The Fly.
It abtly demenstrates Bonos ability as a lyricist and singer, while also showing why Edge is one of the most revered guitarists around, and Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton keep the musical pulse pumping. It also opens up listeners to delve further into U2 albums, definitley check out Pop(different) Atomic Bomb(guitar and more guitar) ATYCLB(melodic) and Acthung Baby(classic). This best of is a must for any music fan.
I must say I was a little dissapointed with the tracks for this album. It would have been nice to have had the original versions of the likes of "Discotheque" and "Staring at the Sun" but I suppose the new versions are OK.
I must ask though, who's idea was it to not put in "Who's Gonna Ride in Your Wild Horses" and "If God Will send His Angels". These are two great songs that I really don't see the point in leaving out of the list.
A favorite of mine which isn't in is "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" which I would have liked in and which I think is a little under-rated.
But there are some good points to the album. Most of their best songs are in like "One", "Mysterious Ways", "Stay (Faraway, So Close)" and "Gone". I wasn't sure whether putting songs from ATYCLB was the best idea, but it does liven up the album a bit more. The bonus of "Electrical Storm" was a good idea and balences the album out taking it away from being too much like just a experimentation album.
Overall, the album is quite good, all the best songs are there, however some tracks would have been nice to stick in also. If you want an introduction to the nineties U2 then this is the best way to start.
P.S. Get the Special Edition with the B-Sides disk.
Yes, it's hard to argue with many selections on this album, and indeed a lot of the material on this album is absolutely essential listening for any rock fan (i.e. "One", "Beautiful Day", "Stay", "Mysterious Ways"). But the Zooropa, and especially Pop, eras seems to have completely desiccated. Sure, new mixes of "Staring At the Sun", "Discotheque", and "Gone" are pleasant enough, but including them on the Best Of, in place of the original mixes, completely destroys the history associated with that era. Yes, we know the band were not happy with them. But for authenticity's sake, the original mixes should have been included, with a bonus disc featuring the new ones. Then fans could have decided what THEY wanted to listen to. It's also very strange to see "Numb" remixed, a track that stood up very well on its original mix. If anything, the classic dance mix of "Lemon" from Zooropa should have been included, a mix that WAS deserving to appear here.
And The Fly relegated to UK bonus track status?! Sorry to say, but that's a positive insult. It stands as one of the best tracks in the U2 calibre, and the track that mercifully dethroned Brian Adams horror "Everything I Do" from its never-ending grip on the chart. It certainly deserves a lot more than bonus track status, a decision that results in the rest of the world not hearing it.
On the plus side, its great to see the fantastic Passengers collaboration "Miss Sarajevo" on here, plus the excellent "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" from the Batman Forever soundtrack. But whither other great tracks? "Dirty Day", "Elevation", "If God Will Send His Angels," "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," "Who's Gonna Wide Your Wild Horses": all should have had a place here. While The First Time is a fine track, it isn't as strong as any of the mentioned tracks here, so it's a bit mystifying as to why it was included.
The token new tracks "Electrical Storm" and "The Hands That Built America" are pleasant enough, and do shore up a basically good collection of songs. It's true, any casual fan that doesn't already own U2's 90s output will want to get a hold of this collection. And there's too much great material here to simply disregard. However, the way the "Pop" material, and other important tracks in the 90s, have simply been altered or abandoned altogether is infuriating. Any serious U2 fan could have put together a more consistent and better balanced compilation than the one Island has given to the world.
So, in short, yes it is a necessary compilation. Buy it. But sadly, it is one that could have been done so much better.
(Preferably, if you're buying, try to go for the 3-CD Special Edition, which features some great U2 B Sides and alternative mixes).
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