U2 - U2 - The Best of 1990-2000

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. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

even better than the real thing

Though this certainly ain't exhaustive, it proves to be an interesting collection of their songs that are rendered in an alternative, spirited and "progressive" form that makes for lots of listening pleasure. The beauty of U2 is that you can effectively take twenty or thirty of their songs, add a few variations (such as re-interpretations) and it makes for inspired, enlightened and enjoyable listening. So many site the previous twenty years as their creative zenith...but man, haven't they delivered some monumental goods in the past twenty! May 8, 2008

Beautiful Day

As a newly introduced fan, this is a great collection for someone like me. Love those '90s songs! April 20, 2008

An okay package

I am a U2 fan, have been one since "War" and happily gobble up their CD's when they are released. The GH package from their first decade was fantastic...holding the required big hits, plus packaging a disc of B sides. This effort is more going through the motions.

There are several huge hits on here, as well as soundtrack work that might have been great on another B side disc...but here they are all glommed into one. It's almost as if the band should have waited or dug deeper for material but figured something had to be released because of the passing of a decade.

It's still U2...but a double disc live album would have been a better package. April 2, 2008

Better than 1980-1990 by a long shot

I give Island and Interscope both pointers for assembling this U2 collection. The single-disc 'The Best of 1990-2000' was released in 2002 as a follow up to 1998's 'The Best of 1980-1990.' The compilation covers the period very well, spanning 1991's 'Achtung Baby' to 2000's 'All That You Can't Leave Behind,' you get a great retrospective of the period.

Unlike the previous, you get almost every major hit from the period here. 'Even Better Than The Real Thing,' 'Mysterious Ways,' 'The First Time' and 'Beautiful Day' all appear on this set. And, the sound quality is excellent!

But, just like 1980-1990, there is plenty missing. Where is 'Lemon,' 'Zoo Station,' 'Elevation,' 'Walk On' and 'If God Will Send His Angels'? And, why is every song from 1997's 'Pop' remixed? I LOVE the remixes, but why not put one song from the underrated masterpiece in it's album format?

Overall, this is a worthy buy for the casual U2 fan. I have really enjoyed this CD, and casual fans will too.

Highly recommended for any U2 fan. ENJOY!!! March 15, 2008

Hmm

I wish they had asked me what were the best songs of this era, as about half of these would not have made the cut. Nonetheless, it's a good cut of the songs that I do feel were the best, and it's got a worthy place in the fanatic's collection. August 2, 2007

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