In the world ,where everyone, who has one album and a single, releases a BEST OF album, seems U2īs BEST OF 1980-1990 like a miracle. U2 have existed almost 20 years now and its their first album of this kind. In nearby future, two other BH albums will be released. This should fill Island recordsī money box for SOME time. Now, lets descend into a world full of pure musical perfection. Into a world of U2.
Every 80īs U2 album is represented by at least one song (Under a blood red sky and Wide awake in America not included). That is - BOY (1980), OCTOBER (1981), WAR (1983), THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE (1984), THE JOSHUA TREE (1987) and RATTLE & HUM (1988). Unfortunately, songs are not in chronological order, therefore cant grasp bandīs development, but (as Edge said in an interview) that wasnt intended.
First is mega-famous PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) (THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE). Best U2 song, according to Edge. Edge does a great job with his guitar in this song. Pride was dedicated to Martin Luther King.
Next is NEW YEARīS DAY (WAR). Bonoīs voice is very irish in this song. It sounds a little epic to me. Guess which song will be playing at my home when clock hits midnight on 31.12.
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU (THE JOSHUA TREE). This is U2īs classic. One of their all time best, no doubt. A beautyful, slow (in the end it plays faster, though) balade.
I STILL HAVENīT FOUND WHAT IīM LOOKING FOR (THE JOSHUA TREE) is full of energy. A song that always cheers you up. As well as other songs from Joshua Tree, ISHFWILF (hehe) is anthem-like :-)
SUNDAY, BLOODY SUNDAY (WAR) was a breakthrough for U2. SBS was 80īs revolution anthem for Ireland. An agressive song, which fully demonstrates bandīs will to fight.
BAD (THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE) is awesome and relaxing. All sounds have echoes and make the song somehow better. One of my favorite on the album.
WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME (THE JOSHUA TREE) sounds a little like a mix between previous Joshua tree songs (WOWY and ISHFWILF). In this song is Edge with his guitar at his best (at least for me). A true masterpiece. The chorus is awesome :-)
I WILL FOLLOW (BOY). When I first heard this one, I thought it to be very new, like from Rattle&Hum. What a surprise !! Its the oldest of them all. A classic U2 "good olī times" rock song.
THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE (THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE hehe) was a peek into the future, where U2 are experimenting with sound. A strange and desperate song. I really love this song.
THE SWEETEST THING ī98 (UNRELEASED) is an old song from Where the streets have no name single. This version is remade to fit new generation music, but the old version was good enough, so this was a little useless. I have a feeling that it was made on Island recordsī order. Still its a cool, cheerful chanson. Bono wrote the song for his wife, when he forgot her b-day.
DESIRE (RATTLE & HUM) is a "return to the roots" song. Energetic and fast rock piece.
WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN (RATTLE & HUM) shows U2īs fascination by classic american soul and jazz. Edgeīs guitar sounds a little Eric Claptonish :-)
ANGEL OF HARLEM (RATTLE & HUM) is a superb cheerful song from NY. From this song you can make a picture of New York. Hmmm...NY+Angel = :-)
ALL I WANT IS YOU (RATTLE & HUM) is propably my favorite on GH. A return to Joshua Tree days. Sounds a little sad, though. A truly awesome song. Edge plays INCREDIBLY in this song.
OCTOBER (OCTOBER..hehe) is as a bonus here. Its on the same track as AIWIY, but everyone knows it by now. A great solo by Bono. Too bad its that short. Still its my favorite from October (together with the ultimate irish song, Tomorrow, which, I cant believe it, isnt on GH album)
Best of 1980-1990 has been sold together with a second CD, which carries various B-sides. Im not going to describe those, because if you have the second CD theres no need to describe them and if you dont have it, you cant buy it anymore. Lets just say that these B-sides are much better than what many "artists" put on their main albums. Some of them even deserve to be on U2īs regular albums.
The Best Of 1980-1990 is, no doubt, one of my best CDs. If you expect something like X/10, youre gonna be disappointed. The ones who know me, dont have a hard time, finding out my rating. The ones who dont know me--- READ THIS PAGE AGAIN !!!
My tip for next GH album (the 1990-?2000? album) would be
ACHTUNG BABY (1991) - Even better than the real thing, One, Mysterious ways, Whoīs gonna ride your wild horses
ZOOROPA (1993) - Zooropa, Numb, Lemon, Stay (Faraway, so close)
POP (1997) - Discotheque, If god will send his angels, Staring at the sun, Please
If I could put on more songs Id add - Love is blindness, Ultraviolet, First time, Dirty days, If you wear that velvet dress, Wake up dead man, Playboy mansion
