U2 - The Best Of 1990-2000 (CD 2002)

By the end of the 1980s, U2 were poised on the brink of disappearing up their own fundamental gaps, but then they did "Achtung Baby" embracing irony and modern music in a garish celebration of pop culture. Basking in that album's success, U2 continued to release Euro-experimental music leading them to a celebrated return to roots on "All That You Can't Leave Behind". Through it all, they turned out singles that equaled their '80s work (and in the case of "One" and "Beautiful Day," surpassed it), providing the basic ingredients for a second collection.

However, this collection is botched by a desperate attempt to rewrite history. Original mixes are replaced by recent remixes, while album tracks and two new songs elbow out actual hits. Naturally, this highlights what's missing, which is quite a bit: "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses," "Zooropa," "Lemon," "Mofo," "Last Night on Earth," "Walk On," "Elevation," "Peace on Earth," to name a few. This wouldn't hurt as much if the new songs were good, but they're bland - particularly "Electrical Storm" which, to add insult to injury, is presented not in the original mix, but in a William Orbit mix - a vague electronic gloss that doesn't work. Worst of all, anytime U2 flirted too closely with either dance or electronica has been replaced by mixes So, all the "Pop" material ("Gone," "Discotheque," "Staring at the Sun") are given new mixes, as is "Numb," none of them improvements and all undermining the actual career of U2 in the '90s. Then, these mixes, new songs, and hits are thrown out seemingly at random, with no regard for either chronology or musical momentum. Sure, there are great songs here — not just "Mysterious Ways" and "Beautiful Day," but relatively rare items like "Miss Sarajevo" (sounding more majestic than ever) and "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" plus the underappreciated "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" (as lovely as anything they've ever cut). That may be enough for some listeners, but it's hard not to wish that The Best of 1990-2000 actually lived up to its title and presented an overview of this excellent era in a logical, accurate manner.

love this cd , great song son it , my fav song is one , bonno is great , this u2 cd reminds me of my younger days . anyone that is a fan of u2 should add this cd to their music collection. A++++

I purchased the CD as I am building a collection of U2 material.
The music is typically of that era with many of the tracks familiar to the casual listener.