Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Even Better Than The Real Thing
2. Mysterious Ways
3. Beautiful Day
4. Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix - NEW TRACK)
5. One
6. Miss Sarajevo (Single Radio Edit)
7. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
8. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
9. Gone (Mike Hedges Mix)
10. Until The End Of The World
11. The Hands That Built America (Theme From Gangs Of New York) (NEW TRACK)
12. Discotheque (Mike Hedges Mix - NEW MIX)
13. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
14. Staring At The Sun (Mike Hedges Mix - NEW MIX)
15. Numb (Mike Hedges Mix - NEW MIX)
16. The First Time
17. The Fly (UK BONUS TRACK)

Disc 2:

1. Lady With The Spinning Head (Extended Dance Mix)
2. Dirty Day (Junk Day Mix)
3. Electrical Storm
4. Summer Rain
5. North and South Of The River
6. Your Blue Room
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (The Gun Mix)
8. Salome (Zooromancer Mix)
9. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Perfecto Mix)
10. Numb (Give Me Some More Dignity Mix)
11. Mysterious Ways (Solar Blexus Club Mix)
12. If God Will Send His Angels (Big Yam Mix)
13. Lemon (Jeep Mix)
14. Discotheque (Hexidecimal Mix)

Disc 3:

1. History Mix (Video)
2. Best Of DVD Promo
3. Video - 'Please' (Mural Cut) (Bonus Video)
4. Video - 'Beautiful Day' (Eze Version) (Bonus Video)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13463 in Music
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Number of discs: 3
• Format: Limited Edition

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Best of 1990-2000 can be seen as an introduction to the reinvented U2 (Part One), the group who ruined irony for everyone. Gone were the mullets, canyon-scraping guitars and "locust winds", and out came the fly shades, leather and TV remote. Bono hid behind a mask, started enjoying himself, and the band begun making the best, most interesting, diverse and rewarding music of their career. When grouped together, however, the material on The Best of 1990-2000 feels mix-matched. But that is hardly surprising considering the between-album sonic leaps (bordering on artistic self-indulgence and poncy-Enofications with Passengers) and the half finished Pop.

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 having suffered 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 when their current back-to-basics attitude subsides they'll go all weird again. --Ben Johncock

CD Description
The second volume of U2's 'Best Of' series which features songs released by the band from 1990-2000, includes tracks taken from 'Achtung Baby', 'Zooropa', 'Passengers', 'Pop' and 'All That You Can't Leave Behind'. In addition there are twonew tracks, and a number of songs which have been reworked by Mike Hedges. This limited edition version features a second disc filled with B-sides; as well as a DVD which includesvideos and an exclusive documentary by the band.

Customer Reviews

Worth a Second CD?
Best Of

They've done it again. U2's first best of (1980-90) seemed to contain their best ('Pride', 'With or Without You', etc), and to many it was only 1991's Achtung Baby that offered much more before U2 somewhat lost the plot in the mid-90s. Well, 'The Best of 1990-2000' combines a rather eclectic mix of material to reveal that, despite Bono going somewhat off-track (which he always was) U2 continued to put out a steady stream of high quality material.

The big hits from Achtung Baby are mostly present ('Even Better...', 'Mysterious Ways', 'One') though 'Who's Going to Ride Your Wild Horses' is strangely absent. Their recent 'return to form' is borne out by the presence of 'Stuck in a Moment...' and 'Beautiful Day'; the greatest classic U2 songs since Achtung. At first the new single 'Electrical Storm' sounds slightly out of place, but it's another that really grows on you, and augurs well for the future. Personally I'd have quite liked to see 'Elevation' included too, but it wasn't.

We do, however, get 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me' from the Batman movie soundtrack, and another new song 'The Hands That Built America' (theme from Gangs of New York). Unfortunately neither of these are particularly exciting, and the same can be said for a couple of others - one can't help wondering if 'Miss Sarajevo' was included more for its political message, or Luciano Pavarotti's warblings, but either way I'd have left it out.

Most interestingly, much of the material from the mid-90s albums appears in 'new mixes' by Mike Hedges. Perhaps an admission the band weren't fully happy with Pop themselves, or maybe a response to the fans' reaction. Whatever the reason, the edginess of 'Discotheque' and 'Numb' is thankfully retained, but 'Staring at the Sun' doesn't fare so well. Still, at least these new versions add something more for fans that already have the respective albums.

B-Sides

The trouble with b-sides is, there's generally a reason why they weren't album tracks, so it would be unfair to expect too much of this second disc. Apart from the original version of 'Electrical Storm' (strangely the first disc has the William Orbit mix) this CD is a mix of sometimes second-rate songs and dance remixes by the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Rollo and Rob D. Of the b-side songs, only 'Summer Rain' and the Lennon and McCartney cover 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' particularly stand out. Others while not terrible, are pretty much filler material (which is why they were left to b-sides).

The dance remixes will, no doubt, be more divisive. Anyone who didn't like the experimentation of Pop and prefers the classic rock may be better off avoiding them altogether. That said, the Zooromancer remix of 'Salome' and Perfecto mix of 'Even Better Than The Real Thing' are not only interesting re-workings, but pretty good in their own right. One can see how the 'take me higher' chorus could have been a house/rave anthem. Admittedly, not all work so well; 'Numb' being the biggest disappointment.

DVD

Limited edition versions include a bonus DVD as well as the two discs. This contains the 'history mix', essentially a trailer for the new U2 DVD and videos for 'Please' (absent from the main compilation) and 'Beautiful Day'. A nice bonus, but nothing to get excited by.

I'd give the whole package 4.5 stars. Whether it's worth buying this or just the 'best of' depends on how likely you are to enjoy the dance remixes.

Great Hits - but not necessarily their greatest?
This is a fine collection of tracks by any standard and is a good showcase of the bands undoubted greatness. It is just a shame that the band suffered a dip in the quality of their output as they went all postmodernistic and tried to re-invent irony. This minor gripe aside this is a must have of an album for anyone who appreciates what good music is all about. The strongest tracks on the album are those taken from Achtung Baby and Everything You Can't Leave Behind, which any U2 fan is of course familiar with. The more interesting part of the album is the B-sides, particular Lady with the Spinning Head, which has been given a remix which keeps the fundamental elements of the song; Edge's guitar and Larry's drumming. Unfortunately the Solar Plexus Club Mix of Mysterious Ways had made it into the list, which tears apart the original track, and leaves nothing but a bland collection of noise around the driving guitar riff.
One bad track however does not make a bad album, and as the band did not remix this track... it can be easily forgiven.
In essence this is a great album and one which must be in everyone's collection.

Best of the Best
And so a new decade began and so a new U2 began. With their final act of the 80's having been slated for its overindulgence U2 decided to rip their sound down and start again. The Joshua Tree cut down with chainsaws as Bono was quoted.

Out went big hair, the vests and the waving of flags, in came slick leather gear, irony and of course the fly shades.

This is a great album for the U2 beginner but equally for the U2 fan. 17 tracks on the a side, 14 on the b side and a 4 track dvd extra represents value for money.

The mighty Actung Baby (surely U2's finest work) is represented at its peak with The Fly and One. Zooropa, Pop (all of whoms songs have been reworked), All That You Cant Leave Behind are all represented as is the Passangers song Miss Sajarevo, and the mighty Batman tune Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me.

New songs Electrical Storm and the beautiful The Hands That Built America point out the direction U2 are now heading.

A fine collection.