Product Description

Following the release of two decade-specific 'Best Of' compilations, U2 present a career-spanning singles collection. This anthology gives a superb overview of arguably the most popular Irish rock band of the last twenty years and includesearly tracks as well as the expected stadium rock classics,such as 'Vertigo' and 'Elevation'. The collection also features two previously unreleased tracks produced by Rick Rubin, including the single 'The Saints Are Coming' with Green Day.

Track Listing

1. I Will Follow
2. Beautiful Day
3. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
4. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
5. With Or Without You
6. Vertigo
7. New Year's Day
8. Mysterious Ways
9. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
10. Where The Streets Have No Name
11. Sweetest Thing
12. Sunday Bloody Sunday
13. One
14. Desire
15. Walk On
16. Elevation
17. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
18. The Saints Are Coming - U2, Green Day
19. Window In The Skies

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2853 in Music
• Released on: 2006-11-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 79 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The youthful faces that stare out from the cover of this latest collection of singles from Irish rockers U2 suggests that the focus of the album is, perhaps, their lauded yet under-represented early days. A quick glance through the tracklisting shows that not to be the case, however. There are examples of their rawer 80s sound - "Pride", "I Will Follow", "New Year's Day" - but where, older fans may well ask, are songs like "The Electric Co", "Gloria", "I Threw A Brick", "Fire" from Boy and October? Similarly, songs like "With Or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" were on The Best Of 1980-1990, whilst "Beautiful Day", "One", "Mysterious Ways" and "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" were all on The Best Of 1990-2000. U218 does have the advantage of featuring more recent tracks, including their collaboration with Green Day, "The Saints Are Coming" and a new song, "Windows In The Skies". Whilst dedicated followers of the band may see this as a missed opportunity to offer fans some genuinely rare gems, it still remains a collection of mighty pop music masterpieces.--Danny McKenna

Customer Reviews

WHY?
Like a lot of reviewers for this album, I cant see the point of it. It was only a little while ago two best ofs were released. Though strictly speaking these were greatest hits compilation's. When will these record companies realise there is a difference? This album is just a watered down version of the best ofs with a couple of new tracks. And, apart from the fact there are 18 songs on here, is there any other significance in the title? Its certainly not because these are their first 18 singles because there not. Maybe its because these are their 18 biggest hits. There is so much missing. There is nothing from Boy, October, Zooropa or Pop. Perhaps there is going to be a volume 2 in the near future. What should have been released is a compilation of their whole career including stuff from their first two albums, which seem to have been forgotten about after the War album and superstardom came along. If your new to U2 and just want an album of the big hits this will do. Otherwise check out their best albums:Boy, October, War, Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.

One best of U2 too many
U218 is the third U2 compliation, following The Best of 1980-1990 and 1990-2000. As stated by another reviewer , the usefulness of greatest hits and best of compliations is surely diminshed nowadays by downloading, whereby people can make their own selections consisting of the songs that they most enjoy. In the excellent book, U2 by U2, Bono states that the band waited a long time before agreeing to the release of a best of album, so it is quite surprising therefore that three compliations have now emerged during this decade.
U218 as the title implies consists of 18 singles, ranging from the early days through to a brand new song featured on the album. I actually prefer compliations to have songs arranged chronically, so that it can be seen how the band changed over time, rather than the songs being randonly placed next to each other. So here we have the fairly recent song, Beautiful Day, next to Where The Streets Have No Name, which was released in 1987. The album also omits several classic U2 songs, including their second number one single, The Fly, although their first number one Desire, which I think is one of their weakest tracks, is included. Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me is also not featured here and surely more single releases could have been incorporated from Achting Baby, one of the bands best albums. Overall, although the quality of many of the songs included speaks for itself, this is an unnecessary release, perhaps reflected in its relatively low sales.

Musically brilliant, but artistically redundant - a THIRD best of?
I'm sick of record companies thinking they can fleece us.

A `Best of' is aimed at two types of people : completists who have to have everything - and people who can't even be bothered to pay £6.99 for the album when it comes out. Perhaps the worst thing about this is the overall sense of callous exploitation. I know music is a business, but to me, the words "Music" and "Business" go together like "Military" and "Intelligence".

So, on November 20th, be amazed - or more correctly, slightly bored when a third U2 "Best Of" hits the racks. 16 songs you've heard before, and 2 you haven't.

What bothers me most is the lack of care and attention to detail that bands and labels put into these releases - how do they do it?

1. Ensure a poor track selection.

Every band and their dog now has these a greatest hits. But what shall the band do? They'll pick only the biggest hits, and forget to include anything of value to the real fan. Want a vinyl only recording of "Out Of Control"? Want the vinyl only single of "11 O Clock Tick Tock"? What about "A Celebration"?

Nope. What about the fourth appearance on CD of "New Years Day" - that'll keep you happy. If you want "11 O Clock Tick Tock" on CD, furgeddabuit. You can always pay through the nose at iTunes for low-bit-rate, DRM'ed crud. Or pick up an old 7" for silly money. Go on. Those jets need to be paid for. After all, it's The Best of, you fanboy, not anything designed to please you.

2. Non chronologcial sequencing

Hang on a cottonpicking minute - Hits never sound better in the order they were released. You don't want to hear the band change, evolve/devolve, and you can follow the narrative. But if I wanted songs to appear in some random haphazard way that sounds like it's being chosen by an unfeeling machine with no understanding of context, style, or taste, I can always hit "Shuffle" on my black & red etched signature 20GB U2Pod. OK?

3. Cover Art

An old picture with some fancy warholian colours and a bizarre typeface. That'll do it. Forget the care and attention people use to put to designing a work of art knowin as an album sleeve. CD is disposable, transient : a consumer product, baked beans. Just write "U2 BEST OF" on the front, you'll do fine.

4. Don't actually use the singles.

I already have the album versions of these songs : why not the remix you did for the single? After all, if you want to lure in punters, that's the one they know and love. Did you know that "Where The Streets Have No Name" was re-recorded for single release, and aside from a 20 year old CD (probably with PDO disc-rot), it's never been on a hits album? Don't dare put that out. Let it rot. Put the album version on - it's less hassle that way.

5. Ignore the stench of contractual obligation

How much money do U2 need? Even the Irish government is building the band their own skyscraper. And you've only released four singles since your last hits compilation. So why not be money grubbing and sell your dignity. Treat your fans and the songs with the respect they deserve. They'll buy any old rubbish ; sell it to them.

6. Don't release a B-Sides album

In their career, U2 have managed to hide new recordings on the flipside of all but 2 of their 45 singles - put out a singles or b-sides box set. If you want to fleece us, reprint all the singles as CD's in card sleeves and flog us a `complete a's & b-sides' 45CD box set for something ridiculous - if you must. At worst, a 4 or 5 CD box set of all the 100 or so non-album songs with a little book in. Or... why not....

7. A Remixes Bonus Disc

I thought a bonus was `free'? Not anymore. Your bonus disc can cost up to £9 for say, a 40 minute DVD, or a bunch of generic listen-just-once-and-then-destroy remixes. If you're lucky the bonus disc has unreleased stuff - for maximum fan fleeceage - but whatever you do, make sure it's in a non-chronological order, and only live versions or demos. Get yourself a clue Bono, - you haven't got a danceable bone in your skinny white rock body, so stop trying to chase the latest club trend and admit that white saviours can't dance.

8. The DVD

Put some of your promo videos on a DVD, slap on some `deluxe limited edition' content (a couple of TV appearances, an alternate video, maybe an interview with the band's hairstylist, assuming you're not suing them). Whatever you do - don't put ALL your videos on the package, and don't dare think about a Beatles-style Anthology release with anything resembling an interesting documentary, lest you be providing your fans with value for money. Don't forget to put some stupidly obscure `easter eggs' : insert the number of the year the band formed at one particular menu to see a 45 second montage of Bono's hairstyles over the years to a techno remix of "Pride (In The Name Of Martin Luther King And African Justice)". And then charge us £19.99 for it. Go on!

9. Don't play live

Fly all the way to the US or England, and then ONLY play four songs live on TV to 300 people. Don't even think about selling tickets for gigs - even though you'll shill your wares for free on TV. Be one of the biggets bands in the world, and perform for a randomly chosen selection of 300 bored punters who only recognise the singer as the guy who meets the politician dudes and flashes "V" signs at cameras.

10. Whatever you do...

Don't treat your catalogue with respect. Don't put the singles out in chronological versions. Don't use the now obscure, and out-of-print singles mixes. Don't re-release rare songs or b-side only mixes. Don't treat your fans with respect. Don't give us value for money. Don't provide any unreleased or rare material. Don't open the vaults. Don't have tasteful cover art. Don't forget not to remaster your awful sounding CD's that reflect a rushed CD reissue 20 years ago. Don't forget to leave hundreds of songs sitting on the shelf. Don't forget to release a new album every four years, because you don't want to dilute the brand with too many releases (hint: it's too late for that). Don't make us think you actually treat your artistic legacy with any respect or reverence. Treat your catalogue as a treasure to be plundered, raped and thrown away. And remember - taste is the enemy of cash. Just implore your fans to follow Bob Geldof's instructions.... AND GIVE US YOUR MONEY!