Already established as a major act by the end of the 1980’s, U2 had struck a nerve with music fans with their unique blend of spiritual and political aware lyrics. The band was tight with the Edge’s signature guitar work, Bono’s wide-ranging voice and a stout rhythm section in Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton. With the help from legendary producer Brian Eno, such records as The Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum had catapulted the four lads from Dublin to superstardom. The band need a break after 10 years of recording and touring and took an extended hiatus. What was to follow would shock and delight fans as well as make U2 the most successful band of the 1990’s.
In 1990 U2 reconvened in Berlin with Brian Eno, Flood and Daniel Lanois (who had worked with the likes of Bob Dylan and Peter Gabriel) to record Achtung Baby. Under the watchful eyes and discerning ears of Eno and Lanois, the disc represented a successful reinvention of the band’s trademark sound. Inspired by David Bowie’s mid-70’s work, U2 were in an experimental phase and incorporated electronic and dance music. Bono created an alter-ego, the Fly. Wearing skin tight leathers and bug-like sunglasses, he morphed into a cartoon-like “Rock Star”. Despite the glossy image and updated sound, the band had not lost sight lyrically of their trademark righteous political fervor. After embarking on the highly anticipated and successful Zoo TV tour, U2 again entered the studio to record an EP which ultimately became the full-length Zooropa. Unlike Achtung Baby, Zooropa would delve further into techno grooves and dance inspired music. By the time 1997’s Pop (the groups’ first album without Eno since 1984) cd was released, the electronic experimentation was growing weary. However, what U2 were attempting to do was make a statement with a desire for a higher power to save the world from its jaded spiral of decay and immorality. Despite the very obvious sacred messages, Pop received the worst reviews of the bands career.
Nearly 10 years after the reinvention of U2, the group teamed up with Eno and Lanois to record their last cd of the millennium, All That You Can’t Leave Behind. The result was groups return to more straight ahead Rock and Roll. With limited use of synthetic sounds and studio trickery, the album has been compared to U2’s best 80’s recordings, most notably The Joshua Tree.
The Best Of 1990-2000 & B-Sides would be seemingly unnecessary for hardcore fans if not for the remixes, rarities and previously unreleased material. The first disc delivers the expected hits such as “One”, “Mysterious Ways” and “Beautiful Day” but also has some welcome surprises. Acclaimed producer William Orbit remixes the bands new single, “Electric Storm”. An additional new song, “The Hands That Built America”, appears from the upcoming film Gangs Of New York soundtrack. Another films’ song makes its way on to the compilation, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,“ the glam-rock theme to Batman Forever. From the bands experimental side project with Brian Eno, Passengers, comes “Miss Sarajevo” with guest Luciano Pavarotti. Remixes of “Gone”, Numb”, “Staring At The Sun” and “Discotheque” are also treats on disc one.
The B-Sides set is a collection of previously unreleased material and remixes including a rendition of the Beatles classic “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”, along with vaulted gems “Summer Rain”, “North And South Of The River” and the radio version of “Electric Storm”. Remixes conclude the second cd including “Lemon” “Even better Than The Real Thing” and intense techno remixes of “Numb” and “Discotheque” (which contains samples from ‘Fame’ performed by Freedom).
U2 have transformed their image and music almost as many times as their hero David Bowie over the past twenty years with groundbreaking, passionate and timely recordings with no signs of slowing down. If you’re just interested in the “hits”, don’t waste your money on this anthology; buy the less expensive, 16 track edition. However for enthusiastic fans, The Best Of 1990-2000 & B-Sides is an absolute must have.