release date: Nov. 5, 2002
format: 2 cd (Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 3 / 5]
producer: various
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland
Best of compilation album by U2, which comes in a standard single disc version and a 2-disc Deluxe Edition with the addition of a disc titled "Best of - The B-sides", completely as was the case with the band's first best of album The Best of 1980-1990 & B-sides (Nov. 1998). Where the band with the '98 album focused on their most recent two albums, this is a bit of an extended mix. The tracks both cover the band's last four albums of the 1990's - and two of these, Zooropa (1993) and Pop (1997) do represent an artistic low-point, but the album also contains four new songs: the fine "Miss Sarajevo" recorded and released for the U2 / Brian Eno-project band, Passengers' album Original Soundtracks 1 (1995), "Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix)" (it also features the original version!), "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" made for the "Batman Forever" film by Tim Burton (1995), and "The Hands That Build America (Theme From 'Gangs of New York')" made for Martin Scorsese's 2002 film "The Gangs of New York".
As was the case in '98, the album is not really a compilation of U2's best compositions from the decade, although, several of the songs would be expected on a best of album. Strange decisions have led to the idea concerning "The Best of the B-sides" disc - too many odd mixes of original songs have been included to make it much worth. You get some, and then you get a lot of oddness, you just didn't hope for.
[ đallmusic.com 3 / 5, đPitchfork 5,6 / 10, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
