U2 - Best of 1980-1990 (CD)

All Music Guide

As one of the most popular bands of the '80s, U2 didn't quite fit into any particular category. They were a post-punk band that quickly found acceptance from a hard rock audience, a group that made fully formed albums but often made their best statements on individual songs, especially during the '80s. Consequently, they're a very hard band to anthologize. Since they were most effective on single songs, it seems that throwing all of them together on one disc would work. The problem is, each of the albums, from Boy to Rattle Hum, has a distinctive flavor that doesn't necessarily blend when combined, especially in the non-chronological form of The Best of 1980-1990. There's little quibbling with the featured tracks on U2's first compilation -- a few important songs, such as "Gloria," "I Fall Down," "Seconds" and "Two Hearts Beat As One," may be missing, but everything else deserves to be here ("Pride," "New Year's Day," "With or Without You," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,..." "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Bad," "Desire," etc.). It's a good choice for casual fans or nostalgia mongers, since it does contain all the hits and is an entertaining journey through the past. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read more Less