REVIEW: U2, The Best Of 1980-1990 (Island)
- Bob Gajarsky
Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullin, and The Edge comprise the hugely successful Irish political rockers U2. Twenty years after playing in tiny places such as Dublin's Dandelion Market to conquering stages around the world, the foursome have released their first compilation album, The Best Of 1980-1990.
With the possible exception of R.E.M., U2 is *the* band that made the world of 'modern rock' a viable, commercial form of music - and whether that is a good thing or bad is open to individual interpretation. But what everyone can agree on is that Bono sings - and speaks - what he feels, even if not necessarily politically correct (see the Rattle and Hum film comments for some examples). Political concerts such as 1985's Live Aid and 1986's Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope cemented the band's willingness to support causes in which they believed.
The Best Of 1980-1990 is not comprehensive, nor all-inclusive; the historically important single "11 O'Clock Tick Tock", for example, is nowhere to be found - and the odd album track or single ("In God's Country") is omitted. But the tracks which are included - 14 in the States, 15 in Japan - are a list of some of the most influential songs of the 1980s. Songs which paved the way to U2s international stardom, such as "New Year's Day", the provocative "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and the Martin Luther King song "Pride", lead into the anthematic "With Or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and a joining for the ages, their pairing with B.B. King on "When Love Comes To Town".
A limited edition bonus treat for fans is a second disc comprising a mix of 15 of the band's B-sides. Devoted U2-files know that in addition to remixes and live cuts, the B-sides of singles would often include quality new material and familiar covers of classics. While not of the same quality as Oasis' B-sides - where record company execs at Creation and the band would often disagree about which songs should be the A-side - these flipsides are definitely not throwaways. Some of the tracks are familiar to the listeners; "Silver And Gold" appears on the Sun City disc, the rawer, original version of "Sweetest Thing" (the new single, in fleshed out form appearing on the 'hits' disc) appeared back in 1987 after failing to be included on The Joshua Tree , and "Hallelujah Here She Comes" garnered significant airplay around the time of "Desire"'s release. Plus, covers of Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot", the soulful/disco "Everlasting Love" and ghostly "Unchained Melody" showcase the breadth of U2s skills seldom seen in the commercial singles.
For a rock band, U2 were a political magnet. And for a political group, they were a hell of a rock band.
Were? Still are.
