U218 Singles - Dark Publications

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•	The Joshua Tree
•	The Best of 1980-1990
•	U2 - The Best of 1990-2000
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•	Achtung Baby

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Whittling down the back catalog of one of the most popular and respected bands of the last quarter-century to a single-disc collection is bound to inspire argument and dissent from the fans and faithful over what is included--and all that gets left behind--and U2's 26-year career is as celebrated and beloved as any band of their generation. U218 Singles doesn't try to please everyone, wisely sticking to the acknowledged high points (and there are many) between 1983's War and 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Nitpickers may quibble that the collection leans too heavily on the band's most popular albums and skips the (admirable if less anthemic) techno-pop tangents of Zooropa and Pop and the earnest energy of the Boy/October years, but the musical majesty accumulated here testifies to the undeniable power and emotion U2 can muster in a four-minute pop song. Two new Rick Rubin-produced tracks don't break new ground for the band, but both would fit snugly somewhere in the U2 canon--"Window in the Skies" is pure late-period arena rock with a typically towering falsetto chorus, while Green Day helps inject some October-era urgency into "The Saints Are Coming". The sum of these 18 tracks is a first-rate primer, perfect for that 10-year-old niece or nephew who thinks U2's big break was that iPod commercial. --Ben Heege

Album Description
U218 Singles is the first single-disc collection - including 16 of their best-known songs. Also included are two brand-new tracks recorded with producer Rick Rubin at Abbey Road Studios in London: "The Saints Are Coming" (with Green Day) and "Window in the Skies."

Customer Reviews: Read 74 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Good for the Very Casual U2 Fan November 21, 2006
41 out of 46 found this review helpful

I am a huge U2 fan, and like many U2 fans, this compilation falls short. However, it has a purpose that is really not geared for the die hard fan. This album is meant to be a definitive collection of U2 songs over their career for the casual fan who may be new to the group. If one looks at it that way, this album is probably fine. This album is heavily weighted to the more recent popular albums (except "Pop" itself), and it does justice in picking those songs.

Unfortunately, as a 1 disc compilation it is forced to neglect some early gems, namely "I Will Follow", which at the least is a definitive U2 song. It also fails in the sense that the casual U2 fan may in fact be more interested in hearing the more obscure greats. It does well in picking from the Joshua Tree, War, and the Unforgettable Fire (Pride, New Years Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Where the Streets Have No Name, etc.) but it neglects songs off of Boy, October, and other greats off of Zooropa, Pop that would probably be worth while to the casual fan who is looking for something new without necessarily buying each individual album first.

In fact, I would say that if you are a new U2 fan and not aware of much pre- "All That You Can't Leave Behind" or "Achtung Baby", you might be better off buying the earlier compilations "Best of - 1980-1990 or 1990-2000" they give a better sampling of U2's best during those periods. However, if you are content with the popular stuff of the last 5 years, this album will do you just fine.

If you are a die hard fan who fails to see the purpose of this compilation, buy the two new songs online and don't support U2's effort here. Or, perhaps the DVD will appeal to you. Just realize that part of the reason of this compilation (and the previous ones) is to fill out a recording obligation, so that they can do more of what they want and perhaps go back and be a bit experimental as in the Achtung Baby / Zooropa days. The sooner they did this compilation, the sooner they can get to the new stuff.

As for the song selection. If you are a real die hard U2 fan like I am, you've probably recorded your own greatest hits to fit your own needs. If you haven't, do so. You're better off doing that than complaining about the track listing here. Let this album be enjoyed by those who are still learning U2. In 10 years, they could be the biggest fans just like you and I.

5 out of 5 stars

You Forget. December 19, 2006
36 out of 43 found this review helpful

I work with kids who are elementary school age (6-12), many of whom have been neglected or abused by their very own families. Almost none of them know who U2 is. All they know is Eminem, 50 Cent, Usher, and all the other hip hop/rap artists. They know nothing about religion, or better yet, spirituality. They don't know about hope, self-analysis, or generativity. They know cruelty, self-preservation and hostility. They think they will have all the bling, the big house, the girls, the limousine--what they see in the hip hop/rap videos.

Enter U2. "Beautiful Day", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", "Where The Streets Have No Name", "Stuck In A Moment That You Can't Get Out Of", "With Or Without You", "Pride (In The Name Of Love)", "One", "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own", "The Saints Are Coming", "Sweetest Thing" and even "Sunday Bloody Sunday" get these kids to think about more than violence, sex and money. U2 offers them another way of looking at their lives while introducing them to rock and roll.

While I understand all the people talking about the record company scalping fans by putting this cd out, I think that's a narrow view of the wider possibility--introducing the next generation to a great band, a band that every child, teenager and adult ought to be familiar with. That's what I think about now, the next generation and how depraved they are with all this rap/hip hop pollution. I'd buy a copy of "U218 Singles" for all 48 unfortunate kids I work with if it meant that one kid would grow up to make some great music like U2 has.

Also, few artists can release a 16 song set that's impeccable, where you know every song almost like friends you've grown up with and lived with. That's rare in the music business, and even rarer by today's standards.

It was worth it to me to put down 10 bucks for "The Saints Are Coming" and digitally remastered versions of the other tracks.

3 out of 5 stars

A maxi-single with 16 classics tacked on. November 21, 2006
17 out of 24 found this review helpful

I guess that - with the resurgence in U2's popularity from "Atomic Bomb" and the incredible tour - that an inevitable quickie product would land before the Christmas gift season. With that said, this is a spartan selection from a band that has amassed an amazing library of music. Theirs is a passionate world, both in music and the band's ultimate impact on society. Not since The Beatles has a band thrown themselves into social causes quite the way Bono and the guys have.

But on to the music. "U218" is exactly what the title implies. Eighteen singles (including two new tracks). While several early tunes get the short shrift ("I Will Follow," "Gloria" anyone? Even latter day brilliance like "The Fly" got bumped!), there isn't a single oldie here that isn't a classic. Even the "Atomic Bomb" and ATYCLB singles stand up next to the likes of "Pride" and "New Years Day." Factor in that "One" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" may be two of the best songs of the last century, and you have a terrific casual mix of U2.

The reason for the three stars is simple. The new songs are passable (time will tell if "Saints" stays with me like "Electrical Storm" has), and any of U2's multiple five star albums could trump this for introductory purposes. (And dammit, where is the catalog remastering this band deserves?) But I dropped a tenner for the two new songs, which, for my money, means I bought a maxi-single with 16 classics tacked on. Skip the hyperbole, look at it from that angle, and it ain't so bad.

Bonus - looking at the four fresh faced kids on the front cover and comparing them to the wizened older men on the back.

1 out of 5 stars

You, too, can pay for these songs a third time! December 26, 2006
14 out of 21 found this review helpful

I have heard this collection. I do not own it, I have borrowed it.

To dissect the reasons for U2 releasing yet another compilation while two others are still on the market, you have to look at U2's character. What can they get out of it?

1) Christmas sales. Obviously.
2) Remastering. A task that should've been taken care of on "Best of 1980-1990" and "Best of 1990-2000" and most likely was.
3) A chance to show us more photographs, as if we all forgot what the band looked like.
4) A chance for U2 to further toot their own horn by including two songs from the insanely overrated "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb."
5) Bait songs! But there is a humble way around this by utilizing iTunes. Even Metallica have jumped on that bandwagon at this point.
6) To tell fans what to like and what not to like (that means you need to ignore "Boy," "October", "Zooropa" and "Pop").
7) To remind us that "With or Without You" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" were once hits. Silly me, I've forgotten! Who are U2 again?

"U218" rings of been-there-done-that almost 100% of its 74 plus minutes. "Pride," "New Year's Day," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and so many other monolithic songs have completely lost their meanings in the process. Although U2's credibility could be examined with much scrutiny lately what with the "Best of" collections, their appearance at the Super Bowl, their shameless caterwauling on an iPod commercial, a book written by them about them, and the release of the biggest turkey this customer has even heard with "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," this CD truly is the nail in the coffin. U2's legacy has cheapened to a new awe-inspiring low.

Oh, the bait songs. That's right, the folks at Island/Interscope knew they had to slide in a few extras to make sure that everyone, even people who own all of the U2 albums, will be buying this. "Window In The Skies" is a half-hearted throwaway and "The Saints Are Coming," recorded with Green Day, is merely okay. So there you go.

1 out of 5 stars

Weak December 5, 2006
10 out of 18 found this review helpful

When a band is desperate enough to put out a compilation like this they are finishing up their career. Who wants to pay $9.99 (on sale) or $19.99 (on sale for the CD/DVD combo) for basically one new track ('Window In The Skies') which by the way sounds like a B-Side left over from HTDAB? And the track with Green Day, 'The Saints Are Coming' is not what I want to pay money for on a U2 album. I don't like Green Day, but I like U2. U2 and Bono have done several compilations. Why don't they commercially put out an album with those tracks on it and include this one? Makes sense? Overall, I am one of the biggest U2 fans out there, but come on! How many times do we have to hear the same old songs just in a different order? Take for example 'Pride (in The Name Of Love)'- an amazing song, but commercially, it's on 'Unforgettable Fire', 'Rattle and Hum' (live version), and 'The Best of 1980-1990'. What's next? The U2 songs when Bono has long hair? Perhaps 'Pride (in The Name Of Love)' will be on that one too! A real U2 fan already has all of these! And for all the complaining reviews that they left out certain tracks, why don't those people just mix or burn their own U2 CD and put whatever tracks they want on it! I love how the album comes out November 21-just int time for Christmas. People will only buy this as a gift because they don't know any better, and it wil be given to someone and then put on their little CD rack with the rest of their unused CD's-never to be played. Great marketing guys! Bono, you are 'Ther Fly'-arrogant, greedy, and deceiving. Why don't you and your band put out an album for us, the fans who supported you and made you who you are throughout the years. We deserve NEW MATERIAL...not the same old recycled songs!!!!

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