Customer Reviews

U218 Singles

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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.

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.

Imagine if you're a diehard Elton John or Billy Joel fan and their record distributors had released just one CD containing the greatest hits of their memorable musical careers. You'd be disappointed and quite upset, realizing that much of their excellent oeuvre hadn't made it onto a single CD greatest hits compilation. Well this is what diehard fans of U2 have to contend with in this latest, greatest hits collection that contains just 16 of the Irish rockers best songs, plus two new songs recorded especially for this compilation. While this collection may just be ideal for the casual fan or person unfamiliar with U2's great, truly important, body of work, others will be more inclined to collect the original album CDs and then select their own "greatest hits" compilation of U2's work (I am especially disappointed by the inexplicble absence of the great rock anthem "I Will Follow" from this CD compilation, since any serious fan of U2's music will mention this elegant song as one of the best from the band's early period (early to mid 1980s). There are two other, much better, compilations of their hit songs covering the periods from 1980 to 1990 and 1990 to 2000. Acquire these first before thinking of buying this disappointing CD compilation.

The perfect pick for a daily special...doubly-good, considering "New Year's Day" is included...and, it get's U2 fans in the mood for the upcoming album.

For someone who hasn't had the opportunity to collect all of U2's recordings, this compilation has it all in terms of the songs that the general public knows. It also includes a few bonuses...songs you may not have heard...and those tracks definitely add to the collection.

Usually I find at least one thing I don't like about an 'album'...but in this case, I have nothing to complain about. And if you grab this at the special price, 18 fantastic U2 songs in one package is a steal.

If you were a U2 fan back in the mid eighties, you'll understand what I mean. the CD cover was definitely a rip-off of the "U2 PAC II" singles package from the mid-80's (the typeface is exactly the same). And the fact that they used a 25 year old photo on the front cover is no coincidence, I'm sure. But then you look at the music chosen and you're back in the 21st century, again.

I wish that the group that made the cover art also picked the song selection. I suspect songs like "A Celebration" and the original "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" would have made the list. Instead of a re-hash of the same old songs that are already available on other CD's, I'm still waiting for the old singles to be upgraded to the digital world. Maybe in "U218, Part 2"....

I was very much looking forward to listening to this collection, especially at the excellent MP3Deal price.

It turns out Amazon's rip is lousy. So tin-ey I didn't even finish listening to the whole album before I gave up. Unfortunately, "all digital download sales are final" so if you get a crappy product you're out of luck. Fortunately, this is the first time I've gotten bad digital content from Amazon and hopefully it won't happen again.

Ever since I heard "Pride, in the Name of Love" on the radio in the 80's I have enjoyed the passion with which U2 makes music and performs live in concert. All four members of U2 are very unique in their style, sounds, and personality which makes for arguably the best rock band of all time. Change is one of the most difficult things for most people to grapple with, and yet U2 has been able to produce hits over four decades - which is amazing - especially considering how fast music styles have changed in recent years. This collection is excellent and I'm sure big U2 fans will always wish certain songs wouldn't have been left out on any compilation of their music. However, I think that for any "new" U2 fan this collection is a great place to start and I really don't think there is a weak song in the mix. U2 has a profound depth in their music and lyrics and I think bands like Coldplay and Switchfoot come close to their depth, passion and energy in our own time. However, I don't know if anyone will ever come close to being as successful as U2 over a period of 40 years.

a great best of, all the songs you need, except the U.S. version omits "I will follow", fortunately the European edition leads with that track...unfortunately for both, the cd is annoyingly LOUD, with modern-mastering techniques almost ruining the release...docked a star for that, do not play for more than 20-25 minutes, or you will need medical attention

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.

I bought this CD, assuming that the songs listed on here would be included in their entirety. I owned the 80's compilation and several songs were cut short on that and I was hoping that would not be the case on this album. I guess that was too much to ask though. "New Years Day" and "Where the Streets Have No Name" are both cut short on this. They even include the lyrics for the last verse of "New Years Day" in the album jacket, but the don't include that part of the song! For those of you who enjoy those two songs (only two of U2's biggest hits, I might add), you'll have to purchase the "Joshua Tree" and "War" album if you want to hear the entire song.