It's not every week we're running the same hype that the rest of the music
world is buzzing about. But today is a big day, for U2 have returned! For
the uninitiated, U2 has been a mainstream rock powerhouse for the past 20+
years. Their spiritually probing lyrics have even spawned a disc full of
Christian artists covering their tunes. Since we are not blessed enough to
have a review of their new album that is in stores today, we offer you a
review of their recent "Best Of" collection as well as a short look at the
album in our new releases section.

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THE BEST OF 1990-2000 (2002)
by Rick Foux

Walk into an art museum, and your senses will be instantly blasted by a
plethora of elegant paintings, sculptures, and other mind-bending works.
Some speak volumes through mere detail, some mystify and provoke deeper
thinking, some shock, appall, and stir controversy - and yet all invite and
intrigue the few who dare to witness them. U2's second theater of
masterpieces, The Best of 1990-2000, works a bit in the same way: this
colorful collection of compositions highlights some of the band's finest
hours from the 90's, resulting in an intense sensory overload that will have
you hitting the repeat button on your CD player.

U2's journey has not been a glamorous one. Having been labeled a Christian
band during the 80's (not on their own accord), the group decided to branch
out in both their musical abilities and their songwriting during the 1990's,
leading to some very controversial subject matter. In short, several of the
tracks on The Best of 1990-2000 are not for the faint of heart. "Even Better
Than the Real Thing," and "Until the End of the World" both include sexual
undertones, "The First Time" tells a story about an individual who throws
away the key to his Father's "mansion of many rooms," and the title of "Hold
Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" speaks for itself. Only listeners willing
to look past such nuances will come to appreciate the overall quality of
these songs. Even if you can't, though, there's still plenty for you to
enjoy on the rest of the album. "Miss Sarajevo" spells pure relaxation -
it's the equivalent of getting your back massaged on a cloud. Slow and
mellow in its progression, Bono's voice glides seamlessly across an icy
musical backdrop until the climatic bridge, where Luciano Pavarotti himself
serenades listeners to sleep with an Italian operetta. "Numb" and
"Discotheque" are forays into U2's experimentation with dance music (see our
Pop review), and the conclusion is a very satisfying mix of programming and
rock that is more suited for a concert than a club. Included from the band's
smashing All That You Can't Leave Behind project (known in some Christian
circles as their "revival album") are "Beautiful Day," an upscale, confident
rock tune that is the definitive theme song for cruising the streets of your
hometown, and "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of," the ethereal pop
mascot of the disc. In addition to all of these, you'll hear "Mysterious
Ways," "One," "Stay (Faraway, So Close)," "Gone," "Staring at the Sun," and
two new songs. The first, "Electrical Storm," is a jolt of powerful guitar
and Bono's thunderous vocals singing about two lovers trying to clear the
air between them. Unfortunately, "The Hands That Built America" is much less
impressive; it was the theme of the movie Gangs of New York and like the
movie itself, gets old before it even begins.

If you manage to find the special edition of The Best of 1990-2000 (it'll
cost you a few extra bucks), you'll be treated to a bonus DVD with nearly an
hour of stunning U2 footage and a disc full of b-sides that never made it to
the band's original discography. Most of them are merely dance mixes of
older U2 songs, but there are a few hard-to-find rare tracks to be had,
including "Summer Rain" and "Your Blue Room." Another, "North and South of
the River," is worth the extra ten dollars alone.

Whether you're a U2 fan, an art enthusiast, both or neither, The Best of
1990-2000 is a collection that everyone should give a chance. The songs in
this collection never deviate from being anything short of masterful art,
proving that U2 is a band well-committed to their craft. It may not be many
Christians' cup o' tea, but the sixteen tracks on this record will astound,
incite, and seize hold of you, and you won't want them to let go. You'll
also get a brief glimpse into the band's future, which is something you're
sure to look back on whenever U2 releases The Best of 2000-2010 in a few
years.

Find out more about U2 at cMusicWeb.com:
http://www.kendallpayne.com/


MORE NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Review: Grown - Kendall Payne
http://cMusicWeb.com/pop/kendallpayne/grown.shtml

Interview: Charlie Peacock
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/charliepeacock


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

PURCHASE THIS MUSIC AND MORE AT GRASSROOTSMUSIC.COM:
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/?associateid=249

EXODUS - VARIOUS
Exodus was the hit project of 1998. dc Talk, Jars of Clay, Third Day and
many more delivered great songs and worshipful performances. I guess
Rocketown Records decided to re-release the album because the worship music
is still selling well. This time, though, they beefed up the lineup to
feature a song by Taylor Sorenson, re-recorded as a duet with delirious?'
Martin Smith. A delirious? tune, "Jesus' Blood", will be covered by
stunning singer Nirva plus an original song by the Robbie Seay Band.

HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB - U2
Finally U2 is back! Their first full album since 2000's All That You Can't
Leave Behind is here! This PICK OF THE WEEK album features the punchy lead
single, "Vertigo," plus ten other songs that sound nothing like the first.
But that's OK for the rest of the CD has beautiful ballads, some stunning
guitar from The Edge, and poignant lyrics to keep the world clamoring for
more.

LIVE WIRE DVD/CD - THIRD DAY
Wire is the best CD from Third Day in years, so it is a great idea to
capture it live too. However, with plenty of other live DVDs from the band
in the past couple years, this seems like overkill. The best part is that
the full-length DVD is accompanied by an audio CD so you can listen to the
concert as well as watch it.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
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- And more!

View all the latest stories on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/


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Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
AOL IM - dMusicWeb