U218 Singles

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

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:

Come on guys, it's not the end of the world. So U2 has a new compilation. No need for lawsuits or drama ....
How can people act like it's the end of the world when a veteram band has more than one greatest hits package out on the market? U2 have been around since 1978, making major-label music since 1980. That's a long time, folks. So they have three best-of collections. Who cares? Don't buy it if you don't like it. I always got tickled at people in the early 1990s who complained that The Who had three (!) live albums and three greatest-hits LPs out, and it was the end of the world to them. Good grief. Blame the label if you must blame someone, but the world will still turn tomorrow guys. It's all OK.

As for U2, they are one of the greatest bands of all time. For those who don't want to buy this comp, go for "The Joshua Tree," "War" and "Achtung Baby." Then dig deeper. U2 is a worthy band, no doubt about that.
--2006-12-15

Greatest Hits Syndrome
U2 is one of the greatest bands in history and the material contained herein on U218 is great. So why only four stars? Because this is essentially a watered-down greatest hits that contains two new songs 'both of which are acceptable.' Also, U2 already has two greatest hits albums 'that are better than U218.' It is impossible to hear the greatness of U2 with a greatest hits album. Pick up their entire catalogue through Zooropa 'unless you are a big fan, in which case you will find Zooropa enjoying,' and than pick up the masterful And All That You Can't Leave Behind. The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are U2's best albums and are essentail in any music library. However, as a starter set, U218 is not bad.
--2006-12-14

What about a box set for non ipod owners or "Essential"?
To me, this collection is targeting the Xmas crowd and casual fans who want the big hits on one CD, and later fans who got into them from 2000 on, due to 9 out of 18 being from past 6 years. I don't think it's a great representation of their best songs and the 2 new songs would've been better for something else, maybe a 4 track EP (which they used to do).

I'd love to see them launch more archive stuff, and even though the DVD has some 1980-1990 material, they have never put out a DVD for that era.
I guess the ipod owners who bought the U2 ipod with "The Complete U2" will just add the 2 songs and be set. It's still U2, it's still good and as a stocking stuffer would be a nice thing, but longtime U2 fans will want it for the 2 songs and to add to the collection, but I doubt would get much play in comparison to "Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby".

--2006-12-13

Everybody Lighten Up
Everybody needs to get off of U2's back and stop calling them money hungry and greedy. I think you have U2 confused with The Stones! This compilation is great and refreshing. I have been a HUGE U2 fan probably before all of you were born. I actually saw them on Boy and everything else since. I have every CD and all of the 12 inch Vinyl singles as well as the CD singles. This compilation is a nice way to have all of the main U2 singles in one place. Sure there could have been other things on it like Heartland, Indian Summer Sky, Please, Ultraviolet and other beautiful gems but U2 was trying to appeal to everyone. I personally think I Still Haven't Found has been played to death but I understand its inclusion here. Create your own Best Of and knock it off. You may question U2's business decisions but never question their heart, philanthropy, musicianship, spirituality and especially their integrity. They are a great band and will tell you they are still in awe of The Beatles, The Stranglers, Ultravox, The Clash, Television, etc. So you know all of this has not gone to their heads. In fact, they still poke fun at themselves (Anyone remember POPMART?!!!!) U218 rocks and I can't wait for what comes next!!!!!
--2006-12-13

Promotional gimmick for new book, nothing else
Being a huge fan of U2, this CD breaks my personal code of ethics I try to hold bands to. No band should ever release a greatest hits album while they are still together and making new music. U2's two previous greatest hits albums are exempt from this as they each focus on one decade of their music, the 80's and then the 90's, and with their extensive back catalogue and varying styles and periods they've progressed though, they made sense. U218 Singles shares an identical cover with the new book U2 by U2, proving that this album was rushed to the shelves to simply coincide with the book's release. The singles on the disc, while combining hits from both of the previous greateast hits albums for the first time, are not the most popular singles in the bands career, and as the photo on the cover would have you believe (a shot from the early Boy and October years) is not a career retrospective and lacks any tracks from the albums Boy, October, Pop, and Zooropa. I don't care what you may think, but any U2 fan should agree that Walk On, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, and Elevation should never be included on any of their greatest hit compilations. I was also surprised that Sweetest Thing made it on since it was a bonus track they included on Greatest Hits 80-90, and not a chart topper for them. The two new tracks, The Saints Are Coming, and Window in the Sky are easily forgettable and seem to be be a battle cry against the current politics ruling our world today. Given this tone perhaps U2 should have included If God Would Send His Angels or the song they close all their concerts with, 30 sec. Some tracks that would have been nice to see included are Gloria, One Tree Hill, The Fly, Stay (Far Way, So Close), Numb, Discoteque, Hold me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, Please, and Staring At The Sun. The DVD of the Video singles however looks like it would be a great buy and includes about every video I can ever recall seeing from their entire career.
--2006-12-08

- Interscope Records