U2
The Best Of 1980 - 1990 (2 CD)

Anthologies, the 'the best of', should always be taken with a grain of salt. Very often they are shameless commercial operations on the verge of a lawsuit, other times they are merely incomplete or disappointing. However, occasionally, like a mirage, a noteworthy anthology appears in the vast musical landscape (or, as in this case, worthy of review): the best-selling "Greatest Hits" by Simon & Garfunkel from 1972, the one by Elton John from 2002, or the one by Paolo Conte from 1996. In 1998, "The Best Of 1980 - 1990" dedicated to U2 was released.

For those who believe that U2's place in musical history is as inapposite as cabbage for dessert, alas, you have picked the wrong review. However, for those like myself who adored them (though it's clear they're tiring today, we can't hide from it), this greatest hits is a welcome and pleasant surprise. Not because it is a perfectly curated anthology (many historic tracks are missing, starting with "Elvis & America," just to name one), but because it strives to pack in just a few tracks (14, very few) a decade of successes and great songs. In reality, there are 2 discs: the first contains timeless classics, the second the so-called B-sides. A bold and intelligent choice, and if we want, even a bit retro. Everything is very beautiful, well done, and well cared for. The biggest flaw, unfortunately, is what afflicts most anthologies: the tracks are inserted in a purely random order (there's one from 1987 and then the next one is from 1980!) and it's a real shame: had they been in order, one could have spoken of a small artistic summary, but like this, it seems a jumble of titles thrown in haphazardly. Despite this, the work appears interesting and full of emotions.

We start with the timeless "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" a cornerstone of the Irish band's discography copied and imitated by many groups to come (the most amusing citation of the track, however, is found in an episode of the TV series "The Simpsons"); followed by the engaged "New Year's Day" taken from "War," and dedicated to the Polish Solidarity uprising, a track that will linger for a long time at the top of the UK and US charts; it continues with two pieces from "The Joshua Tree," perhaps the band's most mature work, and precisely "With Or Without You" (a classic concert piece) and "I Still Haven’t Found What I'm Looking For," powerful tracks imbued with vaguely Rolling Stones-esque rock; "Sunday Bloody Sunday" needs no introduction, so we skip over it; "I Will Follow" represents the Genesis of U2, taken from "Boy," it's a very musically happy track and fully satisfying for the perfect synergy between words and music; "Bad" is perhaps the least appropriate track to compile an anthology (there are clearly better ones), but the following "Where The Streets Have No Name" makes up for the previous misstep, just the intro and the powerful rock blast of the chorus are enough to understand the worldwide success of Bono & Co; "The Unforgettable Fire" nods to the atomic bomb, or more generally, if you will, to bombs in general; pleasing is the rearrangement of "Sweetest Thing" and great emotions for the penultimate tracks, which surprise us with "Desire" and "When Love Comes To Town"; "Angel Of Harlem" is always a masterpiece, especially when performed live with the audience in ecstasy; the finale with "All I Want Is You" is perfect and nostalgic, played on the strings of emotion and masterpiece.

The second disc, as mentioned, is a delectable collection of B-sides. Some it really is not understood how they can be classified as B-sides, others are obviously less successful but still far superior to the quality standard of mid-Eighties music. A magnificent journey, surely nostalgic, a journey that takes us through some albums that rightly went down in history for their intensity and power, "Boy," "War," the legendary "The Joshua Tree" (vibrant rock, as I once had the opportunity to say) and the double "Rattle And Hum," also powerful, but perhaps more spontaneous and genuine. And then "The Unforgettable Fire," the most contested album of U2: music and politics, pain and war, and the myth of Elvis Presley. The U2 of the Eighties were miraculous: able to go from studio recordings to the crowds of Live Aid without losing even a gram of their unstoppable verve. Commercial yes, and very much so, but then is it a flaw to compose commercial music? In 2002 another "The Best Of" will be released dedicated, however, to the U2 of the end of the millennium, from 1990 to 2000. The result, however, will be quite poor, mainly because apart from the excellent "Achtung Baby" the Irish band of Bono and The Edge, from 1992 until today won't strike another successful album, much to the bewilderment of fans (myself included) and with great dismay at seeing such talent wasted with rubbish like "Zooropa."

It's not heresy to say that after "One" U2 buried themselves: forever? Let’s hope not!