Released 24 years ago this November
The Best of 1990–2000
U2 · 2002
169 min · 35 tracks · alternative rock
A sonic journey through U2's anthemic rock and experimental grooves, blending introspective lyrics with sweeping melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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Beautiful Day Start here — As one of U2's most recognizable songs, it encapsulates themes of hope and resilience through its uplifting melody and poignant lyrics.
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One — This track serves as a powerful anthem about unity and connection, showcasing the band's emotional depth and musical complexity.
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Mysterious Ways — With its funky beat and intricate guitar work, this song represents U2's ability to blend rock with dance elements, highlighting their versatility.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic collection of anthems
- for nostalgic sing-alongs
- wave-like pacing for easy flow
- mix of reflective and uplifting
- great for road trip energy
Maybe skip if you
- prefer shorter, standalone tracks
- seek instant gratification only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Starting Point — This compilation provides a comprehensive overview of U2's evolution and key hits.
- Themes
- post-Cold War optimism· club culture evolution· millennial uncertainty
- Career context
- Released in 2002, this compilation marked a retrospective point for U2, showcasing their evolution from the alternative rock of the '90s to their global pop influence. It followed the band's commercial peak with 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' and set the stage for their continued reinvention in the new millennium.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Coldplay· Radiohead· The Killers
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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One
The shift from collective experiences to personal confessions creates a poignant tension throughout the song.
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Even Better Than the Real Thing 3:41
- 2 Mysterious Ways 4:03
- 3 Beautiful Day Start here 4:08
- 4 Electrical Storm (William Orbit mix) 4:39
- 5 One 4:35
- 6 Miss Sarajevo 4:32
- 7 Stay (Faraway, So Close!) 4:59
- 8 Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of 4:34
- 9 Gone (new mix) 4:34
- 10 Until the End of the World 4:40
- 11 The Hands That Built America (theme from ‘Gangs of New York’) 4:58
- 12 Discothèque (new mix) 4:42
- 13 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me 4:45
- 14 Staring at the Sun (new mix) 4:49
- 15 Numb (new mix) 4:23
- 16 The First Time 3:50
- 17 The Fly 4:28
Disc 2
- 1 Lady With the Spinning Head (extended dance mix) 6:08
- 2 Dirty Day (Junk Day mix) 4:42
- 3 Summer Rain 4:08
- 4 Electrical Storm 4:25
- 5 North and South of the River 4:38
- 6 Your Blue Room 5:29
- 7 Happiness Is a Warm Gun (The Gun mix) 4:47
- 8 Salomé (Zooromancer remix) 5:52
- 9 Even Better Than the Real Thing (The Perfecto mix) 6:39
- 10 Numb (Gimme Some More Dignity mix) 5:51
- 11 Mysterious Ways (Solar Plexus club mix) 4:10
- 12 If God Will Send His Angels (Big Yam mix) 5:42
- 13 Lemon (Jeep mix) 5:30
- 14 Discothèque (Hexidecimal mix) 5:44
Disc 3
- 1 The History Mix 7:40
- 2 U2: The Best of 1990–2000 DVD Trailer 2:27
- 3 Please (live mural cut) 5:00
- 4 Beautiful Day (Eze version) 4:04
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
OK Computer
Radiohead
Shares themes of millennial uncertainty with a blend of rock and electronic soundscapes.
Hot Fuss
The Killers
Combines anthemic rock energy and dance elements, echoing post-Cold War optimism.
Up
R.E.M.
Explores themes of introspection and change, utilizing layered production and a mix of rock styles.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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