18 Singles (Bonus Dvd) (Pal)

Limited Edition two disc (CD + PAL/Region 0 DVD) pressing of the Irish superstars' 2006 compilation that features many of their biggest hits plus two new tracks: a cover of The Skids' 'The Saints Are Coming' performed with Green Day and Window In The Skies. Includes a bonus DVD includes a bonus live disc, featuring tracks performed on Vertigo Tour in Milan last year. Both new tracks were overseen by Rick Rubin and recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios in England. 18 tracks total including 'One', 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', 'Desire', 'Beautiful', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', 'New Years Day' and more. Mercury.

The youthful faces that stare out from the cover of this latest collection of singles from Irish rockers U2 suggest that the focus of the album is, perhaps, their lauded yet under-represented early days. A quick glance through the tracklist shows that not to be the case, however. There are examples of their rawer '80s sound--"Pride," "I Will Follow," "New Year's Day"--but where, older fans may well ask, are songs like "The Electric Co.," "Gloria," "I Threw a Brick," and "Fire" from Boy and October? Similarly, songs like "With Or Without You," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and "Where the Streets Have No Name" were on The Best of 1980-1990, whilst "Beautiful Day," "One," "Mysterious Ways," and "Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" were all on The Best of 1990-2000. U218 does have the advantage of featuring more recent tracks, including their collaboration with Green Day, "The Saints Are Coming," and a new song, "Windows in the Skies." Whilst dedicated followers of the band may see this as a missed opportunity to offer fans some genuinely rare gems, it still remains a collection of mighty pop music masterpieces. --Danny McKenna