It's taken longer than many people expected, but finally a U2 Best Of has arrived, or half of it anyway. This compilation gathers the U2 singles from the six studio albums released between 1980's Boy and 1988's U2 movie sound track, Rattle And Hum. From I Will Follow on this album charts U2's progression through the eighties, as they became the one of biggest bands in the world.

From the early rabble rousing singles such as Sunday Bloody Sunday and the superb releases from their best album of the eighties, 1987's The Joshua Tree, With Or Without You etc. through to their 1988 collaboration with B.B. King, When Love Comes To Town, all the anthems that have helped fill stadiums around the world are here. In fact all these songs are so familiar it would be a waste of time reviewing them. What is worthy of comment however is the limited edition extra CD containing the b-sides of the singles which make up this Best Of.

The quality of many of these b-sides is such, that many bands would be quite happy to release them as singles in their own right. There are some tracks such as Endless Deep, which were rightly left as b-side fillers, but they are definetly in the minority. Songs such as Sweetest Thing, Spanish Eyes and Luminous Times (Hold On To Love) are amongst some of the best U2 have ever written. Other great moments include Bono singing Everlasting Love and Unchained Melody, bizare, but brilliant. For cover versions like these alone, this b-sides collection is worth tracking down. Other tracks worthy of note include Bass Trap, an ambient instrumental, Silver And Gold and A Room At The Heart Break Hotel.

No matter what's said here or anywhere else, U2 fans will buy this compilation by the truckload. The smart ones however will make sure they get the b-sides compilation along with it as it contains some real gems.