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This was an exclusive to subscribers of U2's website in 2011. It's a compilation of U2 songs performed by U2, along with various guest stars. It's an album I desperately wanted to like, and I gave it every chance I could, but it's awful. The performers all have their own style, and try to perform their way, but Bono and the band are trying to do it their way as well, which just creates a kind of musical tug of war, where nobody wins.
The song selection is fine, you'll find the big hits here. There are some excellent guest singers, including Johnny Cash, Mick Jagger, Jay Z, Mary J Blige, BB King, Willie Nelson and Pavarotti, buy it just never clicks. The first song is Where the Streets Have No Name, featuring a gospel choir. This would seem to be the best fit, but even this comes off as something of a narcissistic piece for Bono. The song loses it's honesty, and comes off as pompous. Johnny Cash comes in next for The Wanderer, and this is about the point where it becomes apparent that U2's style just can't mesh with everyone. This song is fine, but it feels off, and that's about as good as the album gets.
Green Day tries their hands at it with The Saints Are Coming, but again, it's like they are trying to mix two separate performances together. Don't even get me started on the Jay Z live duet of Sunday Bloody Sunday. BB King perhaps fares best reprising the performance of When Love Comes to Town from the Rattle and Hum album, but even here, the first one was better.
There was a reason this was released to the fan club exclusively, this album is only for real fans, those who will consume anything they spit out. The combinations here just do not work, it comes off as Bono showing off his feathers, and is largely flat out unlistenable. I doubt you'd want to listen to any of this more than once; stick with the originals.
The song selection is fine, you'll find the big hits here. There are some excellent guest singers, including Johnny Cash, Mick Jagger, Jay Z, Mary J Blige, BB King, Willie Nelson and Pavarotti, buy it just never clicks. The first song is Where the Streets Have No Name, featuring a gospel choir. This would seem to be the best fit, but even this comes off as something of a narcissistic piece for Bono. The song loses it's honesty, and comes off as pompous. Johnny Cash comes in next for The Wanderer, and this is about the point where it becomes apparent that U2's style just can't mesh with everyone. This song is fine, but it feels off, and that's about as good as the album gets.
Green Day tries their hands at it with The Saints Are Coming, but again, it's like they are trying to mix two separate performances together. Don't even get me started on the Jay Z live duet of Sunday Bloody Sunday. BB King perhaps fares best reprising the performance of When Love Comes to Town from the Rattle and Hum album, but even here, the first one was better.
There was a reason this was released to the fan club exclusively, this album is only for real fans, those who will consume anything they spit out. The combinations here just do not work, it comes off as Bono showing off his feathers, and is largely flat out unlistenable. I doubt you'd want to listen to any of this more than once; stick with the originals.