U2
ACHTUNG BABY, ZOOROPA, THE BEST OF 1980-1990
U2’s vinyl reissues reach the band’s adventurous peak – a period when unease at new megastardom resulted in them becoming as experimental and visionary in real life as they were in Bono’s head. Nearly 30 years on, Achtung Baby remains their finest hour. One is the peak of U2’s stadium balladry, human as well as ambitious. Better still is the groove they suddenly discovered on much of the rest. That urge to dance dominates Zooropa, where U2 properly stopped caring about success. Bar the occasional and inevitable self-indulgence, it’s lively and often surprisingly funny. Bonus points for both issuing it on double vinyl for the first time, and adding two remixes to round out Side Four: Paul Oakenfold’s take on Lemon remains vivid. The Best Of 1980-1990 is weakest, however, sagging near the end. Despite adding One Tree Hill for the first time here, it feels skimpy, omitting fine singles such as Two Hearts Beat As One. Crisply packaged, like the rest of the campaign, it’s a welcome reminder of when U2 were hip as well as huge.