Let me start by saying I hate U2. I haven't liked anything they've done since War. When it first came out, October, then War were some of my favorites. My brother had them both and I listened to them constantly. When The Joshua Tree came out, I almost puked. I hated it and everything about it. I don't know if this was a product of where I was going in my musical tastes, or if it was just so different that it turned me off. I ceased listening to U2 on anything seeming like a regular basis. Ocassionally, I'd hear a radio single or a friend would be playing one of thier albums. Everything I heard turned me off. I had the tedious joy of getting to listen to Atchung, Baby! from begining to end twice in one night at a party shortly after it was released. I almost came to blows with several people at that party, since I did nothing but cut it to shreds the whole time I heard it. I thought it was the worst piece of crap ever released. From that moment forward, I was an avid U2 anti-fan. Everything about them, I hated. From the simple, looped guitar work of The Edge to the whiny nasal voice of Bono. What the hell was with the one-name thing anyways? When they started wearing the shades everywhere, I hated that too. My father in-law and sister are both super-huge U2 fans, so you can imagine the discussions we've had.

Knowing the above, you ask why I am reviewing not one, but two U2 discs? Well, I happened to be shopping for Christmas presents for my wife. I have discovered the secret to not killing someone while Christmas shopping. Music. I bring my CD player with me and I listen to music while shopping. Inevitably, while shopping, I pick up a CD or two for myself. This day, I was being very good. I hadn't even bought myself anything and I was doing semi-well for my wife. I still had about three places to go to, but I had enough CD's with me to last, so I didn't even go near the music section. Near the cash register was one of those stands with "New Releases" on it. Being a habit of mine to check out what the chain-stores are forcing down people's throats this month, I took a peek. There I spotted a grey cover with a buffalo running across it. Intrigued, I picked it up and checked it out. It turned out to be U2 The Best Of 1990-2000 & B-sides, with a "bonus" DVD preview. I began to put it back, but something stopped me and made me take a look at the tracklisting. I put it down twice and picked it back up. Eventually, I came to the realization that if I didn't buy this, I'd just be coming back or going somewhere else and buying it. So, instead of putting it back, I bought it.

I still had enough shopping left that I would at least get through the first disc and be convinced of how crappy the CD was. I figured that if I didn't like it, I could give it to my father in-law or sister, whichever didn't already have this one. For the next hour and a half, I listened to the first disc. Just the first one. I couldn't take it out, I was so absolutely blown away. It was the best CD purchase I've made in many months. I was literally astounded. Not by the CD, but by the fact that I was enjoying it. I'm guessing it's the fact that I don't listen to the radio and haven't heard these songs 30 million times that make them sound so fresh to me. I had only heard most of these songs once or twice and that was back when they were originally out. When I got to the second disc, The B-Sides, I was even more blown away. The remixes and obscure songs are are absolutely brilliant.