Review: U2 "From the Ground Up"

I’ve been a fan of U2 since snagging the 45 single of “I Will Follow/Out of Control,”  one of the greatest A/B sides ever. 

Over the years, my interest has come and gone post 1987 as the band grew into global superstars and  experimented and pursued a variety of influences and projects (“Achtung Baby” and “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” good, “Rattle and Hum” and “Zooropa“ bad). 

Frontman Bono (Paul Hewson) can be insufferable with all his look-at-me/hep-the-world work, but at least he acknowledges that in promoting truly life-changing projects. What keeps me coming back, however, is the group dynamic: four childhood friends from Dublin who remain tight, equal, and genuine. 

That comes out in “From the Ground Up, U2 360° Tour,” a glossy, thick-stock 256-page photo book chronicling the biggest, boldest tour in rock history, a three-year journey that ended in 2012. “From the Ground Up” includes tons of photos and good behind-the-scenes observations from Dylan Jones. The photos get stale after awhile (you can only capture the band and set in different views so many ways), but the quality is top-notch throughout. 

It’s a fun read, but I'd recommend against chasing only the “analog” book-only version. What I do recommend is the “fan club” version that includes “Edge’s Picks,” a 15-song CD of live performances from various stops on the tour. This version is pricier -- the package includes special bookmarks and photos of each band member -- but it's the CD that'ss well worth it if you can find it at a good price. The song mix balances hits with a catalog as rich and diverse as any major band in rock history. The disc starts with "Breathe," followed quickly by "I Will Follow," Get On Your Boots" and "New Year's Day." It doesn't let up and really captures just how great U2 is and has been. 

We’ve been lucky to have the same U2 for 35 years, and something tells me they have another 15 years in them. Unlike The Who or the Stones, that will be something to celebrate.