Audio CD review:
U2 - If God Will Send His Angels

U2 - If God Will Send His Angels

Band: U2 Title: If God Will Send His Angels Rating: Release Date: 1998-04-07 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: If God Will Send His Angels 2: Slow Dancing 3: Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad 4: Sunday Bloody Sunday

track-by-track breakdown If God Will Send His Angels (Single Version): This is the version that was on the City of Angels soundtrack. This is a good CD overall, quite unlike the previous singles from Pop which were packed with remixes. It is shorter than the album version by almost a minute, but is not entirely the same. There's a different vocal part in the end that sounds really pretty. Still, the song's doubt may put off some listeners. "God's got His phone off the hook, babe/Would He pick up if He could?" Slow Dancing (featuring Willie Nelson): This song originally appeared as the B-side to the Stay (Faraway, So Close!) single. While that version was just Bono and an acoustic guitar, this version features Willie Nelson on lead vocals, along with a nice harmonica part. Bono wrote this song specifically for Willie, but it took him a while to get around to recording it, as evidenced by the amount of years separating the two recordings. Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad: A song Bono wrote for Frank Sinatra and performed for his 80th birthday celebration. If you listen closely right at the end you can hear him say "Happy birthday, Frank". Pretty good song with Bono singing along with a live swing band. Not technically what you would call a "U2 song", but worth a listen nonetheless. Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live From Sarajevo): Normally I'm not much on live tracks, but this one is an exception. This version is taken from a concert where Bono's voice gave out, so The Edge had to step in for vocal duties. It's cool to hear him sing this classic with just a guitar accompaniment. Definitely different. Worth adding to your CD collection. . Beautiful Song Packaged With Some Good Extras. "If God Will Send His Angels" was one of the more passive moments of the frentic "Pop" album, it shines and moves forward with the feel of a 21st century hymn in it's choruses. More than any other rock band in the last 20 years U2 has been able to craft rock songs that are beautiful examples of melody, atmosphere and pure feeling. Bono's voice is subdued and full of style while The Edge colors everything with his palette of chords and harmonies. U2 have always excelled in the packing of their singles and they don't change any of that here. The extra songs are great rarities for any U2 fan. "Slow Dancing" is a duet with country legend Willie Nelson. It's very sweet in that country music sort of way and has a dreamy ballad vibe. One of the highlights here is "Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad" which was written for Frank Sinatra but he died before he could record it. Here Bono and Edge have done him a great homage with a song that feels fresh but retains a purely classic Sinatra feel in it's orchestral arrangements and especially in the highly autobiographical lyrics. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" here is a big departure from the usual concert version, this is a live recording from Sarajevo where The Edge performs a solo version of the song that is very well done. Edge has always been known for having a good voice aside from his masterful guitar skills and he shines here with a wonderful performance accompanied by some rich guitar strokes. "If God Will Send His Angels" is a single any U2 fan would recognize as a must for a collection and it's a good package for anyone who didn't approve of "Pop" but at least enjoyed this tune. . Lovely Song!! I love this CD!! The Bsides are ok, but the main hit is a MUST! This is one of my favourite u2 songs, after the fantastic hit "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses". As always, the B-Sides are the gems However, I also find it nice to give some insight for those who don't necessarily know what is here and give the advantages and disadvantages of this single. It is difficult to rate a single because usually it means rating a song or two or three tracks, and frankly, if you are buying this single you are probably already a U2 fan, and a review won't necessarily move you one way or the other. First the disadvantages. You are getting a song that is available on a complete album, albeit this version is different (and probably better) than what appears on "POP" but is available on the recent "Best of 1990-2000" compilation. You are only getting three songs, and you could wait for the standard B-Sides album that comes with U2's greatest hits. . . . One song is not even sung by U2 (Willie Nelson) with a U2 sung version already available on the "Stay. . . " single. Ok, the advantages. Contrary to my statement, U2 did not put these songs on the B-Sides compilation. The song "Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad" is perhaps one of the greatest B-Sides of the last 10 years by U2, and it was written for Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday. This song demonstrates the versitility U2 have. "Slow Dancing" with Willie Nelson is actually quite cool and is how the song was meant anyway. It is a country song, and Willie Nelson's voice shows that. Again, U2's diversity shines through. Last of all, Sunday Bloody Sunday here is a live acoustic version that is perhaps the best I've heard. . . and. . . Edge sings and performs it solo. Awesome. This is one of the more essential U2 singles in my opinion. Willie Nelson makes this single worthwhile. The addition of the duet with Willie Nelson accentuates this in that it brings back memories of Willie Nelson's early gospel work like the classic song "Family Bible. I have no issue with the CD-Single. " Good team effort. You can see a complete list of all U2 discography, or go back to the U2 tabs