Hello,
Last night I thought about this comparison:
Where The Streets Have No Name vs. Beautiful Day
Tie, both songs can't be played to death. Streets is U2's best live song ever, but in the studio there is no winner
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For vs. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Stuck, never been such a big fan of Still Haven't Found (although the version on R&H is great)
With Or Without You vs. Elevation
Tie, the only part of WOWY I really like is when they go into overdrive on the live version (the 'stars' verse). Elevation is aural sex
Bullet The Blue Sky vs. Walk On
Walk On, the live version of Bullet is very good (the Zoo TV version is incredible), but the studio version doesn't have that punch. Walk On is just beautiful
Running To Stand Still vs. Kite
Kite, apart from the Zoo TV version RTSS is quite uneventful
Red Hill Mining Town vs. In A Little While
In A Little While, a personal favourite. I love Bono's vocals on it!
In God's Country vs. Wild Honey
In God's Country, as I really don't like Wild Honey, especially Bono's vocals on it
Trip Through Your Wires vs. Peace On Earth
Trip Through Your Wires, one of my favourites on The Joshua Tree and an underrated song
One Tree Hill vs. When I Look At The World
Tie, both songs are quite nice, but not too special to me
Exit vs. New York
Exit, high on the list of best U2 songs ever
Mothers Of The Disappeared vs. Grace
Grace, never liked the studio version of Mothers very much. Apart from one weak line Grace is wonderful
The Joshua Tree: 3
All That You Can't Leave Behind: 5
Tie: 3
So All That You Can't Leave Behind 'wins', not a surprise for me. Why? What u2popmofo said, I also think everything since the Nineties is better than their Eighties stuff and The Unforgettable Fire is U2's best record from that decade.
C ya!
Marty