Various Artists: Music From The Motion Picture The Million Dollar Hotel

U2 has said that it almost broke up during the Achtung Baby sessions. Good thing the group hung in there, because it turned out to be arguably the most impressive and coherent release of its 20-year career. Maybe that's why U2 keeps mining the past, specifically the Achtung Baby sessions, for its most recent projects: Leftovers found their way onto both 1993's Zooropa and 1996's Pop, and another one, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me," eventually wound up on the Batman Forever soundtrack. In fact, soundtracks seem to be U2's work-in-process outlet of choice these days. Each member has dabbled in movie music, and the whole band even teamed with its longtime producer and catalyst Brian Eno as Passengers for a disc of music from imaginary films. Wim Wenders' new The Million Dollar Hotel has been Bono's baby for a while: He came up with the story, produced the film, and kept people interested while talent was secured. The album, on the other hand, convenes several figures from U2's various circles, as well as some intriguing X-factor guests. Producers Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Hal Wilner are on hand, as well as musicians Jon Hassell, Bill Frisell, Greg Cohen, Brian Blade, Brad Mehldau, Adam Dorn, and, of course, the members of U2. Model, actress, and musician Milla Jovovich sings a convincing "Satellite Of Love" (part of U2's repertoire since the Zoo TV tour), and Bono brings in friend Salman Rushdie to write the lyrics to "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" (also the title of his last book). The latter song is one of two new U2 tracks, the other being the eerie ambient Americana of "Stateless," while the Million Dollar Hotel Band contributes evocative playing to the rest of the songs, snippets, and mood music. As is true of a lot of U2's more casual projects (Zooropa, Passengers), fans will probably be disappointed. But for admirers of any of the auxiliary participants, particularly Eno, Lanois, Frisell, and Hassell, there's plenty of delicate ear candy to enjoy. A minor mood piece, to be sure, but it's certainly worth your time.