Too cute for their own good

Review Score: (6/10)
Like many longtime U2 fans, I didn't know what to make of POP when it was released in 1997. I will admit; it has grown on me over the years. For all of its faults, and there are plenty, POP (and to some degree, ZOOROPA) provided a very important bridge in-between the earthy ACHTUNG BABY and the transcendent ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND. By and large, however, it's a courageous, brave, adventuresome sonic blast in search of a decent melody.

The difficulty with POP is that U2 were trying so hard to make a big statement about the transcience and artiface of modern culture that they simply went over the top. POP is a bit like soda, in that it's very fizzy initially, but can make you feel a bit light-headed, dizzy, and disoriented if you consume too much of it. In large measure, this is due to the rushed, unfinished, unfocused feel of this project. Sure, it sounds grand at times, but it lacks soul.

Of course, even a stumble for U2 still means a pretty darn good album.

"Discoteque" is a way cool single...very fun and cheeky, with cool riffing and thunderous rhythm. "If God Will Send His Angels" has that big soaring sound of yore, though it meanders a bit. "Staring At the Sun" is a nice slice of Beatlesque poppery, and "Last Night on Earth" is a compelling rhythmic track. In many ways, "Gone" is the standout track on the album; it is certainly the closest to a classic "U2 sounding" song...a brooding, building intensity that breaks wide open with that trademark, huge, walloping Bono chorus.

"Please" is a simmering ballad that has its strong points as is "If You Wear That Velvet Dress." The rich irony of "Playboy Mansion" is perfectly framed by the band's languid delivery...very humorous and insightful, though it doesn't necessarily burn up your CD player.

Now for the bad news: "Mofo" is a great big mess...some interesting musical moments with synths and bells and whistles running amok in a sinister symphony...but the lyrics are not the best and brightest and the processed vocals are grating. "Miami" is hammy and spammy and if there were an "ammy" word that meant annoying, I would use it too. "Wake Up Dead Man" is atrocious, with confused and hopeless theology, chalkboard scraping vocals, and unfocused musicianship. The best I can say about "Do You Feel Loved" is that it is not as bad as the three tracks I just mentioned.

I give the guys points for trying, and again, I will say that I like POP better now than I did when it was first released. It's important document for U2 fans, but for the casual listener, it's a bit of a letdown.

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