U2

Pop

Mind Opening Music for Songcraft Aficionados

Review Score:

(10/10)
I have always thought of myself as "open-minded", but this album (which I at first thought was (disappointing)) forced me to open it further. It's amazing that there is such a HUGE gap between "white" music and "black" music. And it takes an amazingly versatile band to bridge it. No one who truly appreciates the value of well-crafted songs can dismiss the songwriting on this album. I think the only things which can get in the way are the typical mental hangups: "This is too experimental and mixed up", "This is too techno", "When will they be normal again?", etc. I have to admit that in THEORY I am open to rap, hip-hop, and techno, but I never really listen to it; I dismiss it as shallow. Pop opened up a whole new world of sound for me; I don't think I ever really knew anything about rhythm and how awesome it can be! The songs on this album are like heavy, heavy drugs. It is a whole new world. And once you get past the mental hangups, you are in for a treat: incredibly intense and pleasurable music with brilliant lyrics. After this, most music sounds dull and boring.

In general, one of U2's great strengths has been mood. No matter what they are writing about, they are emotionally honest and the sounds always serve the purpose of creating the perfect background for it. And on this album, the techno/trip-hop/funky sounds are perfect for the desolation, confusion, and darkness they are trying to express. The sound couldn't have been any other way. The people who don't like this album most likely come from one of two angles: they either typically don't like this type of music so don't like it anyway (this is like if you don't like country, you won't like country sounding songs no matter how good they are) or do like this type of music and just don't like this album because U2 are the ones doing it (in which case if you gave them a blind taste-test, they might have really thought it was great). Either way, like I said, it is simply a brilliant album if you truly enjoy the art of music and aren't afraid to leave labels behind (of either "U2" or "techno").

"Discotheque" at first sounded like the tackiest song on earth, but you get hooked after you realize the song totally ROCKS due to Edge's five different guitar styles. And when you get the humor of the apt yet tongue-in-cheek lyrics: "you know you're chewing bubble gum, you know what that is but you still want some, you just can't get enough of that lovey-dovey stuff", it becomes a really enjoyable song.

"Do You Feel Loved" is an extremely desperate, bitter, and sexual song that asks all of us living in this pleasure-seeking society a pointed question.

"Mofo" is at once one of the weirdest and brilliant songs I have ever heard. It is at first the scariest because it is the most techno/strange sounding. But it is musically loud, fast-paced and furious. A truly intense sensation for the ears. Adam's bassline pumps it up so fast your heart starts beating in anticipation and Edge's screaming guitar bursts forth on one of the most hard-hitting songs you will ever hear. But I guess most startling are the unexpected lyrics dealing with Bono's mother, search for God, etc. The serious, angry, desolate lyrics and the (at first trashy sounding) furious music set each other off perfectly.

A lot of people didn't like "Miami" but the addictive hip-hop rhythms and the completely heavy, almost sexual guitar are such a perfect juxtaposition.

"The Playboy Mansion" was probably the only song I liked right away. Musically it is a really mellow song. (It's funny, after hearing this album, I really "get" a lot of phrases I've heard for years: "groove", "rhythm", "mellow"). Lyrically, it at first just sounds like a clever and funny song; by the end, however, it has taken you somewhere completely different and you emerge with a sense of sad beauty (I don't know how the hell they do stuff like that!).

"If You Wear That Velvet Dress" is a really transcendent, mental song. Bono's voice and lyrics are so intimate, you feel he is standing 2 inches away from you; you can almost feel his breath. Edge's guitar is beautifl and subtle (few musicians make use of subtlety the way Edge does). The music keeps expanding in a haunting and atmospheric way until you are enveloped in it.

One of the greatest things about U2 is that they are practically the only band you need; any kind of mood you are in, they can give you. If you ever feel sad or angry, this album is an amazing trancelike drug trip that hits the spot. And I think this album proves that not only are U2 an open-minded, ever-innovative, fresh, relevant band, but that they can go into any genre and master it.

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