Pop (album)

Pop is an album released by the Irish rock band U2 in March of 1997 (see 1997 in music). It is notable for combining elements of popular nineties techno with traditional U2 alternative guitar rock. Although a critical and commercial success at the time of its release--reaching number one in many countries, including those of the UK and the US--it has come to be regarded as one of the band's lesser albums.

Related Topics:
Album - Irish - Rock band - U2 - March - 1997 - 1997 in music - Techno - Alternative - Guitar - Rock - UK - US

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Guitarist The Edge described the album as "about as far away from U2 as it is possible to be". http://www.threechordsandthetruth.net/u2bios/ It is much more dark and experimental than, as the title would imply, light and mainstream. It has some of the band's most jaded and desolate lyrics, such as the political "Please" and the haunting "Wake Up, Dead Man". Bono has described the album as starting at a party and ending at a funeral, and indeed, the mood gets very bleak after the first couple of songs.

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Every song has its own unique noises and nuances, like the watery guitar of "Staring at the Sun", the siren wailing of "Gone", or the gritty drumtrack of "Miami". Despite its rough production, it is an immensely textured record sonically. It spans various styles as well, such as the beat-driven trance of "Do You Feel Loved?", the techno of "Mofo", and the loungy balladeering of "If You Wear That Velvet Dress".

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Following the Popmart Tour, the band has expressed their dissatisfaction with the final product. Since the tour was booked well in advance, the recording of the album had to be rushed. The vocals to "Last Night On Earth" were reportedly recorded at the mixing desk the day the album was to be sent for pressing. Between the album's various singles and the band's The Best of 1990-2000 compilation (and disregarding dance remixes and the like), the band has re-recorded, remixed, and rearranged "Discothèque", "If God Will Send His Angels", "Staring at the Sun", "Last Night On Earth", "Gone", and "Please". The band took a considerably more conservative, stripped down approach with Pops follow-up, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and the tour that supported it.

Related Topics:
Popmart Tour - Discothèque - All That You Can't Leave Behind - 2000

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