(Island)
Superstar groups generate super hype and super expectations. When the word came out that U2 was creating a 'dance' album that would incorporate the workings of cutting-edge artists such as Tricky, the music world collectively held their breath. But rather than taking the world by storm, on Pop, U2 have merely incorporated some successful elements from dance acts into their standard material.
The first single from Pop, "Discotheque", only has appeal as a 'new' U2 song; more than likely, this will be played in a year from now only to show the kitschy side of U2, and to show that yes, Bono and his mates can make a song that sounds vaguely like a 1970's song.
After creating their "own" success in the late 1980s culminating in The Joshua Tree, U2 has looked to other bands for their inspiration Rattle And Hum, Achtung Baby and Zooropa are examples of albums where U2 has used influences either from legends gone by (such as B.B. King) or bands in the current "scene". With the scene turning towards innovative dance, U2 has again taken elements out and moved slightly away from their alternapop center.
"Staring At The Sun" is the most accessible song on Pop; a faster, more adventurous version of "One". As with several other songs on Pop, a good remix could make this a dancefloor favorite. "Do You Feel Loved" trades in The Edge's signature guitar riffs for a more constant background noise, while "Mofo" opens with a "Head Like A Hole" beginning, played much quieter than Trent Reznor ever intended. "Last Night On Earth" has a guitar riff quite similar to Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus", combined with an awful lot of "Even Better Than The Real Thing", and a dash of T-Rex's "Bang A Gong", with falsettos interspersed throughout.
As mentioned, remixes could do wonders for the above songs. A Popmix album full of extended versions of 6-8 songs could probably sell half a million copies, and mark U2 as a much more pioneering band. The only likely explanation why the Irish foursome didn't take the full plunge into their new "favorite" arena would be to avoid alienating their considerable fan base. A good marketing strategy, at the very least.
"The Playboy Mansion" has a Steve Miller-like guitar, with a slight bit of ambience thrown into the guitar mix. Two of the remaining songs, "If God Will Send His Angels" and "If You Wear That Velvet Dress", are slower, Nick Cave-like ballads where Bono seems almost drained of energy.
With other bands, Pop would be a curious mild entry into the world of dance music. The keyboard programming isn't complex, and there aren't any revolutionary songs here. However, U2's evolutionary process continues on Pop. Fans of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" will wonder where Bono's passion has gone. Fans of Tricky and Massive Attach will question what the hullaboo is about. And music fans in between will flock to buy U2's latest album, Pop.
