I "heart" POP

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lazarus said:
Can I just say that live clip of North and South of the River which was posted is one of my all-time U2 performances ever? Sure, the piano and muted horns are pre-recorded, but it really elevates an already great song into something much stronger. Right after the Omagh bombings? Bono and Edge singing together at the end? Wow. Just amazing.

I still say this song is better than everything on ATYCLB except Walk On.
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It's nice when a live version is better than the studio version. :up:
 
LemonMelon said:
Personally, I don't understand why Pop is considered such a strange left turn, especially in context. IGWSHA (which was great on the album but absolutely nowhere else) and Staring At The Sun in particular are just straightforward U2. The only part of the album that continues to surprise (shock?) me is If You Wear That Velvet Dress--->Please--->Wake Up Dead Man, which has a flow and atmosphere to it that easily rivals UF at it best. It's so vulnerable and musically inventive.

But I don't mind anything on the album, really. Miami is a dud on the album itself, and Mofo is just far too much (which became an asset during live performances of the song), but otherwise, I can't complain. Lyrically and thematically, it's right up there with their very, very best (and I know you don't care much about lyrics, but it's a key part of what makes the album such a thrill), and I do like the production, which has something of a lo-fi feel to it, even though it covers a lot of musical ground, much like Prince's Sign O The Times.
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That's fine, though I could never ever see that UF comparison. As I was trying to say last night, I don't really dislike the song so much for the music, even though there's a lot more on there I don't like than I do, but for pretending to be something that it's not. :shrug: I won't argue with you though.

But when did I ever give you the impression that I don't care about lyrics? There are CERTAIN bands where I don't care about lyrics. Especially stuff when the music is far more important, and it's obvious the music is more important. But if I didn't care about lyrics, I probably wouldn't like Bruce, U2, or hell even the Mountain Goats as much as I ended up liking them.

That didn't mean to come out angry, I'm not. I am just thinking I need to stop generalizing things I say to you it looks like.

DreamOutLoud13 said:
BITCH! :madwife: Don't be dissing Pop. I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE. (okay, so I don't, but I could find out!)
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I DO know where you live. And that's no joke :glare:
 
not even in a song like body snatchers?

I don't think they try to mimic u2's sound or anthing. To be honest i like the fact that radiohead are willing to push the limits a little further than u2 have been willing to do (in terms of musical inovation, i mean). but i think that they probably have taken some influence from u2... along with many other things (bands and stuff), of course.

with that said... i think u2 could take a page or 2 from radiohead.

if u2 want to keep up then they are gonna have to stop being concerned with, dare i say, palatability and learn a few lessons from a group like radiohead.


U2Fanatic4ever said:
not so sure about this.. I'm a big RH fan and I don't really see it.
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bono_212 said:
That's fine, though I could never ever see that UF comparison. As I was trying to say last night, I don't really dislike the song so much for the music, even though there's a lot more on there I don't like than I do, but for pretending to be something that it's not. :shrug: I won't argue with you though.

But when did I ever give you the impression that I don't care about lyrics? There are CERTAIN bands where I don't care about lyrics. Especially stuff when the music is far more important, and it's obvious the music is more important. But if I didn't care about lyrics, I probably wouldn't like Bruce, U2, or hell even the Mountain Goats as much as I ended up liking them.

That didn't mean to come out angry, I'm not. I am just thinking I need to stop generalizing things I say to you it looks like.
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1. There was no UF "comparison" per se. I just think they both have great flow in certain parts is all.

2. It's never good to generalize.

3. I held the opinion that you weren't all that interested in lyrics because it has come out of your mouth, word-for-word in the past. :wink: If you changed your mind on that, great. When you listen to Pop from now on, focus on the way the music often compliments the lyrics; it's one of Pop's strongest points. Note the way Miami's thumping, dark electronic landscape is at odds with the song's frivolous observations about its namesake, or how Mofo contrasts sonic overload with some of the most naked and personal lyrics Bono has ever written. Playboy Mansion is improved tenfold by its porn soundtrack instrumentation. At the very least, focusing on these little details will give you some appreciation for what the band attempted here, regardless of whether or not they succeeded in your eyes. And, hell, in sound, this isn't the U2 we all know and love. Edge doesn't shoehorn delay into every track for no reason. Adam brinks funk instead of root notes. Larry sounds more like a drum machine than usual. Bono sounds like he wants to kill himself. But in spirit, this is the U2 I've always loved.
 
zooperson said:
Also I have been getting into Radiohead lately and (tell me if you agree or not) but i think that Pop (and zooropa and even passengers) could be a major and direct influence on Radiohead's work.
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I don't know about Pop, because by the time it came out OK Computer was already in the bag, but I think it's disingenuous for Radiohead fans to completely ignore the influence, however conscious, of Zooropa and Passengers. That pre-millenium tension (to borrow a Tricky album title) captured so well on Radiohead's masterpiece was already explored in a more "upbeat" (read: schizophrenic) way by U2 on Zooropa. While RH's outlook was more bleak and dystopian, U2's was one of confusion: what are we going to go in this new world order, with all this technology, with all these dreams?

There's no way Radiohead didn't HEAR the album, and keep in mind they hadn't even made The Bends yet. Then Passengers dives headfirst into this confusion, but avoids making direct statements in favor of more meditative musings. But make no mistake--U2 and Eno made a 21st century album with Original Soundtracks I, and without it I have a hard time believing Kid A comes into being. That the final track on RH's album is called "Motion Picture Soundtrack" is very telling to me. Also, the "Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon/there are two colors in my head" seem like a very obvious influence from Zooropa, whether they admit/realize it or not.

People like Yorke do a lot of observation and stream-of-consciousness writing. HE probably doesn't even know where some of his material comes from. All I'm trying to say is that at some point he HAD heard the U2 material, and once he found himself thinking along the same wavelength, reflecting on the same state of things in the world, it's natural for these influences to rise to the surface and come out through his writing.

(tell THAT to AtEase, with my regards)
 
I think Pop is awesome, wasn't too far away from being a masterpiece I reckon. Heck I even like Miami. :drool:

I should stop going on about Pop now, i'll get outta control because basically all the songs are :drool:.
 
I've come to really like POP and it's one of my most-played U2 albums now. It's far from perfect; some tracks didn't date all that well and the Miami - Playboy Mansion - If You Wear That Velvet Dress run is one of the worst patches on any U2 album. But I find there's something really likeable about the messiness of the album and it's got this nervy pulsating energy to it that makes me think of driving through a crowded, neon-drenched city at night.
 
zooperson said:
Dreamoutloud, if that is the truth then i'm totally over reacting and i'm sorry.

but i think that if i were the poster it would make me feel really bad if several people were so worked up over my post. It's not just this thread. I think Diamond was treated unfairly for her poll today. she even poked fun at herself in the poll but still people were way harsh. what's the point of that?

So unless you want to just talk about what type of dog food larry feeds his pets or why bono puts his left shoe lace over the right one when he ties his creepers then what's the big deal about several discussions about a particular album?
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Ok three things:
I wasn't "worked up" over the post, nor did I intend to come across rude. I've just been on these boards for a few years and Pop has always been a subject of contention/inside jokes.

I have no idea what poll you are talking about. I wasn't involved in that.

I'm all for discussion. I just saw Youtube videos in the inital posting. :shrug:

Not really a big deal. Discussion boards always have difffering opinions--it'd be pretty freaking boring otherwise.
 
DUDE. I just noticed this:
zooperson said:
but i think that if i were the poster it would make me feel really bad if several people were so worked up over my post. It's not just this thread. I think Diamond was treated unfairly for her poll today. she even poked fun at herself in the poll but still people were way harsh. what's the point of that?
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First of all, Diamond is a guy. And believe me, if you knew anything about him, you'd know why his polls get responses like that. Believe me, don't feel bad for him, he knows full well how people here feel toward him, and how we'll treat him, and apparently he doesn't mind in the slightest because he keeps coming back for more. And not only that, but he's done his share of asshattery here.

I think Diamond's main purpose here on Interference is to act like an ass, and have everyone tell him off for it while he grins and winks. It's his way.
 
DreamOutLoud13 said:
DUDE. I just noticed this:

First of all, Diamond is a guy. And believe me, if you knew anything about him, you'd know why his polls get responses like that. Believe me, don't feel bad for him, he knows full well how people here feel toward him, and how we'll treat him, and apparently he doesn't mind in the slightest because he keeps coming back for more. And not only that, but he's done his share of asshattery here.

I think Diamond's main purpose here on Interference is to act like an ass, and have everyone tell him off for it while he grins and winks. It's his way.
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point taken. :|

I really didn't mean to come off as such an ass you guys. But i just don't get it when people go to a thread just to dis it and then more people jump on the dissing bandwagon and just end up bringing the thread up to the top anyway.

so instead of solving, what they believe to be, the problem they are #1 bringing more attention to the thread and #2 making the poster feel bad when they obviosly didn't mean any harm.

a lot of you prolly don't remember me from before but i never rocked the boat or started fights, it's not my style. maybe next time what i'll do is direct the poster to a previous thread about the same topic and then maybe see if the moderator will erase the new thread. i'm not into starting fights. especially with like-minded people who shouldn't be fighting about stoopid shit. we should be saving our energy to fight about the new album when it comes out :D

i've obviously pissed people off. I've pulled a rattle and hum and everyone thinks i'm a douche for being too serious. eh well.
 
zooperson said:
Also I have been getting into Radiohead lately and (tell me if you agree or not) but i think that Pop (and zooropa and even passengers) could be a major and direct influence on Radiohead's work.
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I have been into Radiohead since 1997, but I think that U2 is not concerned as a direct influence to Radiohead. I would say Joy Division, Massive Attack, DJ Shadow...
 
I Heart POP!

I love POP as well.Defeniteley there most underrated album with the general public(i.e.those who are not diehard fans).I remember when first hearing it I was kind of dissapointed.But after a few listens it grew on me.I think the album version of Gone is better,but even sweeter it would be if it had Edge's guitar part from the live version in the album version.Staring at the sun I like the album version better.I like the live version of Please better though.Should have been a double album IMO.
 
I do genuinley enjoy POP as an album but always have to skip Miami & Playboy Mansion - two of my least favorurite U2 tracks.

Besides that though, a really solid effort - I'd probably put it above HTDAAB & War but not the likes of Boy and Achtung - somewhere in the middle
 
Well, Pop is in my top 3 albums, gotta love the studio version of Gone and Please is just breathtaking live especially with that solo, oh that solo. :drool:
 
Yes, Pop is a really good album - certainly not a failure by any means. I liked the fact that they were continuing to explore new directions. Even the two most obviously techno songs (Mofo, Miami), which I usually skip, were probably better than the vast majority of techno music out there (at least from what I've heard).
 
Pop is awesome, this album demands respect! :drool:

Discotheque, Do You Feel Loved, Please, Gone, Last Night On Earth... :up:
 
sue4u2 said:
Those actually are my favorites. :up: except Mofo and Wake Up are so special. :up:
But then there's IGWSHA and Miami and Playboy Mansion .
:rockon:

OK, I love the whole album. Always have.
So I'm just repeating myself, again. :heart:
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I don't even mind Miami and Playboy Mansion! They're alright. :wink:

IGWSHA is quite a good track too. :up:
 
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