trevgreg
Rock n' Roll Doggie
I have to disagree with something here. Whether or not you feel Pop was compromised, produced poorly, ill-advised, rushed to completion whatever, I don't understand how one can't consider it cohesive or a "true album".
The track order/selection is pretty solid, especially compared to the unfortunate last-minute change on ATYCLB, the last-minute dropping of Mercy and Fast Cars on Bomb, and that desperate middle section on No Line. I wish they had made room for North And South Of The River and/or I'm Not Your Baby, but whatever.
Thematically, it's one of their most cohesive works, with Bono and other characters struggling with their faith against the dizzying backdrop of fin-de-sicle culture. He begins the album with the futile escapism of Discotheque, pleads for his mother's approval on MOFO, questions his own existence and career on Gone, and ends the album with a cynical call for peace followed by a wish to resurrect his mother. This isn't all over the place.
Sonically, I don't think this is erratic from track to track. You may not like Miami, but it flows perfectly out of Gone and transitions perfectly to Playboy Mansion, for example. It's just as well-sequenced as Achtung Baby.
When we were doing the song survivor thing recently, I went on the listen to Playboy Mansion and Velvet Dress from Pop to see which one would be getting my first vote from the album. I was pleasantly surprised to remember that they weren't as bad as some of the other tracks I consider "the worst" on other albums!
Out of curiosity, what "unfortunate last-minute" track order changes were made to ATYCLB? I sort of remember that being discussed before...
With all the talk about producers and NLOTH on here, I was motivated to find some interviews regarding it this week and found this old article on the Sound on Sound website. I'm sure some of you have read it before (as I have), and there's some interesting stuff there if you're intrigued by the whole recording process. Plus, for all the crap Boots and the other "middle 3" songs get on here, they make it look like a lot of time was put into the song... Eno and Lanois included.
Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Declan Gaffney