This was the last time U2 tried something different, i think this is their "Sgt Pepper's", it's got the pop hooks but it's experimental at the same time, and i think it's their best flowing album along with "Unforgettable Fire", really underrated.

Toofunkyinhere said:

I haven't heard the whole album (I'm not that big on U2), but wasn't Pop after that? I like some tracks on that album and it was pretty experimental for them, no? Frankly, I don't understand why it was so panned.

Only U2 album I oned, and I like the whole thing

I haven't heard the whole thing, but I do remember Lemon and Bono's devil character and thinking he had become the biggest dope on the planet.

I think I'd be more forgiving if I listened to it now, but I felt he was trying way too hard to do something, but didn't really know what it should be.
[Edited 12/16/08 15:47pm]

Good album, even better when you consider they recorded it while on tour, but not a masterpiece. Passable pop from a rock band experimenting.

Yeah I think if you compare it song by song to Achtung Baby, Achtung Baby wins easily, although i think "Lemon" and "Stay" can match it with anything from Achtung. However i find Zooropa is a lot easier to listen to from beginning to end than any of their other work, beautiful out of this world album, wish U2 was still this interesting.

i enjoy this album more than any of their other albums. i'm not a U2 fan, so maybe that's why i like this one so much - it's not a very U2-y album.

Anxiety said:

That's why I think I like it, it's different than anything before or after

I think it is. Probably my 2nd favorite, right after Achtung.

That whole era including their Passengers stuff is so dramatic, colorful, weird and Eurotrash. And fun! People don't usually associate that with U2.

TRON said:

passengers was fun. and as a side project, it was the kind of thing that colored outside the lines and came from left field.

Anxiety said:

I always hoped for a vol.2.

TRON said:

My favorite era, too. Actually, I had a difficult time choosing what U2 album I would put on my 1990s Top 25... I like Pop and Zooropa almost as much.. sometimes more depending on my mood.

Toofunkyinhere said:

Now, I'm not a U2 fan, but I love this era. Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Passengers and Pop was a superb run. I know Pop has its million detractors, but I love it too. Unfortunately, U2 were so chastened by its comparative failure that they reverted to their tried and tested selves with the follow-up. I lost interest in them again and went back to hating them twice as much as I did before, because they'd copped out. I do hope the forthcoming album is as good (as in imaginative) as early reports indicate it will be.

Ace said:

Me neither. But even U2 don't like it. They say it was rushed because they needed to finish it before the Giant Lemon tour started. Trouble is, the tracks they remixed for the 1990-2000 compilation sound way worse.

TRON said:

achtung baby is my favorite U2 album by far. i liked zooropa but somehow
it always feels like something is missing. not much, just a litte bit of
something to tip it over from very good to super great.

i think i'm going to tinker with the tracklist again one of these days.
perhaps take a passengers song or a bside and stick it on there. i have
tried adding "hold me thrill me kiss me kill me" to it but somehow that
doesn't seem to work to well.

although, perhaps right after "daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car",
i haven't tried that yet.

urgh. why do i always feel the need to make alternate versions of cd's
i already like so much? lol.

yesterday night i was listening to boys for pele and immediately wanted
to add one or two songs to it and cut/paste the fire eater's wife intro
to the tracklist and buelah land.

too much time. too much time on my hand

i love this and the fact that it is practically a side project, (i think that's why it works so much). they were on tour, recording this in a mobile studio and just picking things up along the way. turned in a brilliant album while still on tour and just extended the tour to include this material.

god, i would kill for u2 to return to that mentality...

The videos for Zooropa are my favorite of any U2 era.

Cinnie said:

Love the video to "Stay". Yeah think Eno was a huge influence on this album, almost reminds me of one his records

Shapeshifter said:

Co-sign. I've never been a U2 fan, but I've got a huge appreciation for their '90s run of albums. Zooropa and Pop are pretty gutsy albums, and I love 'em for it.
[Edited 12/17/08 18:06pm]

Shapeshifter said:

I have not heard Zooropa, Passengers or Pop.
My favorite U2 albums are Achtung Baby, All That You Can't Leave Behind, Unforgettable Fire, Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum.

Am I missing anything?

SUPRMAN said:

I can't speak for Passengers, but Zooropa is definitely worth your time - One of my favorite albums ever. Pop is also fun, but much spottier and chaotic. It's an album that grows on you over time.

But Zooropa, man... they hit that one out of the park.

SUPRMAN said:

yes.

zooropa, passengers, and pop. oh, and atomic bomb!

Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree are my favourite U2 albums. But they've never made a bad record IMO.

sassybritches said:

I have 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.'

I guess I'll start at Zooropa . . . .

SUPRMAN said:

Yeah go with Zooropa, but give it a few listens, i remember thinking "what the hell is this?" when i first heard it.

It's not a favorite of mine, but I love "Stay."

Shapeshifter said:

I generally detest U2, but I do like this era too. The main difference is that Bono (for the most part) dropped the dramatic deep-breathing, moaning and wailing routine that makes every other record of theirs intolerable to my ears. The music is more colourful as well, but the fact that bono isn't so bono on these records is the critical distinction for me.

Lovin 'Lemon'.

'Stay' - nothing

'The Wanderer' - ?? (We're not in Dublin anymore . . . )

'Numb' cute but sounds like a sketch for 'Mysterious Ways'

'The First Time' - sounding like U2.

'Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car' - channeling Micheal Hutchence?

'Babyface' - I'd rather listen to 'UltraViolet' which I love.

'Some Days Are Better Than Others' - Why does this sound Beatle-esque to me?


Only impressed with Lemon . . . . .

SUPRMAN said:

It was the title song I found to be the masterpiece, and everything else well above average

SUPRMAN said:

Give it some time. It's one of their best songs. In fact, it might be my favorite right after "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses".