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march[27]1997 TT2 sr?i ~ r pop t island records I second opinions a r marcus amaker, staff writer & & r roiling stone t c c F v a t I r u A f< r Mi Nil BossEcw Kl ^1 \ UI <SB?> r oaJ-AO^U ectacular in hi| IjAsOn lyNeS U|2 need no introduction, countries, decades, genri band have made more ti :hemselves. They've made histoi So how do you follow up history? How do you k dow do you span generations? Do it U2 style. After countless, yet memorable, hit singles, albu >ack into synch with Pop, a slightly eclectic, surpri ilbum from the new kings of popular nusic. What're forgotten here are rules. Rules ^ hat say you can't use synthesizers on a ock album. You can't have electronic nusic and ballads back to back. You can't j >arty down in a supermarket. ^ " With this new work, U2 instead make heir own rules. Never afraid to do their iwn thing, U2 has put together a superb ollection of musical genius - commonilace for a U2 album. The collection is led by the Pop radio pioneer, " yith Village People references, hyped up guitars, w nd the typical Bono whine, "Disco" takes rock to heques and dance clubs, but rarely heard on mair J2 goes, everyone follows, as "Disco" was heard on lation wide. Next is the highly catchy and bright "Do You Ft inlike the other songs that head up Pop - twisty, sh liscofunky. As I speak I'm singing the soft yet ling< zel...loved? / do you feel loved?" Simple, styling, it' light chill session or a high powered drive down tb Versatility is thrown out the window with the la: Mo-Fo." Obviously a slang abbreviation for a bad r ites like a bad-ass and hurts like one too. Strong a ill the air as insane air-raid sirens boom over a low reaky, half-dead scratchy vocals limp along the hij t's hard to keep up with how much ass this kicks. bml the mighty mig 1EO uubMUlieb let's face it ItoM chaUMpI Capitalizing on the rise in popula music, with bands like No Doubt Goldfinger, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have p taken a step back JJte from the hard rock of 1993's Don't Know How to Party with their <1 new album Irt's Fart* Songs like "The Rascal King" and "Royal Oil" show off the Bosstones' third-wave ska background. But others ^^1 like "Another Drinking Song" * "The Impression That I Get," which ?strung collectio The rest of the album is littered Transcending ballads and traditional U2 fun. "If and "Staring At the Sun," combint ps. the Irish lan a name for "^ast Night On Earth" and "Go Horses" manner, like a whining, w ry. everywhere. :eep following up classics? "Miami," the album's only rottei sound. The good parts take way toi therefore ruin any relationship it m ims and concerts, U2 pop resembles U2's older, more primiti\ singly refreshing new "The Playboy Mansion" satirize: with Coke L 1 4-~ jaZZy. i/ J uaru LU kcvu UU "it / ? 1 their th how much ass this ^ kicks. "^ overs Baby, lit lounger, "Dress" seeps on in and Discotheque." Complete "Please" is a bit too hard to desc avy-gravy synth noise, track, and a lone Edge riff sprinkle level common in disco- good song. But there's something rr istream radio. But where "Please," making it a truly spiritual strictly rock stations The collection retires with "Wa slug-like lighter-licker. Bono's syntl ;el Loved?" This is not contrasting the clean, power-driver louty, and all together obvious struggle that peaks and qu; ;ring chorus of "do vou and U2's new chaDter to dod histor 's a song for both a late Pop is not breaking new ground e Las Vegas strip. adopted, used and abused. But U2 ;t of the synth-strong, Bono can go from the "Last Night ( nouth slogan, "Mo-Fo" pleadingly on "Velvet Dress" and si nd random techno beats He culd be a jazz singer, a disco dai lead rhythm. Bono's wants to be - and to add that to U2 ?h energy blast of a song. genius could bring any genre, any s As if Pop didn't have its own thr ? received playtime on radio and MTV, blend ska my and rock, creating a style that has mainstream appeal. This blend of styles was visible on Party, with "Holy Smoke" and "Don't Know How to Party." It was overshadowed, however, by the hard-rock X of "Our Only Weapon," "Tin Soldiers," and other songs. The toning down of their new album doesn't mean that the Bosstones can't still rock. The songs "Desensitized" and "1-2-8" exhibit the rity of ska guitar-driven music style that made Party jriL and Jh so popular. Old fans of the Mighty M Mighty Bosstones will probably be annoyed with H| the watered-down ska or Lets race it. rans ot J Party may be disappointed F with the step back from hard rock. But Let's Face It, H powered by ska-rock blends like "The Impression That I Get" and Oa#;V "Noise Brigade," has the potential p * for commercial success, putting the ^ and Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the forefront has Wr of the recent ska craze. with slow, Iricky-hke T God Will Send His Angels" ; for a 1-2 punch, delivering a me" remember Achtung Baby in a "Wild inding, jazzed-up freight train headed for a spot, features a surprisingly uncatchy o long to rear their beautiful heads and lay have achieved with your ears. It rt "Sunday Bloody Sunday" work. > modern culture in a way only U2 can, strategic references to plastic surgery, , U.J., and or course riayooy, all Denind a blues-like coffeehouse flavor. You Wear That Velvet Dress" is perhaps lost genius song this year. Slow, subtle, oft-spoken, "Dress" opens with Bono's deep whispering hum, on top of a slight itic picking. Soon Bono's sweet vocals i to escape the hole it's in, but is soon hadowed by another nod to Achtung the chorus-effect guitar. For the candlemay never again seep out. ribe. Funky beats, a traditional Bono vocal the song, combining for <Surprise!> a lore. A bit too much soul inhabits experience. ke Up Dead Man," a deep, strong, and red vocals whine, complementing and r guitars. Bono's voice characterizes the ickly dies, ending the song, the album, y. Many of these styles have been tried and just does it better than everywhere else. Dn Earth" power-plug to whining nging valiantly on "Staring At the Sun." acer, a pop icon - he can be whatever he 's awe-inspiring pop smarts and musical ong, any lyric to life, iving, breathing, pulsating, popping life. w sCV