(01) U2 - Pop (1997)

“Pop” is the ninth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in March 1997. It is notable for combining elements of popular techno, dance, and electronica influences with traditional alternative rock.
U2 were rushed into completing “Pop”, even after delaying the album by four months, as the band had booked the elaborately-staged PopMart Tour ahead of time while still in the studio. Since the album's release, many of its songs have been re-recorded and remixed. Although an early commercial success at the time of its release — it reached number one in 32 countries, including the UK and the US —Pop's lifetime sales are among the lowest in U2's catalogue, and critical reaction was mixed. It was certified RIAA platinum once, the lowest since the band's album “October”.

For “Pop”, U2 continued the sonic experimentation it explored with “Achtung Baby” and “Zooropa”. “Pop” prominently features tape loops, programming, rhythm sequencing, and sampling, along with heavy, funky dance rhythms. Guitarist The Edge described the album as "about as far away from U2 as it is possible to be". The album is much more dark and experimental than, as the title would imply, light and mainstream.
Commencing in early 1996, the recording of the album was fraught with difficulty. The biggest problem U2 faced was meeting the Christmas and holiday season deadline that had been set for the album's completion. Additionally, the band had already booked their upcoming PopMart Tour, scheduled to start in April 1997. However, the album sessions went long and the band were pressured to complete the album in time for their tour. “Pop” did not end up hitting shelves until March 1997. The band has since admitted they were hurried into completing the album and say that a number of tracks on the album were not finished as well as they would have liked. The vocals to "Last Night on Earth", for example, were reportedly recorded at the mixing desk the day the album was to be sent for pressing. Bono admitted that the album "didn't communicate the way it was intended to".

All songs written and composed by U2, with lyrics by Bono and The Edge.

Tracklist:
01. "Discothèque" 5:19
02. "Do You Feel Loved" 5:07
03. "Mofo" 5:46
04. "If God Will Send His Angels" 5:22
05. "Staring at the Sun" 4:36
06. "Last Night on Earth" 4:45
07. "Gone" 4:26
08. "Miami" 4:52
09. "The Playboy Mansion" 4:40
10. "If You Wear That Velvet Dress" 5:14
11. "Please" 5:10
12. "Wake Up Dead Man" 4:52

Total Time: 60:09

U2
Bono – lead vocals, additional guitar
The Edge – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Adam Clayton – bass guitar
Larry Mullen, Jr. – drums, percussion, programming

Other personnel:
Flood – production, keyboards
Steve Osborne – production, keyboards, engineering, mixing
Ben Hillier – programming
Howie B – production, turntables, keyboards, engineering, mixing
Marius De Vries – keyboards
Mark "Spike" Stent - engineering, mixing
Alan Moulder - engineering
Howie Weinberg - mastering
Deborah Mannis-Gardner - sample clearance
Stephane Sédnaoui, Anja Grabert - photography
Nellee Hooper - photography

Released: March 3, 1997 (1997-03-03)
Recorded: Hanover Quay Studios,
Windmill Lane Studios,
The Works, Dublin, Ireland,
South Beach Studios, Miami, Florida, 1996
Genre: Rock, alternative rock, alternative dance, electronica
Label: Island Records
Producer: Flood, Howie B, Steve Osborne