Zooropa is a pleasure to listen to, melodious in parts, while strong rythms dominate other songs. This album was written while on the Zoo TV tour, a tour in which the lads... well they went a bit mad, didn't they? But enough about background, on with the music.
The title track introduces ... Read review
Zooropais almost perverse in the way it subverts every expectation we've ever had of U2. ... more
The world's most serious rock band releases an album of advertising parodies, Prince imitations, girl group tributes, taunts of rich girls and straightforward love...
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Zooropa is almost perverse in the way it subverts every expectation we've ever had of U2. ... more
The world's most serious rock band releases an album of advertising parodies, Prince imitations, girl group tributes, taunts of rich girls and straightforward lov...
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Zooropais almost perverse in the way it subverts every expectation we've ever had of U2. ... more
The world's most serious rock band releases an album of advertising parodies, Prince imitations, girl group tributes, taunts of rich girls and straightforward love songs. The album opens with the title tune, a vision of a near-future Europe that finds its common culture in advertising slogans and synth programs. As Bob Dylan once did with "Like a Rolling Stone", U2 takes aim on "Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" at a spoiled rich girl who discovers her life of privilege has sapped all her strength. Bono's vocal has a Dylanesque sneer, but the Edge's guitar and Mullen's percussion create the sounds of a snarled traffic jam and Clayton's in-your-face bass line throbs like a migraine headache. By contrast, "The First Time" is the most genuinely romantic track U2 has ever recorded. The most surprising and most pleasurable tracks on the album, though, are a pair of R&B infatuation numbers, "Babyface" and "Lemon". Nothing better serves overextended rock stars than a return to the music's origins at the sock hop. The results aren't always fully satisfying, but they do reveal an unglimpsed, unexpected side to one of the world's most celebrated, most ambitious pop acts.--Geoffrey Himes
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Zooropais almost perverse in the way it subverts every expectation we've ever had of U2. ... more
The world's most serious rock band releases an album of advertising parodies, Prince imitations, girl group tributes, taunts of rich girls and straightforward love songs. The album opens with the title tune, a vision of a near-future Europe that finds its common culture in advertising slogans and synth programs. As Bob Dylan once did with "Like a Rolling Stone", U2 takes aim on "Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" at a spoiled rich girl who discovers her life of privilege has sapped all her strength. Bono's vocal has a Dylanesque sneer, but the Edge's guitar and Mullen's percussion create the sounds of a snarled traffic jam and Clayton's in-your-face bass line throbs like a migraine headache. By contrast, "The First Time" is the most genuinely romantic track U2 has ever recorded. The most surprising and most pleasurable tracks on the album, though, are a pair of R&B infatuation numbers, "Babyface" and "Lemon". Nothing better serves overextended rock stars than a return to the music's origins at the sock hop. The results aren't always fully satisfying, but they do reveal an unglimpsed, unexpected side to one of the world's most celebrated, most ambitious pop acts.--Geoffrey Himes
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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Zooropa is a pleasure to listen to, melodious in parts, while strong rythms dominate other songs. This album was written while on the Zoo TV tour, a tour in which the lads... well they went a bit mad, didn't they? But enough about background, on with the music.
The title track introduces us to this gem of an album. Zooropa starts off with distant murmurings in the background and it's 2:23 before the first sign of Bono's vocals. Casual ... ...siren that follows The Wanderer. I hope you've enjoyed your trip through the weird wide world of Zooropa and join me again for more reviews (and more money for me, HAHAHAHAHAHA!! What do you mean you can read this?) Please comment, it's annoying when no-one does. I get so lonely... ... more
Zooropa is a pleasure to listen to, melodious in parts, while strong rythms dominate other songs. This album was written while on the Zoo TV tour, a tour in which the lads... well they went a bit mad, didn't they? But enough about background, on with the music.
The title track introduces us to this gem of an album. Zooropa starts off with distant murmurings in the background and it's 2:23 before the first sign of Bono's vocals. Casual and laid back, Bono warbles his way through a multitude of brilliant lyrics like "Be a winner, eat to get thinner". Nice. Lots of weird noises bursting away in the background, and the backing vocals in parts are sublime. Great intro.
Babyface has some of the funniest lyrics U2 have ever had, all based on a man watching models on video. For example " Coming home late at night, to turn you on, checking out every frame, I got slow motion on my side". The chorus is like a lullaby, and indeed light clinking in the background throughout is extremely soothing. Slight drums gel with the song to make it one of the highlights of the album.
Edge's singing debut on Numb is a slight disapointment. Anyone who's listened to his back-up vocals knows he has a great voice, yet here all he's used for is to give regular snippets of things not to do. In an incredibly monotonous voice he tells us things like "Don't Project, Don't connect, Protect, Don't expect, Suggest". As he has to fill up 4.20 with this kind of advice it gets slightly stupid in parts. The song is redeemed by Bono's high-pitched shriek of "I feel numb, too much is not enough". You get to wondering would this song be better without the constant barrage of mumbled words. If you've any views, please share them in the comments section.
Lemon is my favourite track, it really is light years away from the others on this album and would easily be one of my favourite U2 songs ever. Sheer brilliance, with Bono once again adopting a high-pitched voice throughout which makes Mark from JJ72 sound like a normal man. The chorus is perfectly crafted, and, if it's possible, you can try sing-along. Not only is it a remarkable song, it prompted the whole huge lemon fiasco! Hurrah. Going completly off the point, I'll tell you a something I saw at Slane. A giant lemon with the words "Elevate me!" being pushed around by the crowd. Just thought I'd make you all jealous by mentioning Slane. I was there you know. Did you hear that just there? Where I told you I was at Slane? Okay, okay no need to shout!
Voted the best track from the album by visitors to U2.com, Stay (Faraway, So Close!) is next up. A catchy guitar riff plays away in the background while Bono gives another strong performance in the vocal department. The chorus is amazing, and I personally can't help singing along with the chorus. C'mon everybody "If I could STAAAAY, then the night would give you up". Fine, don't sing-along then. Somebody's in a bad mood...
Starting off with faint static and then an orchestral piece, Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car is a weird one. For a minute or so, there is a noise which sounds like someone banging a pipe and then Bono's left to sing in a song virtually devoid of anything but a light drum beat and, at times, light back-up vocals. Once you've got over the initial shock, this is an extremely good song, packed with clever lyrics and a great build-up to the chorus.
A return of disastrous lyrics for U2 as we reach the seventh song, Some Days Are Better Than Others. Take this monstrosity "Some days are slippy, some days are sloppy, some days you can't stand the sight of a puppy". Hmmm... OK. Say no more. Besides that, the song is pleasant enough but significantly weaker than others on this album. You might almost say Some Songs Are Better Than Others. Chuckle, I made that up just there. I'm quite proud. But enough praise for myself for the moment on to...
The First Time is abeautiful ballad of sorts, as Bono again displays why he's the only man for the job with his voice shining over light guitar. Great lyrics like: "He said "I have many mansions, and there are many rooms to see" But I left through the back door and I threw away the key" This is another good reason why YOU should own this album, as Bono tells us that "For the first time, I feel love". Great stuff.
From here the album goes downhill slightly, as Dirty Day raises its average head. Nothing special here as U2 go through the motions and make an unmemorable track. The vocals are decent enough, yet it doesn't feel as complete a track as some of the others. Put it this way, if you play the album, you don't even notice as it passes by. Enough said, really.
The Wanderer is the last track and features vocals from Johnny Cash. He tells us about how he went out walkin' through streets paved with gold. His deep vocals and the song both grow on you, yet this is still the second worst song on the album, thanks to a mixture of boring background music and no Bono! I'm sorry Johnny, but you don't hold a candle to him!
That's it besides of course the irritating siren that follows The Wanderer. I hope you've enjoyed your trip through the weird wide world of Zooropa and join me again for more reviews (and more money for me, HAHAHAHAHAHA!! What do you mean you can read this?) Please comment, it's annoying when no-one does. I get so lonely...
Advantages: Very relaxing Disadvantages: you thought Achtung Baby was a step in the wrong direction you can forget about it.
...The opening two minutes of Zooropa wouldn’t seem out of place on one of Eno’s albums, just some rambling piano with some effects in the background. Then the reverberated guitar and finally drum and bass kick in. Very un-U2, but very good. It’s written like an advert, with lines like
Zooropa…better by design
Zooropa…fly the friendly skies
Through the appliance of science
We’ve got that ring of confidence
Babyface ... ...If I was going by individual songs, Zooropa would only get four stars, but as an album it’s just amazing. Everything just works so well together, even the weaker songs sound so much better as a set of something. A testament to what rock bands can do when they experiment ...
markhobbs 18.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zooropa - U2
Advantages: Grows through time Disadvantages: Difficult to like at first
...When I first bought Zooropa it is the most I have anticipated a release in years. This was the follow up to the magnificent Achtung Baby. There was a good 2 year gap, which meant that it wasn't a rushed release. Bono had gone on records as saying it was originally going to be a 5 track EP but the songs just kept coming and there it was a brand new album. I must admit I was disappointed for a while after I heard Zooropa. It sounded like it had been ... ...and is trying to promote Zooropa as the next big thing. It is a self promotion and one of the highlights of the album. The track starts off slowly, similar to "Where The Streets Have No Name" the first minute is instrumental, starting quietly and building up slowly. The last 2 minutes of the track are excellent. The next song is Babyface which Bono described as a Masturbation Anthem. This is certainly an interesting way to describe ant material but ...
tommy7 11.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zooropa - U2
Advantages: It's a U2 album! Disadvantages: It's the worst U2 album!
...odd moment of madness.
Zooropa is the most disappointing album I have ever bought. Usually when buying a U2 album, you are guaranteed quality, but not this time.
After the success of The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum, U2 began to move away from their traditional "passionate rock" and began to experiment with a different sound. Achtung Baby still just about made the grade, but Zooropa is simply trying too hard to be different and seems a bit rushed.
... ...failed miserably. It is an album with no more than 2 reasonable songs on it. The rest of the album wouldn't be good enough to even be considered for the average U2 B side.
The music of U2 is played daily on most radio stations, whether it be their new or old material. One thing you can guarantee is that you will rarely or never hear a track from this album on the radio. Considering that U2 are such a huge mainstream band and this album is among ...
mattybaldy 09.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Zooropa - U2
Advantages: The Wanderer is a cracking song Disadvantages: the rest of the album is bland
This album is quite boring. I always think of U2 as a guitar rock band but they try to change there image these days because they are getting old. Bono's voice is less scream and shout of unforgettable fire days and more mumble with most of the tracks except lemon where he sings high pitch. The song Numb dosnt really work without watching the video and so I always skip this Edge mubled song. Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car is one of the best ... ...the best song is the final track and is sung by Jonny Cash. Its called the Wanderer and is just too fantastic to put into words. It isnt like the rest of the album there are no dance beats just a sort of mellow song to finish a mediocre album.
The Wanderer is worthy of being on a better album ...
zef 04.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Zooropa - U2
Advantages: Different change of direction Disadvantages: None
...kept rock as it's base, Zooropa moved a little towrds a dance music theme. Most people do not like this album at first but it definitely gest better with time. It is not as raucous but is a little more chilled out. It goes to show the the lads from Dublin can turn thier hands and not give a damn as to what the press think. The first song, the title song for the album is great as it starts off slow and builds up and the album does not disappoint from ...
liammartin 06.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Zooropa - U2
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
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Advantages: Excellent Album Disadvantages: Not their best lyrically
After experimenting through Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop U2 return to their roots. "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is a great collection of songs which should please most if not all tastes.
The first track "Beautiful Day" has already been a UK number 1. It is one of the rockier tracks on the cd.
The second track "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is a particular highlight on the album. At first it sounds a bit low key but after a few listens it really grows and is one of the catchier songs in recent memory.
The third song that really stood out for me was "Kite". This is a difficult song to describe but I hope it is released as a single as it deserves as wide an audience as possible.
The good sign of an exceptional album is that the choices for future single releases are not obvious. Any one of 8 tracks could be ...
Advantages: U2 songs... Disadvantages: Nothing anybody has ever done before
Some poeple saw this Soundtrack as a new U2 album, with 2 new U2 tracks (The Ground Beneith Her Feet- Written by Saldam Rushdie and Stateless) and 3 new tracks written by Bono. The film itself however has had oor reviews, I have not seen it myself although I wouldn't mind. Also in the album are extracts of the film and short music played by the M$H Band, The First Time (From U2's Zooropa) and different versions of Lou Reeds satellite of love. It is a very relaxing album with lots of woodwind music playing in the back ground. U2 fans should buy this if they have the money spare as the tracks will not be released. A great soundtrack, although not the best I've ever heard. ...
Advantages: A Change of Direction but still groundbreaking and exhilarating and U2 Disadvantages: None
taking into the stunning "Zoo Station". This is the track I took my title from and the lyrics are appropriate.
"Are You Ready For the Laughing Gas, Are You Ready for What Comes Next?" implying you may need to be anaesthetised to take in this noise. It is certainly a shock to the more genteel systems , but incredibly exciting and stimulating nonetheless.
More classic guitar riffs implode into "Even Better Than The Real Thing", one of the singles from the album., followed by the beautiful ballad "One" recently covered by the great Johnny Cash (who incidentally guests on "The Wanderer" on Zooropa the album that follows this one).
The fourth track is one of U2's finest ever "Until The End of the World" , heard as part of the soundtrack of Wim Wenders film of the same name. A wonderful U2 power ballad , featuring an excellent guitar intro ...
U2: Bono (vocals, guitar); The Edge (guitar, piano, synthesizer, background vocals); Adam Clayton (bass); Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums, percussion, background vocals). Additional personnel: Johnny Cash (vocals); Brian Eno (keyboards, synthesizer); Des Broadbery, Flood (programming). Engineers include: Robbie Adams, Daniel Lanois, Flood. Recorded at The Factory, Windmill Lane Studios and Westland Studios, Dublin, Ireland in spring 1993. ZOOROPA won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. If you study the wild computer graphics on the sleeve you could be expecting something frantic and electric. In fact, this is the most relaxing U2 album to date, and one on which they sound content to cruise instead of sermonizing. Brian Eno's prescence no doubt added the ambient feel that is present on most of the tracks. Bono even manages to sound like Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals) on 'Lemon' and a monosyllabic Lou Reed on 'Numb'. U2 took risks with this album because it broke a familiar pattern by not sounding like a U2 record. They sailed through the audition.
Album Reviews
Village Voice (3/1/94, p.5) - Ranked #9 in the Village Voice's 1993 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll. Q (1/94, p.86) - Included in Q's list of 'The 50 Best Albums Of 1993' - "...U2's most adventurous outing yet...." Entertainment Weekly (12/31/93, p.115) - Ranked #1 in Entertainment Weekly's list of 'The Best & Worst Records Of 1993' - "...[U2's] attempt to make sense of their place in pop and the world at large is downright heroic...." Rolling Stone (8/5/93, p.63) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...startling....a daring, imaginative coda to ACHTUNG BABY....it works brilliantly..." Spin (9/93, p.116) - Highly Recommended - "...U2 is bidding to up the ante on its new freedom....ZOOROPA indicates U2 might be worthy of whatever absurd mutations the '90s throw our way..." Musician (9/93, p.76) - "...by no means a stopgap project, ZOOROPA ranks among the band's best work to date..." Q (8/93, p.99) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...here is U2, the foremost rock 'n' roll band on the planet, seeing if rock can be fashioned from sonic technology....ZOOROPA refines the first steps in this attempt that ACHTUNG BABY took....the results transcend the merely experimental..." Q (8/94, p.115) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...It's stronger than its parent ACHTUNG BABY..." Melody Maker (7/3/93, p.28) - "...after a decade of intermittently looking and sounding crap they've got both the image and the music right...." NME (7/3/93, p.32) - 6 - Good. Entertainment Weekly (7/9/93, p.46) - "...a harried, spontaneous-sounding, and ultimately exhilarating album on which the world's greatest arena guitar band rarely sounds like itself...For an album that wasn't meant to be an album, it's quite an album..." - Rating: A
Titles on disc 1
1.
Zooropa
2.
Baby Face
3.
Numb
4.
Lemon
5.
Stay (Faraway So Close)
6.
Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car
7.
First Time
8.
Some Days Are Better Than Others
9.
Dirty Day
10.
Wanderer - U2 & Johnny Cash
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