I’ll be the first person to admit that I love U2. I think that the band is brilliant; nearing the level of genius. That aside, this album is superb. Zooropa is a refreshing and welcome change from some of their earlier albums.
Many critics and fans found themselves bewildered by this Brian Eno and Flood produced album. The music has a much more apparent electronica feel than past rock and pop offerings from the boys from Dublin.
The band first met after a young Larry Mullen placed an ad in a newspaper looking to start a band. That was twenty five years ago. The rest of U2’s rise to superstardom is history. The band is made up of four guys. Paul Hewson (Bono) is the charismatic vocalist, Dave Evans (the Edge) plays guitar, Adam Clayton is on bass, and Larry Mullen resides on drums. The band released it’s first album, the punk attitude influenced Boy in 1980. That album spawned the hit ”I Will Follow”. Eleven highly lauded and anticipated albums followed, the most notable of which are the multi-Grammy winning Joshua Tree and the most recent All That You Can’t Leave Behind. My favorite is the amazing 1988 effort Rattle & Hum.
As I said earlier, U2 is an amazing band, and Zooropa marked a changing and maturing point in their career. The landscape of music changed in the 1990’s. Many band couldn’t or refused to adapt to the new pop and electronic sound. Instead of caving like many of their peers, U2 embraced the new sound and incorporated it into this 1993 release. And boy, what a release it was.
Some people couldn’t stomach the band’s new sound. Others, like myself, found great merit in U2’s ability to morph into a different band and to mature into a much more interesting and edgy sound. And, in all honesty, this album sounds much more like David Bowie than it does other pop or rock bands. If you have stayed away from this one in favor of their earlier albums, don’t miss out. This 1994 Grammy winner for Best Alternative Music Album is just that…a winner with extraordinary sounds and influence.
At just ten songs long, this is a very brief album. Despite this obvious downfall, there are some absolutely amazing tracks here. They range from the monotonously strange ”Numb” to the Johnny Cash duet ”The Wanderer”. However you slice it, this is a great one. Sit back, relax and check out these songs as interpreted by little ol’ me.
The first track, ”Zooropa”, begins with a choir. Actually, it’s an electronica choir (but who cares when the song sounds this gosh darned good). It’s then joined by a piano and then eventually U2 as a whole. There’s a chattering sort of interference from what I can only suspect is supposed to be television (they called their tour ‘Zoo TV’). This is a soft, mid-tempo TV. Bono sings gloriously for a guy that began in the band with no specific singing talent. It’s got some German lyrics mixed with the typical U2 pleading lyrics that want for attention. It’s a super beginning to what can only be described as a wonderful album.
The second, lesser known, track of the album is ”Babyface” it’s a bell-laden delicate track that sounds very much like you expect from some of today’s somewhat strange Brit-pop giants. It’s a great slow track with Bono’s controlled vocal talents. There’s an occasional guitar riff amid the electronic elements and drums. I like it.
My favorite track of this album and in my top ten from the band of all time is the strange, monotone song sung by The Edge rather than Bono titled ”Numb”. Beginning with a bass drum and strange electronic guitar noise and then breaking into tape feedback and The Edge’s vocals. Bono breaks in for the chorus with a high pitched addition…it’s just brilliant. I’ve never heard anything before or since this song that sounds even remotely like this. It’s an odd, special, diverse, and varied track. Definitely a must listen, although it seems wholly improbable that such a strange track ever made it on to MTV or on the radio. But, alas, U2 made it happen.
”Lemon” is an intensely high pitched and fast song even for U2. Again, they spread their wings to record this song. Bono sounds as though he had to try very hard to make his voice that high pitched. However you look at this, it’s a good song worth of the attention of the masses. It reminds me very much of something (at least vocally) that David Bowie could accomplish. The verses break into something that is reminiscent of the 1980’s new wave movement of which U2 was an major, although fringe, member. Another brilliant one.
”Stay (Far Away, So Close!” is a song in typical U2 fashion. Bono sounds genuine, and like the rock/pop god he is. The band is up to par with their great backing instrumentation. The song is quiet, soft, and pleading. This is one of the most memorable songs from the album (along with a few I’ve already mentioned). If you aren’t up to some of the other odd electronica-influenced songs on this album, buy it if only for this track. It’s a U2 classic of epic proportions.
Beginning with a silent movie-esque introduction, ”Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car” breaks into electronic rhythms as with much of the album. It’s got heavy beats and a sort of hollow, echoing sound to Bono’s voice. The major focus on this track isn’t Bono’s vocals (as with many of the other songs from the band). Rather, the kettledrums and beats are the main parts that add to the completed formula.
”Some Days are Better Than Others” is another typically U2 track. Of course, since it is part of this strange little album, there are electronic bits to it. There is a slightly Asian flavor to the chorus instrumentation. It’s sound is a bit strange, and it’s not my favorite track, but don’t skip it.
Soft guitars and soft vocals mark the beginning of ”The First Time”. In fact, it reminds me of another one of my favorite U2 tracks because of the ambience, texture, and emotion…”All I Want Is You”. It’s a great song. Here’s a sample of what prove to be very poignant lyrics:
When I feel myself going down
I just call and he comes around
But for the first time
I feel love
The ninth song is ”Dirty Day”. It’s a good track. There’s no question that it’s very beautiful (or at least as beautiful as rock music can be). It’s sparse and rich and multi-textured. Quite honestly worth your ears…especially if you aren’t crazy about some of the other tracks on the album. This is a sure sell.
The man in black, Johnny Cash, proved to be a major part of the album’s final track, ”The Wanderer”. Bono and Company are admitted fans of Cash, and this was their opportunity to enlist his talents. Of course, as you can imagine, this track has a southern feel about it. Cash sounds wonderful from the beginning. His voice, as backed by synthesizer noise and sound and a synthetic choir, sounds great. This is much more a Cash track than one from U2. Sure, he may not be your cup of tea…but you can’t deny his talent. Bono lends his vocals as a backing voice. Beautiful and relaxing.
This is an odd album. It’s quite different from their previous effort, Achtung Baby. Despite this change in sound, it’s beautiful and incorporates many of the band’s trademark stylistic elements as with ”Stay (Far Away, So Close”, ”The First Time”, and ”Dirty Day”. As I’ve said, I know it’s very different. But, it’s also perfectly brilliant.
I’m giving the album 4.5/5 stars because U2 has a few better than this one. But, I will give it 5/5 stars on the Epininons scale. Buy, listen, and appreciate the art that is U2. And, don’t forget they will be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soon, very soon. And long before the boys from Dublin retire.
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