U2

From the Source

U2 goes disco! Funky, heavy dance tracks underpin a collection of... well, pop. Not entirely unexpected, given the directions in sound that the previous two albums, Achtung Baby and Zooropa were heading down.

The rock guitars and impassioned songwriting are far from absent, from the infectious 'Discotheque' and sing-a-long 'Staring At The Sun', this is U2 at their most immediate, an album that produced no less than six singles, dumbfounded their critics and delighted everyone else.

Recruiting the likes of dance supremo Howie B on 'DJ and vibes' duty, and researching new music by visiting the dance and techno clubs of Europe prior to recording, Pop is an astounding collage of musical influences and strident confident songwriting.

Often cited as non-U2 fans' favourite U2 album, it's hard not to like the new sound the band briefly developed on Pop, equally split between gentle catchy pop songs and driving dance anthems. Going straight to Number 1 in no less than 28 countries worldwide on release, Pop is one of U2's most intimate albums. Undeniably fresh and utterly exciting from start to finish.