Some days have bouncers and won't let you in... (Zooropa - U2)

Member Name: shanecahill

Product:	Zooropa - U2
Date:	18/09/01 (72 review reads)
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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 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 song
s 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 Th
an 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...

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