U2 have spent their career since Pop trying to bury it. Mainly it seems, because not many people got what they were doing with it. Which sucks balls, because what they were doing was fantastically interesting. Essentially imploding, building sets that no Las Vegas developer on crack would ever consider commissioning, and making an album full of spectacular mistakes. It may not all quite gel as a whole, but it was a strange and risky experiment in mishmash, and so was worthy on its own terms.
Though, it never quite worked like they wanted it to, incorporating elements of dance culture (including producer Howie B) and taking the club on the road with them for two years. U2 have always been supreme fans of music above all else, and soak up whatever it is that they were into at that moment and put it on their record. Whether it was Joy Division on Boy or KMFDM on Achtung Baby. That their songs stand up as unmistakably their own through it all, is what makes them a truly great band. Or, it did. This DVD is the commitment to film of U2’s last great creative flourish.
U2 have, since releasing Pop in 1997, rehashed their 80s sound to their accountant’s heart’s content. Remastered in approximately 439 audio settings (5.1, PCM stereo, etc) Popmart Live from Mexico City is otherwise cheap by U2 standards, with no bonus material whatsoever. Minus 24 points there, U2. However, it does include eight tracks from the splendidly lopsided Pop, reaches back to Boy and ticks off the gold standards of New Years Day, Where the Streets Have No Name and One along the way – which are each incendiary performances, enough to send Coldplay cowering to the nearest corner. Plus 25 points.
If you like U2, you already own this. If you don’t, go get yourself copy of Zoo TV Live From Sydney instead. They never quite hit their straps on this release as they did on previous, and even subsequent tours. But Bono is wearing those immensely retarded pants made of bubbles which were designed for the Popmart tour by Gautier. Add four points.
Johnny Deptran
said ages ago