Daily Staff Writer

Pop

U2

It is no wonder U2 is the most popular band in the world. Its continuous search for innovation has yielded platinum status for almost every one of its previous releases. Pop is assured of the same fate, sounding like a hybrid cross of Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby if played simultaneously.

Pop has already yielded three singles, “Discotheque,” “Do You Feel Loved” and “Last Night on Earth.” The first two singles have a distinct disco/techno/rave feel and are fueled by Edge’s guitar prowess, Bono’s amazing voice and a heavy dose of bass. The latter single makes dynamic use of simultaneous choruses with a sound that is like earlier U2 with heavier bass.

“If God Will Send His Angels” features beautiful singing over a gorgeous layer of guitar and bass notes. The song details how the world has gone wrong and how it might be fixed with the help of Jesus. “Wake Up Dead Man” also dwells on this theme.

The lyrics on Pop are about as good as they get. Lines like “tonight the moon is playing tricks again/feeling sea sick again/and the whole world could just dissolve/into a glass of water” show that Bono has been improving on his songwriting talents.

The group has also been experimenting with its sound. Not only does the band venture into industrial, ambient and techno on this CD, they also explore a jazzy hybrid of lounge music (“Please”) and blues (“Playboy Mansion”).

Pop is a really strong release from a band that is known for making great music. Its penchant for great songwriting and willingness to explore musically is certain to enlighten listeners.

5 stars

— Ben Jones

Elegantly Wasted

INXS

There was a time when INXS was a great band putting out excellent, innovative albums (X and Kick) and infectious songs. Unfortunately, that time is over and INXS is stuck in a rut. Elegantly Wasted is an utterly pathetic release from a band who should be better.

“Show Me (Cherry Baby)” starts on a dramatic note that mimics the Mission Impossible theme song composed by members of U2. However, it can’t keep this pace and soon descends into a tepid attempt at a sonic assault. The singing quickly becomes tedious, the musicianship sucks and the chorus is a pathetic attempt at making a horrible song radio friendly.

“Elegantly Wasted” shows the band trying out its best U2 impression, which is horrific. It mixes crappy techno beats with even worse lyrics. “Everything” begins with an excellent acoustic guitar solo then deteriorates into a bad Elton John outtake.

“Don’t Lose Your Head” is a bad combination of techno beats and John Mellencamp sensibility that quickly eludes anyone’s attention span by throwing in a gospel chorus. “I’m Just A Man” is a feeble attempt to cash in on No Doubt’s popularity by ripping off its title. The song would be much better if it followed No Doubt’s ska rhythm, but it is borderline country music instead.

The only song that comes comparatively close to INXS’ previous glory is “Shake The Tree.” It rocks in a lukewarm way but it is not even close to enough to salvage Elegantly Wasted from the trash heap. Indeed, one would have to be extremely wasted to even bother throwing away good money on this awful shit.

1/2 star

— Ben Jones

Not The Joneses

Not The Joneses

It is a pleasant surprise for a guitar-based alternative band such as Not The Joneses to actually have powerful vocals. In the case of this band’s debut disc, the vocals are more than a surprise, but the base of well-rounded release.

At times, Joneses singer Mark Chaffee resembles Collective Soul’s Ed Roland, and with backing vocals just as catchy, the bands strike a pretty good comparison.

“Ashes to Ashes” opens the disc in good fashion. A happy go-lucky chorus of the familiar “ashes to ashes we all fall down” verse mixes well with the upbeat tempo and off-the-wall guitar fillers.

As the disc goes on, the band builds on its catchy pop repertoire with songs like “One Time Woman” and “J-lite.” Sounding more and more like some of the good Christian acts (DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline), Not The Joneses even touches on the subject of faith with “For The Cross.”

“Tantelize” explores a different territory, blending bits of punk with a harmonizing chorus.

While Not The Joneses shows all the signs of a quirky pop band, it may find trouble in standing out from others bands with the same sound.

3 stars

— Corey Moss

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All ratings are based on a scale of zero to five stars, with five being Iowa State and zero being UCLA.