We strive to bring you the latest and best in music at cMusicWeb.com,
and thus, we also cover the artists that are somewhat controversial.
This week, we cover an album from U2 that was less than perfect, and
not as popular as their current release, All That You Can't Leave
Behind. But, we've also got some new releases and the latest news on
cMusicWeb.com.

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POP - U2 (1997)
by Jason Ewert

If you want a summary of Pop, take a close look at the cover.
Everything is grey except for the faces of the band members which are
outlined with bold colors and shadowed with black. Although the bold
colors attempt to add a more pleasant and appealing touch to the
cover, they instead portray what Pop is about: frustration.

U2's frustration is directed towards God, a common thing for people
who feel like they're in a dead end. And when you feel this way, your
initial reaction is to shift the blame from yourself and onto someone
else. Often, that "someone else" is God. "Why does uncertainty
abound? Why does pain fill my life? Why doesn't God make life happy?"
Though the answer may be right in front of you, it is difficult to
believe in these situations.

Throughout Pop U2 attempts to ignore this predicament by searching
for salvation in other areas. "Do You Feel Loved" attempts salvation
through love (sex); "Last Night on Earth" suggests that salvation can
be found in oneself; "Miami" samples the life of a celebrity; "The
Playboy Mansion" indicates that there is no shame, sorrow, or pain in
that mansion. Yet, none of these things succeed. Behind the
glamorization, behind the makeup, and behind the temporary
satisfaction is the nagging fact that something is missing.

Other songs demonstrate that U2 realizes that these "salvatory"
things are less than satisfactory. Though "Mofo" is "lookin' for to
fill that God shaped hole", "If God Will Send His Angels" mournfully
states that God has His "phone" off the hook. Yet, God is there,
and "Staring at the Sun" doesn't want God to discover the rottenness
inside. "Please" defies Christians, who are viewed as hypocritical:
they can offer no hope to people searching for truth. But even this
wears off, and U2 is left broken and shattered. As one final
desperate plea, they call on God to reveal Himself in "Wake Up Dead
Man". Though they know that there is nothing else to turn to, U2 is
defiant to the last, unwilling to give in.

For U2 fans this album leaves questions unanswered. Are they falling
away from the Christianity they professed in the 1980's? Have they
been corrupted by fame? The answers can only be found on their next
album. Until then, Pop serves as a reminder of the joylessness of
life without God. As Bono said, the world is a messed up place when
Jesus is simply a dead man. But if you recognize Him as Lord and
Savior, you're looking at a whole new landscape. And that should be
our prayer: that the eyes of U2 would be opened, and instead of
looking to save themselves, they would proclaim Jesus as their Master.

Find out more about U2 at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/u2


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local store)

DOWNHERE (self-titled)
An indie band from Canada, recently signed through
WordOnlineRecords.com, downhere has been categorized as somewhere
between the Normals and the Waiting, and may be the next big thing in
Christian Music. We're going out on a limb to name this THE PICK OF
THE WEEK.

IF WE PRAY - ANOINTED
With only two members left, Anointed continues to make their urban
music that appeals to many fans.

THE LIVING ROOM SESSIONS: CHIRSTMAS - CHRIS RICE
For the second time, Chris Rice sets up the studio in his living room
and gives plays his piano. This time, he's putting down tracks of
classic Christmas songs.

SONG CINEMA - MARK SCHULTZ
With all these new artists, it's great to see some of them coming out
with their second CD. Word on the street claims that this one is
less fluff and more real stuff from Mark Schultz.

YOU ARE MY WORLD - HILLSONGS
Even more live worship from down under, starring Darlene Zschech.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
• New Creed Single
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• And much more!

View all the latest stories on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on cMusicWeb.com)

POP: http://cMusicWeb.com/pop
What Matters Most - Wes King [10/30]

Click on the album titles on the genre page to order them and recieve
them on the release date.


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