41. Jordan Stepp Discusses U2, Pop

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It's rare that I get to talk about a band I know as well as U2 on this podcast, but I got a real education on the band and on their Pop album from Jordan Stepp of Athens Music Junkie. In addition to walking me through the dozen tracks of Pop, Jordan talked about working for an academic press, writing as a freelance music journalist and the important place that Pop holds in U2's discography.

Jordan recommended that I watch the video for Discothèque, and I'm glad that I followed that advice. If you haven't seen it, take five minutes and enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpvF7Qq9svk

You can (and should) follow Jordan on Twitter at @AthMusicJunkie.

Also, check out Jordan's fantastic site, Athens Music Junkie, especially if you want to know what's going on in the Athens music scene. It's at athensmusicjunkie.com.

1:26 Jordan joins the show

2:04 Jordan talks about some of the music books that were pitched to UGA Press

4:56 Jordan recounts writing about music on MySpace and for Flagpole

7:33 We pondered whether it’s best to not revisit one’s own past writing

9:51 For better and worse, U2’s albums have been marked by perfectionism

13:58 Jordan urges Al to listen to the Passengers album

16:38 Jordan talks about being introduced to U2’s music

19:41 Al views ATYCLB differently now that he’s heard Pop

22:55 Seeing U2 on the War tour made Al a fan

24:35 Al checked out on all of his favorite bands around the time that Pop was released

26:59 Jordan likes Pop as U2’s “misfit” album

28:55 U2 tends to shy away from playing tracks from Pop live

30:13 Pop was a unique album for U2 because of its “meanness”

Track-by-track breakdown

33:08 Discothèque

39:42 Do You Feel Loved

46:27 Mofo

53:50 If God Will Send His Angels

57:01 Staring at the Sun

1:03:03 Last Night on Earth

1:09:04 Gone

1:15:45 Miami/The Playboy Mansion

1:20:14 If You Wear That Velvet Dress

A brief departure from the album…

1:22:35 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

1:26:10 Please

1:30:38 Wake Up Dead Man

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