I have never really liked the album but in recent times it has grown on me a lot. I got into U2 in about 2004 about the time when HTDAAB came out so that was really the direction I liked first.
But Pop is one of the most consistent albums they have done with big songs that they quite didn't nail on the album but did that later with live versions and new mixes. Happy birthday Pop!
I like the album, some parts of it are great on their own (Mofo, Please -single version even better-, SATS, WUDM, Velvet Dress... even Miami)
But the album has way too many songs.
Actually, it has way too many genres.
And its songs are way too damn long.
I won't get into the finished/unfinished debate.
That's my only critique. If they could've trimmed the songs a bit, or the album a bit, it could've been one of my favourite albums, but as it is, I get a bit bored just with the thought of facing the task of listening to it in its entirety.
you just can't get enough of that lovie dovie stuff
I recently put this album in the car and it surprised me how fresh it still sounds, whereas other albums from other artists of that time (Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, etc.) are now a 90's curiosity.
Pop is my first fully "U2 album experience", living the hype prior to its release, going to the store and listening to it endlessly with the booklet in my hands, watching every interview, every promo performance, etc. Oh, the memories.