This CD single is the fourth from the band's 1997 album,
Pop. All five tracks on this CD are exclusive to this release, making it a great single. The version of "Please" here is not the album one, but a single remix that is slightly different that the original. The true gems of the disc, however, are the four live Popmart songs. All are A+ soundboard recordings of inspired performances. Three are from the July 18, 1997, Rotterdam concert: "Please," "Where the Streets Have No Name," and "Staring at the Sun." Anyone who does not appreciate 1990s
U2 needs to hear live versions of
Achtung Baby,
Zooropa, and
Pop songs. "Where the Streets Have No Name" will send chills down the spine of
Joshua Tree fans: yes, they have never stopped being amazing live. (This performance could have been recorded in Tempe circa 1987.) The acoustic, echoing version of "Staring at the Sun" is also better here than on
Pop. This CD single is more than an essential memento from the band's 1997 tour. It is a reminder that
U2 has always been at the top of their game, even when experimenting and "reinventing" themselves, and the 1990s improved their live versions of their 1980s catalog. This single is testament to that claim, especially the Edmonton "With or Without You." How could a band perform one song for close to 15 years and never fail to conjure up an inspirational version? Simple -- perform one of the greatest songs ever written. ~ JT Griffith