Odelay (1996)
I enjoy and admire this man’s studio mastery. I liked the one-shot “Loser” well enough, but never would have believed that he’d actually get to MAKE a second album, let alone have it be GOOD…the first track here is the strongest, and although it’s not “Loser”, it’s pretty d@mn hooky. My only question/problem with the whole thing is, how many times can he get away with absolutely meaningless bullsh1t lyrics and make them tolerable with intriguing music? “Loser” was pretty much as meaningless as you can get, but this album matches it song for song. I mean, how can I like an entire album of Bono-in-October-esque lyrics? Because he’s not trying for anything more, maybe?
Or because he’s too hooky and inventive musically for me to mock him? At least, until the hooks run dry. Then he’s meat.
(“Devil’s Haircut”, “Jack-Ass”)
Grade: B-