Pop Goes the World [Import]

Men Without Hats | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B00000723W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,624 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. Pop Goes the World

3. On Tuesday

4. Bright Side of the Sun

5. O Sole Mio

6. Lose My Way

7. The Real World

8. Moonbeam

9. In the Name of Angels

10. La Valese d'Euge'nie

11. Jenny Wore Black

12. Intro/Walk on Water

13. The End (Of the World)

Editorial Reviews

Canadian reissue on Polygram of the Canadian new wave band's1987 album featuring the top 20 title song & 12 other cuts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stuff, March 5, 2000

By 

Chris D. (Ocean Grove, NJ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pop Goes the World (Audio CD)

When my spirits are low, this is one of the albums I reach for - cheerful, upbeat and brimming with joy and optimism, but without becoming saccharine...not that I have to be depressed to enjoy a listen. There is a bit less emphasis on synthesizers on this album than on "Rhythm Of Youth" and "Folk Of The 80's", and the production is much much cleaner - excellent, in fact. Compared to their earlier material, some listeners might find this one a little too slick, but there is no question that the material is brilliant. This is MWH at their best. There are no weak tracks (even counting the minute long interludes). "O Sole Mio," "In The Name Of Angels" and "Jenny Wore Black" are superb songs in the same mold as the title track, "Moonbeam" and "Walk On Water" are more uptempo songs, and "On Tuesday," "Lose My Way" (featuring flute work from Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson) and "The End (Of The World)" are mellower, more lush tracks. Add them all up and you have an extremely solid and consistently enjoyable album, which really deserved more attention than it got. It's easily worth the high import price. Whether you like 80's music or just brilliant, upbeat pop, "Pop Goes The World" is a must-have.

UPDATE 03/03/2010: It is now two days shy of 10 years since I wrote the review above. I just listened to PGTW in the car on my way to work today for the first time in a while, and I have to say that this album sounds every bit as great to me now as it did then. While the songs still retain all of their goofy sparkle and charm, I couldn't help but notice the sadness and bittersweetness underlying the bright surface of the songs much, much more than I used to - all part of getting older, I guess. It was a surprisingly moving experience to listen to it - it has much more depth than you might expect. It has been reissued since I originally reviewed it, so do yourself a favor an pick up a copy while it's still in print.

ANOTHER UPDATE 09/26/2011: For the first time since the 80's MWH are touring the US. I saw shows in NYC and Teaneck, NJ on Friday and Saturday and am soon heading out to a third show tonight. If they are coming to your area, don't miss out - they put on a very good show. Included in the setlist are "Pop Goes The World", "On Tuesday" and "Moonbeam" from this album...which still sounds great.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, January 7, 2002

By 

Kevin Gamble (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pop Goes the World (Audio CD)

This album is the test of whether, deep down inside, you're a cynic. There's an earnestness, a sincerity, and a thrilling honesty to the songs here. The title track is a quiet little classic, but there are many things here far better than the follow-up "Moonbeam" single. "On Tuesday" is a beautiful song by any measure, with delightfully lyrical flute work by Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, and "In the Name of Angels" should very well make your hair stand on end and make you think about all the time you've been wasting in life as you leap into action. It may sound odd but this band is kind of like the "Peanuts" comic strip set to a dance beat--kind at heart, gentle, fun-loving, and intent on saying something real, damn the fashions of the day. As you might guess from the cover, being a child at heart is a good qualification for appreciating this album--but it also offers dreams for the grown mind.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Like., September 14, 2000

By 

Jason Stein (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pop Goes the World (Audio CD)

Men Without Hats were not one hit wonders as many people might think. They had another hit, "Pop Goes The World" in early 1988. I have all four, full length albums from Men Without Hats: Rhythm Of Youth (1983), Pop Goes The World (1987), In The 21st Century (1989) and Sideways (1991). "Pop Goes The World" is their most cohesive and consistent effort. They were an usual band with unusual ideas for synth-pop music that might have frightened the average 80's keyboard band. Their strengths show on this album with tracks like "Pop Goes The World", "On Tuesday", "O Sole Mio", "Lose My Way", "The Real World", "Moonbeam", "In The Name Of Angels", "Jenny Wore Black", "Walk On Water" and "The End Of The World". Not your average 80's fare, Men Without Hats were a head above many other now forgotten bands. I've noticed that "Safety Dance" is a staple of many radio stations' 80's hour. It's comforting to know that people still enjoy a song I grew up with in a day and age where originality seems to be sacrificed for bland teen pop.