Lemon

Album review

This CD single is from U2's 1993 album Zooropa and was only released in the U.K. It contains four versions of the disco-flavored song, but that is slightly misleading. Of the four, one is the album version and one is an edit of that version. The two real remixes on this single are the "Oakenfold Jeep Mix" and the "Morales BYC Version DUB." Of those two, only the Paul Oakenfold version is worthy. The "Jeep Mix" is stunning, as is most of Oakenfold's work for U2. Instead of just extending the song (or in transforming it into something unrecognizable) he isolates the elements that make "Lemon" the standout track on Zooropa. Here it has a driving drum and bass rhythm and new blistering guitar, all adding to the original's sensual qualities. And at 5:32 it is not too long for friends of obsessive U2 fans. David Morales' take on "Lemon" is too esoteric, which one could expect from a dub version. The early addition of funky piano is refreshing but after a few minutes you wonder if this is "Lemon" at all. People who sort of like U2 will hate this version. Overall, the U.K. single for "Lemon" is likely not an important purchase for a casual U2 fan. But devotees of Zooropa will love it for Oakenfold's reworking. (They should, however, first buy the Stay/Under My Skin CD Single which has Oakenfold's "Perfecto Remix" and Morales' "BYC Mix Edit," by far the two best "Lemon" remixes.)

© JT Griffith /TiVo