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  1. Originally posted by WojBhoy:Morning guys! Just seen all this stuff about the new album, flabbergasted and pleasantly surprised, to say the least. Don't have an iTunes account so not sure how to listen to it, but just going to rejoice in the moment - new U2 music!

    Good to see you back Harry! For the moment you can listen to it here:

  2. You’ll have noticed the album is free to U2.com’ers from the band. It’s also free to everyone on iTunes thanks to Apple.

    Does this line from Bono mean it's the next subscribers gift?? Maybe the deluxe edition? If so, then it needs to be told to us before pre-orders!
  4. Definitely a brilliant album!

    This is when you can reach me now. GREAT SONG!!!

    Brilliant endpoints. Miracle is up there with their best - a glam Vertigo; not as catchy, but possibly even better. Troubles is their best closer since Love is blindness. As far as endpoints go, these only compare to AB's. Un-joshued-U2 at their best.

    What's in the middle is still great, but of varying quality. The tone is always uplifting, tempo is up, loops and riffs are there etc. But, as McCormick says, they're trying hard to please - they succeed, but they can do (even) better. I'd have liked a more melodic chorus on Iris. But perhaps it's just me.

    EBT is absolutely brilliant. In general, the Danger Mouse only produced songs (the last three) definitely stand out, as inspired, mature, and, well, just awesome.

    And there will be more to come! There *will* be a companion album, and it won't appear in 5 years time - the William Blake title was certainly chosen on purpose.

    It'll be interesting to see how tour plans pan out. I'd say they'll be on tour next Spring/Summer. They *might* get a second album by then, to boost tour sales with new singles etc. I'd certainly like them to, especially if this is the kind of music they're making now!
  5. “It's a Dublin album, all about being teenagers on the northside and how our city shaped us both as men and musicians,” Bono told this reporter yesterday just seconds after U2’s new album, Songs of Innocence went up free on iTunes to Apple’s 500 million customers — the biggest album release of all time.

    In the hot, hot, heat of a glorious Californian morning, U2 debuted a work which is firmly rooted in Cedarwood Road, Finglas.

    Opening track The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) sets out their stall — a rockin’ affair that explains how seeing The Ramones play in Dublin in the 1970’s compelled Bono to make his own music. It’s a glam rock stomp which will most likely open the shows on their tour next year.

    The Dublin theme continues with the raw and poignant Iris — named after Bono’s mother who died tragically when he was just a teenager. Layered and intimately confessional, it is one of their most affecting pieces of music.

    To reinforce the Dublin message, the song Cedarwood Road (on which Bono grew up) messes with the mood with its dark chugging feel. The musical potency of Raised By Wolves treats of domestic violence and street gang scraps in 1970s Dublin.

    An album firmly rooted in their past has to acknowledge the massive debt the band owe to The Clash and on This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now they essay a love song to the great Joe Strummer.

    Every Breaking Wave and California sound made for radio — shiny, shimmering tracks and punchy choruses.

    The standout here is Volcano, a statement song which will most likely be a single when the album gets a physical release in October.

    This is not a Joshua Tree or an Achtung Baby — that was not the intent. This is the sound of a band looking to relocate their mojo. These songs tells us they went back to the SFX, the Dandelion Market and McGonagles to ask “why are we still doing this” and “do we still matter”.

    “It is incredibly Dubln-centric” the Edge said, with Bono adding “this album is my answer to something hard Jimmy Iovine said to me. He looked me in the eye and said ‘You’re a long way from where you live’. This is my reply”. Lyrically reminiscent of the superb Ghostown album by their one time peers The Radiators From Space, this is a curious beast.

    Their most personal work ever, now in their early 50s, U2 asked themselves hard, mid-life crisis style questions and went back home to find the answers.

    When asked about the forthcoming tour, Bono said: “It’s a beautiful day here in Cupertino, don’t be wrecking my head.”


    (Bono in the Irish Times)

    Love that....... "It's a Dublin album". just love it!
  6. Yes, it's U2 definitely back to their emotional and geographical roots. The homages to the Ramones and the Clash stand out. I really hope they keep working with Danger Mouse. The DM songs clearly remind me of Broken Bells, except it's U2 and, hence, even better (exponentially so, and I really am a big Broken Bells fan).
  7. The musical potency of Raised By Wolves treats of domestic violence and street gang scraps in 1970s Dublin.

    Ehmmm... No not really.

    But thanks Jimmy Iovine for getting Bono on his feet again talking with sincerity. Jimmy, you've given us some amazing, Dublin-based lyrics to enjoy
  8. U2 most 'complete' album! Not since Achtung Baby have they released an album of songs that connect so well with one another. On my tenth listen now and it just keeps getting better. A must to listen with headphones! So much going on in the background and underneath the music. I know a lot of people are not ranking it among their top albums but this is the first release since Achtung Baby/Zooraopawhere I have not skipped over some tracks upon continued listening. POP, ATYCLB, HTDAAB and NLOTH had their share of 'filler" tracks but this is a collection of 11 outstanding songs !
  9. Originally posted by AMLBONO:...but this is the first release since Achtung Baby/Zooraopawhere I have not skipped over some tracks upon continued listening.


    This, I haven't skipped one at 2 listens. Not even to come back to it a little later, because they all have that one thing that makes you keep listening.
  10. I love this album so much (though easy to say after 2 days), but it just has everything. I hear The Unforgettable Fire, Achtung Baby, POP, Atomic Bomb, but also some Coldplay-like songs (that I actually like!). Damn I almost forgot how amazing it is to enjoy new music as much as I enjoy this new album.
  11. Can't agree with Caspar and Remy more...I just can't get enough of it. Some of it is probably the hype of it - But seriously, it was not like this with GOYB or NLOTH in full.

    BTW - I did anticipate this happening when they explained the iTunes thing...some people are angry that they've been "force fed" the album. It's that they didn't just release it for free, they made it "purchased" for every iTunes account. I hope the protests don't turn to something bigger along the lines of privacy and such...
  12. Originally posted by Ali709:Can't agree with Caspar and Remy more...I just can't get enough of it. Some of it is probably the hype of it - But seriously, it was not like this with GOYB or NLOTH in full.

    BTW - I did anticipate this happening when they explained the iTunes thing...some people are angry that they've been "force fed" the album. It's that they didn't just release it for free, they made it "purchased" for every iTunes account. I hope the protests don't turn to something bigger along the lines of privacy and such...

    Yeah I heard some people complaining about iTunes putting U2 music on people's computers without them wanting to. Ah well, even bad publicity is publicity I guess!
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.