U2 - "Songs of Innocence" Album Review

For a band like U2, it's hard to grab the attention of the world. That attention that you once had, with fans on the edge (pun intended) of their seats waiting for a new record. What better a way to reinvigorate the music scene than by giving it away for free to over half a BILLION people, without them having to do anything other than check their iTunes account? Whether you want to hear about it or not, this album is drawing insanely large amounts of attention after being unveiled at Apple's press conference where they revealed several new Apple products, along with this new U2 album Songs of Innocence. 

I can't say that I've ever referred to myself as a U2 fan, but I've discovered some of their albums from Joshua Tree all the way to No Line on the Horizon. I really appreciate how earnest Bono's vocals can come across, and The Edge is an extremely talented guitarist that often gets overlooked, even though the band have achieved such an unfathomable amount of success. For some reason, I was excited for this record and I didn't even know why! It was like an early and unexpected Christmas present from Tim Cook and the rest of the Apple crew, albeit one I hadn't asked for it. 

This "surprise" album actually, well, surprised me. In a good way! I can't say that I was impressed at all (I was actually terrible bored) by their last effort, so jumping into Songs of Innocence was a breath of fresh air for me. The stadium rock antics that have plagued their recent records have been scaled back for this release, and we really get to focus on a more personal side of the band. There's some synths scattered in the mix that sound great with the guitars and bass work, and the production, while not perfect by any means, is very neat thanks largely in part to Mr. Brian Burton (Danger Mouse). It's not always obvious that he's at the helm on most of these tracks, but it's undeniable on jams like "This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now" (yeah, we hear sliding in those Broken Bells esque synths).

There are definitely some stale pieces to this puzzle though, where the band falls back into the routine of making poorly written concert ready rock ballads, point in case "Iris" (Hold Me Close). It's really not so much that I hate ballads at all, it's simply the fact that the band have failed to make one in recent times that didn't sound like washed up and recycled garbage, held together by a light guitar and a less than engaging vocal performance.  I could say similar things about "Sleep Like a Baby Tonight", but I don't think I will.

The album offers standout songs like "The Miracle" (Of Joey Ramone), "Cedarwood Road", and "Raised By Wolves" that cause me to believe that there ARE still creative sparks flying around in this band. "The Miracle" is aided by its catchy melody, and a nice set of lyrics to match. It's interesting that U2 would make a song in reference to Joey Ramone, since it's rumored that he was listening to one of the band's songs when he died back in 2001. 

I don't doubt that "Cedarwood Road" and "Every Breaking Wave" will please those fans that have been around since the 1980's, with enough spirit and nostalgia to push their way into the hearts of many listeners. "Cedarwood" feels like a classic waiting to happen, but I can't say that "Wave" makes me feel much of anything personally, but it's a pretty decent tune.

However, "California" (There Is No End To Love) is a totally different story. It's a personal favorite of mine on the album, full of well structured instruments, and most importantly to this track's vitality, an infectious vocal performance from Bono. As catchy as it is smart, this track could easily end up on my year end list. The Edge even throws in a nice little guitar solo on this one, what's not to love? 

There's already plenty of hyperbolic comments flying around the interwebs, accusing the band of once again sounding bloated and overproduced, by I also find after some digging (most of the time) that these are the same "fans" that haven't liked a U2 record since War or The Unforgettable Fire. 

The album's closing track "The Troubles" is also worth noting, as it features guest vocals from the artist Lykke Li. It sports a darker sound, which includes a beautiful string section and some chilling vocal harmonies from Bono and Li. To say that their voices mesh well is an extreme understatement, and Li did an amazing job handling the heart of the song, as she sings "somebody stepped inside your soul" before coming back to the harmony. It's close to taking the cake for me, and easily on my list of favorites from the band, period.

If you're looking to hear the styling of bassist Adam Clayton on display, I would recommend "Volcano".  Sure, things can get a bit silly when in the lyrical department, but the intricate guitar pattern and the opening bass notes make this thing such a worthwhile part of the album. I also can't deny that the chorus is compelling, one of the more explosive ones on here to be honest.

The final track that I feel is worth mentioning in a positive light is the airy but powerful "Raised by Wolves". Driven by some of the most creative guitars on the album, this cut is proof that the band can still churn out a gripping hook without having to sacrifice all of their lyrical dignity.

Big fan or not, I can appreciate this album for what it is. I can't speak of its longevity yet, but that's the case with anything I review. Whose to say that this will or won't be a classic down the road? For now, I'm taking it for what it is, and that's a solid rock record that blends classic and contemporary elements to its advantage. 

4/5

-Jon (ARTV)

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