U2: Songs Of Experience

An album with experience

Surprise: U2 are back and already release their new album “Songs Of Experience” at the end of 2017. It is the 14th studio work of Bono, The Edge and Co.

In doing so, the Irish band follows up on their 2014 predecessor “Songs Of Innocence.” Both titles are borrowed from the collection of poems “Songs Of Innocence And Experience” by the English poet William Blake.

How the new album sounds, they revealed in advance with the first single release “You’re The Best Thing About Me”. They also already performed the song “The Little Things That Give You Away” on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Both tracks show: U2 are as multi-faceted as ever in 2017, tackling social, political and personal issues as usual.

Actually, U2 already had most of the songs for “Songs Of Experience” in the can last year. After Brexit and the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, however, they reworked the content of some songs to address the serious political changes.

And to give the whole thing the right sound framework, the band again worked with some absolutely top-class producers: Among others, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Danger Mouse, Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite sat behind the controls.

Besides the standard CD, the new album is also available as a deluxe CD with four bonus songs. The respective tracklisting can be found below. Vinyl fans will get their money’s worth with the double LP on cyan blue vinyl. An absolute highlight for all fans is also the Numbered-Limited-Deluxe-Box-Set. In addition to the blue double LP and CD, it contains further special extras. Of course, only while stocks last.

The name says it all: “Songs Of Experience” is an experience in terms of music and content. An absolute rock highlight at the end of 2017.

The numbered box set at a glance:

• The new album as a double LP (180 g) (Cyan Blue Vinyl)
• The new album on CD
• Poster
• “Songs Of Experience”magazine
• Download code

Reviews

“… A successful late work.” (stereoplay, February 2018)