New U2

And free! Wow, almost too good to be true!

“From the very beginning U2 have always wanted our music to reach as many people as possible, the clue is in our name I suppose—so today is kind of mind-blowing to us. The most personal album we’ve written could be shared with half a billion people… by hitting send. If only songwriting was that easy,” said U2 lead singer Bono. “It’s exciting and humbling to think that people who don’t know U2 or listen to rock music for that matter might check us out. Working with Apple is always a blast. They only want to do things that haven’t been done before—that’s a thrill to be part of.”

Apple is offering the U2 album to every iTunes customer (500 million worldwide) in 119 countries.

“Songs of Innocence” features 11 new songs from the band. It’s the Irish rockers’ first studio album in five years.

New U2?

More rumors about a possible U2 album. I doubt September; I'd happily take November. And I agree: Invisible was a good, true-to-form single.

[A]n Irish Examiner feature asserts that the band’s as-yet-untitled thirteenth LP will arrive in November now that Bono has overcome a bout of writer’s block. Meanwhile, a tweet in Spanish from the Colombian branch of Universal Music Group suggests U2 will release something called “Sirens” in September.

U2 on Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon debuted with musical guest U2, performing their new single "Invisible" on the roof. Very cool. Check out some links here and here.

U2: Best to Worst

Stereogum ranks the best to worst of U2 albums.

I think it is somewhat accurate, though yes, I would be one to take issue with Pop being rated above the previous two releases, which both had some very good tracks on them. Pop was ridiculous. Its release date coincided with my 21st birthday and a time in which I was a huge, huge U2 fan, and we highly anticipated that CD release. And it disappointed.  Discotheque? Worst song ever, I think. Though I do think the author had a credible point about "Do You Feel Loved" and "Gone." There are some redeeming songs, yes. But it was U2 at its most bombastic, though I note now they were all about my age when that album was released. Wow.

I 100% agree with the top 4: 1) Achtung Baby; 2) Joshua Tree; 3) All You Can't Leave Behind; and 4) Zooropa. I will even agree with the top 6, including 5) The Unforgettable Fire and 6) War. I'd bump up the last two releases, maybe. "Breathe" on "No Line on the Horizon" is a fantastic, classic U2 song. "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" had "City of Blinding Lights" on it, which I will take.

But it was a thoughtful analysis, and mostly right on, at least from this U2 fan's perspective. How long must we wait for the next release?

Today's Soundtrack

After seeing the news that Adam Clayton got married, I figured some U2 was in order. That was totally the theme of that seventeen years ago road trip to Toronto. Achtung Baby, forever.

Zooropa 20 Years Later

Stereogum commemorates Zooropa's 20th anniversary.

[H]ere’s how Zooropa is important. It may never rise above a general estimation as a minor work in U2′s catalogue, but it’s important because it’s an example of a massively successful pop band taking some big chances, molding their sounds with all sorts of elements of the underground. This might be a bit extreme, but I’m not sure Kid A happens without predecessors like the one-two punch of Achtung Baby and Zooropa. I’m not sure Yeezus happens. For those of us who grew up when How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was new, it’s hard to imagine that this version of U2 ever existed, and certainly hard to imagine them ever becoming so bold again. But we can hope. Until then, there are a lot of highways and a lot of nights, and plenty of static and clatter to still dive into with Zooropa.

I remember listening to Zooropa during an unhappy summer, when I was 17 and between schools and mourning television obsessions and just aching to be an adult. "Numb," "Lemon," and "Stay" are still two of my absolute favorite songs. Long live Zooropa.

Best College Bands

I liked the NPR blog post the other day, about "What is your most important college band?"  For me, solely based on friend memories, it was U2. Trips to DQ, listening to bootlegged live album tapes, Toronto, Bono-love, buying the awful Pop album on my 21st birthday...all very U2. Lemon. Lady with the Spinning Head. Some of my best college memories and friendships were forged over that music.

Other artists I'd associate with college? Bush and Collective Soul. Smashing Pumpkins. Green Day. Pearl Jam. Sponge. Bram Van 3000. Radiohead. Natalie Merchant (not a band, though) and BTE somewhat.

But yes, U2 would definitely be it.

New Music Tuesday

The new Florence + the Machine is out.  Dog Days Are Over is still one of my favorite tracks from 2009, though the rest of the world "discovered" it after Eat, Pray, Love.

U2's Achtung Baby is celebrating twenty years. I still remember getting that and I listened to that cassette tape a lot. I eventually bought it on CD and of course it is on my ipod.  And Mysterious Ways is still one of my favorite tracks of 1991, and well, all time. The B sides streaming include Where Did it all Go Wrong?, Lady with the Spinning Head, and Salome.  I think the one track I did not know was "Blow Your House Down."  Always excellent.