My take on U2’s new free album

“Songs of Innocence,” is by no means their best album, and in the 20 plus years since the amazingness that is Achtung Baby, they have had their shortcomings album-wise, but have always had a few gems here and there. I had hoped their previous album would be even more a return to form, for these four Irish lads, now middle aged men than many of the tracks on “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb,” were. It wasn’t as good as it could have been, but it did have a few really good songs, like Magnificent. But this album, the songs stay with me, I like most of them a lot, and it feels way less gimmicky than songs like Vertigo, or Elevation. Back is some of the simplicity found in their first album, the maturity of The “Joshua Tree” and the fuzzed out instrumentals of Achtung Baby. The band is as tight as ever on their 30 plus year run. Don’t complain to get an actual decent album for free. Best tracks: The Miracle(of Joey Ramone), Iris(Hold Me Close), the raga tinged songs of Volcano, Raised By Wolves, Cedarwood Road, Sleep Like A Baby Tonight.