New iPhone Isn’t The Only Big Reveal At Apple Keynote

At Apple’s live keynote event on September 9, CEO Tim Cook welcomed U2 onto the stage to premiere their new tune, “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone).” But that’s not all that happened. Shortly after the performance it was announced that the Irish rockers’ new album, Songs of Innocence, would be released on iTunes for free in a matter of seconds. Cook called it “the largest album release of all time.” With iTunes’ 500 million users in 119 countries, it is indeed a massive release.

The album opens with “Miracle,” and as you could have probably guessed this anthemic charmer is a tribute to the huge effect the Ramones lead vocalist had on U2.

“Everything I ever lost now has been returned,” Bono sings in the chorus, speaking of the inspiration he was in search of and found during his youth. It’s also telling of the band’s rediscovery of their youth, which permeates Songs of Innocence—their best material since 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

Among the crop of producers—which includes Paul Epworth (Adele), Ryan Tedder (One Republic) and Flood (Nine Inch Nails)—is Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells) front and center, injecting tasteful doses of the psychedelic nostalgia Broken Bells is known for into Songs of Innocence.

The eerie “Sleep Like a Baby Tonight” sends chills down the spine as it opens with a dark synth that appears to warn of a nasty tale ahead before recalling Ozzy Osbourne’s garbled “I Just Want You.” Both songs speak of desire, though “Sleep Like a Baby Tonight” exists in a much more ambiguous realm of want that may or may not be malevolent.

Album closer “The Troubles”—which sounds like a Broken Bells record more than anything—employs the talents of Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li and the results are awesome.

Mouse’s contributions are visible, and it’s to no surprise that he didn’t have a hand in the only disposable tracks in the album—“Song for Someone” and “Volcano.”

“Song for Someone” features a shallow chorus better equipped for the newer material of the U2-influenced Thirty Seconds to Mars. “This is a song for someone,” croons Bono. On the other hand “California (There Is No End to Love)” is leaps and bounds better than Mars front-man Jared Leto’s flat Los Angeles tribute, “City of Angels.” “Volcano” just sounds like B-side stuff.

From “City of Blinding Lights” variant “Every Breaking Wave,” to the recollections of home in the sweeping “Cedarwood Road” and delicateness of “Iris (Hold Me Close),” it’s the honesty that gives Songs of Innocence its energy. “You can’t return to where you’ve never left,” says Bono in “Cedarwood Road.” U2 never left home, but, for a time, they did forget what it meant to be there. I’m glad they’ve remembered.

Favorite tracks: “California (There Is No End to Love)”; “Iris (Hold Me Close)”; “Raised by Wolves”; “Cedarwood Road”; “Sleepy Like a Baby Tonight”; “Troubles”