U2 may be guilty of making us wait for it, but their new album Songs of Innocence is available to listen to right now.
After months of speculation of will they/won’t they release a new album this year? Was that really them on the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin a few weeks ago? And much more. Finally, tonight it’s been confirmed: U2 and Apple have teamed up once again and the band’s long-awaited new album is available for free to half a billion customers now on iTunes.
Songs of Innocence, #NewU2Album. Got @iTunesMusic? Might already be in your music library. #U2SongsOfInnocence http://t.co/fVGW30tTgL
— U2 (@U2) September 9, 2014
Songs of Innocence has 11 tracks and will be officially released on October 13th but following a live performance at the launch of Apple’s latest in technology: the iPhone6, the band have made the record available on Apple’s music site as well as to members of their fan site U2.com.
Tonight’s announcement led to an explosion on social media as “U2” quickly began trending on Twitter, while various music sites began scrambling to post reviews of the album as fast as possible.
Songs of Innocence is being touted as U2’s “most personal work to date, charting the band’s earliest influences from 70s rock and punk rock to early 80s electronica and ambient music and giving insight into how and why the band came together.”
The record was recorded here as well as in London, New York and L.A. and is produced by Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder (of One Republic), Declan Gaffney and Flood.
A deluxe version of the album will also be released on October 13th, which will contain an acoustic session as well as four additional tracks: Lucifer’s Hands, The Crystal Ballroom, The Troubles (Alternative version), Sleep Like A Baby Tonight (Alternative Perspective Mix by Tchad Blake).
The track listing for Songs Of Innocence:
The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
Every Breaking Wave
California (There Is No End To Love)
Song For Someone
Iris (Hold Me Close
Volcano
Raised By Wolves
Cedarwood Road
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
The Troubles
