Okay, I’ve listened to Songs Of The Innocence a coupla times and on the first two listens it is a nondescript affair whose only importance is in pissing off 500 million rock fans by calling the lead off track “The Miracle Of (Joey Ramone)” and then make it a dog with fleas.
BUT
Giving the album for free on ITunes? Now that is pure genius. U2’s, Bono’s, biggest fear was the album not charting, maybe going gold and then disappearing and god bless the little Irish get, he forestalled the bands decline and fall as a recording artist by giving the sucker away.
Maybe it will only be a story for a day or two but even so millions upon millions of people will listen to it and U2, who make their money touring any way, will sell out stadiums around the world for the next three years without the slightest doubt.
Yes, the band seem to have forgotten how to write a song (though “Invisible” was pretty good earlier this year) but they haven’t forgotten how to sell sizzle and adding their name to Apple (again) was a huge and hugely clever move.
Incidentally, I wonder how much Apple paid for the rights to give it away?
I’ll have a review in a day or so but on first listen?
Grade: C-
