whereas rumours (if not overt confirmations) suggested i would likely be hearing (and this writing of, look you see) new music off of U2 this year, no, i didn't really expect what came along. quite the surprise release it was, to be sure, with for all sorts of reasons Days Of Ash coming out on February 18 of this very year (2026). remarkably that's four three word releases in a row (over just north of ten years, granted, but still) from them that have "of" as the second (or middle) word. although there is considerably more of interest to the new music than that.
me trusting my memory is a bit dodgy, but all the same let me give it a go. at some point this century (and i am very sure it's after 2005) there was an interview with the band (U2) where they said they had one recent review framed in their production office. for some reason i think it was a review of No Line On The Horizon, which was the point at which the favourable tide for the band unmistakably turned. if i recall right the review was a straightforward as "why do this? just tour the hits every few years and let yourselves feel the love". up to now they have declined to do this.
i have, since it came out (frustratingly "digital only", hampered by the poor sound that is the cost of the convenience of that), been wrestling with the wonder of if they recorded this because wanted to or because they had to. taken longer than it should have to conclude "yes", as in both. let me take it as a given that anyone reading this is already aware of the "reasons" or "meanings" for most (if not all) of the songs here, and have read all about it on (considerably) much more better written internet things. so, mostly, all i can do is write and offer ideas on if it is all any good or not.
just about yes, really, it's "more good than bad". quite clunky in spots and i do wish there had been a proper physical release of it all, but still, i will take as it is. even if one does have to be told no, really, that is Bono singing, since he now sounds so very little like he does to (or for) those of us who(m) play, for instance, albums from Unforgettable Fire to How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb on a frequent basis.
a strange thing i have picked up on from online comments, or at least it feels like it's the prevailing thing, is criticism of the opening line. which, for clarity, is "you have the right to remain silent....or not". odd, as (and this isn't flippant) this is one of the strongest points of the whole thing. it's as much a call for "up to you" (the audience, the world watching things fall apart) as an acknowledgement that the band appreciate there isn't all that much clamour for U2 to make new music. this is on American Obituary, which has had so much written of it already that there's not much sense me adding more. except, maybe, to say that for every line of inspired Bono genius (could you stop a heart from breaking by having it not care, although making rather than having would have worked better) there's an absolute clunker of one (directly, could you stop a bullet in mid-air).
obviously the worst thing on here is the last one, featuring Ed Sheridan (or whatever). it really does, no matter what good (or poignant) intentions were had, just sound like a very standard, bland, mediocre Ed Sheridan (or whatever) song. not really happy that listening to new U2 music means i need to pollute my mind and punish my soul by having to listen to him, too, but the band have (marginally) enough credit with me to indulge them on this one.
no, this set of songs has no "longevity", they are not the "best and most important thing they have done since Scary Monsters" or whatever their equivalent is. it shall come to be that these songs will just pass away, faded and forgotten. which is more of a statement about the disposable nature of music in this century than it is these songs themselves.
bígí den scoth dá chéile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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