U2 surprised the world by unveiling a brand new album at the launch of the new iPhone 6 and iWatch on September 9 in California. Titled “Songs of Innocence,” it is the band’s first album since 2009’s “No Line On The Horizon.”
The album is available through Apple alone until October 13.
This marks what Apple calls the “biggest album release ever,” with copies distributed to over half a billion iTunes accounts. The album contains 11 new tracks and is already in iTunes customers’ libraries, and only needs to be tapped to be downloaded.
Speaking to Rolling Stone about the surprise release, Bono commented: “We wanted to make a very personal album. Let’s try to figure out why we wanted to be in a band, the relationships around the band, our friendships, our lovers, our family. The whole album is first journeys — first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually. And that’s hard. But we went there.”
It features a tribute to The Clash, “This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now,” as well as “Iris (Hold Me Close),” a song about Bono’s mother, who died when he was 14, while “Raised by Wolves” is about a car bombing in Dublin.
“Songs of Innocence” was recorded with producers Danger Mouse, Flood, Paul Epworth and Ryan Tedder.
Bono also said: “It has a lyrical cohesion that I think is unique amongst U2 albums. I don’t want it to be a concept album, but the songs come from a place. Edge laughed and said this is our Quadrophenia. We could be so lucky.”
In February, the band debuted their comeback single “Invisible” during an advert at the Super Bowl, allowing fans to download it for free on iTunes.
