The first industry review comes from Uncut magazine and it's new issue:
U2
songs Of Experience
IsLAND
6/10
Life lessons lack elevation
It may prove not to be U2’s smartest call, releasing the much delayed Songs Of Experience right after taking The Joshua Tree on an acclaimed 30th-birthday tour. Though their 14th studio album isn’t worthy of direct comparison, it contains fleeting proof of a band still capable of making sparks fly. Billed as a collection of reflective letters addressed to Bono’s loved ones, the heat-haze pop of “Summer of Love”, slap-bass ’80s throwback “red Flag Day” and How To Be A rock Star stomp of “The Showman” are terrific, while “The Landlady” positively oozes loveliness. Most of the rest, alas, is a soupy mix of reheated riffs, bolted-on choruses and faux-profound vaguery.