Surprise EP Release - Days of Ash - All Discussion Here

[Irvine511]

I’ve been thinking it’s miles less cringe than L&POE, AS, or SUC.

Granted, most things are less cringe than those songs, but I think they’ve done a good job here keeping the cringe down.

 

[MattD]

I’ve been thinking it’s miles less cringe than L&POE, AS, or SUC.

Granted, most things are less cringe than those songs, but I think they’ve done a good job here keeping the cringe down.

Hmm, I've always liked Love & Peace Or Else, The Edge's guitar is great in it. AC in a similar ballpark. Both seem like a masterpiece compared to the really dreadful 'rawkers' mentioned.

 

[DeVaul]

Proof that low-stakes releases without a lot of fanfare will nonetheless be welcomed by the hardcore fans and occasionally garner some positive press.

 

[clerks]

I could see some of the songs making it to the tour next year. Tears of Things for one.

I also can very easily see them performing a song or two on Kimmel or Colbert.

They better get on Colbert fast before it's gone.

 

[dabiggestu2fan]

Well I certainly did not wake up this morning and imagine that by the end of today I would be listening to new u2 music!

What a wonderful surprise!

I can’t really add more than what has been said here already but the standouts for me so far are:

1. American Obituary- this one wasn’t doing much for me until I saw the lyrics video and now it’s really something!!

2. The tears of things - love Bono’s voice here!

3. One life at a time - on the first few listens this is my favourite so far!

the only one that bores me a little at the moment (but probably means it will be a grower is Yours Eternally. To me it just sounds like too much of the pop that’s out on the radio these days or somehow reminds me of get out of your own. Way or something. I can’t quite pin it on what it is that bothers me about this one.

If this is the stuff they left out of the album, then I’m certainly very excited to see what will be on the album!

One happy fan here!

 

[The John Tree]

Son of a…

And I thought I was onto something by saying I thought they’d do well to try out some political themed material à la War…

I have to confess, I’m not hugely connecting with the music itself. I do love some moments - e.g. Song of the Future has a brilliant chorus which simultaneously sounds raw and honest, like it’s not trying to be a hit, but is still catchy as ****. But generally speaking, the sonic identity isn’t something I’m resonating with yet; there’s a lot of ‘rawk’ sounds (especially on American Obituary) that I just think isn’t U2 at their best. And a lot of the choruses/Melodies feel more miss than hit for me; I suspect this is a downside of a spontaneous release, where they didn’t have the time to find the truly magic melodies and hooks.

This is just a personal and subjective thing - I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the music itself, and I think it’s really, really cool that they were spontaneous enough to put this out, and that the music sounds blunt and honest, like it doesn’t care if it’s played on the radio. Which is awesome

These are my thoughts exactly.

 

[bobbvis]

Well, I gave it a complete listen on the tv while doom scrolling facebook. That's more listening time than I gave SOS, so there's that. Nothing at all made me look up from my phone and go "cool". Way too many words, more "rawk" guitar, no catchy melodies or solos. It'll be lucky to get a second listen from me.

 

[Irvine511]

I mean, to each their own, but if you're posting on a U2 forum, why wouldn't you listen to new U2 music more than once? Do we stop reading books after 10 pages?

 

[The John Tree]

I know not all angry/protest music has to sound angry or dark. But American Obituary, given the subject matter, is a little too Big Girls Are Best for me. It’s that style of “rock” that they do that drives me nuts. They just don’t do it well.

Song of the Future and One Life at a Time are growing at me slowly. They still feel a bit “third-phase U2” for me. I do wish just once or twice these days we could get a song that sounded like it formed out of a band jam rather than an acoustic guitar. I think the last time I truly heard U2 get lost in a sound/jam is Mercy.

That said, I keep repeating The Tears of Things. What a gem that one is.

 

[bobbvis]

I mean, to each their own, but if you're posting on a U2 forum, why wouldn't you listen to new U2 music more than once? Do we stop reading books after 10 pages?

If the book was over after 10 pages then yes. I listened to the whole thing. Nothing grabbed my attention. Yes I'll probably give it another go, but you usually know right away if something's gonna click with you or not. Not the end of the world either way.

 

[dan_smee]

Well - 122k views on YouTube for American Obituary in 9 hours is beyond my expectations for them. The near universal praise (outside of the same default negative commentators who aren’t speaking about the music, just the band) is quite surprising and just really lovely to see. I am so happy with this whole thing.

 

[jphelmet]

If the book was over after 10 pages then yes. I listened to the whole thing. Nothing grabbed my attention. Yes I'll probably give it another go, but you usually know right away if something's gonna click with you or not. Not the end of the world either way.

I am the opposite and pretty much all music I end up truly loving it took many listens. So weird to think of listening anything, let alone a band I love, only once.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

They better tour America fast before it's gone.

Fixed

 

[MrPryck2U]

An hour ago, I didn't even know this EP existed. Now, I've listened to it twice. Don't murder me, but I really like Eternally Yours.

 

[cobl04]

First thoughts.

American Obituary - guitar work is pretty good, bass and drums nicely present. Bono sucks. His cadence in the verses is very similar to quite a few of their **** songs dating back to NLOTH. I’m reminded of Get on Your Boots. Appreciate the politics but overall unmemorable. 4
The Tears of Things - nice enough I guess. Nice to hear Bono singing within his limits. Weird choice running his bridge vocals through a vocoder. Not sure why so many of you are so enamoured with it. 5
Song of the Future - my second favourite track, not that that’s saying much. Chorus is cool. Like the SATS-esque acoustic guitar. Like Bono’s delivery, particularly “running my mouth off, running my mouth off”. Really like the Wake Up Dead Man-esque watery, metallic tone to Edge’s guitar solo. 7
Wildpeace - Brilliant. Love the atmospheric backing track. More of that please. Adeola sounds determined. 9
One Life at a Time - my favourite track. Really fantastic. Love how it rolls out of Wildpeace. Love the first 50 seconds, the music in another room. It sets you up for a typical shitty 2010s U2 break where Bono dominates and sounds strained and the music goes all poppy, but thank god they didn’t go in that direction. Great solo from Edge. Adore the murky rhythm section during the third verse, during which the songcraft is as good as I’ve heard in a U2 song in years. Kinda wish the solo was longer, but I like how it falls back to the acoustic, then the drums come in subtly, then Adam, and Bono really rides over it all superbly, then you get Edge again, colouring it in. 8
Yours Eternally - might as well title it with an emoji and put it on a Coldplay record. I dunno, I don’t absolutely hate it, but can’t see myself coming back to it. 5

It’s good to have in the catalogue. Won’t ever listen to it in full again, but on terms of everything they’ve released since NLOTH there’s a few tracks here much better than drivel like Ahimsa or Atomic City or Song Saved My Life or Ordinary Life or the album single choices or Songs of Surrender. I think Song of the Future and One Life at a Time can hang with a few of the Disassemble tracks and 40 Foot Man, Red Flag Day and The Troubles.

Song of the Future is great. Perhaps a better sounding track was possible but I like that they’re trying for that “recorded in a basement” kind of immediacy.

“It’s not poetry/but I’m running my mouth off (again)” is one of the best refrains Bono has had in a while. More of this and less sloganeering, please.

It’s nice to see the return of the band’s The Future Is Female sentiment, like Get On Your Boots it’s in an energetic package but minus that track’s messiness.

Two peas

I've seen a lot of "why are 60 year old rock stars the only ones who are able to capture the mood of the current environment" comments coming out on the socials, and a lot of disdain for the current generation's continued silence.

So there's that... Positivity towards U2 from the younger crowd. It does exist.

The idea that the current generation is silent is ****ing laughable, and points only to the fact that my generation and older aren't tapped into the current generation in the slightest.

 

[jay canseco]

I hope more people chime in tomorrow

 

[Irvine511]

Yes I'll probably give it another go, but you usually know right away if something's gonna click with you or not.

speaking for myself, this has not been my experience.

the first CD I bought with my own money was "out of time" because I was obsessed with "losing my religion." it took several listens and even some "work" for my 13-year old brain to get the rest of the album, and i still listen to it today with "belong" and "country feedback" among my absolute favorite tracks of my all-time second favorite band.

but it's popular music and meant to be enjoyed, however one chooses.

 

[allcub]

It’s been so long since I’ve commented/ posted on here I feel like I’ve just crawled out of a crypt but I felt I had to give my tuppence worth after having just watched the lyric video for The Tears Of Things. Lyrically and in every other way I just found it exquisite. Way better than I’d expected.

Early days and all that but this one for me is already a keeper and I can’t get over those lyrics. The “I woke up made of marble” bit is brilliant and it’s followed by a torrent of inspired poetry. In my humble opinion it’s up there with his best and most poignant work.
Wasn’t expecting this today.

 

[RoKKeR]

The 4 minute mark in The Tears of Things is absolutely peak U2. I am so happy about this.

Great Edge solo leading into a HUGE and beautiful elevated verse, Bono's effortless "yeah" before he starts singing that part, (more of this!!! taking off the "sheen" of production with small moments like that goes such a long way) and the build into the final chorus is immense. (Larry's bass+cymbal fill!? NEVER heard him play like this!!)

And on top of it all, the production is so "airy". It's "band in room" + a bit of polish/reverb to let things breathe. A huge improvement from SOE which always felt very muddy/subdued to me.

What a great day this has been.

 

[CedarwoodAWT]

Hope these aren’t as bad as the previews suggest.

To start, it looks like Bono heard Springsteen’s clunky, on-the-nose Minneapolis song and was like “hold my Guinness”.

At least the official statement indicates that these aren’t indicative of the next album…supposedly.

Honestly can’t listen to it much.

I put Bad and Wire and Streets on and … I just can’t imagine this band ever being that band.

How?

 

[Joey788]

I've listened to this three times today and it might be my favorite release by the band in the last 20 years. I absolutely love how spontaneous and loose it feels. It really captures the sound of a band in a room playing together, but also doesn't use that as an excuse to remove any experimentation.

"The Tears of Things" is an all-timer lyric from Bono, alongside the type of subtle build the band often (but not always) excels in. "Song of the Future" and "One Life at a Time" are other highlights. I'm very glad to hear Edge at the forefront but also a powerhouse performance from Adam and Larry. I think it all flows really well too, especially the transitions in and out of "Wildpeace."

It's been a long time since I got such an emotional charge out of a new U2 release. It's a relief and an absolute joy that after Songs of Experience, which is in my personal bottom tier of their albums, they can still create something as vibrant and passionate as this.

 

[MSU2mike]

The 4 minute mark in The Tears of Things is absolutely peak U2. I am so happy about this.

It would be nearly impossible for me to agree more. I really do love this.

I'm largely positive on this release, and I'm in the "Tears of Things" is a standout camp. I've also found myself letting it roll right into "Song of the Future" a few times too, that ones working for me.

I'll also agree that the lyric videos are really well done imo. I'm not currently as high on "American Obituary" as I am the two that follow it, but when I watched the video, it landed better for sure

 

[CedarwoodAWT]

Everyone loves it here.

To me (just to me): it just feels like they continue to lose imagination and vision; Bono seems like he’s trying to cram too many phrases into melodies that can’t hold for all the baggage. Edge sounds like he hasn’t got anything fresh or technically challenging to offer (for the 4th album in a row?). The chord structures are typical and uncompelling.

Remember when you heard a U2 song and it blew you away immediately?

I haven’t heard that band in a long long time and I can’t pretend this is anything but a further departure from the magic of what they used to be.

I can’t hear anything of the band that created Bad or Heartland or Zooropa or Last Night on Earth.

It’s not just different; it just sounds like they don’t have cohesive, compelling art to bring anymore.

It’s fine. Bono will be close to 70 by the time the next tour stops. Creativity grows old too.

I just can’t pretend it’s great music. It’s just not.

 

[lazarus]

It’s good to have in the catalogue. Won’t ever listen to it in full again

Going off what was being discussed above, that's an odd stance. The lowest grades you gave were 5, which means you didn't find them completely awful or offensive. I'll admit, I've heard Get Out maybe 3 times in its entirety, an automatic skip on the CD and it's axed from my custom playlist (I retained the Kendrick outro) with Book of Your Heart replacing it. But I also think it's one of the absolute worst songs they've ever recorded and so it's an extreme situation.

But if something is mid, why not spin it more times to pick up deeper details? As I said, I'm not crazy about what Bono's doing in American Obituary either, but there are more elements I find pleasing, and it's grown on me in total.

It's crazy to me that someone considers U2 their favorite band and is then like "yeah I'm never listening to this 25 minute EP ever again". I can understand that position with Songs of Surrender, because who wants to subject themselves to that exercise in full multiple times (the short or long version), but this is actual new music. New music that doesn't suck. There are worse ways to spend your allotted audio time.

 

[clerks]

An hour ago, I didn't even know this EP existed. Now, I've listened to it twice. Don't murder me, but I really like Eternally Yours.

Because it's the best pure POP song. And those are always my favorite too.

 

[DeVaul]

Bono's effortless "yeah" before he starts singing that part, (more of this!!! taking off the "sheen" of production with small moments like that goes such a long way)

Agreed. The slight messiness to some of the lyrics/sound in the other songs is not unwelcome either as they’re more of the moment than aiming for timeless anthems. A touch of How To Reassemble’s influence.

That said, I do think TTOT (may as well start with the abbreviations eh?) is more in the vein of their anthemic work. The “big music” with the crescendo to match. And it’s Bono’s most poetic yet lyrically tightest in years - finely spun, not overwrought or hermetically sealed. The “yeah” is almost an aside or exhalation - evidence of a lack of overkill, if that makes sense.

 

[super fly guy]

Song of the Future is really good. a+ effort from everyone. Bono not cramming 400 words, Edge can be heard….and standouts are Adam and Larry. Especially Adam during the middle break. Best bass I’ve heard from him in long time

When the bass comes in is very cool, and what he is doing during edges solo is great.

 

[fullautoreverse]

Wildpeace and One Life At A Time are the wins. Not bad at all.
Flicking through a Propaganda e-book in 2026 gets you right in the feels.
Can't wait to hear the album!

 

[ascender_RS]

They lyric videos also help set the tone and context of the piece as a while being very much a political ep for the times.

 

[lazarus]

Yeah, what hasn't been mentioned much is that the videos (thankfully) don't have any footage of the band. We don't need another staged performance clip with a bunch of sexagenarians.

A smart move to keep the focus on the music and the important subject matter.