Songs of Experience [Blue Vinyl] [2 LP]

by U2

Overview

"I shouldn't be here because I should be dead" sings Bono on "Lights of Home," the second track on Songs of Experience, the long-delayed sequel to 2014's Songs of Innocence. It's not merely a turn of phrase. Two months after U2 unleashed Songs of Innocence on the world, Bono injured himself in a bicycle accident so severe he suspected he may never play guitar again. He recovered, but his misfortune derailed plans for the band to wrap up Songs of Experience swiftly, so U2 decided to take their time. A version of the record neared completion in 2016, but that year's twin elections of Brexit and Trump spurred U2 to revise the album, as they decided they couldn't release a record that didn't address such cataclysmic political events. Retro-conning the existing Songs of Experience material to suit the political climate wasn't the easiest task and the album often shows its seams, particularly when Bono decides to tackle the crisis head-on: the line "Democracy is flat on its back, Jack" arrives with a thud on "The Blackout," but it's nothing compared to "American Soul," an ode to real America where the singer and the band engage in a battle of hams. "American Soul" also features a line -- and no more -- by Kendrick Lamar, the rapper who is on the vanguard of popular music in 2017 (no less of an authority than David Bowie cited Lamar as an influence on his final album, Blackstar). Typical to many modern records, Songs of Experience is the result of many cooks: Jacknife Lee and Ryan Tedder claim the main production credits, with Andy Barlow, Jolyon Thomas, and old friend Steve Lillywhite responsible for additional production, whatever that may be. With all these hands, it's not much of a surprise that Songs of Experience feels diverse, its modernist moments -- like Bono embracing pitch-shifted vocals -- counterbalancing feints toward U2's arena rock past. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	12/01/2017
Label:	Interscope / Island
UPC:	0602557977042
Rank:	64433

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Love Is All We Have Left
2. Lights of Home
3. You're the Best Thing About Me
4. Get Out of Your Own Way
5. American Soul
6. Summer of Love
7. Red Flag Day
8. The Showman (Little More Better)
9. The Little Things That Give You Away

Disc 2

10. Landlady
11. The Blackout
12. Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way
13. 13 (There Is a Light)
14. Ordinary Love [Extraordinary Mix]
15. Book of Your Heart
16. Lights of Home [St. Peter's String Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

U2   Primary Artist
Kygo   Primary Artist
Andy Barlow   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Davide Rossi   Strings
Jacknife Lee   Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
The Edge   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Julian Lennon   Vocals (Background)
Ryan Tedder   Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Amy Helman   Violin
Bono   Vocals
Paul Epworth   Keyboards
Adam Clayton   Guitar (Bass)
Lady Gaga   Vocals (Background)
Declan Gaffney   Piano,Keyboards,Mellotron
Brent Kutzle   Guitar,Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic)
Steve Wilmot   Percussion
Betsy Lamb   Viola
Paul Nelson   Cello
Angel Deradoorian   Vocals (Background)
Jolyon Thomas   Guitar,Keyboards,Sang Och Gitarr,Vocals (Background)
Joseph Elmhirst   Vocals (Background)
Duncan Stewart   Guitar
Nate Lotz   Percussion
HAIM   Vocals (Background)
Avery Bright   Violin
Barry Gorey   Keyboards
Andrew Taggart   Keyboards
Gosha Usov   Keyboards
Tyler Spry   Pedal Steel

Technical Credits

Steve Lillywhite   Mixing,Producer
Andy Barlow   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Sound Design,Additional Production
Jacknife Lee   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Larry Mullen, Jr.   Composer
Gavin Friday   Creative Director
The Edge   Composer
U2   Composer
Ryan Tedder   Producer,Programming
Richard Rainey   Engineer
Matt Bishop   Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Noel Zancanella   Programming
Anton Corbijn   Photography
Brian Burton   Composer
Ariel Rechtshaid   Composer
Danger Mouse   Producer
Bono   Composer
Paul Epworth   Producer,Programming
Doug Sarrett   Engineer
Adam Clayton   Composer
Bryan Cook   Mixing
Matty Green   Mixing,Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Matt Wiggins   Engineer,Additional Production
Miles Walker   Mixing
Paul Hewson   Composer
Hans Dekline   Mastering
Declan Gaffney   Mixing,Engineer,Additional Production
Brent Kutzle   Producer,Programming,Additional Production
David Covell   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Scott Sedillo   Mastering
Shaughn McGrath   Design
Dallas Schoo   Guitar Technician
Will Kennedy   Mixing
Jolyon Thomas   Mixing,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Alan Kelly   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Christopher Henry   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Ben Baptie   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Grant Ransom   Engineer
Kendrick Lamar   Introduction
Greg Clooney   Engineer
Duncan Stewart   Engineer,Keyboard Technician
David Evans   Composer
Brandon Collins   String Arrangements
Alana Haim   Composer
Este Haim   Composer
Danielle Haim   Composer
Rich Rich   Engineer
Joe Visciano   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Adam Durbridge   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Alex Bailey   Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Aleks von Korff   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Kygo   Remixing,Additional Production
Jesse Peters   Coordination
Nadine King   Production Director
Ryan Jumper   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Brandon Bost   Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Gosha Usov   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Drew Bang   Engineer
Barry McCready   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Tyler Spry   Engineer
Ram McAllister   Technical Manager,Session Coordinator
Kelana Halim   Mixing