Music review: U2 – 鈥楽ongs of Experience鈥�
U2鈥檚 14th studio release finds the rock music icons feeling sentimental as they ponder the lessons learned from over 40 years of playing together.
鈥淪ongs of Experience鈥� serves as the profound companion piece to 2014鈥檚 鈥淪ongs of Innocence.鈥�
鈥淣othing to stop this being the best day ever,鈥� softly sings Bono on the opening track 鈥淟ove Is All We Have Left,鈥� an intimate arrangement that examines the need for love when everything else around us is stripped away. Love is indeed all we really need as U2鈥檚 latest offering relays themes of compassion, mortality, morality and the idea of leaving this world a better place than when we entered it.
鈥淟ights of Home鈥� has Bono confessing, 鈥淪houldn鈥檛 be here 鈥檆ause I should be dead/I can see the lights in front of me/I believe my best days are ahead.鈥�
It represents a moment of clarity as he comes to the realization that while our days are limited, there are still noble acts to pursue.
The track becomes part of a spiritual journey in which we need to free ourselves in order to truly see ourselves and the glorious potential we possess.
鈥淕et Out of Your Own Way鈥� plays out as an encouraging nudge to overcome the barriers limiting personal growth by finding the inner strength to fight our own struggles without a dependency on having others come to the rescue.
Bono鈥檚 vocals are intoxicating as he sings, 鈥淣othing鈥檚 stopping you except what鈥檚 inside/I can help you, but it鈥檚 your fight.鈥�
鈥淭he Blackout鈥� sees the band shedding its innocence with the stern message of resisting fear and the deep divisions created when we sheepishly bow to the impending darkness of injustice.
The band highlights the refugee crisis with the songs 鈥淪ummer of Love鈥� and 鈥淩ed Flag Day,鈥� whereas Bono turns to the lighter side of dealing with a rock star鈥檚 ego with the infectious pop of 鈥淭he Showman (Little More Better).鈥�
Kendrick Lamar lends his popular rap skills to the opening of the pounding 鈥淎merican Soul.鈥� The track acts as a stirring stadium anthem as Bono chants, 鈥淵ou and I are rock and roll.鈥�
鈥淪ongs of Experience鈥� beautifully reminds us that at the end of the day, all we have left is love because love is bigger than anything in its way.