Surprise U2 album worth way more than asking price

U2 has been paid well for its three decades of heart-on-sleeve anthems, protestations and evangelizing, with a combined net worth of more than $1 billion claimed between Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. So why not give away an album?

"Songs of Innocence" was handed out gratis to all iTunes users this week, which means that more than 500 million people simply had to hit play. It was a happy convergence of canny marketing — the album was announced during an Apple press conference unveiling the iPhone 6 — and unusual generosity. But mostly canny marketing, and on everyone's part: even non-iTunes users can sign up through Oct. 12 and still find a copy waiting.

"Songs of Innocence," the band's 13th album, has been rumored for a couple of years while being kept blanketed in mystery, with precious little information beyond the fact that uber-producer Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton was involved. That was welcome news as the band's last album, 2009's "No Line on the Horizon," felt unformed and unsure, but "Songs" emerges as confident, straightforward rock 'n' roll that, at its best, sounds like classic U2 with a few shrewd tweaks.

"California (There is No End to Love)" cleverly pays homage to The Beach Boys before blasting off. "The Troubles," which features Lykke Li, recalls the more slinky qualities of "Zooropa," while "Every Breaking Wave" sounds, almost too literally, like an outtake from "The Joshua Tree." There are a couple of misfires — "Raised By Wolves" tries too hard to recapture a "Boy"-like vibe — and even some hard-core fans may be tiring of those trademark big Bono moments (although he sure can pick his spots).

In addition to Burton, the band brought in producers Flood, a mainstay since "The Joshua Tree," and hit machines Paul Epworth and Ryan Tedder, who have worked with Beyonce, Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Coldplay, Bruno Mars and One Direction. Their collective influence is generally minimal, but Burton's always subtle use of pop music tropes bolsters "Sleep Like A Baby Tonight," and Tedder's chart-chewing sensibilities are all over "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)."

"Songs of Innocence" would have earned its keep at full retail, but now it also has a nice backstory proving that baldly obvious marketing needn't impact or diminish heartfelt art.

— Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal

★★★