Hanging on by a thread....
2
By fastrunner1
Hated everything about this album when it came out...but hearing Book of Your Heart made me realize they can still produce a deeply felt and beautiful song. Another listen allowed me to hear The Little Things That Give You Away with fresh ears; a passioante song builds towards as it goes. U2...I just can't quit you...
Album has grown on me
5
By Eagletrekker-Tahoe
5 yrs later I’m compelled to rate and review this album. I liked it initially, I love it now. I do hear a hint of U2 Boy/October but with today’s color. U2 continues to be relevant and strives for each album to be distinctly different but with a common thread. Hoping to see them drop another album in the not too distant future.
THE MOST AMAZINGLY AMAZING ALBUM EVER
5
By ):7/81'zjzksbs
dudeee, their newer stuff is still so frickin good. This album means so so much to me. You’re The Best Thing About Me, is definitely my favorite from it. But all of the other ones are still sooo good too. Thank you, U2.
Good stuff!
5
By GEB81
After a streak of decent but largely disappointing albums, this one hits the mark for me. It has the old U2 rock and roll vibe but still remains modern. I think with rock and roll basically being dead, this release was under appreciated. If it was released 20 years ago, I honestly think it would have been a huge hit.
Their Best Since “Achtung Baby”
5
By jeffwine03
This is not said lightly. Heir best since Achtung Baby. Blows both ATYCLB and HTDAAB out of the water. This equals the highs hit ten years ago on NLOTH, only his is an entire album’s worth.
One complaint, Blackout should be track #1. Love is All we Have Left should be the last track. Someone should really let Bono know.
Gets better
5
By Bonou2bigd
I was skeptical on the first listen, but this album quickly grew on me and continues to do so. It’s not a U2 masterpiece. But, it is a fantastic exhibition of their ability to change direction. This album also complements Songs of Innocence perfectly, and when heard together, it’s truly a remarkable piece of music at this stage in their lives and musical career
My favorite album
5
By eeeeaq
Thank you
Terrible!
1
By Semi-Sammy
Time to retire this is the worst U2 album. Plinky Plonky crap.
Glad U2 Is Still Around!
3
By That One Guy!
Okay, I wrote a pretty harsh review for this album when it first came out, and it's still one of my least favorite U2 albums, but it has grown on me and I do like most of the songs. They've been around for 40 years and still making better music than most of the popular garbage that people call music these days (am I just getting old, or is modern music really going downhill???). I'm so glad U2 is still making good music!
Very solid
5
By brady r creasy
Songs of experience is an album that imo is solid how to dismantle an atomic bomb is still my favorite u2 album while there are some mediocre u2 albums like some of their 90’s stuff songs of experience is fantastic and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to listen to it
BAD and not the song either.....
1
By HockeyHound
-10
Best Since ATYCLB
5
By dubinmt
Beautiful Soul Music
The GOATS deliver again
5
By Jacob U2
What an album! U2 doesn’t know how to disappoint
Two FLATS
2
By antjas235
U2 is ONE of the greatest rock bands, not the greatest. The great bands never forget their roots and most importantly SOUND. Up till the end of their last album, the Beatles Abbey Road still sounded like the Beatles in medley and sound. And Led Zeppelin, well, still sounded like Led Zeppelin, hard and powerful but with a twist. Which I believe to be the Greatest Rock band ever. U2 on the other hand on their last two albums, theirs no hint of their signature sound. The now legendary Joshua Tree sound has eluded them, the powerful rock anthems and guitar riffs found all over the place on Achtung Baby all but disappeared , the daring and exploring sounds that Pop gave us on every unique song to the ears and their last great one All the you can’t leave behind, showed me U2 was back in form. BUT, the last 2 U2 albums fall short of that once great band, no song on these two albums STAND OUT its like hearing a FLAT LINE. Sometimes it’s just better to stick with even a little bit of the sounds that everyone FELL IN LOVE WITH from the four great albums mentioned.
U2 does it again
5
By randomwanderingspirit
U2. The biggest band in the world continues to make amazing music; decade after decade. Songs of Experience is no different. From the first track, "Love is all we have left", to the final track, "13 (There is a Light)" the album is full of innocent optimism and experienced realism. The album, at times, feels like a dialogue between the two; and you're never too sure who is going to win. "You're the best thing about me" is an infectious tune filled with joy, faith and doubt. Although Bono sings, "you're the best thing about me," in the chorus, he hauntingly asks at the end, "why am I walking away?" This reminds me of a 90's song by U2 titled "The First Time." In the song, the main character is faced with a love that knows no bounds or limits, but in the end he "left by the back door and...threw away the key." "Get Out of Your Own Way" is laced with political overtones, even mentioning President Lincoln in one of the verses. "American Soul" picks up where "Get Out of Your Own Way" leaves off, but bringing a heavier in-your-face rock sound with it.
"Summer of Love" is the hidden gem of this album. It is incredibly melodic and captures the struggles of Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe. The story of refugees continues to be a theme in "Red Flag Day." This song has a simple punk guitar sound with anthemic lyrics - it works! "The Showman" was originally one of my least favorite tracks on the album. However, the more you hear it, the more you find yourself singing along and it being stuck in your head all day. It is definitely the most playful tune on the entire album. "The Little Things That Give You Away" was a song I knew the band had been playing around with for quite some time and it was great to see it listed on this album. The wait does not disappoint. Bono seems to be having an argument in his head between two entities; his innocent self and his experienced self (1). Who will win?? Politics come back in to play on "The Blackout" as Bono sings, "A big mouth says the people they don't want to be free for free." I'm probably not wrong in assuming he is referencing President Trump in that line. It is probably the hardest rocking song on the album and Adam Clayton's bass is turned way up (and it's a sick riff)! The final song, "13 (There is a Light)," brings back the chorus from "Song for Someone" off of their previous project "Songs of Innocence." "13" brings back the argument from earlier between innocence vs. experience. It is a beautiful song; and much like many of the other closing songs U2 has had on past albums it captures a glimpse of the spiritual in the mundane. It truly is a song for "Someone like me."
