***Stand-out highlights for U2 in 2014*** SONGS OF INNOCENCE (DELUXE TRACKS) 2014 saw Songs of Innocence - the 13th studio album by U2 first released on 9th September 2014 digitally through iTunes for free for a limited time - for one month only before physical purchase release of the album. To placate retailers affected by the digital exclusivity period, Universal offered them a deluxe version of Songs of Innocence that contains four additional songs, along with several acoustic versions of the records songs. The bonus tracks were exclusive to brick-and-mortar stores and music streaming services for five weeks before becoming available to the iTunes Store; it released the ten deluxe edition tracks under the title Songs of Innocence + on 18th November 2014. Retailers will also receive catalog deals that will discount U2s albums in stores by US$3 for a period of time. Songs of Innocence was produced by Danger Mouse, with additional production from Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Declan Gaffney and Flood. The album was announced at an Apple Inc. product launch event and released the same day to all iTunes Store customers at no cost. It was exclusive to iTunes, iTunes Radio, and Beats Music until 13th October 2014, when it received a physical release by Island and Interscope Records. The digital release made the record available to over 500 million iTunes customers, for what Apple CEO Tim Cook marketed as the largest album release of all time. Songs of Innocence was U2s first album since No Line on the Horizon (2009), marking the longest gap between studio albums of their career. After the latters relatively lukewarm commercial performance, lead singer Bono expressed uncertainty over how the band could remain musically relevant. During the five-and-a-half-year gestation period for Songs of Innocence, they reportedly worked on three separate projects with multiple producers, including an aborted companion to their previous record called Songs of Ascent. However, they struggled to complete an album to their satisfaction and continually delayed a release. After working with Danger Mouse for a lengthy time, the group then collaborated with Flood, Epworth, and Tedder to complete the record. Thematically, it revisits the group members youth in Ireland, paying tribute to musical inspirations Ramones and the Clash, while touching on childhood experiences, loves and regrets. Bono described it as the most personal album weve written. The albums lead single, The Miracle (of Joey Ramone), is featured in an Apple television commercial as part of a promotional campaign for the band on which the company is reportedly spending $100 million. According to Apple, approximately 81 million users listened to the album in its first month of release, 26 million of whom downloaded the entire record. Songs of Innocence received mixed reviews, and some critics and consumers were critical of the digital release strategy, which involved automatically adding the album to users iTunes accounts without their consent. ~ Thomas
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 12:02:13 +0000
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