Kat: DAYS OF ASH is the new album from U2. It's an EP -- extended play -- as opposed to an LP -- long play -- a normal length album. In 1985, WIDE AWAKE IN AMERICA became US's best selling EP. It wasn't their first one (that would be 1979's THREE) or their last (DAYS OF ASH is their 11th EP).
What is DAYS OF ASH? According to U2, it's "a self-contained collection of five new songs and a poem." "Wildpeace" is the poem by the late Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai.
"American Tragedy" is the song that grabbed all the attention Wednesday because it's such a strong song and also because it's honoring Renee Nicole Good who was murdered by ICE agents in Minnesota.
The other four songs are as well. Take "The Tears of Things."
You say you wanna save the world
Well, how you gonna get that right
You say you wanna save the world tonight
You say you wanna save the world
And perfect lovе drives out all fear
Well, how’s that gonna happеn here?
How's it gonna happen here?
The EP reminds me of WAR which has always been one of my favorite U2 albums (top two, the other being THE JOSHUA TREE). There's an anger and a directness to the songs here that was evident on WAR. There's another element that this album shares with WAR -- the 1983 album ended with the benediction "40" and THE DAYS OF ASH ends with its own benediction as well "Yours Eternally."
