Continued from page 11 match between faith and doubt . Bono sings the song in a plainspoken delivery reminiscent of Johnny Cash ’ s final American Recordings . The new lyric contrasts earthly love in tribute to Bono ’ s wife Ali Hewson with divine love and saving grace . The chorus suggests that the singer continues to wrestle his nature into accepting these gifts . The once brash “ Stories for Boys ” becomes a stark and haunted piano piece . “ Where the Streets Have No Name ” is among the most transformed musically and lyrically . The Edge ’ s arrangement draws on U2 ’ s familiarity with Brian Eno ’ s ambient sonics , and Bono ’ s updated lyric drives home the struggle and cycle of “ building and burning down love .” “ Could get through the fire , if I go with you ,” he sings . “ There ’ s no other way through .” The desert vistas of The Joshua Tree are amplified . “ Each desert rose is a prayer for rain ,” sings Bono . All That You Can ' t Leave Behind track “ Walk On ” is reinterpreted as a moving duet between The Edge ’ s guitar and Bono ’ s voice , with new imagery speaking to the besieged but resilient spirit of the Ukrainian people in the face of a protracted and devastating invasion . Once sung for Civil Rights martyr Martin Luther King Jr ., “ Pride ( In the Name of Love )” is now sung in an intimate and conversational tone for two-year-old refugee Alan Kurdi , who drowned in 2015 while fleeing violence in Syria with his family . “ One boy washed up on an empty beach ,” sings Bono , bending the familiar lyric . “ One boy never will be kissed .” “ The Fly ” is a rare Song of Surrender to retain its original lyric , but its stripped arrangement is slyer than heard on Achtung Baby . Previously unimagined hints of Marvin Gaye are underpinned by the deep rumble of Adam Clayton ’ s bass . Forgotten Pop single “ If God Will Send His Angels ” in its stark piano and vocal rendering proves freshly relevant with its wry commentary about the news being replaced by cartoon entertainment . “ If God can ’ t send his angels , could he come himself right now ?,” sings Bono with heightened urgency after waiting since 1997 . Just as fitting as the opener , the album concludes with the reverent and beseeching “ 40 .” For those with a willingness to follow a band that still wants to chart its own path , Songs of Surrender is the sound of U2 dreaming out loud and reckoning with its past while clearing the decks and pivoting toward a new adventure .
Are these Songs of Surrender ever as essential as their vintage counterparts ? Probably not , but this is a far cry more compelling than your everyday retrospective or unplugged effort . This is genuine reinvention , and that ’ s interesting – even bold . It must be noted that drummer Larry Mullen Jr .’ s presence on this 2xLP collection is minimal . Still , the band has teased a noisy guitar album as its next move , which will mark a radical shift from this reflective work . As fun as it can be for some to throw stones at a band as established as U2 , you ’ re allowed to enjoy both extremes . As Bono sings here on a retooled “ The Fly ,” “ It ’ s no secret at all .” ( www . u2 . com )
– Jeff Elbel
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YO LA TENGO This Stupid World
( Matador )
While never quite getting the flowers they deserve , through their nearly 40 years together , Yo La Tengo has quietly become an indie rock institution with a rabid following . While many of their contemporaries ended in tragedy ( Minutemen , Nirvana , Daniel Johnston ), divorce ( Sonic Youth ), or only exist as touring reunion acts ( Pavement ), Yo La Tengo has kept consistent , touring regularly and releasing albums every few years . This Stupid World is another slab of glorious guitar rock from this New Jersey group . Loud but not heavy , quiet but never delicate , This Stupid World is a perfect record for a midnight listen with a good pair of headphones . Singer / guitarist Ira Kaplan , drummer Georgia Hubley and bassist James McNew lock-in from the first sounds of the opening track “ Sinatra Drive Breakdown ” and don ’ t let up for the next 48 minutes . “ Apology Letter ” sounds like the lovechild of Velvet Underground and The Carpenters , while “ Tonight ’ s Episode ” captures the april 2023 illinoisentertainer . com 15