While you were sleeping, U2 dropped another surprise EP
At 12:06 am EDT, a note from Universal Music dropped into my inbox with news of another surprise EP from U2, the second of the year. Given that it’s Good Friday, it makes sense that this one is called Easter Lily, a follow up to Days of Ash, which, you’ll remember was released on Ash Wednesday.
Easter Lily features six tracks, all of which are separate from the album the band is still recording. Days of Ash was a reflection of the chaotic times of February (a situation that has only gotten worse), but Easter Lily is much for reflective and personal.
The tracklisting is:
- Song for Hal: A song dedicated to the band’s friend, Hal Wilmer, who died of COVID-19. The Edge is on lead vocals. That’s rare.
- In a Life: A track all about friendship.
- Scars: Think encouragement and acceptance.
- Resurrection Song: A pilgrimmage song
- Easter Parade: Devotional. Very devotional.
- COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?) – ft. a new soundscape by Brian Eno: “A lullaby for parents caught up in war.”
Each of the above covers with lyric videos. Here’s a sample. It’s VERY U2.
You can hear the other five tracks here.
Bono says: “We are in the studio, still working towards a noisy, messy, ‘unreasonably colourful’ album to play LIVE… which is where U2 lives. We still look to vivid rock n roll as an act of resistance against all this awfulness on our small screens. These are for sure ‘wilderness years’ for so many of us looking at the mayhem out there in the world.
“It’s a time that has our band digging deeper into our lives to find a wellspring of songs to try meet the moment… With Easter Lily we ended up asking very personal questions like: Are our own relationships up to these challenging times? How hard do you fight for friendship? Can our faith survive the mangling of meaning that those algorithms love to reward? Is all religion rubbish and still ripping us apart…? Or are there answers to find in its crevices? Are there ceremonies, rituals, dances that we might be missing in our lives? From the rite of Spring to Easter and its promise of rebirth and renewal… Patti Smith’s album Easter gave me so much hope when it was released in 1978. I wasn’t yet 18. The title is a nod to her.
“We will attempt hoopla and fanfare at a later date to remind the rest of the world we exist but in the meantime… this is between you and us.”
If you need more, there’s a special e-zine edition of Propaganda that goes quite deep.
