Surprise! U2 Releases New Album Songs of Innocence for Free on iTunes

Get the scoop on the band's first album in five years

By Brett Malec Sep 09, 2014 8:00 PMTags
U2, Oscars ShowA.M.P.A.S./Michael Yada

U2 surprised fans today by releasing their new album Songs of Innocence on iTunes for free!

The band's 13th album was gifted to hundreds of millions of iTunes users Tuesday ahead of the album's official release, which is Oct. 14.

According to a press release from Interscope Records, Songs of Innocence, which features 11 new tracks, is U2's "most personal work to date" and was inspired by the band's "earliest influences from 70s rock and punk rock to early 80s electronica and ambient music."

"We wanted to make a very personal album," Bono told Rolling Stone. "Let's try to figure out why we wanted to be in a band, the relationships around the band, our friendships, our lovers, our family. The whole album is first journeys—first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually. And that's hard. But we went there."

Songs on the album include titles "The Miracle," "Song for Someone," "Volcano," "Raised by Wolves" and "This Is Where You Can Reach Me."

Fun fact: the band's free album actually caused 24 of their old albums to re-chart on iTunes and the U218 Singles Collection even went all the way into the top 10 in 46 countries!