Photo: Press
U2 have unveiled the artwork that will accompany the physical release of Songs Of Innoncence.
Having been given away to 500 million iTunes subscribers and listened to by an estimated 38 million people, the physical copy of Songs Of Innocence will be released on 13 October. It will be available on a two disc deluxe edition as well as on vinyl.
The cover, photographed by Glen Luchford features Larry Mullen Jr embracing his 18 year old son, referencing both Boy and War.
"We've always been about community in U2, about family and friends," explains Bono on the band's official site. "Songs Of Innocence is the most intimate album we've ever made. With this record we were looking for the raw, naked and personal, to strip everything back."
Bono goes on to explain that the image reflects a central concern of the album that 'holding on to your own innocence is a lot harder than holding on to someone else's.'
Bono recently revealed in a Time cover story that the band have been developing a piracy proof new delivery system for music. Bono explained (via Billboard). "I think it’s going to get very exciting for the music business,", claiming that this as yet unnamed format will be "an audiovisual interactive format for music that can’t be pirated and will bring back album artwork in the most powerful way, where you can play with the lyrics and get behind the songs when you’re sitting on the subway with your iPad or on these big flat screens. You can see photography like you’ve never seen it before."
The U2 album's shock release at the Apple announcement on 9 September caught many by surprise with some fans and fellow musicians reacting angrily. Salon have gone so far as to describe U2 as 'The Most Hated Band In America'.
Mercury Prize Nominees Bombay Bicycle Club told NME: “I thought the move was quite invasive. A lot of people are up in arms because they don’t like U2. I don’t have an opinion on the band itself, but I do think the method is a little bit in your face."
Tyler The Creator also tweeted the following:
GET OFF MY FUCKING PHONE. YOU COULDNT COME UP WITH AN ACTUAL MARKETING IDEA? FUCK @U2 I DONT WANT YOU. FUCK BONO. I DIDNT ASK FOR YOU IM MAD
— Tyler, The Creator (@fucktyler) September 12, 2014
U2's album will receive a physical release on 13 October with four bonus tracks.
Below: Who could be next to surprise-release a new album through iTunes?
