U2 "Songs of Innocence."

While I did appreciate the experimental nature of "No Line on the Horizon," I can declare, with nary a doubt, that  this was a more consistent album. The opener "The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" is an absolute stand out, especially when compared to the first half of the record. The songs were not bad, per se, but deja vu is a relevant concept concerning the first six tracks.  Track seven provides no indication that any of the members have been "Raised by Wolves," but Bono's vocal performance is the equivalent of a wolf pup emulating its father; the yelp is accepted, and cooperates with the instrumentals. Tenacity instilled, we arrive at "Cedarwood Road," another notable track amidst the comfortable and partially acceptable. It possess a subtle musculature that echoes Pre-"Joshua Tree" U2, without ever attaining their exuberance of those days; if only they took it farther. "Sleep Like a Baby Tonight" seems like it could have fit on "No Line on the Horizon." The production of "This is Where You Can Reach Me Now" is aligned with its content, and the eerie instrumental utterance can simulate a tiny fraction of how soldiers may feel, while the steady, yet driven percussion can resemble the beating heart of one. While the collaboration with Lykke Li was not the complete antithesis of the opener, in terms of quality, it was nowhere near what one could expect from one.              Are the tracks that I mentioned elevated to "good" or "great" due to the company they commiserate, or because they are songs of  admirable quality amidst a majority of songs that are good or tolerable? The latter. I didn't mind listening to the album, but I would not recommend listening to the full album more than once, unless you have the time to spare, and/or don't mind if you have heard it before. Favorites: The Miracle ( of Joey Ramone), California (There is No End To Love), Raised by Wolves and Cedarwood Road. HM: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight, and This is Where You Can Reach Me Now.