Sifting Through the Ashes: The U2Songs Team Evaluates the New EP

Original Story by Don Morgan (2026-02-20)

After a few days to digest U2’s new digital EP, Days of Ash, a few of the U2Songs team took a few minutes to share their thoughts on the project. Here’s Aaron, Don, Harry, Carl, and Brad with their initial impressions.

Aaron:

Before I get to the music…how nice is it to know the band has been back together these last few months–with Larry Mullen–making music together? Making this EP of political-edged music, and an album of celebratory music to follow!

And as a kid who subscribed to Propaganda, I used to pour over every issue, looking for the smallest info about the music we had and the music to come. The town I grew up in had a population of 500, and no one seemed to know who U2 were. Propaganda became my tie to a world of other fans. Seeing that magazine cover and flipping through the contents left me with a smile from one ear to the other. Propaganda, I’ve missed you.

The music? My first opinion is usually a mix of flashes of other material. This EP immediately brought Pop to mind. “American Obituary” had me thinking of “Holy Joe”, the B-side to “Discotheque.” Perhaps fitting that my mind went there, as in 1997 on Ash Wednesday, the boys kicked off their announcement of PopMart with a performance of that song. That Pop feeling came and went a few times during the first listen. Favourites? I’m leaning toward “Yours Eternally” and “Song of the Future,” probably the latter if I had to pick one, but both have been sticking in my head and on my tongue. I do like that the EP ends on an energetic note. I think “The Tears of Things” will eventually move its way in there but it’s one of those U2 songs I need some time to digest.

Very political, but also a message of peace and co-operation and coming together in there. A vocal Palestinian supporter reading the words of an Israeli poet? Taras Topolia from Ukraine singing alongside a choir that includes a member of Pussy Riot from Russia? There are some unique ideas here, and I’m happy to see U2 take these swings.

And I’m very happy overall to have new music. A project brought together so quickly is something I’ve always wanted to see for years. The songs stand well together.

Don:

My overall impressions are that this EP hangs together really well, it’s worth listening to all at once because there is a definite flow from track to track. It’s awesome that there is only one producer over the entire project rather than the “committee of producers” we’ve seen on the past few albums. And it was a nice surprise to see this pop up on Ash Wednesday with a brash statement about things you’re never supposed to discuss: religion and politics. And finally, the digital edition of Propaganda is fantastic. I’m sure there has never been another EP by anyone that can boast 54 pages of liner notes! Please give us a printed edition along with vinyl and CD editions of the EP. Taking it track by track:

“American Obituary”—This one didn’t really ignite for me the first time, but by my second or third listen and really ingesting the lyrics, it put a lump in my throat. I could do without Bono’s “You have the right to remain silent…or not!” at the beginning and the “power of the people” choir vocals at the end. Those touches seem kind of gimmicky and threaten to derail the important verses that come in between. Overall, this song nails the spirit of the times we’re living in, though. It’s awesome to hear such a bold statement from U2.

“The Tears of Things”—One of the strongest sets of lyrics I’ve heard from Bono in a while. I love the way this song unfolds. Interesting to see the “there is no them only us” motif show up again but turned on its head.

“Song of the Future”—This sounds like it could have come from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Larry’s drums sound really earthy and present here, glad to have him back! I love the segue into “Wildpeace.”

“Wildpeace”—This may be more Jacknife Lee and Adeola than U2, but I really like it. The poem is striking and makes for an excellent interlude/connector in the EP. It’s nice to see Adeola turn up here, as Jacknife Lee produced the most recent album from her group Les Amazones D’Afrique on the Real World label.

“One Life at a Time”—Here’s another recurring motif with the “perfect love drives out all fear” line, which is also heard in “I’ll Go Crazy” from 2009 and originates from 1 John 4:18. This track also sounds like it could have come from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

“Yours Eternally”—Love this track, my favorite on the EP. Yes, it’s more upbeat, but it’s a welcome change of pace. Another really strong set of lyrics. I love “Dear friends or whatever we’re calling ourselves these days…” I thought the Ed Sheeran cameo would be distracting but it works well. At 1:32 when Bono sings “Don’t sleep, don’t even think about it,” just listen to that glorious echo on Edge’s guitar!! Absolutely sublime. Parts of this track remind me of “City of Blinding Lights,” right down to what sounds like a looped dulcimer around the 2:00 mark. It was cool to read about how this collaboration came about in the new issue of Propaganda.

Harry:

“American Obituary.” We are back! Garage land, angry U2 meets grunge-y, ironic U2. More of this, please. A lot more, actually! Soaring guitar parts, air-tight rhythm, pristine production, and a message to the U.S. so straight, so clear, that many will probably miss…!

Still early days of listening, but “One Life at a Time” is undeniable, it’s the kind of song only these four specific people could write. “Song of the Future” has many good moments, but Adam Clayton is definitely at the very core of it all!

But “The Tears of Things”? That is one dangerous song. I haven’t fully unpacked it yet, but I’m almost afraid to, there’s many different feelings in there.

Carl:

After a few listens through, this strikes me as very this-century U2 “top 40 with some sonic bits tossed on.” Sonically it leans more towards Songs of Experience which is nice, with some echoes of No Line on the Horizon and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. I enjoy the songs and agree with the sentiments, but nothing surprised me sonically. I haven’t really read any of the press around it, so these are uninformed opinions for better or worse. (Smile) Taking it song by song:

“American Obituary”—This feels like it’d work better rawer vs. a “Get Out Of Your Own Way” lush, layered mastering. Also, like, the people of Minnesota have done a great job standing up and ICE has been forced to take a step or two back. I’m not sure they need Bono reminding them of the power of the people?

“The Tears of Things”—Kind of a Broadway ballad? It has a lot of different moods, but none of them interest me that much. It’s another ambiguous look at Bono’s relationship with religion which is always kind of interesting.

“Song of the Future”—My second-favorite sonically. It’s a little funky and playful and reminds me a bit of “Red Flag Day.”

“Wildpeace”—It’s interesting, but feels more like The Edge and Jacknife Lee than U2. It fits nicely in between “Song of the Future” and “One Life at a Time.”

“One Life at a Time”—This is the song that stands out the most to me, it has a bit of “Moment of Surrender” vibe to it–one of the true gems of modern U2, IMO. Lyrically, it’s actually a great simple shot at high-minded abstract ideology: you want to save the world, don’t start cracking eggs to make your idea of a perfect omelette, try to protect each and every egg from someone else cracking them.

“Yours Eternally”—Whew, this feels like “Magnificent” to me, a song that’ll appeal to a lot of U2 fans but kind of puts me to sleep.

Closing Thoughts: Bono is getting better at writing social justice stuff, nothing on this EP is quite as cringy as, say, “Miracle Drug.” I found the recent outtakes from HTDAAB (How To Reassemble an Atomic Bomb) more interesting either than that album or these new songs. It’s really a shame Pop rattled them so much, considering it has what I consider some of their best songwriting. Stop polishing the rough edges off so much, boys!

Brad:

I was asked to jot down some quick initial thoughts on the new Days of Ash EP, but that turns out to be a tougher task than I originally thought. First of all, who saw U2 dropping a surprise EP in the middle of a work week? Anyway, I had the EP playing on repeat while I was working on Wednesday, but this is NOT the sort of U2 release that one takes in by osmosis. I realized at the end of the day that I still didn’t know what some of the songs were about, so today I listened to the entire EP twice while reading the lyrics, something I haven’t really done with a U2 record in quite some time. Bono is known for writing somewhat vague lyrics that can mean different things to different people, but each of these songs seems to have a pretty specific message. This EP is unapologetically political, and a little effort is required to really understand where the band is coming from. I still haven’t had time to digest the new issue of Propaganda, so there are probably some things I am getting wrong. Anyway, some quick hits:

“American Obituary”
Musically: Reminds me of “Get on Your Boots” with Bono’s rap-rock cadence, BUT IN A GOOD WAY!

Politically: Obviously a memorial to Renée Good, but also a message of hope that people can rise up against lies.

Best Line: “Could you stop a heart from breaking by having it not care?”

“The Tears of Things”
Musically: This is the most “Classic Coke” U2 song stylistically, so I think it’s going to be a fan favorite.

Politically: A lot going on here. Bono seems to be singing from the perspective of David at times, and himself in others, and talking directly to God in both cases. To me, this is trying to sort through the complex history and politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and recognizes how much grief can be caused in the name of religion.

Best Line: “If you put a man into a cage and rattle it enough, a man becomes the kind of rage that cannot be locked up.”

“Song of the Future”
Musically: This is my personal favorite from a purely musical standpoint. It has a really nice groove to it.

Politically: Definitely a song I would not have understood without a little context. The refrain of “Sarina, Sarina” refers to an Iranian girl who was killed protesting for freedom. She is the “song of the future” because she is a martyr for the cause, and her image still appears on protest signs in Iran.

Best Line: “Love is a verb and not a noun.”

“Wildpeace”
Musically: Jackknife Lee has some quirky production techniques that pop up every now and then, (His remix of “Window in the Skies” is wild!) and I really enjoy the stuttering effect here. I think it makes the poetry reading feel more dystopian.

Politically: This poem was written by an Israeli in 1971, and it is both bleak and hopeful at the same time. “Wildpeace” is a peace that springs up unexpectedly like a wildflower, and is welcomed but also fragile. The more things change…

Best Line: Bono didn’t write it but, “I know that I know how to kill, that makes me an adult,” really makes me think about how different my worldview would be if I had grown up under constant threat.

“One Life at a Time”
Musically: Larry!

Politically: Another track about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This one really cuts to how your perspective influences your opinions, and how those political biases can get in the way of seeing things clearly. “What you buy is what you’re being sold” cuts to the heart of it.

Best Line: “A peaceful place is never still.” Peace doesn’t just happen; it takes constant effort.

“Yours Eternally”
Musically: I have seen others saying that this EP reminds them of HTDAAB. This song is the best example of that to me. Edge’s guitar work reminds me of “City of Blinding Lights,” and I get a “Miracle Drug” vibe in places as well.

Politically: I didn’t immediately get that this one is about Ukraine, but the lyrics make a lot of sense once you know that. “Volia” is a term that refers to a longing for freedom and the willfulness to fight for it. I think the lyrics here do a good job of capturing that strength and resolve.

Best Line: “Dearest friends or whatever we are calling ourselves these days.” Have to wonder who this is directed at.

Throughout our site we’ve been doing a number of updates to incorporate the new EP. The best place to get a start is in our discography entry for the EP, linked below, but we’ve also got some additional links we are updating that we share below:

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