New Surprise U2 Album! Get it Free!

[Julie in the rv mirror]

U2 just released a new surprise album, "Songs of Innocence". It can be downloaded from iTunes right now for free- I'm getting ready to listen.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-free-20140909

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

U2 just released a new surprise album, "Songs of Innocence". It can be downloaded from iTunes right now for free- I'm getting ready to listen.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-free-20140909

Yes, I'm glad i'm not the only one interested on here Was going to see if there was a thread already. I'll be grabbing this once I'm home from work. I'm willing to bet it's a gooder...Seems to really have come from the heart and soul of the band musing about their relevance in todays culture, etc. Stoked to hear what they have to say.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

On the first listen through, I like it! I'm not a huge U2 fan, but I like some of their stuff. I can certainly get down with free music, in any case!

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

On the first listen through, I like it! I'm not a huge U2 fan, but I like some of their stuff. I can certainly get down with free music, in any case!

Exactly, same here!

[Jules13]

Thanks for letting us know! I like some songs of them, too. U2 is a great band.
And free music is always good. Can't believe they did that...

[JennaG]

I'm not one to object to them offering the album for free but I thought we'd at least have had the choice to download it rather than having it forced upon us like junk mail.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by JennaG

I'm not one to object to them offering the album for free but I thought we'd at least have had the choice to download it rather than having it forced upon us like junk mail.

I still had to download it- it wasn't in my library like they said it was going to be; maybe I just didn't wait long enough.

I see your point, but they did that purposely- the intent being that people might click on it who probably wouldn't otherwise, because it was there (Bono said as much). Those people wouldn't go through the effort to download it.

I guess if people don't want it, they could always delete it, just like tossing junk mail.

[Mr. Happy]

I hated this on first listen, but after putting it on repeat more times than I care to admit...it's grown on me There's some really good stuff on this. I think I prefer No Line on the Horizon and even How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb to it, but it definitely has its moments. The first four and the last four are solid. The middle three I can do without.

Every Breaking Wave, though

[Monstro]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/29157217

Made me smile

[JennaG]

As a response to the criticism they've had to release a tool to delete the album from people's accounts.

Perhaps they won't think that forcing an album down every iTunes user's throats is such a good idea in future.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by JennaG

As a response to the criticism they've had to release a tool to delete the album from people's accounts.

Perhaps they won't think that forcing an album down every iTunes user's throats is such a good idea in future.

On the one hand, I think it might have been better if they'd offered the album as on option. On the other hand, I think the backlash has been a bit over the top.

[stretch37]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

On the one hand, I think it might have been better if they'd offered the album as on option. On the other hand, I think the backlash has been a bit over the top.

Completely agreed...It's actually shocking...U2 never intended to "force their album down people's throats". I've never seen so many people angry about something that is free, being offered on a free platform (iTunes). If you don't like it, set iTunes so it doesn't copy that album to your device, or use the tool to remove it, or just go onto your hard drive and delete it. Or turn off auto downloads. There are so many ways to make it OK, and I am sure U2 and Apple will not do this again. But holy ***, the backlash is like someone committed a terrible crime...The backlash is what appals me the most, not the mistake Apple made. Everyone makes mistakes and its difficult to please everyone when your running a large platform.

I for one am thrilled about this album. Been listening to it all weekend while I work. It's a great album and I'm glad I have it

[Monstro]

Originally Posted by stretch37

I've never seen so many people angry about something that is free,

Funny isn't it, wish my life was so easy that that was all I had to complain about

[JennaG]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

On the one hand, I think it might have been better if they'd offered the album as on option. On the other hand, I think the backlash has been a bit over the top.

I agree that it probably should have been an optional download and perhaps advertised to make those that might want it aware that they can get it for free but I think automatically putting it into everyone's 'cloud' is not all that different to sending them junk mail. It's no big deal, but you didn't ask for it, you don't want it and it's not of interest to you. It's just annoying when you've got to then go and remove it from your cloud.

[PanicLord]

Originally Posted by JennaG

It's just annoying when you've got to then go and remove it from your cloud.

Yeah. Modern life is HARD.

[JennaG]

Originally Posted by PanicLord

Yeah. Modern life is HARD.

Quite frankly I've got far better things to be doing with my life than finding a way of permanently deleting an album that was forced upon me by a group that I don't particularly like.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by stretch37

I've never seen so many people angry about something that is free, being offered on a free platform

Basically it's the same as having some free software installed, that you find handy. And then find a stupid toolbar, or something similar, is also installed that you never asked for.

There are people in the world that are happy with that toolbar. But there will be others that find it annoying to get something they didn't ask for in the first place. The U2 album is that toolbar and can be freaking annoying when it gets there uninvited.

And yes, that toolbar can also be easily removed but it still pisses me off when it 'installs itself'. And I bet you would also be less amused when it was the new Justin Bieber album (or any other artist you dislike)

There is no reason at all to assume you should be happy when you get something for free. Especially when you didn't ask for it in the first place

[PanicLord]

Originally Posted by JennaG

Quite frankly I've got far better things to be doing with my life than finding a way of permanently deleting an album that was forced upon me by a group that I don't particularly like.

Me too. So i didn't.

[JennaG]

Originally Posted by stretch37

U2 never intended to "force their album down people's throats".

If they never intended to force their album down people's throats then why did they agree to it being automatically included in people's accounts whether they've asked for it or not?

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by JennaG

If they never intended to force their album down people's throats then why did they agree to it being automatically included in people's accounts whether they've asked for it or not?

Most likely they didn't see it as forcing it on anyone.

Apple: "How would you like for 500 million people to get a copy of your album?"

U2: "Uh, let us think about it".



If even 1% of those 500 million people listen to the thing, that's 5 million people- probably more listeners than they might have gotten otherwise, even including illegal downloads. And even bad publicity is still publicity.

Originally Posted by Adje

And I bet you would also be less amused when it was the new Justin Bieber album (or any other artist you dislike)

I've actually thought about that; I imagine I might have been mildly annoyed initially, never bothered to listen, then wouldn't give it a second thought.

[PanicLord]

Originally Posted by Adje

Basically it's the same as having some free software installed, that you find handy. And then find a stupid toolbar, or something similar, is also installed that you never asked for.

There are people in the world that are happy with that toolbar. But there will be others that find it annoying to get something they didn't ask for in the first place. The U2 album is that toolbar and can be freaking annoying when it gets there uninvited.

Nope. Those toolbars annoy me too. But that's because they change my screen, my favourites, my homepage, maybe install other tracking software, maybe stop some websites working properly.

A free album does nothing. Just sits there wanting to be loved.

[Adje]

Originally Posted by PanicLord

Nope. Those toolbars annoy me too. But that's because they change my screen, my favourites, my homepage, maybe install other tracking software, maybe stop some websites working properly.

A free album does nothing. Just sits there wanting to be loved.

Hmmm, but you agree then. Whatever the reason is you hate those toolbars... it's your reason.

There are actually people who find good use in them. Basically some people consider them helpful. A gift that was installed, "that just sits there to be loved". It's a matter of interest.

A free album has no use unless you care for the content. I don't have i-tunes as I don't value it. But from what I understand it's manifested in your library (or whatever) which can be equally anoying as a toolbar. So the term 'sits there waiting to be loved' is also subjective.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by Adje

A free album has no use unless you care for the content. I don't have i-tunes as I don't value it. But from what I understand it's manifested in your library (or whatever) which can be equally anoying as a toolbar. So the term 'sits there waiting to be loved' is also subjective.

People who had their devices set to automatically download purchased content had it "magically" appear in their libraries. Otherwise, it just stays in your purchases (somewhere in the ether) unless you choose to download it. There is an option (one click) to "hide" that purchase so that you don't even see it- problem solved.

The difference is that the toolbar can interfere with your usage of other programs or websites; the album doesn't affect anything outside of iTunes, and even then all it does is take up space unless you play it.

[JennaG]

Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror

The difference is that the toolbar can interfere with your usage of other programs or websites; the album doesn't affect anything outside of iTunes, and even then all it does is take up space unless you play it.

If you've got automatic downloads enabled and you're using shuffle on your device, you may end up listening to it without actively choosing to.

There are going to be people who are happy to have had a surprise album and are really grateful to have received the album for free. There are others who will be rather annoyed at the lack of choice they had over receiving an album that they didn't want. I personally don't think either are in the wrong and both are entitled to their opinion and I think that Apple are the ones at fault for not giving users the choice about it.

[Evil One]

Originally Posted by Adje

There are people in the world that are happy with that toolbar.

Who are these nutty people?