U2 are back with their first new song in two years – listen to “Atomic City” and watch the accompanying music video below.
- Read more: Kiss the future Review: Historic U2 concert in war-torn Sarajevo
The Irish band returns to post-punk in its heyday with a sultry guitar hook reminiscent of their 1983 hit “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and a Blondie-esque chorus.
Vocalist Bono sings about freedom (“I’m free/ I see what’s in front of me/ And your freedom is contagious/ What you have I want to be”) and nods to “Atomic City” aka Las Vegas, the city in which the accompanying music video is set, as a place to find him.
It is not known whether the song, which is U2’s first since 2021 when they released “Your Song Saved My Life,” is by Singing 2 The soundtrack, will be featured on a yet-to-be-announced album. The band teased a record that prioritized a “guitar music” sound.
The new song was produced by Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite and recorded at Sound City in Los Angeles. A statement about the song describes it as “an homage to the magnetic spirit of 1970s post-punk with a nod to Blondie, whose pioneering work with Giorgio Moroder inspired and influenced the band.”
U2’s last album to contain all-original material was 2017’s ‘Songs Of Experience’. Earlier this year, they released ‘Songs Of Surrender’, a reimagining of 40 songs from their back catalogue.
Meanwhile, “Atomic City” arrived on the same day (September 29) that U2 began their residency at the new MSG Sphere venue in Las Vegas.
The series of shows, the first to play at the new venue, will see their 1991 album Achtung Baby played in its entirety.
Up to 250 fans and extras gathered on the city’s Fremont Street earlier this month to watch the band play through “Atomic City” several times for what Bono joked was a “low-budget” music video.
The surprise performance also saw the band play “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” from their classic album “The Joshua Tree”. [via U2 Songs]. U2 filmed the music video for that song not far off Fremont Street in the late 1980s.
“This is the world premiere of ‘Atomic City,’ a rock ‘n’ roll 45-inch from the late ’70s if you’re interested… Blondie, the Clash,” Bono told the crowd.
On hand during filming were Bono, guitarist The Edge, drummer Adam Clayton and bassist Larry Mullen Jr., the latter of whom is not performing at the band’s Sphere shows due to recovering from surgery.
In other U2 news, the band recently launched “Zoo Station” – an immersive fan experience designed ahead of their upcoming shows.
The “Zoo Station: A U2:UV Experience” fan portal was opened yesterday (September 28), and aims to help fans gain a deeper understanding of “Achtung Baby.”
