In a positive review , Neil McCormick of '' The Daily Telegraph '' called '' Songs of Innocence '' " fresh and cohesive ... an album of big , colourful , attacking rock with fluid melodies , bright anthemic choruses and bold lyrical ideas . " In '' Rolling Stone '' , David Fricke wrote that the record was a " triumph of dynamic , focused renaissance " and " the first time U2 have told their own tales so directly , with the strengths and expression they have accumulated as songwriters and record-makers . " '' Spin '' s Carl Wilson said the album 's songs were " more compact and direct , and eschew the global-overmind scale " of U2 's previous material " for intimate and personal perspectives . " Wilson praised U2 for hiring contemporary producers to help them " join rather than beat the 2014 mainstream " . Tom Doyle of '' Mojo '' called '' Songs of Innocence '' " the most startlingly fresh , energetic and cohesive U2 album in years , " praising the personal themes . He felt that the album " reconnects U2 with the strident , searching , wide awake band of their nascency , reminding not only us , but themselves , of their against-the-odds beginnings " . In '' The New York Times '' , Jon Pareles said that he found the record enjoyable for its grandiose musical style and emotionally varied , nostalgic lyrics : " The songs ground philosophical musings and high-flown imagery in concrete reminiscences and events . " '' Songs of Innocence '' appeared on critics ' end-of-year rankings of the best albums of 2014 . '' Rolling Stone '' ranked it as the best album of 2014 , calling it " the emotionally raw rock album of the year , at any price " , while suggesting that " In its range of sounds , there may be no more complete U2 album . " The selection proved controversial ; according to a 2017 biography on '' Rolling Stone '' founder Jann Wenner entitled '' Sticky Fingers '' , Wenner allegedly dictated the ranking due to his friendship with Bono , saying : " My dictate . By fiat , buddy . That 's that . " '' Mojo '' placed the record 33rd on its list of the " 50 Best Albums of 2014 " . '' The Telegraph '' ranked the record the 14th-best of the year , while '' Q '' placed it at number 44 on its list . In contrast , Randall Roberts of '' Los Angeles Times '' named it the worst release of 2014 . For the 57th Annual Grammy Awards , '' Songs of Innocence '' was nominated for Best Rock Album
57th Annual Grammy Awards
57th Annual Grammy Awards
Songs of Innocence (U2 album)