U2's New Single Lets Us In the Sound

WARNING: This post is written by an unapologetic U2 fanboy. Extreme enthusiasm ahead.

UPDATE: Here’s Ann Powers in the LA Times considering the new song.

I’ve just listened to “Get On Your Boots” about five times through after buying it from iTunes.

It showed up at the iTunes Store for a very short time tonight, and now the Search that I used to find it isn’t working anymore. (I’m sure it’ll be back up there soon.)

Anyway… in my humble opinion, the song is a lightning bolt of inspired pop. The band sounds like they’ve plugged into some kind of Sgt. Pepper power source. This song is going to send the fans berzerk during the live shows with its energy, its addictive guitar hook, and it’s exhilarating gear-shifts. What does it all mean? It sounds like Bono wants to laugh, wants to capture a few moments of joy, wants to put behind the politics and the commentary in favor of EL-E-VA-TION. In fact, this song rivals *that* one for the title of “Funnest U2 Song Ever.” (I’m giving myself permission to say “Funnest” because, well, Apple’s doing it on their new iPod commercial.)

“Laughter is eternal if joy is real.”

“Let me in the sound, let me in the sound, I’m goin’ down, I don’t wanna drown, meet me in the sound!”

I am not disappointed. They’ve delivered.

How old are these guys again? No young band can make me feel as young as these geezers do.

If the rest of the album is as inventive and exciting as this song sounds… well, wow.

Find it. Load it up. Turn it on. And, as the Purple One once said, “Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to get through this thing called life. Go crazy.”