Review: U2 reworks past in thrilling 'Songs of Surrender'

Imagine walking into your living room and the sofa has moved plus the bookcase is leaning on a different wall. That's what listening to U2's new album is like. “Songs of Surrender” is a “reimagining” of 40 songs from the Irish quartet’s deep catalogue, cleverly presented from “One” to “40.” Think of it as a home makeover. There are triumphs and a few fumbles but a growing realization that the architecture of these songs is strong indeed. The new “Vertigo” has slight Middle Eastern instrumentations and an acoustic guitar-driven “Sunday Bloody Sunday” sounds more like a coffee-house prayer than a strident demand, but they’re still gorgeous.