Affected by politics and mortality, U2 set up their own rock ‘n’ roll sanctuary city on Songs of Experience. Kendrick Lamar’s fiery rhymes bridge the motivational “Get Out of Your Own Way” and the post-Charlottesville stomper “American Soul”. “Red Flag Day” invokes refugees’ plight to the sound of the band's early days—Edge’s slashing riffs, Adam Clayton’s counter bass, Larry Mullen Jr.’s steady kit fitness and Bono’s big-sky vocals. “Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way” ticks the stadium-anthem box, while their expertise at conveying gentle beauty continues on “Landlady”, “13 (There Is a Light)” and “Summer of Love”. It's U2 doing what they do best: inspiring and elevating, right when the world needs it most.