U2 Sound Revitalized on ‘Carnaval de Luz’

U2’s 16th album, *Carnaval de Luz*, is their first collection of original music in nearly a decade, and presents the band as creatively refreshed in their sixties. Its songs return to themes of hope, empathy, faith and renewal, suggesting that it is not too late to change or begin again.

The review describes the record as bright, melodic pop, built around familiar U2 hallmarks: Bono’s earnest vocals, The Edge’s chiming guitar, Adam Clayton’s bass and Larry Mullen Jr.’s driving rhythms. Jacknife Lee’s relatively simple production gives the album a cohesive feel, while “The Greatest Show on Earth”, assisted by Brian Eno, is singled out as its strongest track. The album also connects the earlier *Days of Ash* and *Easter Lily* EPs into a broader arc, with a deluxe edition pairing them together.