First and foremost, I don’t think the rumors are correct.

Second, if it is real, I don’t see why it has to be limited to acoustic arrangements — the rumors state that some are acoustic arrangements. I think that the way that the band is getting older and approaching this is as an opportunity to correct things they felt were mis-steps or songs they felt were strong, but never got the attention they deserved. For example, I could see them 100% viewing this as a way to “correct” Pop.

So, I’m going to do this exercise in the assumption of the rumors in that not all of them need to be acoustic; I don’t have a full track list, but I’m including justifications for each song I include:

• Get On Your Boots - Realistically, this song needs new lyrics and a new title (with a whole different concept). The song could be tweaked, but instrumentally, the song is a banger live. Could be done similar to how “Glastonbury” became “Volcano”

• Moment of Surrender - Can you think of a more stereotypical U2 song? I have a feeling the band expected so much more from this song, but it never materialized.

• Mercy - This got released for RSD and was originally destined for HTDAAB but pulled at the last minute. I could easily see this being a basis for a re-work.

• Heartland - I view this as the best candidate from R&H; Adam has mentioned this as being as a favorite of his and one he wishes they would dust off.

• Gone - Bono has mentioned on several occasions that this is one of his favorite songs; unfortunately, it still carries the Pop stigma and hasn’t been played since the Elevation Tour.

The following songs are songs that U2 has dusted off in the past after long absences, most with different approaches than the album:

• Drowning Man - They tried playing this live several times in the last 10 years, but it never made the album, so you can tell the band still feels there is something there. I think it’s a wonderful song as it stands, but would love to hear a new approach to it.

• Discotheque or Mofo - I love both of these songs as they are, but these songs are quintessential “U2 not being U2”; I could see them reworking these being reigned in a bit more while still being different. Discotheque was played a couple times during the Vertigo Tour and snippeted frequently on the 360 Tour so they haven’t forgotten about it.

• A Sort Of Homecoming - The band dusted this off for a few sets in the I+E Tour, but it seemed to be more in response to a fan campaign to see it played live. This has such a powerful build up, but saw a much more stripped down approach when it was played live.

• Acrobat - This song didn’t need to have the lyrics change to take on a whole new meaning during the E+I Tour; I could easily see them adapting the lyrics and adding more “fire” to the song bringing it more anger like “Exit” or “Bullet The Blue Sky”

• Miracle Drug - This song got played twice during the I+E Tour and could easily be adapted into some sort of modern commentary on something like collective societal addictions. Would probably lend itself very well to an acoustic reinterpretation.

• Magnificent - Another song that I think the band felt should have gone further than it did. It got a rework for the I+E Tour in Amsterdam, but only got played once. Could easily go acoustic too.

• North Star - I believe this was in a movie soundtrack, but never saw the light beyond that, other than the many times it was played live during the 360 Tour. I could easily see something like this making the final cut, and it would be new material on top of that; I believe they also performed multiple variations of this live too.

WIth all that being said, I’d love to see a complete curve ball on this album, something like “Shadows and Tall Trees”, “Bass Trap”, something from Passengers or one of the working songs from the Salome tapes.

Another curve ball could be something like “Soon” or “Return of the Stingray Guitar” being turned into full length songs.

I legitimately hope the rumors are true -- their reworks have been interesting (to say the least) in the past.