The album caused a huge amount of controversy over the way it was distributed, but has been called U2’s most “complete” album by Rolling Stone and the biggest album of 2014 “in terms of surprise, generosity and controversy”:

“Songs of Innocence is also the rebirth of the year. Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. put their lives on the line: giving away 11 songs of guitar rapture and frank, emotional tales of how they became a band out of the rough streets and spiritual ferment of Seventies Dublin. This is personal history with details... In its range of sounds, there may be no more complete U2 album”.

Here are the Top 10 Albums of 2014 as voted for by Rolling Stone

1. U2 - Songs of Innocence
2. Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
3. The Black Keys - Turn Blue
4. St Vincent - St Vincent
5. Miranda Lambert - Platinum
6. Charli XCX - SUCKER
7. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
8. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
9. Mac DeMarco - Salad Days
10. Taylor Swift – 1989