U2 has altered itself for 28 years.

Its first decade reeked of raw political rock by and for the working class. The next four years highlighted Bono’s religious convictions and channeled his global awareness. The band reached its artistic peak in the early ’90s, after a near breakup fueled the group to mock its prior extravagance. In 2000, the band returned with veteran sensibility.

So where does U2 go now?

Backward. Its 11th release plays like a collection of leftovers. Individual songs are solid, but the album lacks the focused ambition of the band’s masterful history.

“One Step Closer” would have fit on “Rattle And Hum” in 1988. “City Of Blinding Lights” should have been on 1987’s “The Joshua Tree.” “Love And Peace Or Else” sounds like “Pop” from 1997.

Even the Spanish lyrics in “Vertigo” cause déjà vu, since Bono sang in German on 1993’s “Zooropa.” Fittingly, he sounds most sincere during “All Because Of You” when bellowing “I like the sound of my own voice.”

As always, The Edge’s guitar, Larry Mullen’s deceivingly powerful drums and Adam Clayton’s bass lines are genius – but it’s genius we’ve heard before.

Maybe the four are as tired as they look on the album’s cover.