Eleanor Mueller

Apple has created a way for iTunes users to easily remove U2's newest album from their accounts, less than a week after placing it there for free.

The album, titled "Songs of Innocence," was automatically downloaded to 500 million iCloud accounts in 119 countries across the world six days ago. Scheduled to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 6 and iWatch, the giveaway – marking the beginning of a marketing collaboration between the band and Apple – backfired in the face of user complaints about having the 11 songs synced to their devices without their permission.

In response, Apple set up iTunes.com/soi-remove, which allows customers to delete the album in just one click. Those who choose to do so will have until October 13 to download it again without being charged.

Almost from the start, Apple iTunes users wanted to know how to get rid, or at least hide, the album. A question-and-answer thread at Apple has 566 views.

Although Rolling Stone hailed the album as "a triumph of dynamic, focused renaissance," other reviews were not as radiant. Newsweek went as far as to label it "the sound of a once-great band struggling mightily not to be left behind" – a sentiment seemingly shared with many Apple customers.

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