According to the Irish Times, U2 will have a new album out early in the new year, the band’s manager Paul McGuinness has said. McGuinness said the band has already debuted several of the songs live, including “Mercy,” “Every Breaking Wave,” and “Boys Fall from the Sky.” (You can catch a glimpse of “Every Breaking Wave” below.) The album has been provisionally titled Songs of Ascent.

“I would expect a new U2 album sooner than anybody thinks. I would guess early 2011 before the next leg of the American tour which starts in May,” he said. U2 had to reschedule the North American leg of their tour due to Bono’s emergency back surgery a few months back and their 2011 North American tour kicks off May 21 in Denver, Colorado.