Maybe the naysayers of NLOTH have some truth...

[razredge]

Maybe it's something every artist of their age goes through. Nick Cave has been going through a "dirty old man" phase recently too, especially with the Grinderman project (and the 1970 porn star moustache!)

That's exactly what I thought when I heard Bono singing about 'sexy boots', sounds like someone's lecherous uncle. They should just have replaced all the 'sexy boots' lines with 'get on your boots', made it easier to listen to. The chorus is still horrendously bad for a U2 lead single though, they should have rethought that too.

Well, "second tier" is relative here. Sure, it's not as great as JT or Achtung, but most bands never make a masterpiece like either of those once in their careers, and would kill to have "second-tier" U2 albums like Zooropa, Pop, HTYCLB, HTDAAB, and NLOTH as their main achievements.

All in all, I say, well done lads. I think it's great that they're still making music that excites me and interests me this long into their career, and I couldn't give a shit what the mainstream critics or masses think. If the album sold just one copy - to me - I'd be happy with it.

Too much talk of "relevance" (without spelling out exactly what that's supposed to mean or providing any context), sales, and chart positions around here, and not enough focus on the music.

I think it's a good album, but some of the songs are not executed properly or fully realise their potential. Eg. NLOTH, MoS, UC (the BC version had better singing/solo), Being Born, SUC.

 

[Canadiens1131]

Check out this article about general reception so far of NLOTH. I wonder if we're seeing Pop all over again. Initial rave reviews, corny and unreceived first single, then album fades to black.

Why Is U2 Projecting So Low? | U2 news article from @U2

Note the article's point on how the masses have concluded GOYB blows. That's what some of us got destroyed on here for saying, yet the statistics show our initial disappointment with the song has been echoed by the general music audience.

Does anyone think that this may be the beginning of the end of them? Just a thought. Personally, I love Magnificent and Breathe, but the rest of the album just doesn't do it for me.

The more interesting thing I gleamed from that article is that the Bittorrent download stats for the leaked album being reported right alongside sales data. Shows you how big a factor it is these days.

 

[Chief43]

I'm glad its not another Joshua Tree.

Critics are mostly cynical. Being a journo myself I say this with both love and contempt that I don't know who's side I'm on.

However most reviews perceive Bono as arrogant, egotistical and simply a wanker which can put some people off but bring in others as these are all characteristics of a charismatic spokesman for the band.

Anyway, the album is relatively strong commercially and has a good chance of being the highest selling rock album of the year. HTDAAB did not achieve this.

I still love you HTDAAB, even if its just you and me