Screwtape2
Blue Crack Addict
Also, one reason that the shock may have been lessened was due to the change in producers. I don't think a Brian Eno-produced album being atmospheric and experimental is all that surprising.
That's a good point. I wonder though how many U2 fans even knew who Brian Eno was let alone the style of his work. U2 fans might have known David Bowie's Berlin work though.