in at number 9 in Ireland. Would have been straight in at number 1 , 10 years ago or even 5.
Very true, however, we need to be aware of what has been released over the past 10 years:
1-2002:Best of 90-00 is released, so we all have ANOTHER copy/version of Even Better than the Real Thing, One, Mysterious Ways & Until the End of the World (4 of the biggest reasons to listen to Achtung)
2-2004:U2's entire catalog was put on iTunes, so now we all have digital versions of Achtung Baby. Keep in mind, we are given EVERY version, so I now have the EBTTRT single, album and Best of 90-00 version (in addition to point #1).
3-2006:U218 is released, so we all have ANOTHER copy/version of Mysterious Ways & One
4-From what I understand, the re-release is NOT a remaster although I have heard that the sound has been increased/improved on the album.
5-The age of iTunes! Casual/new/hardcore U2 fans can now cherry pick the songs they want to buy without having to purchase the album. I am guilty of this as I purchased the EBTTRT Fish out of Water mix & Blow your House Down instead of the entire deluxe album (I dont need another copy of Achtung Baby).
So, by buying the re-release you are essentially getting your 3rd/4th/5th copy of One, EBTTRT, UTTEOTW,MW,FLY, etc... and this version is for the most part identical.
So all of the above, essentially eliminate the need for the "casual" of even "less than casual" fan to want/need to go out and buy the album (single album). They want to hear One, MW & EBTTRT, all of which have been released multiple times. You could argue that WGRYWH & the Fly are "desired" by casual fans but if that is the case, they will buy the singles and not the album.
The double album, super set & Uber set are really for the hardcore U2 fans, like most of us but we do not have the numbers to drive the charts (casual U2 fans aren't pumped to hear the re-worked "blow your house down"). It's up to the casual/new fans to get this album to #1 and there really isn't a need for them to go out and get this re-release.
With that said, I don't think the goal of this re-release was to be #1 all over the world but more so as a "birthday celebration" of sorts.
Now if someone can honestly tell me the versions on the re-release sound crisper or "better than the real thing"(
sorry I had to) then I would consider buying more songs or even the entire album off of iTunes.