Two recent articles put album sales for NLOTH at 5.5M...can't remember where I read it, but that was the figure sited by two separate magazines/papers, who also noted that by "U2 Standards", the sales figure for the album was a disappointment.
I really didn't like Bono's statement about the album being "too artsy". Hated it back in 1997 when he started making excuses for Pop not being finished...along with another comment during a concert in 2001 apologizing for them (U2) going all "artsy fartsy" on their fans in the 1990's.
To me, I liked both albums and I really liked Pop songs in concert...especially Mofo, Please, and Gone. NLOTH is one of my favorite U2 albums, period. It's clear that it really matters to Bono, and perhaps the entire band, that they remain "popular", and they measure that by big sales and big hits. Being a chart-watcher, I want U2 to do well on the airplay and sales charts, but I don't like the apologizing from the band when sales don't blow away the industry. 99.9% of the bands in this world would give anything to be even half as successful as U2, and they are by far and away the most successful live act on the planet (when you consider demand/sales AND the performance they deliver IMHO).
Just wish they would not make excuses when album sales are not up to "their" standards. Bono's usually bragging with each album release that "this is our best ever" or "we are onto something really big with this record", and if they feel that way before the album comes out, then stand by it regardless of sales (which aren't "bad, anyway).
End of rant.