^ I think this is true - by hearing all of the early versions of the songs and clips from the studio - it was a huge let down when finally getting the album. I think what disappointed me the worst was what the potential the album could have been. It would kinda be a goof to actually hear the early versions of the songs.
It was also to me... Even though I still rate NLOTH higher than ATYCLB, for instance. In my opinion, they panicked, not only because of not having enough "big single/smash hit" material, but also because they had already planned in advance a tour with a huge central-circular stadiums stage and they realized that they had mostly atmospheric, sort of experimental material that could be conceptually cohesive, but didn't fit what a tour like that would demand. And that's when they messed it all and ended up offering a mix of that and 2000's reworked leftovers with awkward lyrics and cliché sonic elements. This is what I believe it may have happened.
But I also always had some kind of big feeling that what the band meant to release under the name
Songs Of Ascent was exactly the initial concept. Songs like "Soon" or "Winter" and the description of what was coming up fits in it.
And it's annoying to think that the band could've perfectly release some of that material, not necessarily as a full LP but at least as an EP (like
Zooropa was supposed to be, somewhere in late-2010 or early-2011 (specially after the tour's hiatus and Bono's recovery). Releasing some mid-tour material wouldn't "kill"
No Line On The Horizon because the biggest volume that the album could sell was already sold. Plus, they could've gone into the industry's trend, and re-release
No Line On The Horizon a year after or so, followed with some sort of deluxe version with an extra EP (
Songs Of Ascent), based in that material they shelved somewhere in 2009 because they panicked for not having hit material.
...And looking back in time, as we see today, it also wouldn't "hurt" a 2013/2014 LP release, because
Songs Of Ascent would already be far in the public's memory (specially because supposedly it wouldn't be a major release).
Another feeling I always had is that in the last quarter of 2008, the album was pretty much finished. So, I think that the album could've been much much bigger, sell much more and have more recognition today, if (1) it was released in late November 2008 with no more excuses and no more cooking, if (2) the singles choices and promotional marketing was different.
First of all, I would've stick with only 10 tracks: Soon; NLOTH1; Magnificent; MOS; Unknown Caller; Breathe; FEZ-BB; Winter; WAS; COL.
Then, a very different, varied and out-of-the-usual singles promotion. For example:
- late October '08, 1st single: "No Line On The Horizon" with a simple video based in the album version and with promo release for radios with NLOTH2. Then, release it as a single, NLOTH1 side one / NLOTH2 side two;
- late November '08 (coinciding with the album's release) 2nd single/double A-side single: "Magnificent" with "Get On Your Boots", the last one, not included on the album but having commercial release as a single (with the video itself), tied with the "first" real single when the album would come out.
- early '09, 3rd single: "Moment Of Surrender" edited for radio release and music video, with "Crazy Tonight" as b-side
- mid '09, 4th single: "Breathe" followed with a live performance as music video and the "For Your Love" early version of "Stand Up Comedy
- mid' 10 / early '11: Re-releasing
No Line On The Horizon with an extra EP called
Songs Of Ascent with 4 tracks from the Morocco sessions, and releasing one of them as a promotional single, both for the EP and for the NLOTH re-release (eventually "Every Breaking Wave").
- And f**king playing those songs on tour and not switching it for jukebox versions of the same old greatest hits.
I bet that NLOTH would've reach 7M with some subtle changes in the promotional strategy and tracklist.
This is XXI century's U2: scared of themselves, play-safe, always stepping back, always thinking (and rethinking) and cooking too much to the point that "the time is up" or that it's overcooked, and constantly shelving material away or for when it's for convenient.
