That suspense before Achtung Baby was unreal.
No internet leaks back then, constant 24 hour news updates, basically not much of anyting coming out of the band's camp.
Then the album hit, I was blown away by how different it was, I didn't expect it at all. Those were the good ol' days when a band could put out an album that actually surprised people.
Zooropa was sort of the same, it blindsided me, I was just driving down the road and I heard the guy on teh radio say "U2 has a new album coming out next month" Damn, that was the greatest news ever, I thought for sure it would be another 3 years.
POP was the longest wait I have ever endured, even the wait for this album pales for me personally. My most intense period of U2-love was from about 93-95, so I was dying to hear that album and the only thing I had heard about it was a quote from Adam saying it was going to be a 'rock and roll' album. Needless to say I was shocked to hear Discotheque, I was like "Is this fuckign U2?" That one came from left field too.
I was pleasantly surprised by all 3 of those albums, although POP seemed to disappoint me after the 'newness' wore off, I have grown to love that album, even with it's flaws.
ATYCLB was a great first listen, and then for several months, then I saw them live in April '01 and after that I listened to it less and less. I have listened to it a few times in the last few weeks. I think it's a better album for people who are either greiving or joyful, but if you aren't in those 2 phases, then it's harder to "get". JMO. It is a very good album and I don't think I like it as much now as I did 3 years ago, but it is a good one nonetheless.
For this album, my expectations are that it will be just like the last 2, 4 or 5 really good songs, 3 or 4 good to decent songs and 2 or 3 that I could personally do without. But you know what? u2 have already given my ears a journey through the years that has made such an impact on my life that even if this album sucks gigantic balls, it wouldn't change anything. I'd still go see them on tour and I'll still listen to the old albums.
I really think the album will be a good strong album, much like ATYCLB, I don't think it will sound exactly like ATYCLB< but will sound similar in some songs, it's inevitable. But I am not expecting some rock album from a band in their 40's who have arguably only made rock tunes, rather than rock albums even when they were in their 20's.
I think the best thing to do is let the music surprise you rather than trying to make yourself surprised using expectations.
Just expect that U2 will deliver an album in November, and if you like it, well then that's great and if you don't then maybe you expected too much. Let the music surprise you as much as you can and it will be even harder for it to let you down.
I hate the song Babyface, because I think it's about the worst U2 song ever, but I appreciate it, because it surprised me. Now when I hear it, I didn't grow to love it or anything, but what it does is remind me of where U2 was, where I was, in the summer of 1993, and for that, the song is usefull to me, even if I don't like it.
Just listen with an ear turned towards letting the music speak to you rather than trying to make the music something it's not. It's sort of how I deal with ATYCLB. Yeah, I was ultimately disappointed, but the album means a lot of things in a lot of ways, to me, you and everyone else that aren't measured by chord changes, lyrics and melody. It's art, appreciate it for what it's worth.
. I just have this feeling that I?ll be disappointed again and my body have registered that. I?m not really on a roll though I wish I were 
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