Re: Re: again...
mikal said:
i first heard the news on Wednesday afternoon, and it was definitely out before then, because i recall feeling dissapointed because i came upon the story kind of late.
and once again, the supposed time that the CD was "stolen" doesn't really matter to me, considering i believe that there never was a CD to be stolen. the same goes for the "possibility of the material being leaked online," the band will leak the material when they so please.
even a band as big as U2 can benefit from a PR stunt, and frankly, they could have really used one before "Pop" was released, considering the shotty album sales. keep in mind that it's been almost 4 years since their last album came out and about 2 1/2 years since they've been in the public spotlight. i wouldn't blame them for wanting to ensure that they get in that spotlight again prior to the album's release to increase their chances of having a #1 album.
the more you wait, the more you salivate, and now it's not only the diehards who have to wait 4 more months for the album.
You're right, it doesn't really matter when it happened - but I certainly didn't hear anything till Thursday when I logged on the forum.
The band will leak? Really? So they will have LESS time to put the album out and practice for the tour?
The past suggest otherwise: AB outtakes definitely were not leaked, nor were ATYCLB songs (riversteed found them), and most likely, nor was Discotheque from POP. We all know they're perfectionist, therefore they will not release anything till they're fully satisfied with it - however I do believe they've gotten careful and will take more time to record after POP.
All the PR stunts and all the label's promotion machinery won't help if the people don't like the music (because the mainstream music changes all the time: where are boybands now? Spice girls? Britney/Christina? - and new acts come along and even big acts who can't produce the good stuff will fall - Jackson's Invincible album was the biggest flop in the last few years) I don't think POP would really gain much.
Band will be much in the spotlight as soon as they announce the album date release and name, and when the first single will come out. Fans who follow up on the band already know that the album will come in the fall anyway.
There are 4 possibilities and 2 of them can be discarded IMO.
- the CD got lost at that photoshoot (could be, but since the cops are involved, it looks like theft is a serious possibility. also it would probably turn up by now)
- CD is stolen (much of the known facts point to this, but I won't repeat them here)
- whole thing is made up (doesn't fit in with what we heard, and it's not in their habit to build such elaborate fairy tales. making false claims about theft to police is not a good idea, either)
- they put the CD somewhere deliberately to be taken (after years of work? don't think so, not to mention it may disrupt their album/tour schedule. also, I imagine not a lot of people - even in U2 organisation - knew the exact location and time of the photoshoot. since when can U2 fans just walz into studios during such secret events? even harder to believe some average joe just stumbled upon the CD, not knowing whose music it is)
