very true, rjhbonovox, I 'can' wait... I think I was just spoiled the last couple of days. Literally, my days have been centered around new U2 lol... analyzing, trying to come up with my own song orders, comparing... but mostly, really starting to realize this can be the 'third' great u2 album. That said, not necessarily being better than Joshua Tree or AB, but at least being the third best album thus far, and given U2's age and how long they've been around, that is quite an accomplishment. Many, many, many bands that have had classic behind them, usually fade off into the sunset... unable to re-capture their greatness, but not this time, HTDAAB is wonderful. I was fearful after 'ATYCLB', because that album sounded like an uncreative vanishing commencemnt... but what U2 essentially did now was made the album that ATYCLB was 'supposed' to be - the third masterpiece! Just my opinion, but I simply am getting the the shivery feeling that was absent when I first heard ATYCLB... I forced myself into believing it was great back then... but as time went on, and I gradually found myself playing the album less and less, I realized that ultimately I was disappointed. Even rolling stone magazine fooled themselves at the beginning of ATYCLB release, because I think no one wanted to comprehend that U2 had released an album with which they took a step back a couple decades, before they knew how to make classics.
Thank you U2 for this album, they delivered what I was hoping for - something comparable to AB and Joshua Tree, something that I never had to 'force' myself into believing was classic or great. HTDAAB hit my guts immediately, and its impact is still spreading throughout my soul, and instead of diminishing with time, it'll grow - that's the sign of a great record.
- Nicholas
zoou2@hotmail.com