Yep - really hoping for something cohesive
Mind you, HTDAAB is pretty cohesive sonically, save for the jarring Vertigo > Miracle Drug transition. Otherwise just a little uneven
So, fingers crossed for a cohesive and consistent SOE
Hmmmm... I always felt, and it seemed the consensus around here, that the strength of SOI was its consistency. If we look at the 2000's work, for me, it's as consistent or more so than ATYCLB, but that album still had some pretty weak songs, POE, Grace, Wild Honey... and for me, Stuck.
Walk On was always kind of bland for me as well.
HTDAAB was pretty consistent, but i found it consistently mediocre. Miracle Drug, SYCMIOYO, Man and Woman, Crumbs, Yahweh, are all pretty flat.
No Line, had great highs and disastrous lows, very uneven.
SOI, is the first album since POP that I don't skip anything all the time. Sometimes SFS or Reach, i will skip past, but other than that, i feel it is consistently good to great.
If SOE can keep consistency and hit a few more high marks than SOI, i will be very pleased.
Your comment earlier that there are only being a couple "raw" tracks is sorta dissapointing to hear. "Heartfelt" can often be my least favorite U2. They can get a bit too schmaltzy and cheesy in that territory (at least post 2000). Love the darker tones of SLABT, RBW, The Troubles, etc...