The Thing About Dreams - Airborne Toxic Event

I can't even take CD seriously so... that creates a problem

Dude was a legend. Like harmon420 said , Graham was one of the best heels of all time. Influential for so many guys who came after him

The fans giving them shit for this are in the minority.  What this album is, is giving fans studio versions of the songs the way Bono has been performing them during his solo shows promoting his "Songs of Surrender"  book.  The song selection isn't strange as the songs are those Bono speaks of in his book and what they meant to him.

Also U2 has stated they are working on new material for a new album and have been for a while now. It's not far off. They aren't promoting this as their new album. Simply the reimagined album. They know fans want new music but they also know fans have enjoyed these shows by Bono with the songs being performed in a new arrangement.

Also the songs will all be likely acoustic and toned down and sung in a  different key which in all likelihood makes it easier for Bono to sing as he ages. So now if they decide to toss in one of these reimagined songs on their next tour and perform it this way, fans won't be shocked and will likely be happy to have heard them this way as it will be familiar. It allows them to be more versatile in their live shows in a way.

Also think of it this way. Sometimes people just wanna chill at home with some soft music in the background and they don't feel like having Achtung Baby or Boy playing at their full tempo. This album will fit nicely in that regard and it will also be a much more pleasing album to play in coffee shops or lounges.  Maybe some people think that's lame but let's face it they're getting older as is their fanbase and sometimes hearing slower acoustic versions of songs you love is cool. U2 has never done this before and the fact they are doing it big with 40 songs that span their career is actually cool.  Anyone can sit here and say there are too many songs missing but those songs will be different for each individual. There's 40 songs here.  That's 3 or 4 albums worth.  So they don't have Mysterious Ways or Bullet the Blue Sky. They do have Wild Horses, 11 O'clock Tick Tock, and Two Hearts Beat as One though.  You can't have every song in the discography.  So you get a few more deep cuts rather than singles which have been featured prominently their entire career. That's cool.

At the end of the day some bands *cough cough.. GnR*  haven't done a damn thing other than tour since 2008 and in the minds of some since 1993. U2 has released music consistently the last 22 years, albeit slowing down, but that's the way things go as bands age. I will admit my initial reaction to this was also that is' lazy but the more I think about it, at this stage of their careers this is actually a cool move by U2.