[QUOTE=YOVANAfromPeru;1244418

it was because John Kalodner who told them to rewrite it again, in JBJ words: "He's one of the smartest guys I've ever met. That's just the way it is. He's been a friend of mine... and Kalodner said, 'I don't like it'. And it was his persistence that made the song Great! after 6 months of toil"

[/QUOTE]

That's my biggest gripe right now - there is no one challenging Jon to push the envelope.
If Jon doesn't want to lose Shanks at all, maybe at least a cooperation with another producer would help. Lost Highway was half produced by another person (can't remember the name now) and it's the most organic sounding record we've had in the 2000's.
I'm sure Shanks is capable of a different sound as well, but no is challenging him to push for something out of his comfort zone, as he isn't pushing the band members to leave theirs either. It's going round in circles.