I've been reading messages on this site for years, but never got in on the posting until recently (and still don't post a lot yet). I've always enjoyed reading the posts here because it was nice to hear that I wasn't the only fan out there disappointed by an album/song/concert/whatever...it was getting annoying to read other boards where love-sick fans yammered on, at length, about what wonderful records the last few have been, while I was sitting there going "um, I think they're pathetic, uninspired and shitty...embarassing, frankly...but ok".
That said, I have to agree that some of the posts here do get a little ridiculous. Speculating about how the album is going to be before hearing it (based on track titles and a couple songs heard) is fine, just for fun...but the people who have already decided that the album is going to be shit are just plain silly. Let's wait til November and give it a chance. I'll admit I'm not optimistic after nearly a decade of Crush (a few good songs, but overall bad album), Bounce (horrible, start to finish), TLFR (makes me want to kill myself), HAND (bad and lame, minus a few good songs). I admit, I actually do, for the most part, like Lost Highway, though I know many others here don't...(I understand why you don't, but after Crush, Crush part 2 (Bounce) and Crush part 3 (HAND) I was thrilled to get something different - and I did think that a few of the songs showed some good lyric strength and good songwriting for a change - WLOL, for example)

Anyway - sorry that was long...just saying, I think what makes this board great is that "bashing" is allowed. The boards that do nothing but dole out love and never question the band when the release shitty music are just annoying. I think the real/best fans are the ones who crave quality and want the band to live up to their potential.