For what its worth I don't think AOTL's lyrics are crap, I think its the weak point of the album. I loved the production and I loved the guitar work. It wasn't classic 90's Richie but it pissed all over WAN big time.

There's no way for me to say you're wrong because obviously this is subjective but I think you really want things to be about Richie more than they are. The idea that Jon analyzed the lyrics to Richie's album being more likely then them both writing about universal things. I think this is why Touch of Grey didn't make the album, because it sounded too much like what the band has done in teh past.