Am I the only one here who is struggling with keeping his expectations low for this album? I'm really trying not to expect a good/great album but it's very hard because deep down inside I really want a kickass album and I really want to see these guys make a great comeback album after all that's happened these past years.

The thing is that I'm kinda affraid that we'll get another mehh album that will have 2-3 ok sounding tracks that i'll listen to from time to time.

Give it a few years.

You're where I was around The Circle era. I was well aware of declining quality of their output, but I was still optimistic. Now I am fully confident that the new album will be exactly how you described it - "another mehh album that will have 2-3 ok sounding tracks".

I have little expectations, but that's more due to the lack of Richie's writing than anything else.

The albums since 2000 haven't exactly had a steady quality curve:
Crush - good for what it was
Bounce - meh for what it was, but I liked it
HAND - very good album that did exactly what it set out to do
Lost Highway - Safe for Any Other Day, I don't like this one at all
The Circle - it's rather somber, but I like it quite a bit
What About Now? - its songs are better than the album as a whole, it just oozes rush-job, which brings it down.
Burning Bridges - the guitar work does not fit at all (especially the solos), and it seems unfinished. Some genuinely inspired moments, though.

For all those who don't have 100% sure that it will be great album
;)

What do you think how many songs will be on tracklist for normal edition??
Many albums which were relased this year have only 10 or 11 songs on it.
Jon said that he fight with company to put 12 songs on WAN (they prefered 11).
BBridges has 10 songs.

I hope THINFSale will have 12 songs + bonus tracks.

What is the difference for Island to relase album with less songs than normal 12 CD? Why they wanted 11 songs on WAN?

I actually have high expectations for this release but my window is kept very tight. I don't expect it to sound like anything from 1983 to 1999. I don't expect any real passion or vocal from Jon... Just a glorified post 2K release... I think it's gonna rock and I expect a lot of IML Clones with cliche post 2K type lyrics... Maybe a combo of Bounce and HAND/The Circle... Songs like This Is Love, This Is Life and The More Things Change... That's what I'm expecting with less digital production.

Jon will never go back to the 80's or 90's Jon in terms of anything. Music, Style, Etc... The Jon we have today is the Jon we have today. Jon could only maximize who he is but he won't and more so can't, change that. He will not use studio tricks to work miracles, just perfect what he's got left...

Better than The Circle isn't setting the bar very high.

I'm actually quite looking forward to the new release. I think Burning Bridges is the best collection of songs they've released since Lost Highway and Lost Highway was the best studio album released since These Days (not counting Destination Anywhere). If I get an album of songs of the quality of Fingerprints, Who Would You Die For, Blind Love, etc.... it will be one hell of an album. I think they have nowhere to go but upward and onward. Jon said out of pain comes great songs and he's so right about that. I think we'll all be pleasantly surprised. I predict This House will leave The Circle and What About Now in the dust.

The producer of the album says 'I'm excited' and everyone goes crazy. As Jon said in an interview, they will always say that their new album is always the best.

Put your feet on the floor, the fall will be less painful.

I am now convinced that u are not a really fan, all u are is a pure Debbie downer, u are already convinced that this album won't do well because Jon and the band won't kiss your butt and the make the kind of album only YOU think it should be, not what they want to make, when the album comes out and u are not happy with it, u know what, TOUGH! The album is going to be what it is going to be, whether u like it or not, so just relax and let everyone else here at least look forward to it :rolleyes:

We all know Rolo isn't going to like the album when it comes out. It could be the best thing since New Jersey and he'd say it was awful. His mission is to put down everything Jon and anyone associated with Jon does.

Exactly my thoughts! I think he is just a troll that wants to cause trouble just frustrate fans that are truly excited about the new album and what kind of sound it will be, but also lyrically. Jon had said this is his most personal album he has written, and I for one am looking forward to what he will be saying. :grin: