QUOTE(rridgely @ Oct 3 2007, 08:17 PM)

I liked these songs a lot.
I bought it earlier today and haven't stopped listening.
Surprisingly those dunces over at rolling stone gave it a 5... (No one should pay much attention to them though. They give some of the most biased reviews out of any mainstream reviewer. )
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/.../16682049/magicI'm not sure its perfect but it definitely is good.
The only thing that kinda bothers me is the "political statement" in a few of the songs. I dont really agree with his position on things but if you take those songs out of todays context, they are still good songs.

Well, I might like them myself (although I much prefer him as a ballard singer), if I could hear them properly. But the 30 second blast isn't even good quality, it's not even in stereo.
For my taste, "The Rising" is a hard act to follow, and of course, as a big fan, I thought it might be worth just trying to wind you up a titchy weeny bit.