I haven't listened to the final versions of This I Love or Scraped...yet, but I plan to tonight!  I listened to Sorry because I was hoping the lackluster recording I had was why this song wasn't hitting me like some others.  After listening to it again I can say that the chorus, the solo and writng I like but it doesn't elevate Sorry to anywhere near "the strongest track" like some say.  Better, The Blues, T.W.A.T., Chinese Democracy and I.R.S. are still my favorites but Sorry does have strong  moments.  That's one cool thing about the album we all have very varied visions of what the best and weakest tracks are.  That's a big plus for the album.

The Blues (Street of Dreams) because many people I've played this one for like it.  Best reaction outside of Better and I.R.S.  We have two good rockers so throw in the Blues and follow it up with another rocker or two then TWAT.

Better is the right move, definitely bring momentum at a needed time to kick things off right.

Six years ago the best songs were pretty much finished.  In 2006 we may not have got all the leaks but the best songs were already recorded.  I actually liked the orignial version of Better and Catcher in the Rye over the new leaks.  Of course they needed cleaning up but they have lost something in the process.

Chinese Democracy benefited from the guitars but not THAT much, TWAT really isn't much different (I hate the added beginning!).  Street of Dreams WILL always be the Blues...totally agree.

I can't speak for everyone but my point about the 2001-2002 era in particular is that the buzz was HUGE.  People really wanted to hear the music, not just we die hards.  By putting off the chance then blowing it again in 2006 (the best songs leaked, another tour, promises broken) the album became more and more the punchline of a joke rather than the most anticipated album possibly of all time.  I just don't think we are going to see the success it would have had then.

14 years down to a week.  That IS hard to adjust to, but in a good way.