I was definitely disappointed in HITNF, but at least I could see what they were going for. The same cannot be said for their previous album.
If you are referring to Digital Noise Alliance, then I totally agree with you. I like some of the tunes for sure. But what stood out to me was that it was a very much "let's throw everything at the wall and see what sticks." Whereas, The Verdict and Condition Human seemed very much albums where they each felt like everything belonged on those collections.
I could be way off, as I really haven't inVESTed time into modern QR lately. Been working on the historical stuff and books on them. But the sentiment that clearly hit me listening to DNA a couple of times was "they aren't sure what they want this to be." Maybe that was on purpose. I have no idea.
Going back to HITNF, it's certainly one of the more polarizing albums in QR's catalog. But QR back then didn't care about genre, particularly subgenres. They were very clear about that. They were a rock band that was heavier. Everything was on the table.
Remember that phrase Tate used during the lawsuits to describe QR's manta? "No limits." Doing research for the stuff I'm working on, he was actually right. That phrase is said by him (and Chris) many times in interviews throughout their careers. And in retrospect, HITNF is just one example of that.
I didn't realize it at the time, but the song "Two Miles High" from the Promised Land video game was probably a precursor of the change in sound. That song was the bridge between Promised Land and HITNF. Anyway, I can now look back and appreciate HITNF, but I do agree that there are highs and lows. In my opinion, the album would've benefited from a re-ordering of the songs and cutting or replacing a couple of them. Like I said earlier, I think the blistering "Hit the Black" would've been a killer opener and first single instead of having it buried later in the album, while the mid-tempo "Sign of the Times" and "Cuckoo's Nest" would've been better positioned elsewhere in the record. Some small changes and cuts like that could've made a bit of a difference in how the record was received.
Great observation on "Two Mile High." I agree completely. I think it is a nice bridge to where they were, and where they were going. I wouldn't say though that they wanted to go "lighter," but I certainly think they wanted a simpler approach to the music. Not so overly-processed.
Also agree on small changes to the running order and tracks. But seriously, the biggest issue regarding the reception of HITNF was the label going under. Those first two singles were well received and big on the radio...until EMI shuttered and then the radio station had no one from them pushing the tracks. It's all a business. Had the label not gone under, the U.S. tour likely would have sold as well as PL Tour did, and QR would have gone to Europe as well. HITNF would have been Gold, and songs like "spOOL" and likely "Reach" would have been singles too. Maybe even "Some People Fly." The record would have had legs.
HITNF was a sound for the times, just like Empire was. The difference was, Empire had every single dollar from the record company thrown at it - hard. And it worked. There was no money (or label) to throw at HITNF after the first month of release.
Regarding people who could have been brought in, Ty Tabor was asked in 2008. He declined, respectfully, as he and King's X had just released an album. Be he was really honored to be asked. I personally think that would have been cool. I'll have more on that as time goes on. Can't quite talk about what I'm doing next. Not yet.