U2's new pop video isn't a pop video

There was an interesting post on the Creative Review blog about a pop video U2 have made which they were insisting wasn't a pop video:

Deluxe editions of U2’s new album, No Line On The Horizon are accompanied by Linear, a specially commissioned film by Anton Corbijn. “It is not an extended music video or a U2 documentary, it’s a new way to listen to a record - a new way to use film to connect to music,” claims Corbijn.

The idea is that, as many people will be listening to the album on a computer or MP3 player with video screen, they can choose to listen and watch the film at the same time.

So it's a pop video you have to synch yourself.

But, hang on, no... it's not a pop video. No, no, because you don't have to look at it:

The idea of the companion film was apparently developed during the making of the album. “The thinking is that as a lot of people buy music from the internet and are likely to hear this on a computer or mp3 player, their listening pleasure could be heightened by visuals. It is not essential to the record - you can either watch it or ignore it,” says Corbijn.

Whereas, of course, it's imposssible to listen to Steps 5,6,7,8 without having the visuals in front of you. You simply can't do it.

And, it turns out, it's a blog you'll have to imagine, as it's fallen off the Creative Review blog. Wonder why.