Yes, I agree. I've listened to a discussion about GNR the other day, and they said they lost everything minus their fans. But a new proper GNR album would be their revival. They are one of the best and in 30 of nothing, they haven't lost their credit. CD, with 14 years of chaos around it, reached nr3 when it was released. And, although I like the album (possibly my favourite for very minute reasons), it is not a true GNR album.
When I listened to absurd I thought the name was fitting. Then I saw it live and loved it. Maybe it was the way the produced it, I don't know.