New York City’s Village Voice newspaper has released the results of their annual music-critics uberpoll, the Pazz & Jop Awards, for 2004. U2 placed very respectably at #8 in the albums and #10 in the singles (“Vertigo,” naturally), in a poll that normally rewards less mainstream efforts. (And may we take a moment to say that if you were looking for a master list of music that you ought to be checking out, the Pazz & Jop tally is a definite must.) The site includes essays and comments on the major works, as well as a complete listing of each critic’s ballot, so it’s certainly worth browsing. Here’s critic Jonathan Valania’s pull-quote about HTDAAB:

Some bands have greatness thrust upon them, and other bands thrust greatness upon themselves. U2 knew that if they had it both ways, they could be bigger than Jesus. You simply cannot deny that they come in the name of love.