U2 album a hit, Bono campaigning a miss: critics

He does, however, say No Line is "at times magnificent".

In a mixed review, Pete Paphides of the Times goes so far as to say: "Next time...Bono might want to use his powers of diplomacy to the benefit of his band."

The singer is aware of the criticism and reports that his own bandmates can find his tireless campaigning irksome.

In "Stand Up Comedy" he appears to poke fun at himself with the lyrics: "Stand up to rock stars/Napoleon is in high heels/Josephine, be careful of small men with big ideas."

"It's annoying," he said in a recent radio interview, when asked about his public support for former U.S. President George W. Bush after he pledged money to fight AIDS.

"It's not becoming is it? I can take the bottles and the rocks and the embarrassment to my bandmates here, but I'm staying that most annoying of things, a single-issue protagonist."