Although I bought The Next Day on the day it was released, circumstanses has kept me from listening to it much yet. I'm on my second listening-to-nothing-else session today, and although I haven't yet 'internalized' the album (to use a fancy word), I do suspect this will soon become one of my favorites as well.
I actually think the album is a bit un-focused and eclectic, with widely different styles and sounds throughout. I would compare it to Reality in the variety of tunes and atmosphere, but the songs are much stronger than Reality's. Yes, I think I'm going to like this one quite a bit, sir!