We're now on delay number three for this album, which was most recently slated for an October release. It now looks like it will be next May, which pushes it back an entire year. And the worst part is, the reasons are more depressing than any song Robert Smith has ever written.
Reportedly, although the band has written music 33 songs, Robert is unable to come up with lyrics for all of the songs. In various interviews leading up to the original projected release date [May 2007], Robert repeatedly said he was searching for words, and that he wanted to do something different, and better, than he'd done in the past.
I'm going to gently interject something here: rather than stressing about finding lyrics for 33 songs, why not cut it down to a single album [as opposed to the rather ambitious, and often bloated, double album] and not put so much pressure on yourself? I guess that would make too much sense.
Anyway, while lyrical issues are, at this point, only speculation with regards to the delay, if it is a struggle with the writing process, the band's current tour probably isn't helping matters much. They'll be in the United States through mid-October, after wrapping up an Australian tour.
A spokesperson from Geffen simply said, "The album got pushed to 2008, more like an April/May release. Robert is still recording."
Here's what the band will be doing for the next couple of months:
I leave you with a question: does The Cure even really need a new album? While some new music would be nice -- if it's a struggle, why push so hard to make something that isn't really necessary? With or without a new album, the band can sell out arenas with ease, and maintain their success and fame on their body of work.
Have they reached the point where new albums are more or less vanity efforts, and really, all they need to do is fall back on their discography? I submit, "yes," but am leaving the floor open to you guys -- what do you think?
