Originally posted by aussiemofo:[..]
At least it appears they're not doing a 'Pop' on us and releasing details (including tour dates) before the album's finished.
Well, look at how some of the world's biggest-selling albums took to record.
Thriller: April - November 1982
Black Ice: April - May 1980
The Dark Side of the Moon: June 1972 – January 1973
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: 6 December 1966 – 21 April
The Joshua Tree: July - November 1986
This delay may be for improving some songs. Originally, Full Metal Jacket and Tough were all going to be on HTDAAB. They didn't - how do we know they're not similar songs but with minor changes? Same as with ATYCLB - look at the number of songs they recorded. I can think of about 50 - 60, but they said they recorded over 100.
With Thriller, for example, the small delay was for the songs to be improved and/or recorded. Songs like Hot Street, Nightline, Got The Hots, For All Time were never gonna be hits. And neither was Xanax and Wine on HTDAAB or Native Son, even. Same with the Pepper's demos and JT original songs. Wave of Sorrow could have never been a true hit as Streets has been, and neither would Rise Up.
It does make you wonder why everythin is so incredible hush hush now
Because when people heard HTDAAB in previews, they said "And, what's new?" They don't want this to happen with the new album.