To repeat again (And I suspect we'll be having this discussion many times to come);
1) The general framework time-wise we have been told is September - December this year. That's pretty consistent with a release some time in December - March 2013 - 2014.
2) I still think the "Perfectionist U2 spend too long on their songs' meme has managed to gain a lot of currency with stunningly little evidence to back it up.
1) A Sep-Dec framework is not consistent with up to March.
2) Here's some evidence:
- April 24, 2012: Danger Mouse *finishes* producing the new album.
- But in June 2012 Bono is saying, "Looking for the perfect pop song", "gotta do something very special to have a reason to exist right now", "there won't be a U2 album unless there's something really special".
That certainly sounds like perfectionism to me, two months after the album was allegedly finished no less.
Anyone remember that episode of 30 Rock where Liz is stuck on the runway in the plane that her boyfriend, played by Matt Damon, is piloting? They're having technical difficulties, and Damon says over the mic that takeoff will happen in about 30 minutes. When Liz points out that he said the same thing 30 minutes ago, he explains that this is just what pilots say, regardless of how long it will really take, because 30 minutes is a reasonable enough time to not upset people too much and keep them sufficiently hopeful.
Not sure why I shared that, it just popped into my head for some reason....
I love your sense of humour. You nailed it on the head.
This time around I would guess that U2 are aware of how they tend to over think their albums, that will be why they've surrounded themselves with people like Danger Mouse and Jimmy Iovine who will let them know when it's time to release, especially Jimmy who is basically the guy who is pushing U2 for that hit single in a way they probably haven't been pushed since they released Beautiful Day. There's also guys at the record label looking after U2 and making sure there next album will be a success, after all U2 are their biggest asset so they'll want them to deliver.
While I wish that were true, U2 have always had more say than the record company which is why their career became so successful. But they had a bigger drive to release when they were younger than they do now. If they release now it will be cream on the cake. They don't need another cake.
In other news...he cut his hair 
I think it will be out Sept-Dec. Either the album will be out by Holiday or maybe a single. But I feel like they'll want it out in time for the holiday season rather than release in January or February.
Yes, they need to get it out this year to be guaranteed of success. The only real indicator we have of a release date is the time since the last album. The pattern has been roughly every 3.5 to 4 years since Zooropa. The longest was 4 years 3 months between Atomic Bomb and No Line. U2 have never allowed a blow out to 5 years, so they desperately need to release this year.
Any lack of confidence from any member of the band at this point is either a bad sign or evidence of perfectionism.
Think I'll go back and listen to the alternate version of Breathe, so I don't hold my breath while waiting for the new album.
