New U2 Album Delayed Until 2009 - UPDATE

      UPDATE 12/20/08- See details on March 2, 2009 release of their new album, NO LINE ON THE HORIZON !

MUSIC NEWS- Word from Ireland is the unfortunate confirmation that we should not expect the new U2 cd this year!  It was rumored for a release this fall or January 09.  Apparently, the group is still writing and recording material. "I thought a while back we might have the album wrapped by now, but why come up above ground now if there's more priceless stuff to be found?," Bono wrote recently on U2.com.  No word on whether the recently "leaked" tracks had any part of this release change. (see recent story here).   Lately, the band was recording in the south of France.  They 've spent time in Fez and Dublin with longtime musical friends Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite.

Bono continues; "'We know we have to emerge soon but we also know that people don't want another U2 album unless it is our best ever album,"It has to be our most innovative, our most challenging ... or what's the point ?"  Bono says they have "50 or 60" new songs to consider for inclusion on the follow-up to 2004's ""How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb".  "The last two records were very personal, with a kind of three piece at their heart, the primary colors of rock -- bass, guitars and drum," he says. "But what we're about now is of the same order as the transition that took us from 'The Joshua Tree' to 'Achtung Baby.' "I'm always the one who underestimates how easy it is to simply 'put out the songs now.' If it was just up to me they'd be out already!," Bono says. "But early next year people will be able to start hearing what we've been doing. We want 2009 to be our year, so we're going to start making an impression very early on."

We are certainly bummed by the additional wait time !!! What are your thoughts???