It’s time for another look at upcoming albums that have had their release dates pushed back, a condition that’s growing ever more chronic as the bottom seemingly falls out of the music industry. Today, we look at albums by Timbaland, Alicia Keys, and Mary J. Blige that are allegedly coming soon, although not as soon as originally thought.


Timbaland, Shock Value 2
Old date: Nov. 23.
New date: Dec. 8.
Official reason: None given.
Real reason: No idea, but I really hope it involves fixing that awful cover. WTF is going on there, for real.


Alicia Keys, The Element Of Freedom
Old date: Dec. 1.
New date: Dec. 15.
Official reason: From her Twitter: “Luv having the freedom to create beautiful music, so I’m pushing the album back to DEC 15th. So many more amazing songs!!!”
Real reason: Waffling over whether or not a last-minute Billy Joel cover will help her better capitalize on the whole “Empire State Of Mind” thing, since the songs she’s released from the album so far ain’t cutting it.


Mary J. Blige, Stronger
Old dates: Nov. 20, Dec. 15.
New date: Dec. 22.
Official reason: None given, but the relative tanking of her single with Drake (it peaked at No. 63 on the Hot 100) probably didn’t help much.
Real reason: Execs trying to figure out exactly how they can channel her sounding like Michael Jackson on that song into something that more effectively rides the coattails of the one artist who can actually sell records these days.