July 22, 2008 17:26

Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong album cancelled at last minute

Band's self-titled debut album is pulled before it hits the shelves

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong have shelved plans tonight (July 22) to release what was set to be their self-titled debut album just weeks before the day it was due out.

The album was completed last year and had been set to be released on August 4, with early copies having already been sent out and reviews printed - including NME's - the album was dropped just as it was due to go into production.

However, the band's manager, Raye Cosbert, told NME.COM that he suggested to the band that they shelve the release because they had recorded it too early in their career. He said it did not represent them as a band now.

Cosbert said that the band agreed with the plan after it was suggested to them. The band's label, Vertigo/Mercury, have now agreed to release the newly-recorded album in early 2009.

The manager went on to confirm that the band would honour all the live commitments they had booked for the future, and have not set a date for new album sessions or picked a producer yet.

"They've grown as musicians, the album was recorded too early in their career," he Cosbert. "The band have all agreed that's it's the best thing to do [re-record the album]."

The Vertigo/Mercury Music Group told NME.COM in a statement: "Obviously we completely respect our artists' creative decisions. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong are a great band and we look forward to releasing their first album in the near future."

See next week's NME, out July 30, for an interview with Joe Lean about the future of the band.