Today In Shifting Release Dates: Make Sure To Use A Pencil

Perhaps sensing that today would be a good day to put out bad news since people who cover music would be kinda distracted, release dates for three sorta-big upcoming albums were shifted today. (News that Mary J. Blige’s Growing Pains was also pushed back has also been making the rounds, but this post on her official site, which originally said that its release date was Dec. 11, seems to have been corrected with the original Nov. 27 release date.) After the jump, we look at the three releases that are probably giving their respective marketing departments major headaches right now:

Usher, Untitled Old date: November 2007. New date: Sometime in 2008. (Maybe.) Sorta-official reason: “Usher only listens to Tameka [Foster, his wife] now, and she wants all Usher’s focus to be on her and the baby.” Real reason: That sounds pretty plausible, but then again, dude has a lot of cologne to offload.

Blake Lewis, A.D.D. Old date: Nov. 27. New date: Dec. 4. Sorta-official reason: “We think it will be a better day for the release and its also taking some pressure off me, for getting this album done.” Real reason: Trying to perfect beatbox version of Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” taking longer than expected.

Britney Spears, Blackout Old date: Nov. 13. New date: Oct. 30. Official reason: “Due to these numerous unauthorized online leaks, the label is doing everything possible to prevent and avoid any further illegal distribution of songs including moving up the release date of the album to October 30th.” Real reason: Probably the opposite, since sales for “Gimme More” are already starting their long, slow decline–they’re down 12% off last week. You do the math.