New U2 album in May?

Based on U2 manager Paul McGuinness’s statement to the Irish Times last October, it appears that rumours of a May 27 release date for the next U2 album is accurate.

At the time, he spoke to the newspaper about the Irish rockers’ next album: "I would expect a new U2 album sooner than anybody thinks. I would guess early 2011 before the next leg of the American tour which starts in May." He also said that working title for the new album was Songs of Ascent.

The rumour took hold after a music retailer named the date. According to a list of upcoming discs from Amazon’s German division, the group’s new album will indeed be in stores on May 27. The band has already been performing several of their new songs on tour, including Every Breaking Wave, Mercy, Boy Falls From the Sky.

This week the group confirmed their first appearance in Atlantic Canada this summer at the Magnetic Hill Music Festival. Bono and The Edge also wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, and have been busy fine-tuning the show.