The long-awaited third LP from The Shins has been pushed back again. Originally expected this summer and then slated for release in October, the album is now set to drop in early 2007.

Billboard reports that the newest anticipated release date for the record was confirmed by a spokesperson for Sub Pop, the band’s label.

As for the band members themselves, they say the increased wait time will be well worth it for fans.

“We have never been more happy with anything that we’ve ever recorded before,” the group said in a posting on their web site. “And we can definitely say that it is due to the fact that we’ve been given so much time to perfect it. The record is the best we’ve ever done.”

The Shins have debuted a number of new songs during recent tour dates, including “Circus Walk, “Australia,” “Phantom,” “New Step” and “Won One Too Many Fights.” It is not known which tracks, if any, will end up on the record.

Their last release, 2003’s “Chutes Too Narrow,” has sold almost 400,000 copies in the U.S.






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