According to Billboard, Robert Smith has announced that The Cure’s 13th studio album will be a double record. In light of the commercial concerns of marketing a double album these digital days, Smith is willing to take a loss to sell the record at a single disc price. The band even trolled through decades old demos that were never fleshed out and revamped them for the new collection. Smith claims “people will be surprised how stripped-down and in-your-face the record is”, which is promising news, considering the glopped on, bombastic approach of the past few records has not faired well for The Cure’s dwindling legacy (don’t even get me started on appearing on stage with fucking Korn). And in even more fan friendly news, Smith says the band will avoid playing too much new material on its fall tour, which is an uncharacteristically insecure pronouncement for a band that typically showcases its new material on tour. Is the new album really that bad?

The Cure’s fall tour:

Sept. 13: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)

Sept. 15: Atlanta (Gwinnett Center)

Sept. 17: Charlotte, N.C. (Bobcats Arena)

Sept. 19: Fairfax, Va. (Patriot Center)

Sept. 21: Philadelphia (Wachovia Spectrum)

Sept. 23: New York (Madison Square Garden)

Sept. 25: Boston (Agganis Arena)

Sept. 26: Montreal (Bell Centre)

Sept. 27: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)

Sept. 29; Chicago (Allstate Arena)

Oct. 2: Morrison, Colo. (Red Rocks)

Oct. 4: Salt Lake City (E Center)

Oct. 6: Mountain View, Calif. (Shoreline Amphitheatre)

Oct. 8: Seattle (Key Arena)

Oct. 9: Vancouver (GM Place)

Oct. 11: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara Bowl)

Oct. 13: San Diego (Cox Arena)

Oct. 14: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)

Oct. 16: Houston (Toyota Center)

Oct. 17: Dallas (American Airlines Center)