HOLDING PATTERN: If you’ve read anything about...

HOLDING PATTERN: If you’ve read anything about Aimee Mann’s new album, “I’m With Stupid,” you’re probably ready to run to the record store and grab a copy. Reviews have been glowing, and some writers have already talked about it as a sure thing for their year-end Top 10 lists.

Only one problem: The album’s not coming out until next year.

Why such early reviews? The album--the second solo set by the former ‘Til Tuesday singer--was actually scheduled to be released this past spring, but Mann’s record company, Imago, lost its distribution deal with BMG. A new deal with Warner Bros. Records was all set recently, but when it stalled Mann exercised an escape clause and headed for Geffen, where her friend Tony Berg is an A&R; executive. A Geffen contract is currently being finalized, but due to scheduling and time needed for a marketing campaign to be put in place, the company can’t get it in stores until January.

Better just file those reviews and pull them out again after New Year’s.