So I'm watching this interview on the Sonic Perspectives with John Boegehold and Ted Leonard, and they keep referring to SB as "that other band". They also brought up the song "Much Ado", written by Ted for the new P-SA album, which is a song he's written for over a decade and originally wanted to do it with "that other band" (at John's insistence), and finally Ted was convinced to do with P-SA for their third album because "that other band" has been dragging their feet on making a new album.
Given Ted's attitude, I'd say he's not the one holding SB back from making a new album, and given that Dave (and I guess Jimmy, even though he left SB before Noise Floor) is also a part of Pattern-Seeking Animals, we can rule him out too since they're working together. Ryo has been busy with his solo album and the ProgJect, whose tour just started tonight.
Seems like, as my gut has been telling me, that Al is probably the one holding them back from wanting to reconvene and make a new album. I wonder if he feels slighted by the others for all doing other projects, especially Ted and Dave joining John for P-SA, all three of which have contributed quite a bit to the last few SB albums. Either way, I'm willing to bet that we aren't going to see another SB album ever again. Ted, in this interview, even (jokingly) says "it could be another decade before they (SB) make another album".
I've actually given up hope that SB will make a 14th studio album, but hey, if they want to prove me wrong and make one more album to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2025, I wouldn't be made. I've kind of wished they would reach their 15th album by their 30th anniversary, just for the neatness of the numbers.
Anyways, at least there's Pattern-Seeking Animals, which doesn't quite scratch the itch left by SB, but it definitely scratches other itches.
-Marc.