"The thing is, it really did take us too long to get these recordings done. We've had our rough times in the studio in the past, but after four weeks most of the material would have been recorded. This time it seemed like it just goes on and on"

This quote from Ed O'Brien suggests that the recording procedure for the job was taking longer than expected. It appears that the band has actually had trouble in the studio in the past, but this time it was taking even longer than normal. After four weeks, the majority of the material should have been recorded, but it looked like the procedure was dragging out and on. This could be due to a range of aspects, such as technical troubles, imaginative differences, or a lack of inspiration. It is clear that the band is feeling frustrated with the length of time it is taking to complete the recordings, and it is likely that they are eager to carry on to the next stage of the task.