diff --git a/lyricsgenius/genius.py b/lyricsgenius/genius.py
index af2ae65..e796198 100644
--- a/lyricsgenius/genius.py
+++ b/lyricsgenius/genius.py
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ def search_album(
         album_id: int | None = None,
         get_full_info: bool = True,
         text_format: TextFormatT | None = None,
+        fetch_lyrics: bool = True,
     ) -> Album | None:
         """Searches for a specific album and gets its songs.
 
@@ -365,6 +366,10 @@ def search_album(
                 for the album (slower if no album_id present).
             text_format (:obj:`str`, optional): Text format of the results
                 ('dom', 'html', 'markdown' or 'plain').
+            fetch_lyrics (:obj:`bool`, optional): If `True` (default), scrapes
+                lyrics for each track. Set to `False` to skip lyrics fetching
+                and return only track metadata — significantly faster for large
+                albums.
 
         Returns:
             :class:`Album <types.Album>` \\| :obj:`None`: On success,
@@ -431,8 +436,10 @@ def search_album(
             for track_data in tracks_list_response["tracks"]:
                 song_info = track_data["song"]
                 song_lyrics = None
-                if song_info["lyrics_state"] == "complete" and not song_info.get(
-                    "instrumental"
+                if (
+                    fetch_lyrics
+                    and song_info["lyrics_state"] == "complete"
+                    and not song_info.get("instrumental")
                 ):
                     song_lyrics = self.lyrics(song_url=song_info["url"])
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b07c77d..52b7386 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "lyricsgenius"
-version = "3.10.0"
+version = "3.10.1"
 dependencies = ["beautifulsoup4>=4.12.3", "requests>=2.27.1"]
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
 authors = [{ name = "John W. R. Miller", email = "john.w.millr+lg@gmail.com" }]
diff --git a/tests/test_album.py b/tests/test_album.py
index 40f1734..0fca0be 100644
--- a/tests/test_album.py
+++ b/tests/test_album.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from lyricsgenius import Genius
 from lyricsgenius.types import Album, Artist, Song
 from lyricsgenius.utils import sanitize_filename
 
@@ -213,3 +214,93 @@ def test_saving_txt_file(album_object: Album, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     content_after_overwrite = expected_filepath.read_text()
     assert "Overwritten TXT Test" in content_after_overwrite, content_after_overwrite
     album_object.tracks[0][1].lyrics = original_lyrics
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def genius_client() -> Genius:
+    return Genius("dummy_access_token", verbose=False, sleep_time=0)
+
+
+def _make_search_all_response(album_data: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    hit = {"index": "album", "result": album_data}
+    return {
+        "sections": [
+            {"type": "top_hits", "hits": [hit]},
+            {"type": "album", "hits": [hit]},
+        ]
+    }
+
+
+def _make_album_tracks_response(songs: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "tracks": [{"song": s, "number": i + 1} for i, s in enumerate(songs)],
+        "next_page": None,
+    }
+
+
+def test_fetch_lyrics_true_calls_lyrics(
+    genius_client: Genius,
+    mock_album_data: dict[str, Any],
+    mock_track_data_list: list[dict[str, Any]],
+) -> None:
+    """When fetch_lyrics=True (default), lyrics() should be called for each track."""
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client,
+            "search_all",
+            return_value=_make_search_all_response(mock_album_data),
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client, "album", return_value={"album": mock_album_data}
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client,
+            "album_tracks",
+            return_value=_make_album_tracks_response(mock_track_data_list),
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client, "lyrics", return_value="some lyrics"
+        ) as mock_lyrics,
+    ):
+        result = genius_client.search_album(
+            name=mock_album_data["name"], fetch_lyrics=True
+        )
+
+    assert result is not None
+    assert mock_lyrics.call_count == len(mock_track_data_list)
+    for _, track in result.tracks:
+        assert track.lyrics == "some lyrics"
+
+
+def test_fetch_lyrics_false_skips_lyrics(
+    genius_client: Genius,
+    mock_album_data: dict[str, Any],
+    mock_track_data_list: list[dict[str, Any]],
+) -> None:
+    """When fetch_lyrics=False, lyrics() is not called and tracks have empty lyrics."""
+    with (
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client,
+            "search_all",
+            return_value=_make_search_all_response(mock_album_data),
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client, "album", return_value={"album": mock_album_data}
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client,
+            "album_tracks",
+            return_value=_make_album_tracks_response(mock_track_data_list),
+        ),
+        mock.patch.object(
+            genius_client, "lyrics", return_value="some lyrics"
+        ) as mock_lyrics,
+    ):
+        result = genius_client.search_album(
+            name=mock_album_data["name"], fetch_lyrics=False
+        )
+
+    assert result is not None
+    assert mock_lyrics.call_count == 0
+    for _, track in result.tracks:
+        assert track.lyrics == ""
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index bb5578a..2259ecb 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lyricsgenius"
-version = "3.10.0"
+version = "3.10.1"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "beautifulsoup4" },