"radiohead's lp7": countdown and anticipation thread - part iii

[Zoots]

Part of me wants to pay for the digital download and be happy, but there's something rather contradictory about the whole concept. It doesn't appear very well thought-out.

Yeah! Seems to me like they saw all the impatient and negative internet chatter ever since it was announced that the album won't be coming out for some time, and said "okay fuck it! let's just get this out" and rushed into it. Hopefully there will be a CD only version with artwork. Until then I'll just get the download.

 

[U2Fanatic4ever]

nite all for real this time!


to xavi!

 

[LMP]

Yeah! Seems to me like they saw all the impatient and negative internet chatter ever since it was announced that the album won't be coming out for some time, and said "okay fuck it! let's just get this out" and rushed into it. Hopefully there will be a CD only version with artwork. Until then I'll just get the download.

 

[lazarus]

I look at it this way, if you pay $10 for the download and then just download disc 2 for free when someone eventually puts it online, I think ethically you're pretty sound.

If they do eventually put it in stores, you probably won't pay more than $15 for the double CD, so you've essentially paid an extra $10 for getting the first disc early. I can live with that.

But again, it ain't a double album. The closest thing I can think of is Use Your Illusion, which were packaged and sold separately. But as they came out on the same day, I still consider them part of a set. Another exception that comes to mind was the release in 1998 by Saint Etienne, Good Humor. Some of the CDs came with a bonus disc that had its own title, Fairfax High, and a complete album's worth of songs. There was nothing in the booklet referring to these songs, and you really couldn't call it a double album because they did have different titles. But they didn't sound like outtakes either.

Releasing a second set of songs for an enormous premium two months later...you can't consider that part of one complete release. I know in the digital age the old formats and way of looking at music is going to eventually be thrown out the window, but Radiohead seems to still want to put out a clear proper album, so we'll leave it to them to define for the record how they're actually viewing it.

 

[LMP]

I look at it this way, if you pay $10 for the download and then just download disc 2 for free when someone eventually puts it online, I think ethically you're pretty sound.

If they do eventually put it in stores, you probably won't pay more than $15 for the double CD, so you've essentially paid an extra $10 for getting the first disc early. I can live with that.

Right, either way, you'll get the songs you want and still support the band, just not buy them gold-plated diapers.

 

[xaviMF22]

Lets look at their release history for a second.. Both HTTT and Amnesiac were leaked online at least a month prior to an offical release. This is the case with most popular bands having their work released and spread around the internet like wild fire before the record stores have a chance to sell the album. I don't think Radiohead were ever upset about the leaks, except that they had no control over them. Radiohead are very much a band who demands complete control over every aspect of their art, including releases.

So maybe the whole "hey, new album in 10 days" thing was a way of controlling their release in the face of an inevitiable leak. You can still get download the album for free if you wish to do so but now you're getting it directly from the source. Those of us who planned on downloading the album anyway can do so with a clear concious, and now the band can be confidident in the fact that THEY are in control of their destiny, not some sneaky pirates.

 

[xaviMF22]

"Haha, the entire recording industry is so fucked!"

 

[lazarus]

I mostly agree, xavi. But the fact that that month leak window has shrunk down to the point where it may not even appear online before the 10th is pretty impressive. They've done a great job keeping this under wraps not just from a security standpoint but from a promotional standpoint as well--while it does seem like a precautionary measure, it fits perfectly with opting out of being on a record label and focusing on the music rather than anything else, just as they stopped making videos for general release after Paranoid Android (5 years after Pearl Jam stopped making videos, to be fair).

Unfortunately, I'm surprised that support of this integrity is going to cost so much for very enthused fans. And as much as I'm complaining about how much it is in U.S. dollars, can any of our Australian friends tell us what this roughly comes out to? It's fighting the power on a corporate level, but it you can't "pass the savings" on to the masses, it's still not a perfect system, is it? I'd expect something a little more socialist across the board.

Also, about the double album thing, it appears I've spoken too soon. The details on the discbox specifically state that the 1st CD is "The new album, In Rainbows", and the 2nd CD is "more new songs". So I guess I made a big thing out of nothing. It's a bonus disc, nothing more. Not that it won't be great anyway.

 

[thetitans2k]

80 dollars is the biggest ripoff. I'll give them money if they decide to tour and come to winnipeg.

 

[martha]

I want a real cd too.

But I'll download to get new songs.

 

[Canadiens1131]

sorry if this comes off as rude, but chill out xavi you sound like a drooling sycophant.

This development is rather bittersweet for me. I can't tell you how much respect I have for this band, thumbing their collective noses at the status quo and "the way things are done in this business". The lack of promotion, just keeping quiet and then saying "album out in 10 days". Amazing. The only artist I can think of this magnitude that releases albums with such little fanfare is Bob Dylan, although his website's been pretty over the top in the year since Modern Times came out. It's refreshing to see that it's all about the music.

But what I don't get here is rewarding the casual fan who doesn't feel like paying more than $1 for the music, and then sticking a royal shiv in the gut to the hardcore fans. 80 fucking dollars? Are you fucking kidding me? Don't give me this "But it's LP7 OMG LOL!!!" bullshit becasue that is so out of proportion I don't even know what to say. Vinyl + CD? Who gives a shit? If there are vinyl fetishists who want that format too than let them pay for it! I just want a physical disc and a booklet with lyrics, or no lyrics and just artwork or whatever. Why not have a couple different formats?

The other thing is because Radiohead DOESN'T have a label to split the profits with, nearly ALL of this money is going right to them. They're not spending money on promotion and advertising, save for the web design people, so what the fuck? How much did the limited editions cost in the past? Isn't this like a 300% markup? It's asinine.

Part of me wants to pay for the digital download and be happy, but there's something rather contradictory about the whole concept. It doesn't appear very well thought-out.

I hope that more of the Radiohead fans in addition to Zoots and LMP will try and be a little objective about this, because the idea of shelling out $80 for an album is just OTT, unless the thing can make dinner for you and wipe your ass or something.

On a more aesthetic note, this release begs the question--is it an actual double album, or is the CD2 of the disc box bonus tracks? Because if the standard download is only 1 cd, I can't imagine they would release "half" an album that way. It's not technically a double album then. I don't know the precedent for this because there really isn't one, is there?

 

[xaviMF22]

Also, about the double album thing, it appears I've spoken too soon. The details on the discbox specifically state that the 1st CD is "The new album, In Rainbows", and the 2nd CD is "more new songs". So I guess I made a big thing out of nothing. It's a bonus disc, nothing more. Not that it won't be great anyway.

what they're doing is brilliant and believe me they are laughing it up

and yea its not a double CD is just a bonus one

 

[FitzChivalry]

sorry if this comes off as rude, but chill out xavi you sound like a drooling sycophant.

So I guess I made a big thing out of nothing.

Ummm, I'll say. Just pay 1 pound or 1/2 a pound for the actual album In Rainbows, that is the album Radiohead intend as LP7, and I'd say you win completely.

And the other 7 or 8 songs (for lack of a better term) will just be B-sides that most people download for free these days anyway.

I personally won't pay $80 for an additional 8 or so songs + artwork. But this is Xavi's favorite band. If he wants to and it makes him happy, then there's no harm and if he's happy then we (as his friends) should be happy for him.

So yeah, you did make a big deal and snap judgment over nothing.

Xavi, you buy whatever the hell you want. It's your money and your favorite band.

 

[impy13]

I know I'm late to the party, but holy fucking shit.

I was sitting in the movie theater tonight about 15 minutes before the film started and a friend of mine texted me. I thought he was talking about radioheadlp7.com, one of the great Rickrollings of all time. But good lord.... Wow.

I really want that discbox but it's not financially viable for me right now. I did pay 10 dollars American for my download though. I feel it's only right for a band I love so much considering I'll absolutely be purchasing the eventual CD release.

I haven't heard any of these songs before and I get to in ten days. Way to set the bar, Radiohead. Just another reason for Radiohead obsession being completely justified.

 

[xaviMF22]

It is not a DOUBLE ALBUM

We have the album and then a disc of b-sides and unreleased songs

I think its important we make that distinction

 

[Lancemc]

Wow. Consider me clusterfucked.

In an amazing way of course.

This quite literally made my month...maybe even year. $80 is pretty steep, but I'll happily pay it. Radiohead are one of the best and most admirable bands on the planet, from both a musical and business standpoint. I've been saying they should release and distribute this album on their own since they ended their EMI contract way long ago.

But like I said, $80 (including postage) for dual vinyl, 2 cd's, some kickass packaging and a digital download in 10 days for a new Radiohead album I've been waiting years for.... I've got no qualms.

 

[xaviMF22]

Wow. Consider me clusterfucked.

In an amazing way of course.

This quite literally made my month...maybe even year. $80 is pretty steep, but I'll happily pay it. Radiohead are one of the best and most admirable bands on the planet, from both a musical and business standpoint. I've been saying they should release and distribute this album on their own since they ended their EMI contract way long ago.

But like I said, $80 (including postage) for dual vinyl, 2 cd's, some kickass packaging and a digital download in 10 days for a new Radiohead album I've been waiting years for.... I've got no qualms.

QFTMFT

 

[intedomine]

So If I just want to rock up to Jb HiFi and buy the album as a sane, normal 90's person, how much will it cost me?

Normal double album price of around $25-30AUD?

Downloading is for slackers.....that's why Radiohead have embraced it.

 

[t8thgr8]

i wonder if the title refers to the relationship between musical notes and the spectrum

 

[Irishteen]

10 days wow.....I am so not totally completely excited...

 

[MaxFisher]

new Radiohead


I hope they release a cd version eventually. Call me old fashioned but I like getting the artwork and physical cd.

 

[U2One]

Much respect to Radiohead for giving a big Fuck You to the music industry...

 

[djerdap]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/shanerichmond/sept07/radiohead.htm

Great article.

 

[lazarus]

The good news is that even if they decide not to release it the normal way--and they really can't for a while after taking $80 from all these hardcore fans (read: suckers), someone's going to scan all the artwork and lyrics and you'll be able to print it up yourself and have something physical you can call your own.

I used to buy the R.E.M. limited editions of their albums, from Out of Time through Up (having the regular edition of Reveal is bad enough, and I couldn't bring myself to buy Around the Sun in any format), and I would make copies of the artwork and fashion a regular jewel case insert so I had something smaller to carry around, so I look forward to another little home project in December.

I'm curious, Lance, you have no qualms about paying $80, so are you telling me that if it was $40 or $50 you'd be saying "Holy shit! They're practically GIVING this away!" ?? Because at that price I'd say to myself, yeah that seems pretty fair. I mean, let's break it down. A double CD sells at the standard big box stores like Best Buy or Target for $14.99 or so. It's never double the price of an actual CD. Some bands don't charge you the extra amount at all for a bonus disc (the last two Spoon albums, for example). Then you have the double vinyl. Okay, it's more of a novelty now, so let's say $20 for the sake of argument. Now you're up to $35. Then you have the hardback book & slipcaset (the "limited edition part") which contain the lyrics and art, which usually runs an extra $10-$15 over album price. That still only comes to about $50. What's the extra $30 for? Shipping? And the people closer to or in the UK have to pay just as much? There's the digital download but as you can only pay $1 for it if you want you can't really tack that on either.

It doesn't add up.

 

[DrTeeth]

new Radiohead


I hope they release a cd version eventually. Call me old fashioned but I like getting the artwork and physical cd.

I was annoyed at this release at first, until I read on Wikipedia that a regular release is scheduled for early 2008. The box is too expensive for me, and I also like a regular cd with artwork.

 

[U2Fanatic4ever]

The good news is that even if they decide not to release it the normal way--and they really can't for a while after taking $80 from all these hardcore fans (read: suckers), someone's going to scan all the artwork and lyrics and you'll be able to print it up yourself and have something physical you can call your own.

I used to buy the R.E.M. limited editions of their albums, from Out of Time through Up (having the regular edition of Reveal is bad enough, and I couldn't bring myself to buy Around the Sun in any format), and I would make copies of the artwork and fashion a regular jewel case insert so I had something smaller to carry around, so I look forward to another little home project in December.

I'm curious, Lance, you have no qualms about paying $80, so are you telling me that if it was $40 or $50 you'd be saying "Holy shit! They're practically GIVING this away!" ?? Because at that price I'd say to myself, yeah that seems pretty fair. I mean, let's break it down. A double CD sells at the standard big box stores like Best Buy or Target for $14.99 or so. It's never double the price of an actual CD. Some bands don't charge you the extra amount at all for a bonus disc (the last two Spoon albums, for example). Then you have the double vinyl. Okay, it's more of a novelty now, so let's say $20 for the sake of argument. Now you're up to $35. Then you have the hardback book & slipcaset (the "limited edition part") which contain the lyrics and art, which usually runs an extra $10-$15 over album price. That still only comes to about $50. What's the extra $30 for? Shipping? And the people closer to or in the UK have to pay just as much? There's the digital download but as you can only pay $1 for it if you want you can't really tack that on either.

It doesn't add up.

read Dr. Teeth's most recent post.. a regular release is coming just not till next year.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

I was annoyed at this release at first, until I read on Wikipedia that a regular release is scheduled for early 2008. The box is too expensive for me, and I also like a regular cd with artwork.

Thats all I needed to hear

 

[BVS]

It's interesting how U2 sometimes get accused of screwing over the die hards for the casual fan, but when Radiohead do it, they get praises of "innovative", "brave", "a big F U to the record industry", etc...

It's quite funny.

 

[angelordevil]

It doesn't add up.

Down is the new up?

The "pay what you want" factor easily balances the cost of the box set, in my mind.

Looks like the music industry as we know it has officially be shaken! When does the tour start?

 

[lazarus]

Wikipedia isn't exactly the gospel, considering it is written and edited by whoever feels like it. The entry claims that Jonny Greenwood said that it would be available in regular CD format early 2008. Unfortunately, the article cited as the source for that statement doesn't even have a quote from Greenwood, or say anything about a normal release:

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Sa...149175733?packedargs=suffix=ArticleController

Also, don't you think the band would disclose a future third option on their website? I don't think they would hide that from their fans, especially if they're talking to journalists about it.