Re: In Rainbows
While I was in Seattle, KEXP played "House of Cards" while we were driving around and it occurred to me that maybe everyone is missing the point regarding In Rainbows.
I think the big story here isn't the "pay what you want" sales model.
It's the new time line for releasing records and figuring out how a band can take advantage of it.
Instead of recording an album and sitting on it for four months while the label gets their marketing plan together, just release it for cheap on the internet (low bitrate files aimed squarely at people's iPods) as soon as it's done and then follow it up with the proper physical release when the label is ready. This way the band "leaks" their own album and hopefully makes a bit of cash before the P2P users do their thing. Ideally they (and the label) won't lose all of their retail sales because people will want to get the physical product, especially if the band does the normal touring and press behind the proper release.
We won't know if this actually works until January, when the physical copies of In Rainbows hit the record shops.
[MP3] Radiohead | Reckoner (Live webcast version)
[MP3] Radiohead | Faust Arp (Live webcast version)
[MP3] Radiohead | Nude (Amplive Remix)
[MP3] Radiohead | Nude Instrumental (Amplive Remix)
PS - "Bodyguards" "Bodysnatchers" is totally about Coldplay.
You definitely have a point--RH have been more vocal in the past about the huge delay between finishing an album and releasing it. But you can't downplay the 'pay what you want' thing too much--I have to say, it was a great feeling knowing that most of the money I was sending would go directly to the band.
So, do you like "In Rainbows" yet?
I like it but I don't love it. There's no killer single on the album. No "There There."