A few noteworthy releases today: M. Ward, Foo Fighters, and (surprise!) Stars
News of three releases today that I found to be of interest:
M. Ward‘s debut solo album Duet For Guitars #2 (tricky, naming your first album something with a #2 in it….) is finally back in print, re-released today by Merge Records. Originally out in 1999 on the Co-Dependent label and then also re-released in 2000 by M’s friend Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) on his Ow-Om label, it’s been out of print for a few years now. If you, like me, may just be hearing about Ward for the first time with his superb Post-War album last year, delve into the rich back catalog.
The Foo Fighters have re-issued The Colour and The Shape today for the ten year anniversary, with the addition of 6 bonus tracks. Coming on the heels of the news of their 6th album forthcoming this fall (rumored to be called Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace) this is an exciting week for Foo fans.you totally forgot you knew this song until you hear that riff –was it sax on the original?– and then you’re humming along with the “ooooooh”s
Also, an eagle-eyed reader sent me the news that Arts & Crafts has unexpectedly digitally released the new Stars album In Our Bedroom After The War today, three months in advance of the physical release date.
On September 25th, Arts&Crafts will release Stars’ fourth studio album, In Our Bedroom After War. We love it and are excited and proud to be bring it to the world.
We enlisted Joe Chiccarelli to mix the album. He finished in early June, passing the tapes along to Emily Lazar at the Lodge for mastering. Last Friday, July 6th, a final master was delivered to us.
Traditional music business practice says we are to begin sending out copies of this album now. We give advance copies to print publications in hopes of securing features that coincide with our September date. We meet with radio stations in hopes of securing airplay. etc, etc.
Inevitably someone will leak the album.
Throughout this process, the most important people in this value chain, the fans, are given only two options – wait until September 25th to legally purchase the new album or choose from a variety of sources and download the album for free, at any time.
We hope you’ll choose to support the band, and choose to pay for their album. However we don’t think it’s fair you should have to wait until September 25th to do so.
We believe that the line between the media and the public is now completely grey.
What is the difference between a writer for a big glossy music magazine and a student writing about their favourite bands on their blog? What differentiates a commercial radio station from someone adding a song to their lastfm channel? or their myspace page?
As such, we are making the new Stars album available for legal download today, four days after it’s completion. The CD and double vinyl versions of the album will still be released on our official release date, September 25th. We hope you will continue to support music retailers should a physical album in all it’s packaged glory be your choice of format.
It’s our hope that given a clear, legal alternative to downloading music for free, you will choose to support the creators.
We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Jeffrey Remedios, Arts & Crafts
Name: Heather Browne
They Might Be Giants did the same thing with their album “The Else”, releasing it to digital retailers two months before the CD release (today).
petepizza — July 10, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Into The Wild OST, new FF, and a new live Pearl Jam dvd – end of September sounds Great!
Anuj Gupta — July 10, 2007 @ 9:53 am
So maybe there is a time delay but I can’t seem to find it for sale anywhere (or maybe I am just dumb). I went to eMusic and it was not on their page yet. Any ideas?
Anonymous — July 10, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Anon, which of the three albums are you talking about? As always, the title of each album in the post is a hyperlink to where you can buy it….and all seem to work (I just checked).
heather — July 10, 2007 @ 11:07 am
I meant the Stars album. Of course, you are right–the links works great. I was assuming that I could buy through emusic like I usually do.
Anonymous — July 10, 2007 @ 11:53 am
Just grabbed Stars from iTunes – thanks for the heads. I was fortunate enough to catch their show in Atlanta (opened for DCFC) -incredible.
Anony Mike — July 10, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Heather,
Any plans to host all the Easy Tiger alt. tracks in one easy zip file? You mentioned it at the forum and I’m just following up.
Thanks for the heads up about The Stars disc, I think more and more bands will follow in their footsteps.
Kess
Anonymous — July 10, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Kess, I’m waiting for one more – Off Broadway alternate — before I post. Should be very soon!
heather — July 10, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks so much for the heads up about the Stars new album available now – I love this band! Just off to buy it!
hadge — July 11, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
No chance I could forget “Baker Street,” being middle-aged and all (though I have the Foos’ version already). The original did feature the sax; it may still be up on YouTube. Back in the day, Gerry only had to give up the booze, as thiat was before the creation of crack.
Karl — July 13, 2007 @ 11:50 am