October 10th, 2007 by Atomictumor
Most of the time, doing IT support for Europe kinda sucks. Early hours, staticy phone lines, indecipherable accents, and other problems can make it a bit of a bear.
But not this morning.
Because Radiohead released the download link for their new record “early this morning UK time”, and I was already awake and up for that beep.
And the record freakin rocks.
I’m not going to do a review of it, because I kinda suck at that stuff, but to say that Thom Yorke is actually singing songs with soul, the music is minimal, with a bit of an 80s pop thing to it, and I’ve listened to it for 3 straight hours.
When the ladyfriend came over this morning laden with pancakes and breakfast biscuits, she said that the radio talk show thing was having a discussion on how releasing the album online is going to change the record industry. Citing that them, Nine Inch Nails, and (heh) Oasis were all planning on doing the direct online release thing, its representing a shift in the paradigm that has been in place for a long time.
Lord knows it needs to happen. The recording industry has managed to get itself portrayed as a soulless, evil, money hungry corporate bastard machine, what with its price fixing, its marketing tactics, and its terrorist campaign against file-trading.
It tickles me that a band as popular and big as Radiohead is seeing fit to tell these big companies to bugger off, and still finding a good way to get music out to the public. Truth is, the paradigm shifted a long time ago, and people are just now picking up on it.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Listened to a few songs before heading to work this morning.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Curious..what did you decide to pay for the record?
October 10th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Actually, I bought the discbox, on account of I love me some records, so I got the download along with that for 40 pounds.
I was reading that you can actually elect to pay nothing for the record.
My only beef is that the download is 160 bit rate, which ain’t that great with my music snobbery. I don’t know if I’d be willing to part with a buncha money for sub-CD quality music.
But damn, its good music. Still got it playing. Nude is on now, and its an excellent song. Never heard Radiohead play something so dang soulful.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:09 am
The album is fantastic. I had it going outside while I was cutting pine branches. It worked for that.
I agree– I like the idea of bypassing the large record labels. It’s a good job if you can get it.