At last, here it is.
The newest Radiohead LP has been announced. It is called ‘In Rainbows’ and is presently for sale directly through the band’s website and without a record label.
Two versions of the album are available now for pre-order. The first, is a digital download to be available on October 10. The second, is the ‘Discbox,’ which contains the album on both 2 LPs and 1 CD. It also contains a second, ‘enhanced’ CD which features additional new songs, “along with digital photographs and artwork. The disc box also includes artwork and lyric booklets and all are encased in a hardback book and slipcase.” The discbox, however doesn’t ship until December. So those purchasers don’t feel left out, They also get a code to access the digital download.
Keep reading for the tracklisting and more:
Digital Download, CD 1 & Vinyl:
- 15Step
- Bodysnatchers
- Nude
- Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
- All I Need
- Faust Arp
- Reckoner
- House Of Cards
- Jigsaw Falling Into Place
- Videotape
CD 2 (not part of the Digital Download)
- MK 1
- Down Is The New Up
- Go Slowly
- MK 2
- Last Flowers
- Up On The Ladder
- Bangers And Mash
- 4 Minute Warning
Radiohead Fans Shown Here Having Lost Their Well Studied Cool
What does this all mean for the record industry? Will this work? The Grateful Dead tried to cut out the majors in 1973 and, lost a bundle in potential earnings to bootlegging and other pitfalls. Radiohead seems poised to beat the modern, so-called bootleggers to the punch in the way they’ve priced the digital downloads (go and buy it to see what I mean.) So, as long as the physical album sells reasonably well (at £40.00, they seem likely to be recovering their costs tidily,) they should be able to make enough to justify this move and then supplement that with some touring.
So, when is the tour?
Two addenda:
- I bought the discbox. how about you?
- a buddy of mine has declared this to be a tremendous “F@&% You!” aimed at the record ‘industry.’ I tend to agree.