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Radiohead Self-Releases New Album in Ten Days, Blows Everyone's Minds!

Radiohead Self-Releases New Album in Ten Days, Blows Everyone's Minds!
On the heels of a public countdown hoax, Oxford's living legends Radiohead stunned even the hippest of hipsters by declaring that their next album will be entitled In Rainbows, and open for listening on October 10th. In a week and a half, the LP will be available as a digital download directly from the band's website, costing whatever you want to pay for it. The only other known format so far will be a massive box set containing CD and heavyweight vinyl versions of the album, along with elaborate artwork, lyric sheets, bonus tracks, and more in some massive art designed packaging, to be shipped in December. Ponying up 40 quid for the box will automatically include a digital download so that you won't feel like a sucker. No word yet on if or when a less than super deluxe physical version will be made available.
Needless to say, this is going to be a hugely discussed development. One of the world's biggest bands has just created a new business model out of thin air, and completely decided to forgo not only major record labels, but the entire record industry in the process. It's hard to make fun of an album title with your jaw on the ground.
Track list for the initial download as well as the discbox extras follow:
CD one and vinyl:
01 15 STEP
02 BODYSNATCHERS
03 NUDE
04 WEIRD FISHES/ARPEGGI
05 ALL I NEED
06 FAUST ARP
07 RECKONER
08 HOUSE OF CARDS
09 JIGSAW FALLING INTO PLACE
10 VIDEOTAPE
CD two and vinyl:
01 MK 1
02 DOWN IS THE NEW UP
03 GO SLOWLY
04 MK 2
05 LAST FLOWERS
06 UP ON THE LADDER
07 BANGERS AND MASH
08 4 MINUTE WARNING
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[...] pitchfork stereogum brooklyn vegan prefix [...]

[No] Surprises « Archetypal Drunks

Ho. Lee. Shit. While this idea isn't completely unprecedented (conservative metal band Stuck Mojo made a big stink about doing the same thing last year), as far as I know no band as massive as Radiohead has tried this business model. And of course they can probably afford to self-release their own album for free as an experiment because they're assured beaucoup bux from all of their other endeavors, whereas a smaller band might not be in such an enviable position. Still, you gotta admire Radiohead for completely flipping the bird to the record industry and paving the way for other major acts to do the same. It's only a matter of time.I certainly hope that they'll make the cover art available with the download...this may be the point at which my materialism goes at loggerheads with the marketing schemes of the future.

Etan Rosenbloom

It's especially curious since Radiohead has been resistant to digital downloads in the past - you can't get any of their albums on Rhapsody, they don't like iTunes because they don't want to sell their songs individually, etc. I'll be curious to see what DRM or watermarks the downloads have, if any.

Eric Solomon

fantttttttttastic. all i have to say.

John B

This seems pretty amazing.

bradford

Now that the shock and awe has worn off, can we talk about how lame it is to name your album "In Rainbows"?

Jeff K

The shock hasnt worn off yet... this is the best thing ive heard in the last 2 months, and just made a crappy monday into a tolerable one.

Al

Boris ft michio k. was my favorite record of the year so far and it was called Rainbow. Maybe the name will bring good luck

John B

i will pay $5.65 for it.

mk

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[...] now we all know about Radiohead’s new album, In Rainbows, and its digital release next week (not to mention its deluxe discbox edition). But will the album also get a traditional, [...]

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