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