Radiohead roll call
Check in: who bought the Radiohead album and what (if anything) did you pay for it? Switch tense to future if you haven't yet but will.
And for those of you who did buy it and listened: first-impression reviews? I'll have my review tomorrow, but on first listen, I like In Rainbows a lot. Definitely at least a step or two up from Hail To The Thief, though it does keep in the grand Radiohead tradition of shitty album titles.
Radiohead, "All I Need"
I will say that I was pretty disappointed by "the catch"—that the mp3s were only 160 kbps. It basically makes a statement that this release is a preview only; that it's more for plugging the leaks than a proper release. But I still liked what they're doing, so I put down £10 (which is just over $20) and figured I'll get a high quality version when someone posts it in December.
Something that seems to be lost in the talk of the business model is another way this is totally revolutionary: it's the very first time an anticipated release has come out digitally without any advance copies. That is, it's the first time in the digital era that everyone gets the album on the same day; the equivalent of the midnight release of the CD era.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. When I got the email this morning with download instructions, it felt as though there was a massive missing piece; that it wasn't nearly as exciting as buying the CD with your friends around. Yes, it was more efficient and faster, and I could start it up over morning tea and know that I was getting it at the same moment as everyone else, but...there was a coldness to it. It's like that bit in Robocop where Robocop stop an attempted rape with some precision robotic shooting, but then is incapable of consoling the victim. Okay, maybe it's nothing like that, but I think I've made my point.
9 comments:
Robocop's awesome.
I paid $0.00 for it, but only because I fully intend on purchasing a physical release down the line (not to mention I don't put much value on sub-192 mp3's); whether that means shelling out now for the discbox or waiting until December or next year or whenever will have everything to do with my first impressions of the record tonight when I finally get to play it. I'm looking forward to it.
And btw, I think it's a whole heck of a lot like the scene you described in Robocop! I say this without actually having seen Robocop, but you illustrated the point all the same. ;)
£5.00
First impression is GOOD... but I've only given it two listens while at the office and trying to do other things. I think I need to let it grow for a few days and then comment for real.
If Hans doesn't love this album, I will eat my left shoe.
I love Robocop.
Hans's Radiohead fandom is driven entirely by Robocop. It seems strange, but when you think about it for a little while, it still seems strange. But then you start thinking about it while under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, and then it makes lots of sense. Or so I would imagine.
Christian, if Hans doesn't love this album, I would like to see you eat your left shoe. I'll bring you some condiments.
Liz, my listenings were largely in the office as well. I'm glad I'm now in an office where there's some other people who are into this sort of stuff as well.
Here's your answer, Christian:
I don't love the album. I haven't heard it yet (I can't afford it right now), but that's beside the point. The point is that I don't love it, therefore you have to eat your left shoe. Commence.
I paid £2 for it, and I liked exactly 1.5 songs on it during the first listen. I'm hoping it grows on me, which it very well could. The 160 kbps doesn't bother me...I still remember the early Napster years when 128 was normal, 160 was high quality, and 192 was unbelievable. But none of the songs really stood out and grabbed me. There's definitely no Fake Plastic Trees on this album.
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