Thom Yorke
(photo: Jim Rinaldi)
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Radiohead stunned fans with the announcement that their new album will be available in a mere ten days from now. Titled In Rainbows, the record will be released as a digital download via the band's own Web site, or in a deluxe edition, also only available through Radiohead. The Brit rockers became free agents after the release of Hail To The Thief and have still not signed with a label.On their "Dead Air Space" blog, guitarist Jonny Greenwood wrote, "Hello everyone. Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days. We've called it In Rainbows. Love from us all."
Radiohead.com currently re-directs to InRainbows.com, which lets fans pre-order the record as a download or a "discbox." The discbox (which is selling for £40, or approximately $82) includes In Rainbow on both CD and vinyl, a bonus disc of more songs and extra artwork. It won't be shipped out until the beginning of December though. The digital download will contain a code that will become active on October 10.
As for the price of the download, when it is added to your online 'basket,' a question mark pops up next to a blank space, linking to "It's Up To You." Clicking through this brings up "It's Really Up To You." The album has no set price tag and consumers can set their own price at whatever they wish to pay for it.
The lack of a price on the record is sending shockwaves through the music industry. A European A&R executive anonymously told Time, "This feels like yet another death knell. If the best band in the world doesn't want a part of us, I'm not sure what's left for this business." An anonymous Hip-Hop producer added, "Radiohead is the best band in the world; if you can pay whatever you want for music by the best band in the world, why would you pay $13 dollars or .99 cents for music by somebody less talented? Once you open that door and start giving music away legally, I'm not sure there's any going back."
The track listing was also unveiled, including songs previewed on 2006's tour, including "Bodysnatchers," "15 Step" and "House Of Cards."
Radiohead's publicist tells Billboard a traditional, physical release of In Rainbows will happen in 2008, with details to be announced.
In Rainbows track listing:
"15 Step"
"Bodysnatchers"
"Nude"
"Weird Fishes"/"Arpeggi"
"All I Need"
"Faust Arp"
"Reckoner"
"House Of Cards"
"Jigsaw Falling Into Place"
"Videotape"
'Discbox' bonus disc track listing:
"MK 1"
"Down Is The New Up"
"Go Slowly"
"MK 2"
"Last Flowers"
"Up On The Ladder"
"Bangers And Mash"
"4 Minute Warning"
