Colin Meloy on the Picaresque Leak

« Tinkle @ Pianos | Fred Armisen | More Pics | Main | Knitting Factory Lawsuit »

Posted in music on January 2, 2005

Colin Meloy on the Picaresque Leak

Okay folks.

While I know there's really nothing in our power (ethically, that is) to stop people from leaking promo copies of the new record on the internet, we can't rightly be supporting that sort of information exchange on our own message board.

Now: we have always been very open to P2P exchanges; I think's it been nothing but beneficial to us. Without the likes of you kind folks exchanging mp3's, I doubt we'd be where we are today. I get the feeling that your average person who comes to a Decemberist show is of a very special fabric, someone who often finds other ways to support the band if they did get the records from a P2P network.

That said, leaking a promo of a record that does not come out for another three and a half months is not so cool. We spend a lot of time prepping for the release of a record -- we have a lot of folks working very hard to make sure the record gets a proper release at the scheduled time. It'd be nice to think that we have enough control over our art to keep our records veiled until we see fit to unveil them.

And on top of that issue, there is the issue of record sales. If a record is leaked this early, I have no doubt that, unchecked, it could make a serious impact on the sales of the record once it is released. If someone really wants to hear the songs at this point, they'd have no recourse but download it; it won't be available in the stores for months. Keep in mind that ourselves and KRS are not a bunch of money-grubbing corporate CEOs. We are a bunch of folks who have worked very hard to get where we are, working independently of corporate largesse, and count ourselves very lucky to be making our art for a living.

I realize that it's a new day and age and I can't stop this sort of stuff from happening -- I think that all attempts in the past of stopping this stuff legally has smacked of corporate bullying -- but please (and this is the sentimental bit) reach into your heart of hearts and realize that if you really really loved us, you'd wait until the record comes out, on March 22nd, to get the record.

Hope that doesn't sound too stern or preachy. We've deleted that thread. I know that's kind of a silly action to take, but decemberists.com can't be a place for disseminating information that's decidedly contrary to the band's interests.

I will, though, give you the correct tracklisting for the record -- it was printed wrong in early press releases:

1. The Infanta
2. We Both Go Down Together
3. Eli, the Barrow Boy
4. The Sporting Life
5. The Bagman's Gambit
6. From My Own True Love (Lost at Sea)
7. Sixteen Military Wives
8. The Engine Driver
9. On the Bus Mall
10. The Mariner's Revenge Song
11. Of Angels and Angles

Best,
Colin Meloy

Previously

Decemberists' Picaresque

Colin Meloy Solo Tickets for Sale

---

Recent Related Entries

Tags: Colin Meloy

Posted on January 2, 2005 2:52 AM

Comments (14)

I wasn't planning to buy it anyway, and hearing it in advance only cemented my suspicion that it's relatively boring.

More TAIN, please.

Posted by Paul | January 2, 2005 3:45 AM

i am against downloading in general because i know too many poor musicians. luckily i work for a royalties organization and see how musicians depend not on record sales to earn money anymore -- why because too many people download albums and never buy the real thing. isn't it really cool when we just save our pennies and buy something we are really into? i relish those moments. i do the same thing with concert tickets.

Posted by jinners | January 2, 2005 11:20 AM

why because too many people download albums and never buy the real thing.

You mean like how TLC got filthy stinking rich with their number one album and single and Grammy awards, before the days of mp3s? Oh, wait...

Posted by lia | January 3, 2005 1:03 PM

they had a bad record deal, mind you

Posted by jinners | January 3, 2005 5:15 PM

indie artists generally split profits 50/50 with their indie labels.

Posted by jinners | January 3, 2005 5:16 PM

He tells us what good work the label people do, then turns around and admits they couldn't even get the tracklisting right in the press release. ha! It's been shown many times over that people downloading albums like crazy before they're out results in the album selling even more than their last once it's out.

Posted by Torr | January 4, 2005 10:40 AM

It's been shown many times over? Show me these studies, please.

Posted by lld | January 4, 2005 6:31 PM

Come on, try and justify the pre-release distribution all you want, but Colin is completely correct.

Never before have I met a band that is so absolutley willing to aid in the distribution (re: via their message board) of live MP3s, hard-to-find tracks and the like, but when they spend time and energy on creating something they are proud of for their fans to listen to, is it so wrong that they want to further their livelihood while doing it? That IS the way it's supposed to work.

And, instead of cracking down and being a complete hardass (as he would be completely righteous to be), he simply posts a to-the-point, friendly request that band-friendly (or everyone, hopefully) people would see his point, and stop pre-release distribution of these tracks.

Posted by Johnny Sarcastic | January 18, 2005 9:38 AM

"If you love me enough, you can wait."

No. Waiting doesn't make me love you more. If I can have it now, I'll love you, too. I'm still going to buy the album as soon as I can, and I think the same sentiment goes for the vast majority of the people who pirate this album before March 22.

Posted by Bertrand | February 21, 2005 8:46 PM

Well I was given the album by a friend before reading this post, but listening to it only cemented my desire to buy it. In my mind its probably their best album yet and I'm definently going to support them

Posted by ChocoTaco95 | February 28, 2005 5:35 PM

"He tells us what good work the label people do, then turns around and admits they couldn't even get the tracklisting right in the press release. ha!"

You're kidding, right? I hope you realise that it was a joke and that he actually posted the tracklisting to their last album.

Posted by Jim | August 17, 2006 4:31 PM

"He tells us what good work the label people do, then turns around and admits they couldn't even get the tracklisting right in the press release. ha!"

You're kidding, right? I hope you realise that it was a joke and that he actually posted the tracklisting to their last album.

Posted by Jim | August 17, 2006 4:32 PM

"You're kidding, right? I hope you realise that it was a joke and that he actually posted the tracklisting to their last album."

re-read the post, genius.

Posted by lee | August 17, 2006 10:00 PM

HA! Jim, check the date of this post. Jokes on you! :)

Posted by jerry | August 18, 2006 12:49 PM