I guess it's within their rights to not sell individual tracks, but I think it's pretty boneheaded. Just because it's generally agreed that DSotM is a unified piece and should be listened to in its entirety doesn't mean we shouldn't have the right to buy a single track if we want. Again their choice, but I think they're only hurting themselves. Especially if they pull their albums from iTunes altogether.
I just hope it's not a signal of things to come from other musical acts.
Yeah - what was I thinking. I forgot that we live in the age of the "jam-band" where they don't plan a set, but just play at random. Ugh. Death is preferable.
Anyway, on topic − way to go P.F. You're one of the only bands I can imagine who actually should be doing this.
I think you misunderstood the poster your quoted... He was in fact siding with PF on the issue and agreed that they should be able to allow artists to have a say (provided they were smart enough to ask for it before they signed their contract) as to how their music is sold and pointed out that PF in particular was a band that put and enormous amount of effort into their albums (especially DSM and The Wall) and they were fully intended to be heard in their entirety and not piecemeal.
Now you can't argue with the old adage 'the customer is ALWAYS right' and if they really WANT to buy a single track they should be able to... and this is where the contract kicks in PF made it perfectly clear that they would forgo the profits (and in turn deny the record company their profits) on the sales of 'singles' because they had strong feelings about it. The band signed it, the studio signed it and thats that.
Yes in general but not all young people and not all new music is of that caliber. I know many a young person that collects quality/old time stereo equipment and will set for long stretches of time listening and discussing quality music.
As a 34-year-old who regularly listens to Bruckner symphonies and the "lengthier" works of Morton Feldman in their entirety, and no one else I know in my general circle -- regardless of age -- does (or is willing to do) the same or similar, I realize... that I'm 34, and that the next generation is generally screwed, doomed to short attention-spans easily satisfied with cheap baubles at every turn. Ugh. Most of the kids and teens I know make little puppies seem intensely-focused.
I do my best to take my friends to hear live Mahler and Berlioz, but they just are affected by this stuff in the same way as am I.
As to music listening and appreciation skills, best not to go there. Quite apart from the fact that one is in a horribly subjective territory where there is no rational resolution, I can assure you that I grew up on music and musical forms that makes PF -- bless them -- sound like muzak (albeit pleasant muzak).
When I went to see them in the 90's (Division Bell tour) they did Dark Side of the Moon from start to finish - it was fantastic!
Certainly in their early years they used to perform concerts in support of new albums by playing the album in it's entirety (a mate of mine who saw them a couple of times in their very early years says they used to use concerts to improve the material before they even recorded it).
I admire them for standing up against the record companies determination to make as much money as possible and instead go for artistic integrity.
That said, artistic integrity is much easier to have when you are already incredibly rich!
It doesn't matter, they signed a deal about their album which was/is a specific and formulaic piece of artwork. A concert is a different matter altogether.
Anyways, I do believe they would at least play certain songs in succession live.
Whilst I take your point, it's a little harsh. Green Day still sell into the youth market and their last two albums make little sense unless listened to as a whole.
HA! I'd go with a good pair of headphones and a record player in a dimmed room but that's just me.
I agree, too -- the fault here lies entirely with EMI. Anyone who knows them is aware of their profound stupidity.
Its too bad PF doesn't have the same kind of laws that the record studios have. If they did PF could sick RIAA on EMI!
We are seeking full damages at $15,000.00 dollars PER OFFENSE!
Whilst I take your point, it's a little harsh. Green Day still sell into the youth market and their last two albums make little sense.
There you go; fixed it for ya.