In Our Bedroom After the War

I haven't seen any publicity around this yet, but if you go to eMusic, the new Stars album In Our Bedroom After the War is now available. I haven't finished listening to it yet, so I'll refrain from further comment, but I just thought I'd get the word out.

Incidentally, I note that the official release date isn't until September 25. What's the point of this kind of delay? I mean, I realize it happens all the time these days, but it seems weird.

Comments

Here is the band's statement for the different release dates. They're trying to give the leak downloaders the chance to do the honorable thing.

Posted by Trevor | July 27, 2007 11:26 AM

I really like the album - and as a very lazy music fan with no patience for the hassle of illegal downloading I appreciate the ability to *legally* download ahead of the official release date.

Posted by RebeccaS | July 27, 2007 11:53 AM

Illegal downloading is super easy if you have an internet connection better than 56 kbps. I illegally download all my music but go to at least 60 concerts a year and buy band t-shirts and other merch when it's worth it-- my own way of supporting the artist. I sleep well enough at night.

Posted by Gregorio | July 27, 2007 12:25 PM

Someone already posted Stars's thing about why they made it available early. But to answer the general question:

The reason for the delay is so they can coordinate the marketing push (assuming there is one) for the album. All those reviews and interviews, and the start of touring in support of the album... I imagine coordinating all that even just for a band at Stars's level of success can be a bit daunting.

Of course, these days, the album leaks a couple months in advance, and he music blogs are all done discussing the album a month before release, and...

Posted by Alex | July 27, 2007 1:11 PM

The standard music industry strategy for promotion (one that most indies, majors and indie-major hybrids like Stars' label Arts & Crafts operate under) is to begin a promo campaign that lasts around 4 months after a band delivers final recordings and artwork. Thusly, the "release date" is always set up so that press and radio play can prime the pump for the day an album appears on store shelves. All based on the time it takes to manufacture CDs and mail them out to writers, magazines, radio and stores.
Like Alex said, these days albums leak earlier (maybe all those people that get advance promo copies just can't wait to share them) and web outlets run reviews earlier. Ordinary fans are left to wait until a CD shows up in stores, having seen a bazillion reviews or even heard snippets of a record or (gasp) having had the opportunity to download a copy or get a burned CD.
Many indie labels already try pretty hard to encourage fans to pre-order albums. Some will mail out preordered releases so that fans get their CDs or LPs before or at the day the stores get them. Matador Records gives people who preorder some CDs a code to stream the album before release date. And then there are all the release date and format variations that the major labels have concocted like exclusive release dates and prices for some retailers (say Best Buy)or multiple editions like the new Smashing Pumpkins album.
The early online release of Stars' new album is a hint of things to come. The band's statement makes the point better than I can. It's important to note that the label was selling downloads before they allowed EMusic to sell them. So Arts & Crafts garnered some pre-release sales as well.
Why should labels and band privilege reviewers and radio stations over the paying customer? The gap between a band's delivery of a recording and the sale of that recording is going to decrease quickly. For one thing, labels can now deliver digital promos.
The standard Tuesday morning release date is going to disappear.

Posted by Bruce | July 27, 2007 5:59 PM