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2011 Outlook: Radiohead, “The King of Limbs”

Dw. Dunphy February 14, 2011 10

Those sneaky devils from Radiohead have snuck up again and surprised us with a new album. While the physical formats for The King of Limbs won’t appear until May 9th, the digital version is ready for pre-order and will be available to all this coming Saturday, February 19th.

A few things distinguish this release from their previous In Rainbows, particularly the abandonment of the Pay Whatever You Feel option. While Camp Radiohead did their best to minimize talk of what occurred, the album wound up being purchased by fans for no money whatsoever. Even more insulting, once those files got out into the world, they wound up on free download sites and torrent venues. It was estimated that pirate files of In Rainbows were getting more downloads than the official ones, even though the official ones could be taken just as freely.

The MP3 version is priced at 6 pounds ($9.6396, or rounded to $9.65) while the CD quality WAV version is 9 pounds ($14.4594, roughly $14.50). The band expects you will buy this time.

The physical version of the album will come as two 10-inch vinyl discs, a CD and a collection of large sheets of artwork, 625 tiny pieces of artwork and a full-color piece of oxo-degradeable plastic to hold it all together. One has to assume this was designed by longtime Radiohead cohort Stanley Donwood.

We will further elaborate on this once we’ve heard more ourselves. As per usual, Radiohead never fails to catch all of us off guard.

For more information about The King of Limbs, visit The King of Limbs.

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About the author: Dw. Dunphy View all posts by
Dw. Dunphy is a writer, artist, musician, bon vivant, n'er do well, but neither a president nor client of the Hair Club for Men. He resides in New Jersey with his decades-old neuroses and debt.You can follow him at Facebook, Twitter, or hit him up on Google+. Or just hit him. Really hard. With bats. Until he asks for you to stop, but don't stop. If you stop, an angel doesn't get its wings.

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  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    I never expected the “pay what you want” thing to last more than one album, and I’m sure that the band didn’t either. I’m sure they knew that a lot of people would pay nothing, and that it would be pirated, but the release a massive success in that there was no record company, and whatever the band made (I’ve heard estimates of $10 million), they kept. Besides that, it was a bold and groundbreaking strategy. I certainly don’t mind paying them for the new one.

  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    I never expected the “pay what you want” thing to last more than one album, and I’m sure that the band didn’t either. I’m sure they knew that a lot of people would pay nothing, and that it would be pirated, but the release a massive success in that there was no record company, and whatever the band made (I’ve heard estimates of $10 million), they kept. Besides that, it was a bold and groundbreaking strategy. I certainly don’t mind paying them for the new one.

  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    I never expected the “pay what you want” thing to last more than one album, and I’m sure that the band didn’t either. I’m sure they knew that a lot of people would pay nothing, and that it would be pirated, but the release a massive success in that there was no record company, and whatever the band made (I’ve heard estimates of $10 million), they kept. Besides that, it was a bold and groundbreaking strategy. I certainly don’t mind paying them for the new one.

  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    Also, if you look at the US site, you will notice that the mp3 price is a flat $9.00, $14 for WAV files.

  • EightE1

    … and it will be free to all by Saturday afternoon.

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  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    I’m as much of a taker an anyone else, maybe more, but I think you have to support the artists who are trying to make a difference. Even though they’re charging for this one (and why not, they have a right to make a living), they’re still doing it their own way, sans record label, and taking it directly to their fans.

  • EightE1

    … and then putting out a CD two months later that all those same fans will want for their Radiohead collections, thus enticing them to pay twice for the same record. Sorry, I’ll take the freebie now and, if it’s as good as they usually are, get the disc when it arrives in May.

  • http://www.kenshane.com kshane

    According to their publicists, you only have to wait until March for the disc:

    “Following this initial digital release on the band’s own Ticker Tape imprint, the album will be on general release on CD & 12″ vinyl in all music stores and major digital retailers from March 28th.”

    The May date is for the Deluxe Package.

  • EightE1

    Ah. Misread that. My point still remains, though …