There is a whole load of links out there to The Old Road, and we're cool with that. We started as a band after I downloaded some City of Caterpillar, Orchid and Pg.99 mp3s and shared them with my friends. I fully appreciate that the internet and mp3 blogs are a pretty powerful word-of-mouth tool for small bands like us to connect with people as far away as Russia, Chile and Japan. It's all good.
But.
When I read these blog posts with a link to The Old Road and other screamo albums, there seems to something missing: a link to buy the fucking thing. The fact is that behind all of those mediafire and rapidshire links, for a release like The Old Road there will be a punk kid somewhere who shelled out some serious cash to put that record out and is struggling to shift copies. When it comes to vinyl especially, there is no 'cheap' way to do that - it costs a lot of money. If you're going to be providing a copy of a record for free, the very least you can do is let people know how to contribute something back after they've downloaded.
This isn't Metallica, I'm not complaining that people are stealing our shit. There just seems to be a lot going into these records that gets 'lost in downloading,' a whole bunch of ethics and community zipped up for easy consumption. If you're running an mp3 blog then chances are you're posting records that you enjoy and think deserve more attention - great! But if that record is still in press then it's your responsibility to link back to the label who is more than likely struggling to sell copies. Maybe even make people aware that this isn't just a bunch of tunes, that there is actually some ethics and a community that leads to these records getting pressed. When you take that part away there is no difference between the DIY scene and the suits who have turned music into a billlion pound marketing act.
So yeah, keep sharing good tunes, keep exposing people to DIY music, but make sure to think about the bedroom distros and record labels when you do and give a little back. These guys don't make money, not unless they're the size of ebullition or level plane. I ran a distro for two years and know this for a fact. And not everyone who downloads and enjoys the record will be able to buy it either, but at least let the people who can find out how to.
This isn't Metallica, I'm not complaining that people are stealing our shit. There just seems to be a lot going into these records that gets 'lost in downloading,' a whole bunch of ethics and community zipped up for easy consumption.
Hi melemonom,
Yeah they definitely do ship to the States. See this page for getting in touch with Dany who runs the label:
http://www.artforblind.com/contact.htm
There might be some distros in the states that have the record.
Cheers,
David/Mesa
Yeah, I definitely agree with all that you wrote. Intelligent post.
The reason of my downloading albums is simple - i study and I have not a lot of money, so I must download, for example, your stuff to hear some really quality music.
when I have money I buy cd/vinyl once a time, because I like that group and its good to know I give a little support to them. Its same with gigs - Im writin for a magazine and I have acreditations - partly I have no money and partly I rather buy a cd on that gig and I´ll write about that show for my friends or just for people...uh, you must be a little puzzled - I just want to say that when I will finished my studies and I will have a job, I will definitely buy everything what I like ...and its problem of many many peple I know :o)
btw: here, in czech republic, is really hard to find some shop with good distro which sale stuff like you play. Maybe on Fluff fest :o)
anyway cheers
Roman
Definitely agree with you. I write for a music blog and while I admittedly don't put buy links on all of them, I do put some up for quite a few. I also try to cross link to my favorite distros and labels (including my own).
I do download quite a few myself too, and don't buy every record. However with the 500 some odd dollars I gave various DIY outlets last year, I won't feel too bad I gave Mesa Verde x amount of dollars, and Raein nothing. As selfish as it sounds.
Now, I know a lot of people don't have the same mindset as me, but on a personal level I try to give as much to the "scene" as I think I can spare for any given time. Considering I have tuition payments coming up, and we live in a crappy world economy, I probably won't give another 500 bucks this year. Oh well, that's life.
hey! just ran across this, may find it funny, may be angry with me. I just today decided to start a music blog, some of my favorite bands are ones that are very seldom heard of, or which have collapsed. I realized I can play a part in getting my favorite bands some exposure with a blog. The first album I have posted is The Old Road, and believe me or not, I posted a link to the AFB online shop (before having read this). I myself have a copy of the 12" on the way (to Canada) and the only way I would've been moved to make a purchase is by hearing the album. So I'm happy to see that you guys understand the importance of downloading (and as well the bigger picture, why it matters beyond just your band, that people still buy albums to support their favorite bands). So again I don't mean to cause any irritation by blatantly saying 'I am providing a download link to your album'. I do so with the intention of keeping you guys from being one of those solid acts that collapse due to frustration and lack of support (given, my influence is minimal, but its something I can do atleast).
Cheers, thanks a million for the only album I know of that can rival "As The Roots Undo"
Just stumbling across this after checking your site to see when new music is coming. I was thinking about starting a music blog in the near future, and I'll admit that I downloaded the Old Road off a music blog after reading about it on SputnikMusic. However, I'm the kind of guy who will only download music after making absolutely sure that I have no way of obtaining it via Amazon or some other online retailer. Looking at your own web site, I see no links to buy albums or merch. I'm not berating you for this, I'm just honestly imploring how best I can support your amazing band and point others in the same direction.
You guys are incredible, and if I can keep you making music for a long while by my support, I would love nothing better.
Good feedback guys and thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. There's no need to defend yourselves though, like I said in the post I download a lot of music too and I've certainly did my fair share of passing around music that I wanted other people to hear. It's hard to buy this stuff not just because money can be tight, but also because most of it is hard as hell to find. It's nature of the DIY scene. More blogs seem to be posting a link to buy the record so it's great that maybe this message got through.
@Joe Cheers for the heads up about the lack of links on our website. There is actually a link to buy The Old Road on the homepage though, which points to art for blind. The demo is long sold out, and so is Amor Fati as far as I'm aware so it wasn't worth putting the links on the releases page. Plus, we suck at self-promotion.
Well I know quite a few people over here in the US who would love nothing better than to buy some merch, myself included. So if you ever feel like a quick bout of self-promotion, let us all know. Cheers!
download
The guitarist for my band Soars put me on to you guys after downloading the Old Road. After I realized how awesome you are I bitch-slapped him and made him order a copy of the LP for us each. So now there are two copies of The Old Road on their way to Brisbane, Australia.
I don't download any music simply because I never really learned how to. Ignorance is bliss. Also, most bands stream a lot of there music via MySpace or there websites, so I'll just listen to what they've got to stream and buy there stuff judging by that.
By the way, you guys should definitely come to Australia. We've got a really strong scene here, and you guys would go down so well.
Maybe it is just me, but as far as trying to find your cd stateside in the US, I have had no luck. Not on amazon.com, itunes, or anywhere else I have tried. If you could point me into the right direction, I'd appreciate it. Looking into the art of the blind website got me no where too. Maybe it's just me, but I don't know where else to look to try and purchase your merch.
melemonom
Do you know if Art For Blind ship to the States?