The new album’s mastered, pressed, and ready for you in a variety of formats (more if you’re Japanese!) on 3/25. “Salute Your Solution,” the first single, will have its music video premiere that day, too. This info via the group’s newsletter…
“Album” meaning: full length vinyl, CD and digital formats; and “everywhere” meaning: local mom and pop Indie retailers, corporate superstores, supermarkets, iTunes, Amazon, the band’s own website and any other location that could get the record up and going this quickly (some places couldn’t move this fast, so they will join in as soon as they can).
It contains 14 new recordings and is being released globally on Third Man Records in conjunction with our marketing/distribution partners, XL Recordings and Warner Brothers Records.
The album was mastered and completed in the first week of March. It was then taken immediately to a vinyl pressing plant. Then to a CD pressing plant. Then preparations to sell it digitally began. March 25th became the soonest date to have it available in EVERY FORMAT AT ONCE. The band have done no interviews or advertisements for this record before this announcement.
The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception.
With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important “first week sales”. We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it.
Another purpose was to also allow people to have their own choice as to exactly which format they would like to hear the album in IMMEDIATELY, rather than having to wait for their favorite format to become available. The band are also not releasing any version of this record that contains bonus tracks. Musically this album will be the same as the band created it no matter what format it is purchased in (The sound quality of each format however, is a different story. The Raconteurs recommend hearing it on vinyl, but the choice is of course up to the listener).
The band also prefer that fans buy the album as a whole instead of breaking up the tracks, but until iTunes and other digital services allows bands to release their albums with the option of NOT breaking it up, it will be sold in that fashion on those particular sites. On the band’s website however, the album will be sold in its entirety as an mp3 at 320kb bit rate. Also in Japan, fans will be able to download the record via their mobile phones, as that is how a majority of recorded music is consumed there.
The reason we are announcing this release one week ahead of time is because of retail pre-ordering and stocking, information about this album’s imminent release was bound to come to light and could be confusing to fans. Also in the event that the record leaks, we didn’t want this method of release to be seen as a REACTION to such a leak. It’s not. The actual worst thing about a leak is the usual poor sound quality, akin to watching a movie on a wristwatch instead of in a theater. Which for the album’s creators is a bit of a letdown, but again, it is completely up to the listener.
There will be a video up on the internet for the first single, “Salute Your Solution”, on the 25th as well, provided it gets edited in time. We just filmed it the other day!
We hope not to confuse anyone with too many options, or deny them the formats that they like best. The Raconteurs feel very strongly that music has worth and should be treated as such. Thank you to all those who respect music in this fashion, and thank you to our label partners for working with us to get this album to fans in as many formats as possible all at once.
Thank you, and we hope that you enjoy “Consolers Of The Lonely”.
Sincerely,
The Raconteurs
No upper hand… Got that, Q101?
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fUK yeah dude
Favorite part: “The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it.”
I’m somewhat put off by that title. Hope it has more substance than their last one.
I hope this turnaround becomes a trend.
Like, WOWEE ZOWEE, and all that jazz ………
damn, I miss Pavement.
Better yet, if this forgoes the trend and becomes the norm, the labels can finally stop bitchin’ and start workin’ again.
Moooooney, do they have dates yet besides Bonnaroo?
The only band more annoying than the White Stripes? The Raconteurs.
Is it any surprise that Jack White is in both of them. Ugh.
I’m gonna put me on some Mahler, Bjork, Hugh Masekela, John Lee Hooker…whatever, and try to forget that music like the Raconteurs actually exists.
I’m gonna put me on some Glenn Branca, Primitive Radio Gods, Lawrence Welk, SR-71 and Rockwell and forget YOU actually exist!
YES! On my radioshow and podcast that I just published today I was just talking about how psyched I am for a new Raconteurs album. And now this awesome news! Check out my blog for all things indie and underground.
diamondduke.blogspot.com
Thelonious: Satire on elitism?
Why would it be satire? Or elitism? I know elitists….you have no idea.
I guess I’m just posting in the wrong place.
It’s nice to see bands that sell platinum break the rules- not sure if it helps or hurts
new artists- but it’s refreshing-( not sure if it’s about direct to consumer- it sounds more like- how can we avoid file sharing and links, and get the cash to pay for the intial recordings & pressings-before it’s shared) as there really are no more rules, 90 days prep is slowly going away- if there is no press, promo- what do the employees at their labels do these days and why did they all travel to Austin? Beware of the furniture movers, they know things before you do…When big bands don’t want your help or for you to leak their record- it’s over.
the problem is this- without any momentum baby artists won’t stay on the shelf long enough or get any press in print, or blogs- not enough room- so these big artists don’t really need to play the game-the flipside- the new bands do- but thanks to RadioHead’s schtick, and bit torrents- actual recordings have been devalued to zero- and that’s not great for baby bands, or baby labels- or people that want to help bands record, mix and the nine- Nevermind the cash it takes to make a great record-let’s just give it away- and if it effects the lower indie class- fuck em’ – it’s almost like global warming – denial, denial denial- Note to Thom and Jack- be careful men- think of your offspring- work on bringing value back to recorded songs- it’s work. Now that would be credible- teach the jet set to buy their music- for some reason they think it’s free now-
Hey guys, let’s all name drop bands that we think are better than The Raconteurs in their news post. That is just how hip we are.
oh man i am so excited for this
@ jayfarer:
Let’s just name drop better bands from detroit that aren’t popular because Jack white isn’t in them.
Dirtbombs!
Now you go.
i must concur with thelonious that anything mr. white touches turns to turd.
i am made of poop, i should know
how come nobody has mentioned Radiohead doing this same thing in October?
Because duh
for hoopajoop
Tourdates:
04/20 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Commodore Ballroom
04/21 – Seattle, Washington @ Neumo’s
04/22 – Portland, Oregon @ Wonder Ballroom
04/23 – San Francisco, California @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
04/25 – Indio, California @ Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
04/26 – Las Vegas @ The Joint
04/28 – Denver, Colorado @ The Fillmore Auditorium
04/29 – Kansas City, Missouri @ Uptown Theatre
05/01 – Dallas, Texas @ House of Blues
05/02 – Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s Barbeque
05/03 – Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s Barbeque
05/04 – New Orleans, Louisiana @ New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
06/13 – Manchester, Tennessee @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
06/26 – Arendal, Norway @ Hove Festival
07/12 – Kinross, Scotland @ T In The Park
07/13 – Naas, Ireland @ Oxegen Festival
I’ll admit that I support the rapid-release marketing, but I don’t condone partnering it with a garrulous, self-righteous rant. I much prefer the one-liner, “Well, the new album is finished, and it’s coming out in 10 days”.
Besides, everyone knows that the entire purpose for the technique is financial. Quit blowing smoke, Jack.
after a good nights rest- and listening to Obama this morning- There are much bigger issues to grind- I am excited to hear Jack and friend’s record- They make great music. The last record was a nice one.
This could be a real move for today’s music ecnonomy- I just wish Brendan’s first release would also rise up- As it was a beauty- “One Mississippi” you can find in the budget section- but the song-craft was nothing but pop genius- Anyone who has time or access to read these blogs or think about these things- is “Sittin’ Pretty”- so many great records get made- that never get heard- Seek them out- but do buy them- as behind every great record is true hard, passionate work- You mighty just feed an assistant engineer’s baby- An engineer that helped your road trip go by that much faster- We need influential taste-makers to promote the value of a great song- and the hours of honest labor to deliver it- Rise up and clean up this file-sharing mess- educate consumers now- while there’s still time. I’m blessed.
thanks julio!
wowza, if them dates is right then ill be front row at the first show
score!
all i can remember of mr. white is his continuous whining and complaining about how his albums always leaked and how the fan was being unethical and disrespectful of the ‘art.’ i read this press release and just see B.S. all over it!!! talk about creative writing. read between the lines. they aren’t doing this so that everyone can get the same format at once, or so the fans can get it immediately, or to prevent someone influencing your opinion of the record (how weak do they think we are?), or because they don’t want to be viewed by the first week of record sales…
…this is all about mr. white trying to satisfy his own self-serving desires and to avoid it getting leaked a month before release date. what’s this hogwash about leaks being of poor quality? really? funny, because the sites i use have mp3s ranging from 192kb/s to FLACs available, which in my opinion, are perfectly fine and superior quality. mr. white is an ass…no questions about it, and it makes me ill that he is trying to put this whole different spin on it to make himself look like he cares about the fans when we really know that he doesn’t. they are manipulating everyone into thinking it’s this wonderful thing being done for the fans when it’s really just a ploy for them to to trick you into buying it. ‘The band also prefer that fans buy the album as a whole instead of breaking up the tracks,’…uh, obviously!!!
in response to ariel, anyone else who has previously posted, or will post in the future claiming jack white to be an “ass” because he does not want his album to be leaked and downloaded illegally, should really think before they write anything. are you actually claiming someone to be an “ass” because they don’t want to be stolen from? and to say that this is a “ploy” to “trick you into buying the album” is about the most asinine thing i have heard in a while. if you want to hear the music…you should buy the album. why would you think you don’t owe them anything for a copy of their music? if they chose to give it away, as radiohead kind of did, then thats great and admirable and all that…but none of these people owe you shit, so stop thinking they do.
I fucking love those guys! They’re making music like it used to be made! Like it should always be made!
It’s so good, so real, nothing can stop’em. Saw them live here in NY and it was killing! Everything you’d ever want from a live show. On top of which we met and hung out with John McEnroe there…
Can’t wait for this new record. Thanks for the date announcement btw…
gimmicks are great and all, but its all useless without solid tunes. their last album really hasn’t aged well, but i hope this one has a bit more life in it.
Adam! That was an excellent post. I couldn’t agree more.
Yeah Adam.
Leaked via iTunes.
I <3 Raconteurs, but this album just doesn’t do it for me. Its too country for my tastes. So far, the only song that gets my blood pumping is the title track. AHHHHHHHHHHHH the disappointment!