jim fork

Future of the Left is a noisy, sarcastic alt-rock outfit from Cardiff, and back in 2009, they were eight weeks away from releasing their best work to date, the album Travels With Myself and Another. A promotional copy of the album showed up on eBay, closely followed by various sites offering paid downloads of the work. This was a full month before the official release date of the album.

Following this act, lead singer and lyricist Andy Falkous posted a heartfelt and hilarious entry on his MySpace blog which was later published as a full-page advert (right) in the Guardian, paid for by the industry association UK Music:

...getting annoyed about downloading in this valueless modern age is like taking issue with water for being wet or night for gradually turning into day because ultimately the entitlement that most people feel for free music completely overshadows any moral or legal issues and conflicts that may arise in the hearts and minds of better people, people who understand that actions, on both an individual and group level, have consequences far beyond that moment of instant gratification.

Future of the Left herald and accompany their releases with a mix of punchy YouTube videos, free tracks and even a hilarious podcast featuring Glenn Danzig's travelogue of Northumbria* and an exclusive track* from Billy Corgan. Most of the band's material is available on vinyl, CD and digital.

The other artist I should mention is Against Me!. The title of this blog is taken from a song on their 2007 album New Wave and features the lyrics:

All the insiders rumor over the decline in sales.
All the buzz is happening in the new digital market place.
FBI warning printed on the flipside.
Under penalty of law piracy will be prosecuted.
In MRR (Maximum Rock And Roll) someone asks the question,
“With the instant availability of information
and content so easily obtainable
is the culture now a product that’s disposable?”
All the punks still singing the same song.
Is there anyone thinking what I am?
Is there any other alternative?
Are you restless like me?

The lead singer, Tom Gabel (now Laura Jane Grace, long** story) this year formed a music label, "Total Treble Music", and built a studio, "Total Treble Studio", to help realise his/her intention of recording and releasing one full length album a year for the next decade.

As more bands become self-reliant in this manner, is the future of record companies more about product dressing, distribution and retail, and less about handing out advance fees to musicians? How do the musicians feel about this? Is this going to increase the gap between mass-marketed TV talent show drivel and independent artists, even to the extent where substantially different delivery methods will be required for their products?

* Authenticity not verified
** Not that long