Decomposing Train

Trent Reznor has just released Ghosts I-IV in a variety of lossless DRM-free digital formats, with the first 9 tracks being given away absolutely free. The full set of tracks (36 total) can be downloaded for $5, and a variety of other formats/packages/media bundles can be bought for a range of prices up to a limited-edition set for $300 (which has already sold out). Radiohead caused a bit of a stir with their In Rainbows online release, but they weren’t really on-board with the whole digital distribution thing.

First the viral media coolness of Year Zero, now this. Trent is the fucking MAN.

ghosts.nin.com

UPDATE: NIN Confirms Uploads to Public and Private Torrent Sites

“last night our website had to go down for maintenance for a little while due to the incredible amount of traffic and downloads, and we linked directly to our Pirate Bay torrent as a way for people to get the music while we were offline.” Rob Sheridan, Art Director for NIN told TorrentFreak, adding “I noticed our official torrent of Ghosts I was in the top 10 of all torrents on The Pirate Bay last night.”

“We use torrents ourselves, and we know that most NIN fans are tech-savvy and familiar with file-sharing, so we want to experiment with ways to use that to our advantage, instead of making the mistake of trying to fight or ignore it, as so many artists and labels do.” NIN’s Rob Sheridan added.

I really like The Steampunk Workshop. It appeals to my Lovecraftian sensibilities. I’ve always said that I want to have a study with crazy Victorian stuff in it. Also, a Giger skull chair. But I seriously want to make one of these: The Steampunk LCD Monitor.

The Steampunk Keyboard looked terribly anachronistic sitting in front of my Dell 1907FP flat panel monitor and while I hesitated to tear open a $300 monitor that was still under warantee, art must be served.

I’ll need the keyboard too.

Maybe when things settle down in a few months, I’ll have the time and space to do a couple of DIY projects myself… I’d have to see about doing it in more of a slate/black/steel theme. Brass is nice, but I prefer carbon fiber.

Also, on the subject of steampunk: Abney Park has a neat website, and their music is pretty cool, too.

Trent Reznor Loves Downloads

Found via The Register.

Here’s a transcript of the interview.

JJJ: Do you think the major labels now will adapt to this digital world? They’re starting to negotiate with the download sites to broker deals.

TR: I really don’t know. The level of ineptitude I’ve seen displayed at major labels is stunning. The people in charge of a lot of the digital technologies and the aspects that are decimating their business, that I‘ve seen, are people that seem to not even be on the internet, might have an AOL email account. I mean for them to right now in 2008 be considering brokering deals with download sites it’s like, you’re five years too late.

I’ve been listening to a lot of new music recently.  Right now I am obsessed with Saul Williams, specifically the track “Guns By Computer” off the Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D album.

UPDATE:  The Inevitable Rise And Liberation of Niggy Tardust! is fucking amazing.