Billy Corgan Keeps Promise to Release Free Album

Posted by Albert Costill on Sep 18, 2009 in Distribution | Comments

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One of the things that I really dig right now about giving away free music is the poker game between artists.

When Radiohead released In Rainbows, Nine Inch Nails seemingly perfected the pay-what-you-want-format with The Slip.

Now on the heels of Radiohead giving away the track “These Are My Twisted Words”, Billy Corgan Smashing Pumpkins will raise the bar with the very ambitious Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.

The revamped Pumpkins will let fans snag the 44 track ‘album’ for free. Corgan went on to state:

“Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere … Free will mean free, which means you won’t have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.”

The plan will be that as each track is completed it will be thrown up on their website, which will launch around October 31. Essentially, it’s like a puzzle. You’ll get piece by piece until the thing is complete.

Eventually, the Pumpkins will release their eighth studio album as a box set containing 11 four-track EP’s, I guess that’s when he’ll make his money.

Corgan also stated that the music “hearkens back to the original psychedelic roots of the [band]: atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty”. It also went on to say that the album is inspired by the tarot. OK, WTF? He elaborated on that by informing us that it’s going to break “down the journey of our life here into four phases as made by these different characters; the Child, the Fool, the Sceptic, and the Mystic”.

If you visit this part of the web very often, then you already know that I’m not a big fan of Corgan. I think he’s an egotistical and pompous ass whose last album, Zeitgeist, was a complete waste of time for fans and the people involved in it’s creation. Although Eric would probably disagree.

Anyways, I’m not gonna knock a rather innovative goal.

I not only like giving away music, but I really like the idea for this project. It kind of makes you feel like a part of the recording process. I’ve never heard of an album that has allowed fans to hear it from conception to completion. I really won’t be surprised if more bands copy it.

However, it also seems like a very daunting task. A lot of people, perhaps more than usual, will be making sure that the band will be meeting their deadlines, especially for a 44 track concept album.

One thing is certain, we’re going to be keeping our eyes on this as it unfolds.