np: "Apathy's Last Kiss" - Smashing Pumpkins
It appears that a new Smashing Pumpkins album is imminent. Well, I suppose album is a bit of a misnomer. Let's call it the new Smashing Pumpkins project. And I have to admit that despite my recent misgivings about the band I once loved more than pretty much any other music out there (detailed in length here), the format of this thing could work out to be pretty cool. Apparently Billy and whomever is actually in the band this month are gearing up to release the first song of Teargarden by Kaleidyscope (I know, right?) as an absolutely free digital download in the coming weeks. But this isn't one of those hook 'em in with the first track free and make 'em pay later, no. The entire 44-track album is to be available as free digital downloads, with a new track to follow about once a month. The real money will be made by packaging physical bundles of the songs as limited-edition, collectible EPs every 7 or 8 songs. And if I know nothing else about Pumpkins fans, they will happily cough up cash at any opportunity to buy product. So it'll probably work, as long as Billy is able to maintain momentum on the project. I'm just happy that I'll be able to keep an errant eye on the band's new work without paying out the nose for it. Considering the Pumpkins are little more than a Corgan vanity project at this point, free is about the only price I'm willing to pay for new music in 2009. But hey, if they can convince me otherwise, I'll be a satisfied fan once again. The free download trick just may be enough to gain back some of the lost goodwill.
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