Jan 9

Be Cool — Don’t Download The Times Of Grace LP

Posted by Chris Harris on January 9, 2011 in News

The signed copy of the disc you could win!

I spotted this yesterday, on Jesse Leach’s Facebook page, and I wasn’t going to post anything about it at first because I didn’t want to promote the fact that the new Times of Grace record leaked. But it has. And since Jesse writes a column for Gun Shy Assassin, let me just implore you — don’t illegally download the new Times of Grace record because that would be really lame of you. In fact, don’t illegally download any record.

Sure, I know a lot of you are anxious to hear the new record. I am too…but I’m going to wait until I get an actual copy of The Hymn of a Broken Man (in stores January 18) and not download some horse-shit quality version of the disc online. Be patient, people.

On Facebook, Jesse posted a blog about the leak: “So the inevitable has happened, the record of my career has been put out there without consideration for all of the hard work and promotion. I know this is the day and age we live in and this happens to everyone now. I still don’t feel it is right regardless of the reasoning. To me, it is like if I were a painter and I worked for four years on a painting. Every single brush stroke was painstakingly conceived, every tone and texture worked and reworked until it was just right.”

He goes on: “I would sit for hours in my studio sipping on a drink and thinking: Is this good? Is it just right? I would go out and live my life outside of the studio and any chance I got I would go back and just stare at it making sure it was exactly how I wanted it. Then, after reworking it a dozen times, I put it under a tarp and spent months planning the revealing of it at my gallery opening. Then, one night, some clever fellow broke into my studio ripped of the tarp and took a quick Polaroid photo of the painting. This art thief then published the photo in a local magazine, so the painting is now a photo of a photo.

“I know what some of you are thinking, ‘Dude, get over it. This happens all of the time,’ and I know it does, but I am not going to front and pretend ‘It is all good.’ The least I can do is say something, so that’s what I am doing. There is nothing I can physically do, so this is it. Don’t get me wrong, folks — I am still excited for January 18th! I have been waiting a long time for this and no lo-fi Polaroid shoddy leak is going to take that away from me. I am confident you good people will still support us.

“For all those who already bought the record, many, many heartfelt thanks to you all your support has gotten me out of my day job and in preparation for the road once again! I get to have a second shot at making a living off of my music! To me, this is incredible and I count my blessings every day!

“All of your messages, comments and promotion is awesome. All of you give me hope and gracious words every day. Thanks for giving a damn about me and my art. I feel I do have a purpose with my music and it has nothing to do with fame and fortune. Just getting simple honest recognition and respect means a great deal to me.

“So again thank you all for your support and every time I see a comment pleading with people to buy the record regardless, it makes me smile. Well, off to train and get my but into shape for the upcoming tour! Cue the ‘Rocky IV’ training montage music… going for a run out in the snow!”

By the way, if you sign up for the Gun Shy Assassin Newsletter, you will be entered to win a copy of the album, signed by the band. Fucking dig it…don’t steal it!

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

About

Chris Harris is an internationally-published music journalist and writer whose work has appeared on the pages of Rolling Stone, IFC.com, Revolver, Alternative Press, and Radar. The former news editor for Noisecreep.com, AOL’s heavy metal blog, Harris also served as co-host for the site’s weekly podcast, “Creep Show." Harris spent four years as a reporter and on-air talent for MTV News.

  • Joshwaskew

    Sorry guys i downloaded it the copy is great abd the album is amazing so much so that i will buy it and if by chance u come to australia i will b there

  • bricklayer

    If your work is worthy then it will find a paying audience. Bands that are releasing vinyl w/cd or mp3 downloads, and quality artwork and packaging are doing the right thing. People still want an artifact. It’s just that right now you still have a generation who grew up with criminally overpriced compact discs, and the age of Napster, Limewire, etc. Old dogs like me want the vinyl, but also want the mp3 for the ipod and computer. I’ll download and if I like it, I’ll buy it.

  • bricklayer

    Also, I’m not discounting your feeling in any way. You have every right to want and expect your art to be presented the way you want it to be. I also hope you are appropriately remunerated for your efforts, and that you’re able to provide for yourself and your family from it. I always love to see someone be able to make a living off of something they love. Unfortunately, in these times, it’s very hard to do it.

  • Anonymous

    Congrats on making everyone aware that there was a leak when most of us had no idea? Next time hold off a bit and at the very least wait until you’ve released your album before alerting the entire community that your album us both out before it was supposed to be and easily steal-able. Your concerns are valid, but realize that in this case, the bitching has actually caused more albums to be downloaded…. Unless that’s what your going for, you know, to get the bands name out there… in which case /rant on.