Hades Forum

Kno wrote:The press promos are going out within a week or so for A Piece Of Strange, and I have a simple request for all fans of CunninLynguists and QN5 Music.

No matter how much you feel you can't wait, no matter how much you think it won't matter, don't let your first listen to this LP be of the overdubbed press promo. Don't download it, even if you feel like you need to preview the record before it drops. If that is the case, listen to the retail MP3 rip when it drops.

It is ok for writers and reviewers to listen and absorb this LP by way of an overdubbed promo CD, but only because in order to get press we have to play by the rules and turn in promo material 3 months in advance of magazine dates, so it is what it is. It is a Catch 22 because in order to get press you have to make a version of the record available 3 months in advance to any writer that may (and will) rip it to MP3 and upload it. Majors don't face this because they can afford to wait, or fly people in to have listening parties, etc. If Vibe wants to write a cover article on 50 Cent because having a 50 cover will boost sales, they just fly to where 50 is and have a listening and interview.

Obviously, we can't do that. So not only does much of indie music's fanbase (all genres) exist online (so they know the ins and outs of peer-to-peer), but our promos are available earlier. So after these folks have had something for free for 3 months, why buy it?

But mainly my issue is this : The promo advance is that, a promo advance. It's not the retail version of the LP. It isn't entirely finished, and that combined with the fact there are overdubs on it means you won't get what we were trying to accomplish as a full length LP the same as you will if you listen to the retail.

Buy or download the retail version, sit back on your couch or get in your car and listen to it all the way through. You'll be mad at yourself later if you don't, I promise.

Peace!
Kno