This is from John Tyler-
I guess it pretty much sums it up-
I just got done reading the whole thread that you linked from, and wanted to respond to your post because I felt it was nice to read something that was even handed and not proselytizing.
On a personal level (read: delete this at will from the comments, but I just want to toss this out there), the Hold Steady are one of a handful of artists who are capable of genuinely effecting me. More than any other band they regularly reach for and attain the Modernist ideal of transcendence.
As much as any fan might feel loyal to the band, I think its important to remember why we feel that way in the first place: the way the music can touch us.
I was in a terrible place today and listening to Stay Positive, that changed. The album turned my day around, and considering that I am at a significant transitional point in my life right now, I can safely say that its effects will extend far beyond the next few hours.
Of course that doesn’t change anything about the ethics of intellectual property or artists’ rights, but I think it does demonstrate that at the end of the day the work of art is more important than the means of distribution.
Those of us who are (or, at least consider ourselves to be) fans will buy the album, see the shows, and buy Craig and the boys as many rounds of drinks as we can afford, regardless of listening to an advance copy.
I agree that whoever posted the leak probably isn’t a fan. I don’t feel bad for downloading the album, but even still I wouldn’t post a leak if the band had trusted me with an advance.
I think you’re right and that any negative feelings people are experiencing right now should be directed towards the person(s) who acted intentionally and in violation of a
trust (express or implied) that had been granted to them by the band. The leak will not cause me to give one penny less to the band than I would otherwise, but the person who leaked it has certainly made sure that the band will be deprived of income from other (non-fan) individuals, and that person should feel guilty. But I won’t.Already this album has made me shudder, laugh, smile, and cry. I’ve already taken its title to heart, and that is what matters.
And even if Craig, Franz, and Koob show up at my house tomorrow and, as people trying to make a living tell as artists, tell me that they’re upset that I downloaded the album; I still think that they, as artists, would be happy that their creation, their music, their art is helping people to be happy, feel unified, and stay positive. Even if it is two months early.
