I don't think it's too much of a big deal necessarily. But if people know somewhere to find the leak then there's little difference between telling people it's leaked and just linking it yourself. Because they're now going to go looking for it whereas they wouldn't otherwise go looking for it. I don't know, it all depends on what the band wants to "get" out of releasing the song. I doubt they're going to paywall our ability to hear it (there will probably be a lyric video), but there may be a chance that they lose some revenue by having people discover a leak where otherwise they might have bought the song on iTunes. But I imagine the number of people that applies to is negligible to literally zero.
If you're into leaks, and have a source for finding them, then you're likely checking that source fairly regularly for a release you're anticipating. I had no idea "You Are Free" might be released or had leaked, I just happened upon it. But I am also in the habit of listening through official streaming, once it's available there, to support the bands I like. I even generally stream through Apple Music when I buy something, unless I'm putting it on the iPod Shuffle I use for my runs.
They definitely aren't going to stream the album, nobody does that anymore. I'm guessing it word hurt the number of paid streams they would get during the first week.
All good points. I've been checking my sources for leaks almost obsessively lol. Anyway, what's done is done. Song didn't sound how I thought it would sound. Much darker in the chorus than the live version. You can barely even hear Tom's twinkly guitar, which is always prominent live. I don't love the chorus, still, but at least it has a vibe about it.
Loads of bands stream their albums, I see it all the time. Maybe a lot of them are doing it though because their album has already leaked so it's damage control to deter people from downloading? I dunno but a lot of bands partner with online zines to stream their album. I don't think JEW will since You Are Free will be enough to carry their "hype train" for the week leading up to the album's release that they shouldn't feel a need to stream. Plenty of songs already out there to keep people hyped.
"You Are Free" is posted (although unavailable) on Soundcloud, with a thumbnail of the single art. Jimmy Eat World So if you aren't gonna look for the leak, seems it's true it'll be released tomorrow.
On another note.. can we all talk about how flawless the transition from "Pain" to "Drugs or Me" is? Hadn't listened to "Futures" in full for quite some time.. and woah..
Love that transition. Apparently there's one or two transitions in the new album. Can't wait. If you want to hear an incredible alt/post/indie album that has beautiful transitions (and is all-round sublime), check out The Dark, Dark Bright by There Will Be Fireworks.
You Are Free is nice. No other song is grabbing me yet the way Sure and Certain did, but its nice. I missed JEW sounding as expansive as they seem to on this album.
Also I think I'd have taken almost any of these as the album cover (although the one they chose is great) but this font is really not doing it for me.
I like it. I was kinda tired of their super clean Futura-esque "O" swirl logo. This has more of an edge. I wonder if it's Jim's handwriting. Also, I think the album art is the one I like the least. I would've preferred Get Right or Sure & Certain's art as the album cover.
4/4 with these new songs. Im probably the only one, but they give me the same feeling Futures did when I first heard those songs. Thats a great sign for me haha. Also, the fade in at the beginning of You Are Free reminds me of Firefight.