I'm wondering if we'll get to the point where bands like U2 or Megadeth start demanding people pay in advance for putative albums. Along the same principle as the kidnapper's ransom demand: "we will release an album in 6 months time, but only when the bank account we have just set up contains 2 million quid"
Patrick Wolf, I think, had a lot of fan funding in the last album. Nothing compulsory, but I think at a point he did imply that the release date would be conditioned by the amount raised.
As for this case, advanced leaks are always unfortunate (particularly if they're of unfinished material), but any band with aspirations should know that between sending stuff to journos, factories all over the world and, a lot of stores ahead of release date, and so on, someone is likely to get their hands on a disc, make a high quality rip and post it online. The only way is only to invite hacks for private listening parties and release the album on iTunes or some other digital way long before a single hard copy they can't control at all time is produced. And even then...
However, this all seems very bandwagonesque, in a sense they're hardly a well known band, with an album wikipedia tells me has been well received, and there has been a lot of talk recently regarding the subject at hand. Besides, they come as twats judging from that rant.
Note to him: I worked to buy my guitar, and I'm thinking of getting a bass next. I'd love to actually record something someday and in someway offset all I've spent, but if I did spent so much money on gear, it's because I actually like playing it, not because I've decided to become rich by playing a bunch of barré chords.
