Trent Reznor just announced the new Saul Williams album, and it's being distributed Radiohead-style. But this time, it's done right.

From http://niggytardust.com :

You will first be asked to enter your e-mail address. This is where you will receive the download link when the album becomes available on November 1.

If you choose to pay for the record, your download will be available in the following formats:

192Kbps MP3
320Kbps MP3
FLAC lossless audio

If you choose not to pay for the record, you will receive it in 192Kbps MP3 format.

All versions include a PDF with artwork and lyrics

All files are 100% DRM free, and can be played on any device. MP3s are encoded with LAME v3.97 and love.

$5 is a very fair price.

Not quite Radiohead-style, but I agree that it's a bloody good setup.

haha niggytardust

Cool, this probably means that future NIN releases will also be available as high-quality MP3 or FLAC. Joy!

Interesting, interesting. It is all unfolding like Alun Parry predicted. I am sure, Trent won't be telling fans to steel the lossless version this time .

just preordered, for 0,00 $.
But if I like it, I will pay, and from what I'we found on myspace, I think I'll go to pay...
Well done, this is the right way to go!

Can't complain too much about that. 192kbps LAME 3.97 MP3 for those who pay nothing for Saul's new album, and the a variety of options for those who do. Reznor "leaked" one of the tracks, titled Break, at 320kbps, and it isn't half-bad.

It's great to see FLAC becoming a viable mainstream format.

EDIT: Just took a look at Break with EncSpot Pro. The file is LAME 3.97 quality "58" -- that's 320 CBR, joint stereo, lowpass at 20.5 kHz. WaveLab detects 10 clips at default detection settings, and my eyes detect a bevy of clipped samples
EDIT: Removed redundant information after post was relocated.

I must admit that I don't fully understand what that means. Is 58 really bad?

Joint stereo and a lowpass filter of 20500 is standard for 320 CBR.

The "58" is the LAME quality attribute defined in the header. The specs define the formula (assuming this isn't horribly outdated). It isn't file-specific or anything; it's just based on the encoding parameters, and is, as such, some sort of generic metric.

Just wanted to update on this real quickly. The album was released late last night (after some delay), and I downloaded the FLAC copy, which weighs in at around 425 megs. Not only is the lyrics/credits PDF well done, but the ZIP also includes a FLAC Fingerprint, a cue sheet and a playlist in M3U format. The cover art is also a hefty 760x560 JPG.

I'd say the album's hit-and-miss, but this this is an excellent package, and for $5, I'd say it's a steal. This is no In Rainbows.

Very good. If they had this for all albums, i would be buying a lot of music right now.

I got the free version, and listened to it today. Decent album, sound quality was good. Worth what I paid for it

I'll stick to CD's, though. I can't stand the thought of paying for a download...yuck. I'll take a physical pressed CD and pre-printed artwork any day of the week--I'd rather pay $10 or $15 for that over $5 for some FLAC's.

This is an excellent package! And guaranteed error-free unlike Audio CDs, hushypushy... ...unless they actually ripped it from a CD!

I'm currently downloading the free version, and I have my doubts that I will like it as I'm not into Hip-Hop at all, although he seems to be one of the better (serious) artists in this genre (despite the quirky Ziggy Stardust reference).

Niggy Tardust. Clever. I might have to check this out.

First post, and have to say good on Trent for getting it right compared to Radiohead!
$5 for the FLAC files was brilliant...I look forward to the NIN releases following this same format.

just saw a breakdown of the sales numbers, thought it might be interesting to some:


lots more info in the full post.

a couple more interviews:
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9847788-7.html
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9848536-7.html