suomynona said:

Just in this post--- you have to understand I have "3121" at my computer finger tips and I am forcing myself to wait. Maybe I should just say "F it" and listen with the rest of you impatient folks.

I was SOOO looking forward to leaving work last Friday at 5pm...then out of nowhere my boss told me I could leave early at 2pm...I said "No, then I won't have anything to look forward to at 5pm..."

...and back to 3121...if Prince would have made it available for download "early" for club members (music only, no artwork until release date), would you still feel the same? (He actually did this for Rainbow Children...did anybody make a decision to wait until the "real" CD was released before listening to it?)

Is there a difference between purchasing something legally when it you were meant to hear it, and going to various internet sights and getting it on the sly and illegally? I mean, I could have my paycheck early if I just went to the bank and robbed it 2 weeks before I was to get paid.

What if the "official release date" was March 5, but for music only and for some reason you had to wait until March 21 for the artwork?

Well, it'd be a different experience right? March 21st would be fun only for the artwork-not for the music I already had.


What if Prince invited you to one of these listening parties--would you decline because you wouldn't have the real CD in hand for your first listen?

I went to Paisley Park and head "the Rainbow Children" long before it came out. The difference was I only heard it once and didn't "own" it. It didn't become a casual listening experience because I didn't have the album yet.

i agree with skywalker.

i threw my leaked tracks out.

i listened to get a taste. and that's it.

The only time I've ever used a computer to obtain music is if it is rare or unreleased. As long as there is such thing as a record store, I will always be a customer. I've got better things to do than sit and wait two hours each for each song to download (if it even downloads successfully). Then it's stuck in a computer with little "kiddie" speakers. I like to hear my music on a high powered stereo and if it ain't loud and powerful enough to disturb the neighbors, then it's no good.
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[Edited 3/8/06 7:40am]

skywalker said:

- That was a good come back!!


But seriously - I don't care about waiting... I've got the album for the rest of my life, so why would I care whether I hear it now, or in 2 weeks time?.... All that's gonna have in 2 weeks time is, I put the CD in my computer, rip it, put the CD on the shelf to collect a thick layer of dust alongside all the other wonderful Prince releases from the past 10 years.

What am I missing exactly by listening to it now, rather than 2 weeks time?....

I agree with skywalker, also.

When 'Musicology' came out a week early as a download on NPGMC, I couldn't resist the temptation and hastily burned a cd-r from the files and forgot to remove the silence between tracks!
I was kickin' my own ass when the initial playback was ruined because of it

I also kinda wish that 'The Rainbow Children' wasn't a download first.
I would have rather had the finished product in my posession upon the first listen.

This time, I'll wait.

Is there a difference between purchasing something legally when it you were meant to hear it, and going to various internet sights and getting it on the sly and illegally? I mean, I could have my paycheck early if I just went to the bank and robbed it 2 weeks before I was to get paid.

I assume you know the difference between taking a tangible object, and HEARING something "early"...

[And since it's inevitable that there be discussion of "bootlegged" material, I've never felt one ounce of guilt of listening to an "illegal" version of any music...illegal doesn't mean "wrong", just not legal...there's never been any official release that I haven't purchased because I "already had it"...I see why Prince tries to stop this, as I believe I saw a few people here say that they might not purchase it now; but since I'm going to buy (multiple) copies of it, I feel no guilt--I understand why this type of thing is trying to be stopped by artists, but ME hearing it early affects no ones wallet...although my 2-year old daughter was in the room when I listened to 3121--I guess my only guilt would be that I made her a criminal at such a young age.]

...and if I understand the point of your original thread, it's that listening to the album "early" takes away the anticipation for when it's "supposed to come out"...

I've never thought to myself "I can't wait for the official release date of Prince's next album to hear new music"...only "I can't wait to hear new Prince music"...I used to manage a music store, and when we got the new albums in a few days early, I never thought that I should wait until the "release date" to listen to it. (Patience would dictate that I should have?)

Remember, I'm not saying you're wrong...I'm just trying to figure out the reasoning that waiting to listen would be "better"...

"I assume you know the difference between taking a tangible object, and HEARING something "early"...

Okay so what if I steal my money electronically?


...and if I understand the point of your original thread, it's that listening to the album "early" takes away the anticipation for when it's "supposed to come out"...


"Remember, I'm not saying you're wrong...I'm just trying to figure out the reasoning that waiting to listen would be "better".."

You know what? Overall, I am saying that listening early is like opening your presents early-no big deal do what you feel.

However, if you have it now you have what amounts to a bootlegged version.

Now, while "3121" is exactly how the offical release will sound I think that in general, boots can severely affect a listeners appreciation for legit releases. Case in point: "Crystal Ball" collection, "Endorphine Machine", etc. In some cases, ignorance is bliss.
[Edited 3/8/06 8:23am]

skywalker said:[quote]"I assume you know the difference between taking a tangible object, and HEARING something "early"...

Okay so what if I steal my money electronically?


Whether it's actual cash or electronic cash, it's still money that if you have, someone else doesn't. (Note: I bet myself that you would equate "electronic funds" with downloading music...but I can't pay myself, because someone downloaded all of the money from my bank while they were downloading the music from the internet.)

In case I have to be clearer.....if there were only a finite times that a piece of music could be listened to before it would no longer be obtainable, then a bootlegged version WOULD take money away, as it would reduce the amount available for actual purchases...but listening to a "bootleg" in and of itself does not reduce the amount available for purchase. (Anybody that wished to purchase one may, whether I listened to a bootleg or not.)

Of course this is getting away from the original discussion...and this is time I could be better spending listening to the new Prince music I have. colon close-parentheses

SheFunkSoldier said:

And back when we first got phones there were probably people who prefered the pony express.

But guess what? records stores and cd's are still going to die off.

skywalker said:

But the release date is arbitrary. 3/21 is just another day. It could just as easily been 3/08 for that matter.

Nothing like a birthday or christmas where the date is significant.

So I gather this is mainly about missing out on some theoretical "yay there's a brand new Prince album out today" feeling I'd get in my tummy by waiting till 3/21. Well, if it really matters to you then hold on to your virginity.

Personally, I don't give a crap what the pictures in the booklet look like, or whether it will "feel" all the more special cause I waited until that very special day.

Yes I'll buy it.

No I won't do a little dance when I tear open the CD (mainly because I'm not 13 anymore).

I want the music. For the most part, I like the music. The tunes I don't like have nothing to do with the quality of the mp3, but rather the quality of the composition. Been playing it through the 5.1 surround sound and there's only one track that I hope will sound significantly better on the official release.

C'mon man, this is ain't like fuckin' for the first time, where that "special" day needs to be led up to (as a matter of fact, building the release date to be something super special and all only leads to more disappointment because you've built it up to be something cosmical, when in reality it'll be something comical. LOL!). It's only listening to an album that most will be buying from the store on or close to the release date anyway. Unfortunately, back in the day, listening to a new Prince album was almost as good as fuckin', but for the past several years, it ain't even close.

skywalker said:

Hmmm. Smells strangely of rationalization.

stephaniebrown said:[quote]

skywalker said:

Okay, point taken. In your eyes, it's not stealing if it's not taking away from anybody else.

If you are a musician selling CD's for $10 each, and I steal one and give it to all my friends to burn. It's not stealing right? You are not going to run out of music/cd's etc. anytime soon, so that doesn't make it wrong ?

alexnvrmnd said:

So the glass is half empty for you?

Do you start a new listen by saying,"Alright let's get listening to this piece of shit outta the way so I can start hating it" ?
[Edited 3/8/06 11:35am]

digitalelectric said:

You might be right. Look up rationale or rational in the dictionary.

I think 320 KBS is not crappy quality.....
Sounds great on my I-pod.

I dont think 320KBS is a crappy quality.....
Sounds great on my I-pod.

skywalker said:[quote][b]Hmmm, I was tempted to listen to "3121" early, but I thought again. You tell me what's better:

1. Listening to a crappy MP3 version of the album that doesn't sound right no matter how good your computer speakers are...

I dont think 320KB/s is a crappy quality.....

I'm tempted too, but I'm going to wait. After all, I have some idea
of what it's going to be like, since I've heard Black Sweat, Fury,
Te Amo.....so it's going to be GREAT.

skywalker said:

I agree 100 % with you, Skywalker!!! I think that's because I'm a little bit old fashioned and don't like that whole downloading stuff too much. Not to offend the downloaders, it's just a technical development that's not quite my cup of tea (and I use the net a lot otherwise).

I want to have my CD from the store, open it, listen to the music and look at the booklet. If it means that I have to wait two weeks longer, fine. I've been waiting two years for that shit, two weeks more should be managable for me.

skywalker said:[quote]

stephaniebrown said:

Of course "stealing" the first CD would be wrong...but if you purchased the CD for $10, then made copies, I feel it COULD be wrong depending on the circumstances...if someone was planning on buying one, but didn't because you made them a copy (which is "pirating" more than "bootlegging"), then of course the musician is hurt financially. But if that person bought one anyway, or was never going to buy one in the first place, then it wouldn't affect the musician. (And remember, many fans become fans after being turned onto to the music by a friend making them copies--whether full albums, or mix tapes.)

I realize that "it's not stealing if it's not taking away from anybody else" is easy to rationalize away actual theft...shoplifters steal all the time because "the company is so big it won't hurt them blah, blah, blah..." and of course that's hooey, as it's taking profit away from somebody. But I'm talking about whether a musician is affected FINANCIALLY by downloaded or copied music. Obviously pirating music, such as the leak of 3121, COULD affect Prince financially, as some people will not buy it now after downloading it for free, for whatever reason. I agree as a whole that it is "wrong"...I'm just saying that if I'm not profiting financially from the download (selling copies, etc.), and I'm buying an actual copy when it is released, there's no way I feel guilty about *hearing* the music early.

[Of course the debate always rages on about whether "bootlegging"--the circulation of unreleased music and unreleased live concerts--hurts or helps artists. I know MANY people who went from casual fans to hardcore fans (lining Prince's pockets tremendously through album purchases, multiple concerts, NPGMC purchases, etc.) because of the exposure to bootlegs. Still, I can easily see why Prince would not want music he decided not to release floating around without his approval--whether other people were profiting or not. But I'll gladly boost the economy (by helping the blank disc companies stay in business) when some of this material comes my way!]

I don't know what "KB/s" are but have your neighbors called the police on you for playing it too loud yet?

When the NIN disc With Teeth came out, someone had given me a copy of the album about a couple weeks home (with the extra track Home) on it, and I listened to it a couple times, but then went to buy the album when it came out, and I thought it spoiled things for me a bit. That's why I am waiting for 3121's official release date. I have a feeling there's something really cool in store for us on the release date.

PurpleKnight said:

I just come from a time when bigger was better.

It just trips me out with some of these so called "advancements" in technology, that music loses it's power such as computer speakers, ipods, etc. For instance, I remember when boom boxes were so big you needed a strap to carry them on your shoulder. When the smaller ones came out, everyone said "with newer technology, you get that same great sound in a smaller package". What they didn't tell you is, the smaller ones only go about a third as loud as the big ones did. Hell, if you sat one of those big ones on the floor, it would actually shake the ground. You could actually have a party with one of them and Andy lives for parties. Try having a party with a computer or ipod.

2freaky4church1 said:

Surprising how many ppl can see the future here...

Instant gratification fucking rules! I heard the album early, and then I'll buy the CD on 3/21 for the liner notes, etc. It's like a double orgasm!

I'll wait.