Radiohead has made a habit of reinventing album releases, and one needn't look further than 2007's In Rainbows, which was essentially available on a donation basis, to see the band's out-of-the-box thinking. (This was well before streaming took off, mind you.) So it shouldn't come as a surprise the English experimental rockers are back with a creative way to promote their most recent album, A Moon Shaped Pool.
On Friday, June 17, Radiohead will host a worldwide listening party and fans in Dallas-Fort Worth are invited. Four local record stores will host what's being billed as a "daylong audio stream from the band, competitions, instructional artworks and more," according to the band's website. Participating venues include Good Records and Spinster Records in Dallas, Josey Records in Farmers Branch and Forever Young Records in Grand Prairie.
That's what we know. That rest, as Josey Records manager Wil Brooks says, is "clear as mud."
The stream is said to be radio-style programming with songs curated by Radiohead, including two hours worth of live audio from recent performances, presumably featuring some of its newest material.
Good Records begins its event at 8 p.m., while Spinster plans to broadcast beginning at noon. (Owner David Grover believes the audio will stream at both noon and 8 p.m. and plans to accommodate listeners at both times.) Forever Young will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and streaming the broadcast the entire time.
Attendees will also be able to enter a raffle for prizes such as figurines from the "Burn The Witch" video, a limited edition screen print of the artwork from A Moon Shaped Pool, and a 35 millimeter celluloid print of the video for "Daydreaming." The caveat: There will only be six winners globally.
For many, this may be the first time to hear the album, as Radiohead front man Thom Yorke is notoriously opposed to streaming services.
A Moon Shaped Pool is currently available for purchase or for streaming on Tidal. The local record stores will also have CD and vinyl copies for sale. We'll update you with more information about the events as we receive it.
