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Along with many others, I’ve commented enthusiastically on Radiohead making its new album available for whatever price the buyer decides to pay. Alas, now it turns out there’s another shoe to drop. Apparently, the band has belatedly let fans know that the download (which they’ve already decided to buy) is not cd quality, and not typical (bad) mp3 quality, but instead a low-quality mp3. (For example, check out Radiohead Fans Feel Duped By In Rainbows’ Poor Sound Quality, Possible Ulterior Motives.)

Ooops! And to make matters worse, the band’s manager has let slip that this entire thing is not necessarily the move of spacey socialist altruism that fans might have believed, but rather, a ploy to sell more copies of the normal quality cd when it comes out!

Now, there’s nothing entirely wrong with that, it’s a brilliant strategy really. Give away a taste to build demand for the full meal. However, there is something of an element of bait and switch with the offer. It’s starting to feel a little more like one of those time share seminars where they promise a new stereo and then try to hard-sell you worthless swampland all day, then give you a 1984 walkman refurb.