Weblog
07/07/01 06:21 PM: Radiohead, Kid A
I purchased Radiohead’s album Kid A today. Yes, I should be the object of hatred because I had not bought it before. I admit, I had downloaded it via Napster a long time ago, but in this case it wasn’t like Radiohead really cared if it was on Napster or not. However, I decided I’d prefer to have the actual CD, booket, etc. So now I own Amnesiac, Kid A, OK Computer, and The Bends. Word? Word.
On the subject of Napster, I have come to believe that Napster is (was) morally wrong. Yes, hear it here first, Dave, the once self-proclaimed liberal, has said that downloading music for free over the internet is wrong. This is not to say I am going to delete my 2000 some music files on my computer, I am just saying it is morally wrong in concept. If I can go onto (insert name of favorite Napster clone) and download a full album, at or near CD Quality, for free, how am I not stealing? Sure, its fun, convienent, and free, but still it is wrong. I have to say that I am a big fan of downloading music, and probabally will continue too, even with my reasoning that it is wrong. I mean, as much as we say the record companies are greedy, selfish, etc., the music still is their property until I purchase it, or at least a license to listen to it. So, what does this mean? Well to me it seems that downloading a full album is very similar to me walking into the record store and shoplifting a CD. It’s just that by downloading, I am not going to get caught. Some people say its OK to download music because the companies can afford it. Yes, but then couldn’t I just walk into the local Ford dealer and steal an Explorer because Ford can afford it? (After the Firestone Tire Incident, maybe they can’t afford it, heh). But anyway, the example is still relevent. Will I continue to download songs I hear on the radio and want to listen to? Yeah, probabally. But, I have found, when I find a good band such as Radiohead, the music always seems to sound better on CD.
