"The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised," the Jack White-featuring band says. "We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it's [sic] availability, reception or perception."

...

"We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter," the band says. "The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by its first week sales, pre-release promotion or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it."

SHOUTS of “Brooklyn!” cut through the applause at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Valentine’s Day for the sold-out homecoming show of Yeasayer and MGMT, two of the borough’s reigning new buzz bands. And as Yeasayer rang out the last chords of “2080,” an echoey, disorienting song about environmental apocalypse, its singer, Chris Keating, made an announcement.

“We’re going to play that on TV tomorrow,” he said with pride and disbelief, as the band members traded shrugs. “Yeah, TV,” he added. “Seriously. Conan O’Brien, tomorrow night.”

The crowd roared its approval. “Brooklyn!” [Read More]