I always try to support independant musicians. I do download stuff, but it's more of a try before you buy basis. Like...for instance, I'll probably have some Metallica tracks on my Archos, yet I've never bought a Metallica CD because I don't want the whole album. I have a SHEDLOAD of CDs by local and smaller bands cause I know they can't keep doing what they do without support. Like, when I heard Earthtone9 had reformed (yaaaay!) I immediately bought their best of album, even though they were also offering it as a free download as I knew the money would go towards their next album...which they're currently working on

I'm also a TOTAL sucker for pretty packaging. I saw a band supporting Skindred and decided to buy their CD instead of buying a Skindred T shirt because the disk was ENTIRELY black! Like...both sides! Magic! There's an idea for you Devlar, if Ghost 2 is supposed to be dark....make it physically dark!

Drench is one of my favorite tunes right now.. Playing this song at like 4 am when I can't sleep is great..

Here's to hoping we get Ghost 2 before long instead of having to wait for the boxset (which I'm assuming won't be released soon).

From a listeners point of view, I've always seen the whole downloading-dilemma in a rather simple manner:
Want to listen to it?: download it
If you like it you should want to support it.
Want to support it, and have the money?: Buy it
(Someone should make a flow chart!)

I mean, I've downloaded looooads of music (Almost 10 000 songs in my iTunes library at the moment), and obviously I could never afford all of that, but I try. At the moment my physical collection's got 323 records, and it's only 7 years old. This is why I have no money...
My point is basically what's already been said by many people here: downloading and buying are not mutually exclusive. At least 90 % of my collection was downloaded before I bought it. Now, I'm not saying that me buying music is well reasoned... it's more like a compulsion.

Even though I can see the downside of illegal downloading... it's compliment in a way. I mean, there would be something profoundly wrong if people didn't share it.

Want to support it, and have the money?: Buy it

You're not a true fan if you have to check your finances first! I'd be lying if I said I never had to phone my dad to get me from central London at 1am because I spent all my cash on CDs/merchandise and forgot to check if I had enough to get home

Ha! That's a true fan. Although I think I'm not cool enough to do that. I'm like safety first or something. Always checking to see where the exit is, the moment I walk in a room. So I think I won't ever get short of money to travel home. I'm a sissy.

I always try to support independant musicians. I do download stuff, but it's more of a try before you buy basis. Like...for instance, I'll probably have some Metallica tracks on my Archos, yet I've never bought a Metallica CD because I don't want the whole album. I have a SHEDLOAD of CDs by local and smaller bands cause I know they can't keep doing what they do without support. Like, when I heard Earthtone9 had reformed (yaaaay!) I immediately bought their best of album, even though they were also offering it as a free download as I knew the money would go towards their next album...which they're currently working on

Oh yeah, I do the same. If it weren't for downloading, I would have never really listened to Dev's stuff beyond Antiproduct which I had on a compilation CD, and now I've made up for it by buying all the SYL CDs and slowly accumulating his solo/DTB/DTP ones (Plus a shitton of merch, but that's irrelevant).

I do like going to independant CD shops and seeing what they've got. I actually found the 2-disc Accelerated Evolution in one in australia in november, but $40 though, outrageous. They do really take the piss with that kinda stuff in aus, but watermelon is cheap. And delicious. Anyway, getting off the point, and that point was that... I also download shit and then buy it if I like it? Yes. Yes, that was it.

I'll put it this way. Without downloading, I honestly don't believe I would have ever discovered Devin. It's really hard to find his albums in stores here (I've only seen Addicted in stores). I started off with downloading Ki and Accelerated Evolution (and quickly everything else). But now I own all of his albums aside from a few SYL, which I am working on.

An important thing to remember too is that there are other people besides the artist that make their money off of the purchases, as well. They need to eat, too. They aren't getting the % from merchandising either, so it's the only money they get from the whole thing.

New DTP song from Ghost 2.

Fall

I love the ending.

Awwweh, Dev. You're just the gift that keeps on giving.

This is the 2nd track from Ghost 2... is this how we're getting the album?

Drench is one of my favorite tunes right now.. Playing this song at like 4 am when I can't sleep is great..

Here's to hoping we get Ghost 2 before long instead of having to wait for the boxset (which I'm assuming won't be released soon).

+1 to this I love Drench so much. I like listening to it with www.rainymood.com on as well.

As for this downloading discussion, I for one would not have discovered Devin without youtube and downloading, so nor would I have bought t-shirts, tickets and albums. I can't imagine spending like £15 on a cd for a band I didn't know beforehand, so it is like a try before you buy thing. Although this time I think I really would like to wait for the actual CD, I want to order the box set and listen to KI, Addicted, Decon and Ghost back to back... But there's no way I could wait for Ghost 2 to come out xD

I use downloading as a sort of "see if I like it before I buy it" type of thing. Hell, I fell in love with Devy's work after downloading Accelerated Evolution.

[The Dev]

A thought in the downloading debate:

I went to Dillinger Escape Plan and Deftones tonight. Great show...

A Deftones hoodie was $75

Seventy. Five. Dollars.

Is the cost of touring going to keep escalating to make everybody a living at that level? If so... who could possibly afford 75$ for a hoodie?

...then again...2 beers were 15$ for my friends. Just seems like prices keep rising... maybe it has no link, but then again...?

Anyways...