Dream Theater: The Astonishing (now with moment of betrayal!)

[ariich]

I wonder if the site has measures against potential fakes? I mean, can anybody just put a leak on that site and ask money from it?(and get away with it?). 

I didn't think it seemed a legit site for a band like DT.

It's a perfectly legit site in general, used by lots of bands and artists including some fairly big ones. Definitely a perfectly suitable channel for DT/RR to use if they wanted to. However, as ErHaO indicated, they clearly have very poor measures to prevent fakes. Pretty shoddy, really. Hopefully it is addressed quickly - the label is certainly aware of it now.

[Another_Won]

Damn, that sucks, especially if people were thinking they were supporting the band by paying trough that site. Kind of surprised this can happen with for an album of a well known band on a big website as *SNIP*.

Careful, we can't reference the site.

[BlobVanDam]

It's a perfectly legit site in general, used by lots of bands and artists including some fairly big ones. Definitely a perfectly suitable channel for DT/RR to use if they wanted to. However, as ErHaO indicated, they clearly have very poor measures to prevent fakes. Pretty shoddy, really. Hopefully it is addressed quickly - the label is certainly aware of it now.

Oh I know it's a legit site for music, but it seemed an extremely odd outlet for a band like DT to do with their new album, especially without any official announcement.

[ErHaO]

I wonder if the site has measures against potential fakes? I mean, can anybody just put a leak on that site and ask money from it?(and get away with it?).

I used that site for my own music. Of course you proclaim that you own the rights for the music you offer for streaming and download. But otherwise as far as I remembered there are no obstacles to upload music to which you have the MP3's...

Hmm, ok then. Well, let's hope it did minimal financial damage to both the fans and DT.

For smaller (indie) artists I can understand, but for the larger, signed bands one would think there is at least some kind of checklist in a database or something.

[ariich]

Damn, that sucks, especially if people were thinking they were supporting the band by paying trough that site. Kind of surprised this can happen with for an album of a well known band on a big website as *SNIP*.

Careful, we can't reference the site.

Correct, as it is providing pirated material in this context. Once it's been taken down, people will be able to reference it again.

EDIT: Looks like it has been taken down already. Good stuff, carry on.

[ErHaO]

Damn, that sucks, especially if people were thinking they were supporting the band by paying trough that site. Kind of surprised this can happen with for an album of a well known band on a big website as *SNIP*.

Careful, we can't reference the site.

Correct, as it is providing pirated material in this context. Once it's been taken down, people will be able to reference it again.

Sorry for the slip.

[ariich]

No prob, see my edit.

[jingle.boy]

And right as this is happening, the page came down in the last 5-10 minutes.

[emtee]

Well that sucks. We all got scammed.

I have to keep my comments to myself until Friday.

[noxon]

Good thing I had those label e-mail addresses handy.

[Kotowboy]

...

People can't wait a couple more days ? The album will probably be on Spotify or Deezer at Midnight on Friday.

I sigh when I see comments online that people are *annoyed* when a certain album hasn't leaked yet.

Why don't you buy it then ?!

[RoeDent]

Is it really that hard to just stick to DT's official channels for information/releases etc.? Unless/until anything is said through those channels, it is not official/legit. It's a simple rule to stick to, really.

[BelichickFan]

I sigh when I see comments online that people are *annoyed* when a certain album hasn't leaked yet.

Why don't you buy it then ?!

Because we can't buy it (and get it) yet ?  I think we've all bought it.  I would hope so anyway.  Doesn't mean we don't want to hear it a little early.

[Another_Won]

As soon as I saw the link, I started listening.  I thought it was legit.  I actually feel a bit dirty now.

[noxon]

But if you go to the roadrunner store, login, clock "download", it says that the preorder for the mp3s are for today. So maybe!

[r3d86]

I also want to know about those things JP said on Eddie Trunk's show, about the web and chance to follow the story, see characters bio, etc.

So HYPED!

[BelichickFan]

But if you go to the roadrunner store, login, clock "download", it says that the preorder for the mp3s are for today. So maybe!

That's cool, I have the CDs scheduled for delivery on Friday, though.  So Friday it is.

[Awaken]

As soon as I saw the link, I started listening.  I thought it was legit.  I actually feel a bit dirty now.

Same here - really looked legit with the purchase option available.  Should have known better.

[ariich]

Yeah I appreciate that people might have assumed it was legit on a site like bandcamp (ok to name the site now by the way, as the page has been taken down). That's why I haven't handed out any bans. But RoeDent got it pretty spot on with this post:

Is it really that hard to just stick to DT's official channels for information/releases etc.? Unless/until anything is said through those channels, it is not official/legit. It's a simple rule to stick to, really.

At the very least, if it is NOT linked on a known official site such as Facebook, Twitter or the official website, people should check with one of the mods/admins before posting.

I think it's mostly a case of people getting overly excited, and also feeling cool about being the first to post something. Stopping to check first means you might get pipped to it by someone else. So I get it, though it's not a very good excuse.

[emtee]

At this point the label should probably just stream it. If they go to Youtube now they have their work cut out for them. It will be an all
day every day task to keep taking songs down.

[ariich]

At this point the label should probably just stream it. If they go to Youtube now they have their work cut out for them. It will be an all
day every day task to keep taking songs down.

Streaming a few days in advance has become very common for lots of labels/bands, and indeed RR did it for DT12. I'm not sure how well it would work for a 2-disc, 2-hour+ rock opera though.

But yeah, something like that, or starting legitimately selling the mp3s a few days early, are definitely options for a label in general. I guess we'll have to see.

[Art]

I had bought it from "that site". As i am used to buying music from it, i never thought it would be fake. I will make a formal complain to the site for selling me pirated-stuff, that´s a shame.

[RaasMah]

Didnt knew it was fake, luckly didnt bought it. Also stopped myself from hearing too much.

Can I just say that what I did heared sounded really awesome? 

[emtee]

Just a word of caution to anyone who actually submitted a credit card to that site.

Keep a very close eye on your activity for the next several weeks. You are a potential target.

[me7]

No, bandcamp is a respectable site. People who bought there are not in any danger. The fake seller shouldn't have any access to your credit card data.

EDIT: and please, stop referring to bandcamp as that site. It's one of the nicest places to shop for music, they just didn't check whether the fake seller was a real RR representative. Keep in mind that 99.99% of the world don't kniw DT.

[ProgressiveIce]

I've read lots of "new DT albums suck" posts before, but this comment on The Astonishing takes the biscuit:

why did lemmy and bowie have to die while they still live

[Implode]

Bandcamp is great. Someone just put up the album illegally, and it got taken down. Not Bandcamp's fault.

[vbrodrigues95]

Anyone knows what the locked "Places" button on their website is going to be?? Artwork of the scenarios?

[Kotowboy]

Bandcamp is awesome.

Don't mention it in the same breath as shit like Putlocker

[ariich]

No, bandcamp is a respectable site. People who bought there are not in any danger. The fake seller shouldn't have any access to your credit card data.

EDIT: and please, stop referring to bandcamp as that site. It's one of the nicest places to shop for music, they just didn't check whether the fake seller was a real RR representative. Keep in mind that 99.99% of the world don't kniw DT.

Agreed with all of this.

1. People can feel free to refer to Bandcamp again, now that the offending page has been taken down.

2. Bandcamp is a legit and generally top-notch site in my experience. There is no danger in terms of credit card information. The only issue is that people will have paid money to bandcamp that would then go to the pirate. I expect that bandcamp will have a system in place to not pay anything over to the scammer, but if you did pay anything, I would recommend doing what Art did and contact Bandcamp to let them know/make a complaint.

[ariich]

Not Bandcamp's fault.

Well, clearly their systems weren't adequate at preventing this from happening, so I don't think they're entirely blameless. That said, their response time seems to have been very quick, which I'll give them credit for!

[vazquez]

https://audioorbital.wordpress.com/2016/01/26/ten-minute-review-dream-theater-the-astonishing/

Interesting review. I´ve liked the phrase: "Dream Theater's always been a band that goes big or goes home."

"Anyone who still says they miss former drummer Mike Portnoy and prefer him over Mangini is just saying so to be a contrarian." is so obvious... you don´t even need to say it. It´s like saying that water is wet or something like that. 

"I'm just trying to say that this album was terrific.  It was incredibly well put together, the length may be off-putting to some but never feels too long or drags, and the guys are on point.  This is easily their best album in at least ten years, and maybe even since 1999's Metropolis Pt 2."

[volwrath]

Not Bandcamp's fault.

Well, clearly their systems weren't adequate at preventing this from happening, so I don't think they're entirely blameless. That said, their response time seems to have been very quick, which I'll give them credit for!

We shall see how quick their response time is to give me my money back.  Ive already filed a paypal dispute.  Man I cant believe I got scammed!

[lightbug]

I've read lots of "new DT albums suck" posts before, but this comment on The Astonishing takes the biscuit:

why did lemmy and bowie have to die while they still live

Those idiots are deaf, not musicians, definitely. I'm glad I like this album, this is a very mature music, now I understand what noxon said, all make sense.

[MegaDTSX]

...

People can't wait a couple more days ? The album will probably be on Spotify or Deezer at Midnight on Friday.

I sigh when I see comments online that people are *annoyed* when a certain album hasn't leaked yet.

Why don't you buy it then ?!

I know that long ago I used to get an album as soon as it leaked just out of excitement and an inability to settle my own ass down, but then on release date I would still buy the album... generally in whatever Collector's Edition/Special Edition is available.

Back when I had no patience I would do that pretty regularly, but I just don't have the time or effort nowadays so I'll be waiting for the album to officially drop.  I still don't see anything wrong with doing that personally so long as you do purchase the album from a legit retailer to support the album and you don't share the album with others.