Earlier this month I posted about how an MP3 preview of the new Mars Volta single had been released online by their record label. Shortly thereafter, their entire upcoming album “Frances The Mute” somehow found its way online via unauthorized channels such as file sharing networks. Now the band has issued a statement appealing to the fans to use their better judgement and avoid downloading the leaked MP3s. The interesting thing is that the band claims to be unconcerned about lost sales… their main issue is that the quality of the leaked album is reportedly quite terrible and that it essentially taints the audio experience they had intended for their listeners. (Word on the street is that the someone at the production facility ripped a copy of the album from a vinyl print.) While this may sound like yet another band whining about something they have no control over, I gotta say, I can kind of understand where they’re coming from on this one. I think an artist is more concerned with having their work compromised than they are about losing revenue. Even if people plan to buy the album when it is released in stores, that first time they hear it will forever be lost to the evils of the internet. At any rate, we’ll have to see how fans react to this situation and whether or not they will respect The Mars Volta’s request.

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