I know some words may be harsh, and I won’t say you’re right with what you done, nor i agree with the name calling of “shitty blog” (though I believe it is given too much emphasis by the comments here).

I would love to read a comment or review from you from the upcoming album, Backspacer…

It’s always sad to lose love with a band… but to lose it due to some other person, other than the music, or one of the band members itself, is sadder.

I hurts me to acknowledge the reality that our medium has been marginalized by nearly all musical powers that be except the ones that really need it. To bands/management who are already established, our fawning and affection is viewed as an annoyance, if not a threat somehow. It’s business, of course, but bad business. I can’t help but wonder how these people sleep at night, and if the answer isn’t “on pillows filled with cash”.

And it’s sadder still that reps from your favorite band would do the same thing we expect from every other soul-sucking censor out there. To someone as nice and honest as you are. Chin up, Heather.

However, your increased influence on the world, or significance in it, resulting from your blog gives you no right to distribute copyrighted material. The fact that you were publicly upset because TC slapped you on the wrist for at least a third offense tells me that perhaps your blog has gone to your head a bit.

On the other hand, the TC person (Tim) sounds like an idiot. I would never want to speak with that person again. He sounds like a bit of a hypocrite, as he does not allow name-calling within the TC forums.

On another note, I found it ironic that some of your blogsters insulted PJ’s new song. I guess that was to be expected. One insult often leads to another. Aren’t we all hypocrites?

If they can’t make money doing what they do, they can’t do it anymore. I want them to keep making money, and they can keep finding new and exciting ways to take my money for as long as they want. They got me through high school. I couldn’t have done it without their music and I owe them. As for the leaked song and the quashing of fan support, I think it’s important to keep in mind that those fans that leaked the song and the experience were betraying their non-disclosure agreement. Basically, they promised the band they love that they would keep the experience secret and turned around and broke their contract with the band. It’s dishonest, regardless of how badly I want to hear the song.

PJ have certainly made some missteps recently, but their music still moves me. I will be first in line to buy their new album, even if I have to go to Target to get it.

Keep fighting the good fight. Love the (absolutely non-shitty) blog.

I’m not going to be a PJ apologist in thinking that all they do and say is golden. I do, however, find it objectionable that 15 yrs + (as you noted) of strict and un-yielding (pun intended) service to their fans is met with such anger and resentment.

I could suggest you re-read your own posts and the obvious impact this band has had on your own life – but surely I don’t need to remind you of your own sentiments. So, I’m left to suggest this: Separate the band from business decisions.

If forging out on your own as an independent artist after being a major label success was easy … everyone would do it. Kelly Curtis said it best when she stated the band would see how it goes this round and if there is something that sucks then the band won’t do it going forward. It’s clear that the cease and desist letters have people’s panties all a-ruffle. Don’t like it? Let them know. Organize. Your blog is pretty popular so get a campaign together – mobilize a coalition of the upset. You can work with TwoFeetThick and TheSky and the guys from gremmie, etc and let PJ’s management know that some fans don’t like these decisions. Although, it does perplex me how angry folks are about the band squashing new content before it’s released. If I’m an artist I probably would want you to hear my album as a whole as I intended it to be released – enjoy the art as it was designed. Not chopped up and beaten and muffled from a cell phone-ish recording. But I digress …

My point here is that the complaints and selfish anger over this wreaks of a SPOILED set of fans who have become increasingly accustomed to more and more access and special treatment from the band. Either you enjoy their music or you don’t. Either you appreciate where they’ve taken rock-n-roll or you don’t. You simply can’t enjoy and appreciate them while simultaneously deciding to “break up” with them because you don’t like a new business strategy.

What I see is an effort by INDEPENDENT artists attempting to find new ways of disseminating their art. I can’t stress enough how management’s strategy is OBVIOUSLY a work in progress. Name ONE TIME the band didn’t listen to it’s fans and do all they could to correct a problem. You’d be hard pressed to find a legitimate complaint. It’s baffling and saddening to me to see so many “loyal” fans not allowing for some understanding to a band that has given them so much over such a long period of time.