ART IS RESISTANCE
Year Zero, the new NIN CD was released earlier this week and according to sales reports on HITS Daily Double, it is only outsold by Avril LaVigne (and basically, it's tough to fight the young and pretty (she wears eye make up, she's a rebel*)). That's over 200,000 units as I understand it. EDIT TO ADD: #2 on iTunes also, behind...her.
Why do I give a crap? Because the entire album was released by Reznor (and continues to be available on yearzero.nin.com) in CD quality over two weeks ago. Just take this as reason #42,067 why the RIAA is full of shit. Piracy destroys sales, my shiny metal ass. If anything, the release boosted sales. Lots of people gave it a listen and liked it. Even Warren Ellis liked it (though I really don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing). A lot of those people are buying it.
Earlier this week, fans that followed directions found on one of the concepts numerous website to find an unmarked van. Inside that van, an "operative" would give them some "materials." One of the items some people got was a cell phone. A call on that phone directed them to a secret "resistance meeting." That meeting was a short set by NIN. What's more, the set was ended by a (fake) SWAT raid.
*Come the fuck on, she choreographs her moves with her back-up singers. She's got more in common with Britney than Courtney.