The Residents' Latest Release: Blank Discs

"Over the course of a recording career spanning several decades, The Residents have remained a riddle of Sphinx-like proportions; cloaking their lives and music in a haze of wilful obscurity, the band's members never identified themselves by name, always appearing in public in disguise -- usually tuxedos, top hats and giant eyeball masks -- and refusing to grant media interviews." This pretty much says it all! The Residents are about to celebrate their 35th anniversary of creating the wildest art/music/technology fusion imaginable; they are among the earliest multimedia pioneers in music. And in my humble opinion, after all this time they remain a best-kept secret among those in the know.

Their latest endeavor is to release a set of two blank CDs -- yes you heard me right, blank CDs. The basic notion is, they create & you burn.

In June, The Residents and the Cordless e-label teamed up to create a unique multimedia experience that essentially seeks to integrate the physical, digital and mobile worlds. They have issued their "River of Crime" - a 40's style radio serial with a band-composed musical score -- in a cardboard double-CD package with artwork that naturally reinforces the band's indelible trademark eyeball, for $14.99. The twist? It contains two blank CDs so that the five episodes, which will be released sequentially during a 10-week period, can be burned after the last one becomes available. A unique code for each package allows users to unlock the subscription to participate. The episodes can also be downloaded individually as they are released at all digital music stores. Each episode is priced at $1.99.

Customers purchasing the limited-edition digital subscription will also receive digital extras like ringtones and mobile wallpaper as well as materials that can be burned onto the blank CD-Rs, including alternate versions of the "River of Crime" artwork, scripts and instrumental soundtrack elements. Through the effort Cordless, Warner Music Group's e-label, can help brick-and-mortar stores sell digital product in physical form. It's a unique and ambitious experiment, worthy of a band with a similar orientation. What will they think of next? (I'm hoping they've got another 35 years worth of goodies for us!).