Despite initially claiming to indifference regarding the downloading of their new album on the net so far ahead of release, Radiohead are now telling fans they are upset that so many tracks are online because it has "compromised" their work. It seems the change of heart comes about because, as reported last week, most of the tracks circulating online are early versions of tracks on the album taken from early studio sessions. The band are upset that fans are hearing raw versions of track which aren't actually finished or sounding as they should do.
Writing on their website the band's Phil Selway told fans: "I too am disappointed that the album has already been uploaded onto the net. We don't like anybody to hear our recordings until we are completely happy with them. These mixes of the songs were still 'work in progress'. As such, we wouldn't have chosen to present the album to people in this form. I feel that the recording process has been compromised for us. Its not that these mixes are bad, it's just that the actual album is better - honest." The finished version of 'Hail To The Thief' will hit stores on 9 Jun.