Beck's New Album

It's a good idea. A very good idea.

Not as good as this article from Forbes makes it out to be, but the idea that Beck will release his next album as sheet music only - no physical nor digital recording, just sheet music telling those who can read it how to play it. This, after doing the opposite in 2009 and 2010, where his Record Club project recorded full-album covers of other artists' work, notably Velvet Undergound, Leonard Cohen and and INXS.

In the Age Of Downloads, where selling a million CDs has once again become a rarity (unlike the late-90s, which almost killed music with the worst talent in history singing the worst songs with the most prepubescent teens purchasing...), innovation is where artists will make their mark.

Pearl Jam started ahead of everybody with their direct-to-fans official live bootlegs in 2000, Radiohead broke further ground with the ''pay what you want'' strategy for their In Rainbows album, and Beck has pushed the envelope further.

Of course, this will help his live sales as well, as many will be curious to see how he'll interpret those songs himself, so it also works as free advertizing.

Kudos, Mr. Hansen.