It seems to make sense.

OK, unauthorised downloading is wrong and obviously stealing but it's wide spread and that's the world we live in. Threats, legislation and appealing to people's consciences only goes so far. Now I have the Crystal Castles file and it's been playing on my iPod almost on repeat for two days or so and it's a bloody good album - I love it. Certainly a better album than their debut(although I quite liked that too).

If the album were released physically on Monday, there's a very strong chance I'd buy it because I am really into this album RIGHT NOW and want the CD. I can't be the only person who feels like this so why not push forward the physical release of more albums in this way as soon as a leak occurs? If you leave it a month or two months then most people who got hold of the file will have listened to it to death and moved onto something else and there won't be that enthusiasm anymore.

Surely release dates aren't that intractable, especially when there's a lot of money at stake? If the album's recorded, get the thing out there ASAP as soon as someone makes your work available to all and the leak could act as free promotion to to you.

If you get the album in the shops it's competing which is better than leaving the leak to steal all those potential customers who would have bought the album but were not going to wait around weeks for it when it's available at the click of a mouse.