So close! Joanna Newsom's new one leaks just days before its release

"Have one on me," indeed, it would seem.

Drag City almost pulled it off.

Joanna Newsom's widely-anticipated new album, Have One On Me, is scheduled to be released in stores this coming Tuesday (February 23rd). And for a while, it really did look like it would be the first high-profile new release in a long, long time to make it to record-store shelves without appearing on the internet first. Drag City had this locked down: there were rumors they weren't sending out promos to the press (remember this?) - although at least one publication seems to have gotten their hands on it. But it still found its way out.

All I will really say is this: please feel free to ignore anyone who is already giving an opinion on the musical content of Have One On Me. There's two hours of music spread over three discs. It's worth taking some time with before casually canonizing or dismissing.

As for me, though, I'm probably just going to wait until Tuesday. I liked the idea of this album (or, I guess, any album by someone whose work I am a fan of, really) not leaking. I'm looking forward to the return of that pre-piracy-boom ritual of going to the store, getting a copy, and rushing home to listen. That sounds fun to me.