by SHANE SINNOTT

I feel like Billy Corgan set everyone up. He went out of his way a couple of weeks ago to become a subject of mockery when he launched his spiritualist Web site, everythingfromheretothere.com, and now, two weeks later, he announces that the new Smashing Pumpkins album will be free, which is a pretty classy move. According to a message from Corgan on the band’s site, the new record will be called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, and comprises 44 songs, four of which are currently being recorded. Sez Corgan, “Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won’t have to sign up for anything, give an e-mail address, or jump through a hoop [yes, he’s looking at you, Thom Yorke]. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.”

For the old-timers who can’t get their heads around possessing intangible items, there will be a series of deluxe EPs for sale in the coming months, and when it’s all done, you can buy a fancy box set. Now, what about the music, you say? Who knows, but at least it will be worth the price. Corgan says, “The story of the album is based on the Fool’s Journey, as signified in the progress of the Tarot. It is my intention to approach this by breaking down the journey of our life here into four phases as made by these different characters: the Child, the Fool, the Skeptic and the Mystic.” Sounds good, Captain Crazy—we can’t wait!

Now I know it’s not a link of the week, but for overall stomach-churning, you have to go visit music-rules.com. Set up by the beloved RIAA, it’s an educational program “designed to encourage respect for intellectual property.” Check out the elementary program in the teachers’ section (tinyurl.com/bbfao5), where eight-year-olds are taught that “some kids, however—and even some grown-ups—don’t get their music the right way. They are songlifters,” and little exercises are given where kids can calculate how much money the RIAA is “losing” on their lifting.