yeah, because we can all afford to pay our own rent.

That's right! Help the needy! Donate to the buy-Alex-new-jeans-that-he-can-destroy-and-reassemble-using-electrical-tape fund!

Alex says: "Buy our new dvd! Help pay my rent!" (he doesn't actually say this)
I can't say it comes as any shock to me, though. I never expected Alex to be above shameless self-promotion. Still. That is so low of you, Alex. Nonetheless... I will make a donation. I will succumb to the temptation to buy it, if only for the footage of 17-year-old Phantom Planet boys. But to put it midly, I am just a trifle put off by the reasoning behind this.
They can make a profit out of just about anything though, can't they?

Case in point: Negatives and Negatives 2. Their first b-sides CD, Negatives, was exclusive to fanclub members. Hence, you had to join the paid fanclub in order to obtain it. Not only do they expect you to invest in byproducts of their work -- oh, no! That's a sacred privilege granted only to fanclub members, who pay the annual $20 membership fee -- they require you to commit to the fanclub to do so. Oh, but the Negatives 2 compilation CD is available to everyone! So gracious of them to offer it to non-fanclub members, isn't it? ISN'T IT?
They do this in the name of capital, of course. They want to make it available to the percentage of fans who are not in and do not intend on joining the increasingly-exclusive paid fan club, because whoever handles their finances has realized, wisely, that more people would buy it if paid fanclub membership was not forced upon them in the transaction process. Rake in the profits!

Say what, Alex? You want it to be heard by a wider audience? Oh, well since that's what the band claims, that's what must be so.... right? BULLSHIT!
"Oh! Look this way! A compilation of songs we never cared for enough to complete and put on any of the albums. BUY IT, please!" And foolishly, we buy it. And I, I nobly maintain my position at first, and refuse to purchase it -- based on principle alone -- but eventually I do cave in! However, the lure of Negatives 2 is null and ineffective on me, (fortunately) because I hate their new material anyway. So I've been spared. See? This is why pirating music is justified. Come on! Let's pirate our "unethical" asses off! WHO'S WITH ME? (::tumbleweed::)

But yeah, I'll probably contribute to their pool of royalties, and buy the dvd. Begrudgingly, no less. Wait... no, I don't even know how to work my dvd player -- oh, but nevermind, I can watch it on my computer. (thoughts written aloud. disregard.) But Negatives 2? Fuck that. I need new jeans to destroy. Alex can just go on using his electrical tape for all I care. Besides. He doesn't do it right. Big obvious holes suck. Carrick's (Moore Gerety) jeans are better.

I used to like this band so much. Now I find myself agreeing with less... and less... and less... and less... and less of what they do.