Wilco Encourage Fans to Go Out and Buy Other Artists' Music

As fans continue to flock to Wilco's official website to download their brand-new album, Star Wars, for free, the alt-country superstars feel it's time to engage in some real talk: Go out and actually buy music!

You might be scratching your head, wondering to yourself, "Why would Wilco tell me to go purchase new music when they're literally giving theirs away for nothing?" Don't worry, the Wilco Headquarters are happy to address your concerns.

"We consider ourselves lucky to be in the position to give you this music free of charge, but we do so knowing not every band, label or studio can do the same," the band writes in an email sent out to those fans who have already downloaded Star Wars. "Much of the 'music business' relies on physical sales to keep the lights on and the mics up. Without that support, well, it gets tougher and tougher to make it all work."

The message continues, "With that in mind, Wilco has put together a list of some of their favorite recent releases. We encourage you to explore it (and beyond) and yep, even march down to your neighborhood record shop and BUY. There’s a lot of great music out there, lets all try to support it. After all, it's the years of support (and purchases) of Wilco's music that allowed us to do what we did last week."

So what kind of music is Wilco recommending? We're glad you asked! Included in the note is a list of 17 new albums the band thinks are worthy enough for you to spend your hard-earned cash on; it's hard to argue with the picks:

Adron -- Organismo
Cibo Matto -- Hotel Valentine
Empyrean Atlas -- Inner Circle
Eleventh Dream Day -- Works for Tomorrow
Full of Hell, Merzbow -- Full of Hell & Merzbow
Game Theory -- Real Nighttime
Girlpool -- Before the World Was Big
Invisible Familiars -- Disturbing Wildlife
Landlady -- Upright Behavior
Luluc -- Passerby
Ned Doheny -- Hard Candy
Parquet Courts -- Content Nausea
Richard Julian -- Fleur de Lis
Scott Walker + Sunn O))) -- Soused
Speedy Ortiz -- Foil Deer
Steve Gunn -- Way Out Weather
William Tyler -- Deseret Canyon

In case you didn't hear, you will have the opportunity to actually buy Wilco's new LP, too. The CD version is set to hit the streets on Aug. 21 while the vinyl pressing will find its way onto your local record stores' shelves on Nov. 27 (which, by our math, is Record Store Day Black Friday).