VIVE LE RESISTANCE!

With all the Napster-vs.-Metallica flap, one might think that there are just two camps on the download issue: those who perceive downloading MP3 files as a God-given right and those who think its tantamount to piracy.

But life isn't so black-and-white.

A group of Pearl Jam fans, calling themselves "The Resistance," have banded together with the sole purpose of NOT giving in to the temptation to download the new album, "Binaural" (or songs from it) prior to its 5/16 release—that's next Tuesday, by the way (yes, we do the math for you). The group formed on the Internet newsgroup alt.music.pearl-jam.

But they aren't taking their stand from any moral high ground, nor do they even talk much about the illegality of downloading or trading MP3s. What The Resistance is most concerned about is preserving an experience.

"When I was a kid, my parents always gave me a present on Christmas eve," one member said. "And every Christmas morning I was sad [having] opened it, because there would have been one more."

The group is also fond of the whole physical package: disc, jewel case, the artwork, liner notes.

It sounds so strange to hear reasoning so simple—so based on aspects of the music experience that aren't related to sound quality or ease of acquisition or money—in the midst of all these Internet-based lawsuits.

Perhaps we ought to replace the word "strange" with "refreshing."