I’m torn.

Last week, I reviewed Bloc Party’s latest album “Intimacy”. Originally, I didn’t think it would be available until October, which the band’s Web site lists as the release date for the hard copy. The band, however, is officially Web-savvy, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

According to the band’s Web site, fans can download the album for $10 off the official site without having to tap their feet waiting around for their physical copy. Album-art aficionados might take issue with this, as it’s considered yet another clue that CDs aren’t as popular are they were in the ‘90s.

For fans who just want the music and don’t care about the packaging, this is a steal of a deal. Hey, I bought into it.

So, on one hand, the guys cater to the more impatient of us fans who just wanted to hear their third album. They, in turn, also contributed to the decline of physical CD sales.

I guess from where I stand, this isn’t too shabby a deal. For others, I imagine, this is completely crap-tastic. Is Bloc Party trying to shoot itself in the foot? At the risk of sounding brooding, the fans will have to decide.