Car Seat Headrest was set to release their new album, Teens of Denial, on May 20. However, a legal setback has ensured that the album will be only be released digitally, with all physical copies being recalled and destroyed.
This is all because of one song on the new album, “Just What I Wanted/Not Just What I Needed” which incorporated parts of The Cars’ hit “Just What I Needed.” Will Toledo, the man behind Car Seat Headrest, issued a lengthy statement regarding the situation. He states that he thought he had secured the rights to use the hit song by The Cars on the album, but unfortunately learned that the person he gained clearance from was not authorized to do so. The Cars singer Ric Ocasek did not grant permission to sample the song on the new Car Seat Headrest album, leading to all physical copies containing the song in question being recalled and destroyed.
However, Toledo was persistent in getting the new album out digitally on the original release date. In his statement, he says that he created an alternative cut of the track, “Not What I Needed,” that he is equally proud of. Toledo states that the new song is “not merely an edit – it is its own thing, about half a minute longer than the original track, and goes in a much different direction.”
According to the statement, the physical copies of the new record should be released sometime in July. In the meantime, Toledo will keep busy with touring. Car Seat Headrest will play a sold-out Teens of Denial record release show at Brooklyn’s Rough Trade on Saturday, May 21. They will also play 4 Knots Music Festival in July and Hopscotch Festival in September, and have a list of tour dates lined up.
Listen to Teens of Denial digitally on May 20, and check back for the release of the physical copies.
Leave a Comment