Go! Team album a no-go

I read today on Pitchfork that The Go! Team's album "Thunder, Lightning, Strike" has yet to be released here in the U.S. I was unaware of this, since it is readily available on the iTunes music store. The album is really great, and it's a shame it hasn't gotten a proper U.S. release yet. Apparently, the problem stems from getting a few of the album's numerous samples cleared. Go! Team leader Ian Parton has an interesting quote in the story which really got my attention...

"I might actually be giving away more of the song than I own. If 10 people want 15%, then that is over 100%, and I have to get the money from other songs, which is a ridiculous idea, that you have remake the loss on a song."

That's right! If one of his songs used numerous samples (which you realize is very likely, if you've heard their music) then The Go! Team could actulally lose money by releasing the song. If this doesn't show that artistic creativity is being stifled by the U.S.'s archaic copyright law, then I don't know what does.

Related Links: Billboard news, 3 Notes & Runnin', Banned Music.