new tunes from alkaline trio

i'm gonna spend my fun money this week to pick up the the new alkaline trio album "agony and irony". go drop the $13 to get the deluxe version on itunes, it's worth the extra couple bucks to get a handful of bonus live tracks. and maybe next month i'll plunk down the $90 for the heart and sole shoe. i'm a big supporter of merch for any band that i like. when a friend of mine, who also is a big alk trio fan, heard about this shoe, her response was, "i guess they're going mainstream now?" why is it that when devout fans hear about their favorite bands aligning themselves with corporate giants we tend to associate that move as "selling out?" does it mean the music is gonna suck? will more people find out about the band and lose it's exclusivity? i would think most artists would want to get this type of attention and love. it could mean more people will hopefully be exposed to their music, and more people buying their music. which in turn helps keep the band around longer, no? i don't think creating a shoe with nike will jeopardize the integrity of alkaline trio. it looks like the collaboration was done in a respectful way that stayed true to the band. watch the video and see for yourself. sure, maybe only the few hardcore fans may buy the shoe, but for alkaline trio and for the fans, i think it's about being able to appreciate the collaboration to create something truly special for us hardcore fans, even if it's tied to a mainstream giant like nike.