New York-based dance rockers Ratatat announced that they will be giving away free copies of their new album, LP4, during an upcoming tour. Considering the major shift that has taken place and is still taking place in the music industry today, this is an extremely smart idea.

Ever since the huge explosion of the internet into the lives of nearly everyone around the world, physical in store sales have been widely replaced by touring. In other words, bands rely more on touring and less on selling actual records to make money.

Although LP4 was praised by fans and critics alike when it was released earlier this year, it didn't come close to denting the charts. Even after making some high profile TV appearances and showing up on the ever-popular Kid Cudi’s album, the duo is still having trouble getting their music out there.

Cleverly, the band has decided to to give digital versions of the new album away on their forthcoming North American tour. Kicking off their tour in Montreal on September 7th, ticket holders will be given a unique code, which allows them to download the album for free. Containing some 23 dates, the tour will take Ratatat across the continent, giving many fans the opportunity to see them live and giving them extra motivation to actually spend a little money on a ticket, generating a steady income for the band. Not a bad idea at all.

Check out the dates below, take off work and go to a show, and enjoy a totally free album. Don't forget to download an awesome Ratatat remix below of The Knife's "We Share Our Mother's Health."

Ratatat North American Tour
September 7 - Montreal, Quebec @ Metropolis
September 8 - Toronto, Ontario @ Sound Academy
September 9 - Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre
September 10 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
September 11 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
September 14 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
September 15 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Commodore Ballroom
September 16 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
September 17 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
September 18 - Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theatre
September 19 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
September 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
September 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
September 24 - Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre
September 25 - Scottsdale, AZ @ Venue of Scottsdale
September 27 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's
September 28 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
September 29 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge
September 30 - New Orleans, LA @ McAlister Auditorium
October 1 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
October 2 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos' Southend
October 5 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues
October 6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
October 7 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
October 8 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5