Vinnie Fiorello has announced the launch of his new endeavor, Paper + Plastick Records, based out of Gainesville, FL. Fiorello is a founding member of legendary ska/punk band Less Than Jake, and founder/former owner of the successful label Fueled By Ramen (Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco).

The independent label will take a new and alternative approach to music retail by selling the highest digital quality music files available, along with deluxe digital packaging. The label will also only release physical music on exclusive, multi-colored and oddly shaped vinyl, making all Paper + Plastick releases a must have for recording buffs, vinyl collectors and music fans alike.

“I think that brick and mortar stores are a dying breed,” comments Fiorello. “Chain stores are folding and the stores that remain want you to buy a TV instead of showcasing new music. I choose not to worry about the CD. That’s also dying, so why try to keep it alive now? I would much rather support independent record stores by putting out independent music in the format that I love, the format that kept and keeps the underground vibrant ““ vinyl.”

Fiorello also plans to release music digitally via the Paper + Plastick website, www.paperandplastick.com, weeks before the music will be available on digital retail outlets such as iTunes, Amazon.com and Emusic.com. Music downloaded from retail outlets loose their integrity and bitrate, but music from PaperandPlastick.com will be high quality digital recordings. Two versions of each album will be available for purchase through the website with varying prices.

Standard edition: 320 Bitrate music file
Deluxe edition: Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) music files, hi-res album art, PDF booklets, and videos
Vinyl releases add the “Plastick” to the label’s name, which will also be home to a number of books. Fiorello has already authored a children’s book and first “Paper” release for the company, entitled Sometimes Robots Like Being Robots, which will be available this Spring.