This legal maneuver has never been tested in court between a musician and a record label, though the law has often been invoked. Beck reportedly made the move amidst stalled negotiations over revised contract terms with Geffen.

Beck's attorneys answered the breach-of-contract suit with a countersuit accusing Geffen of copyright infringement for releasing ''Mutations,'' the last album issued by the singer-songwriter. In the suit, Beck alleged that ''Mutations'' was supposed to be released independently, and that Geffen released the album without his authorization. The suit also claimed that Beck was not paid any royalties on sales of ''Mutations.''

According to SonicNet, the lawsuits were settled out of court earlier this month, and Beck and the labels have reached terms on a new four-year contract. Under the agreement, Bong Load will reportedly release the vinyl version of Beck's forthcoming albums, and Geffen will release them in all other formats.

Beck is billing ''Midnite Vultures'' as the follow-up to his second Geffen album, ''Odelay;'' when ''Mutations'' was released, he said he didn't consider it a follow-up.

Beck was a headliner at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the Southern California desert town of Indio on Oct. 9-10. He warmed up for the show with surprise appearances the week before in the food court of the UC Santa Barbara Student Center and at the Satellite Student Union at California State University, Fresno, according to Beck's official website.