I want to know if it is safe to download albums from (especially expensive and hard to find ones)
Let's get this clear once and for all --
File sharing is not illegal. File sharing programs like Blubster and Kazaa and Gnutella are not illegal.
What IS illegal is using those programs to download copyrighted material -- movies, books, songs, albums -- that you did not pay for. If you download music you don't own, whatever the P2P program you use, you're leaving a trace. Now, that's not saying someone will automatically prosecute you for it, but if they ever choose to, you've left a nice trail for them to follow.
Stop being cheap. Songs are 99 bloody cents.
ISPs are cutting ppls connections to the com now too if they find out about copyright downloads so b careful ;)