Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 199, 1 March 1994, Page 26

Letters

Write and put us straight on few things! PO Box 5689, Auckland 1 is the place ..

Wanna hear a hell story about shopping? Got up one Saturday, set off to the record shop to look for this single that got a great review in Friday's Herald, the record in question was 'Darshan' by David Sylvian and Robert Fripp off their recent album The First Day. So, I find it in the shop but horrors, it's bloody $32.95!!! Go up to the counter and ask the shop person "What gives?" They tell me the price is correct and that there is 43 minutes of music on the CD. Okay, so it's the same price as an album but only half the length? Fukdatshit. Next shop, same outrageous price (this is not an import we're talking about here - it's a locally released CD single which usually sell for $9 to sl2). I ask the shop person why it's so much, he says that it's the new David Sylvian album (not!). I inform the geek that it's the single off the album and he says "Well, the Virgin rep told me it was the new David Sylvian album."

So, those smooth-ass Virgin records sales reps can sell singles as albums and fool gullible shop persons. Gee, ain't they just tooo clever. Now, you tell me why a single with no bonus tracks, nothing special other than three remixes of THE SAME SONG should cost nearly the same price as the album it's lifted from? I bet Graham Reid didn't take that into account when he raved about the bloody single. But he didn't have to pay for it either. So, after visiting half a dozen record shops and finding it only on CD single, for $32.95 everywhere (Marbeck's had the whole album for only $2 more ferchrissakes!) I gave

up. Welcome to Format Hell, folks. It truly sucks. PETER MCLENNAN Yes I attended the Big Night Out show at the Powerstation. While there I was introduced to your local reviewer John Russell. I was unaware he was reviewing this gig and thought it very unlikely as although it was early on he was practically unable to hold himself up and at the time had a drink in each hand. This may be considered clever behaviour by John Russell but it is hardly the condition for a paid reviewer to be in. He delivered a fair if only slightly biased review but I question just how much attention he paid to each band on the night. A review in a high profile magazine like Rip It Up means a great deal to a young band and deserves more than a token or half-hearted mention. On occasions such as the Big Night Out it would be more responsible if he stuck to orange juice. A MUSO I am writing about Grant McDougall's review for the Main Attraction gig in Gisborne. I think his comments on Seven Dials were really bad. Sure, he's allowed his own opinions but to put down a band so blatantly really sucks. I've seen Seven Dials a few times and they are one of the most musically talented bands I've seen. To write the sort of comment he did can really fuck up a band. Grant obviously gets talent and wanking off confused. HIZBOLLAH No, you two obviously have reviewing and positive parenting confused. . .