>This is no case of prejudice! If I were NOT to buy a record because it >was on a certain label, or because I didn't like the singers hair or >because there was a girl playing bass, THAT would be prejudice. Buying a >record because you like the appearance or presentation of a band is an >everyday occurrence.
Hey. I'm all for spontaneous record purchases too! The point I am trying to make is that if you are in a band that can only gain a reputation because it is on a certain label, as is the case with some sonic unyon acts, then the music (which is what you're buying, isn't it?) is getting attention for something it's not. I learned a long time ago not to buy a album because of its cover. Sure, you can find some good albums with good covers, but you can also find rotten albums with good covers, and great albums with rotten covers. The same thing is true for most everything: hair, cover, record label, etc. The only way you can determine if the music you buy is good is to actually listen to it. Otherwise, you might as well randomly pick records of the shelf. Sure, you'll find some good ones that you might not otherwise discover, but why not be sure? It's your money, and they're your ears. I'm not suggesting that you should only buy music that you hear on the radio, or that you can get someone to play for you beforehand. It makes perfect sense to pick up a Boredoms record if you've seen pictures of them hanging out with Sonic Youth, just as it makes sense to pick up an Esquivel! record because it shares a title with a stereolab album. The things you have to watch out for are the superficial things about a band, like their appearance and packaging. These are the things controlled not by the people who make the music, but the people who will do anything to make the album look attractive enough for you to buy. As we have grown up being blasted in the head by advertising, we rarely realize how vulnerable we are. Jelly-tots in mouth, Coca-Cola in brain, Aalex. &%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%& alexgeddie pobox458 "hold on a minute, kid." fonthillontario -sandy from tristan psionic L0S1E0 as i attempt to give him one of sendstamps!receivezines! my zines two years ago. &%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
