--Brian

--Brian

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Originally posted by Shaun Rutherford:
Why, because you don't get them free?

Shaun

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Jealous aren't we?!

Seriously though, there's just way too much music getting released these days. I am not made out of money unlike some of the fans who get everything. Those freebies are nice and all, but I spend more than enough as it is. So, I don't mind getting them!

Unlike before, I am not going to buy just anything because of it's limited nature. I'll probably get Marie Ward and Die Hard eventually. However, I won't be feeling too bad if I don't. In this day and age, it's almost a certainty that these will get another issue at one point. Sure, I might be 100 years old by then...

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Originally posted by sabbey:
Jealous aren't we?!

Sean, this has always been a sore point with Shaun.....

[quote]In this day and age, it's almost a certainty that these will get another issue at one point. Sure, I might be 100 years old by then...

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Well... there's no guarantee of it - so why take the risk? Just save up and definitely get MARIE WARD!

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Originally posted by sabbey:

Unlike before, I am not going to buy just anything because of it's limited nature. I'll probably get Marie Ward and Die Hard eventually. However, I won't be feeling too bad if I don't. In this day and age, it's almost a certainty that these will get another issue at one point. Sure, I might be 100 years old by then...

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I said that about SWORDFISH and YOUNG SHERLOCK, on the grounds I couldn't yet afford them. Turns out now that I've missed 'em.

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I am not made out of money unlike some of the fans who get everything.

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This is bad form.

Sabbey, you have absolutely no reason to bitch when you get everything for FREE, just for writing semi-knowledgeable CD reviews.

Don't EVEN make it seem like you have such a hard time when it comes to music acquisition.

Dan:

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this has always been a sore point with Shaun

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This is also bad form.

Bootlicks, brown-nosers, and shoe-shine boys getting CDs for free is one thing -- I don't mind that. That's capitalism at it's finest.

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Originally posted by JJH:
Bootlicks, brown-nosers, and shoe-shine boys getting CDs for free is one thing -- I don't mind that. That's capitalism at it's finest.

But don't lord it over the rest of us who actually use our hard-earned money for them. Dumbass.

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I actually have to buy the Varese Club releases, as well as other CDs out there. I don't get everything for free, and I resent you calling me a dumbass just because I'm pointing out the obvious fact that Shaun has a problem with some folks getting things for free. And not everyone who gets things for free is a "bootlicker, brown-noser, or shoe-shine boy".

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Originally posted by JJH:
This is bad form.

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Not at all! Just pointing out how expensive it is to be a fan of film music these days.

Sabbey, you have absolutely no reason to bitch when you get everything for FREE, just for writing semi-knowledgeable CD reviews.

Don't EVEN make it seem like you have such a hard time when it comes to music acquisition.[/QUOTE]

Everything? That's news to me!

Just to put the record straight, I pay for 95% of what I get, probably more than that since quite a few times I end up sending the promos to the contributors of my site.

Sure, I have it better than most, however the real point of the matter is even then, I am still finding it hard to stay up with all the new releases. I would wager most have it even harder. As I said, there's way too much! Though, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
In any case, this is far from bitching. Trust me here, if I was you would know!

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Originally posted by dgoldwas:
Well... there's no guarantee of it - so why take the risk? Just save up and definitely get MARIE WARD!

Dan

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That's the plan! I just need to find the right time in between some of the other releases, where I can afford them. Hopefully, in a few months they will be available still and I'll pick them up. Otherwise...

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Originally posted by Richard Street:
I said that about SWORDFISH and YOUNG SHERLOCK, on the grounds I couldn't yet afford them. Turns out now that I've missed 'em.

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Well, that's the kicker right there! If I do end up missing them, I'll be disappointed. However, there's nothing I can do about it at this time. So, at least in my case this is all a moot point.

I am not about to take up a life of crime to keep this addiction going. So, a few missed scores here and there is something I will deal with the best I can.

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Originally posted by PeterK:
"Seriously though, there's just way too much music getting released these days"

Did I read this right? "Too much"? Something's not adding up....

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Let me rephrase that...

There's too much for me! Anyone who has the time and money to get what they want, more power to you. Alas, I found out in the last year, I just don't have much quantities of either. Oh well...

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Originally posted by PeterK:
This doesn't mean he can't post a message that might make sense from one perspective (his comment is the only thing that makes sense when applied to Sabbey's "there's too much music being released" comment).

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And, I still stand by it. It's just my opinion, about how much harder it is to stay up with all that is getting released. Disagree or not, it doesn't matter one iota to me. However, I do disagree with the idea people seem to get that just because we get some free CDs, we don't spend just as much of our hard-earned money. Or, we don't have the right to bitch, as it were!

Anyway, I am not trying to throw this in anyone's face, and I apologize if it seems that way. Just trying to say what my opinion is, the best way I can.

Regards,
Sean Robert Abbey

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Originally posted by PeterK:
This doesn't mean he can't post a message that might make sense from one perspective (his comment is the only thing that makes sense when applied to Sabbey's "there's too much music being released" comment).

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BTW...

I don't think that example applies. Since, I said that in response to Shaun's post.

Anyway, it's not like I took offense with what he wrote. This is not the first time he has made such a comment, always jokingly (At least, that's the way I take them) and I bet it won't be the last. Hence, my little jokingly jab back. It's all rather strange that we have had such a strong response, when this is something I have talked about at great lengths in the past. Both, before and after getting free CDs!

I guess Dan has an issue about my having an issue.

It is my belief that only after you've spent money on a product can you truly understand the anger and hurt that comes with having the product you purchased turn out to be a piece of worthless trash.

When you get it free, if it sucks, you don't lose anything but time. You are still holding on to your twenty bucks. If you are hungry for a Rice Krispie Treat, you are free to purchase one. Hell, even a box. Now, imagine the urge to eat a Rice Krispie Treat arriving right after you listened to a freshly-purchased disc from a band you've never heard of, and only paid $18 for because it's on a label that usually puts out good stuff. The urge is there, but the money is not. Therein lies the pain. But, from that pain, rather than just look scornfully in the direction of the Impulse Buy From Hell, you can formulate a negative opinion about it, so that others who are in your same predicament can hear the word. And let that word be "NO!"

See? Getting it free and having it suck just means a slightly more positive negative opinion. It's understandable that while you want to maintain your "journalistic integrity" by not openly kissing the asses of the composers and record companies and admitting at least a slight fault in the product you were given for absolutely nothing, you still can't say, "The score for Gladiator is only slightly better than cancer.....more of a malignant melanoma," because that would mean the hedonistic mailbox fondlings would be over.

Shaun

P.S. I've wanted to mention this before, but I figure, while we're somewhat on the subject of review sites, here are two things that always bother me:
1. Clem's "as heard in the film" rating. On the surface this is fine, but often times he does this BEFORE the film comes out! So, how does he KNOW that the score works better in the film, if the film has yet to be screened? For all he knows, it could be a Black Hawk Down-like situation, where the score and the album are practically separate entities. I don't know, just bugs me.

2. Soundtrack.net's (this is not a swipe at Dan) awful "closing thought of the review." Usually it's something like, "If you like the film, get this soundtrack. If you don't, don't get this soundtrack." Great summary!

Don't get on Sabbey for complaining, he started a site and gets free CD's; he put time into it and, as a result, gets promotional copies sent to him.

You don't -- too bad.

It's not all fun, either; imagine getting a piece of sh*t like Ali in the mail and having to listen to it three or four times despite how awful it is? Like I said, it ain't fun.

Shaun, that "score as heard in film" bugs everyone because, yes, like you say most the time he hasn't even seen the film and is making assumptions out of his ass.

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Originally posted by Shaun Rutherford:
See? Getting it free and having it suck just means a slightly more positive negative opinion. It's understandable that while you want to maintain your "journalistic integrity" by not openly kissing the asses of the composers and record companies and admitting at least a slight fault in the product you were given for absolutely nothing, you still can't say, "The score for Gladiator is only slightly better than cancer.....more of a malignant melanoma," because that would mean the hedonistic mailbox fondlings would be over.

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You make an excellent point! However, I do not dislike any score that much to worry!

Seriously though, I feel that there are some ways around this. For an example, I try to make sure I point out all the good and bad points of an album and leave it up to the reader to decided if it is worth their money. Sure, there are times I let my own biases get in the way. But, I always point them out as I do so.

In any case, you are right for the most part. This, is why reviewers need to be more open about where they are coming from with their opinions, rather than just putting them out there without any sort of clarification as to why they think what they do. Myself included!

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Originally posted by Hasta:
I remember when getting CD's for free was cool and exciting, but lately the new releases haven't been that way...

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Yeah, I have noticed this as well. However, It's not necessarily because of the music itself though. But, more of a case of it being more work to do, for music that I probably wouldn't review if I actually bought it myself. So, I find it wasteful of my time and energy, that could be better spent.

This has been happening quite a lot recently. Fortunately, I still try my best to make sure those get done. Having, contributors helps in this regard.

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Don't get on Sabbey for complaining, he started a site and gets free CD's; he put time into it and, as a result, gets promotional copies sent to him.

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Thanks! I don't really mind the work all that much, there's just hasn't been much sent that is worth reviewing lately. Hopefully, this will change soon.

I do think if most people realized exactly what goes into making and running these sites, they would understand perhaps a little more where we a coming from. That said, they have just as much a right to complain then we do. Perhaps, more so!

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It's not all fun, either; imagine getting a piece of sh*t like Ali in the mail and having to listen to it three or four times despite how awful it is? Like I said, it ain't fun.

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Personally, I quite liked that album. Even though, there really was no reason to shortchange us on the amount of score present. Oh well, what can you do!

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Originally posted by Shaun Rutherford:
I'm not upset that I don't get free CDs (well, I wouldn't mind getting SOME!), I'm upset with people who only start sites to get free CDs, and then want people to take them seriously as reviewers.

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That is definitely a problem. It's also why most labels are cutting back on what they will and won't send. I don't begrudge anyone who wants to start a film music site, but some seem to be doing it for the wrong reasons. Maybe it's just me, but I think there needs to be an amount of passion for both the music and this community, for someone to start such a site.

This, is why I started mine back 3 years ago. I sure didn't start the site for the discs. Heck, I didn't even knew people were sending this stuff out.

Quality of the site notwithstanding, I am pretty darned pleased with what I have accomplished thus far.