University of Virginia Library

Record Reviews Or
Who Cares Anyway?

— ed.

By Carl Erickson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

There is something seriously
wrong with the record reviews in
this newspaper. I do not know
whether you, the reader, have
noticed it. If you have, then you
are keeping it to yourself, which is
wrong.

Let us return to the record
reviews. So far this year there have
been eight record critiques. Everyone
of these discs has been given a very
favorable review. Why? I know that
if I had been asked to review all of
these albums the same thing would
not have happened. Nor do I think
Mr. Hogg or Mr. Heblich would
have rated them all so highly. Don't
get me wrong; I am not unhappy
with the fact that there are three
reviews for The Cavalier Daily. It
would be impossible for one person
to handle the job. What bothers me
is how the records to be reviewed
are selected.

To begin with neither The Band
Box, nor Mincer's nor the University
Bookstore have showed any
interest in giving The Cavalier Daily
new releases for reviewing purposes.
This seems to me to be the best, the
easiest, and the most natural way of
selecting material. Movie theatres
hand out free passes: why can't
record stores donate free albums?

Now it becomes obvious that
the reviewer must purchase his own
records. Who in his right mind will
shell out $4.00 for an album which
he knows he will not enjoy just for
the purpose of giving an unfavorable
review once in a while?

Next question. Why can't the
reviewer borrow one of his friend's
albums? I think this can be
answered through the posing of
another question. Which would you
rather review, an album which you
detest or one which you enjoy and
want others to enjoy? Unfortunately
the reviewing staff of this paper
has over and over again chosen the
latter. This is a regrettable mistake
and all of us should be embarrassed.
And you, the reader, should be
extremely annoyed for it is you
who loses.

I think there is a feasible
solution to the problem. Write to
the paper, or come to the office, or
just contact one of the reviewers
and tell him what you would like
him to review. This, I believe,
would partially eliminate the biased
selection of records which I have
just described. If we must be
selective about which albums to
review you should be the one to
impose the limits.

I believe that the music scene
today is an important force in our
social and political environment.
Woodstock destroyed any doubts I
might have had. Consequently I
believe you the reader are interested
in what is written about it.
If I am wrong, I am sorry.