Mail Call: Glen Phillips
Is there anything better than getting CDs in the mail? I’m not sure there is. Being able to actually buy them in town is pretty cool but I’ve given up on that in Huntsville- the local music shopping scene sucks three flavors of ass. I went out for lunch and swung by the apartment and what’s in my mailbox? Glen Phillips’ Secret of The New Explorers.
So right now you’re asking yourselves,”Hey, asshole, didn’t you already review that thing? Don’t you already have it?”
The answer to that is yes. I got a free advance of it and used that to write my review. After listening to the music and the interview, I felt compelled to pay for a copy of it. It seemed the right thing to do. I love the music and I’ll pay for it. The cool thing is that for the last two days I’ve been suffering from some writers’ block. I was motivated to work but not inspired to write. Getting this package in the mail has given me a little spark and you’re reading it. The message here is clear. I’ve put my money where my mouth is. I paid for my copy. It’s time for you bust out your Uncle Visa and get yours.
Filed under: Glen Phillips
Here’s how I get around the inevitable guilt that comes when I get free music in the mail to review: If the album is good, I’ll do the best I can to reflect that in my writing and, with hope, the people who read my review will then purchase their copy.
In theory (and often in reality), we as writers can weild a broader impact on an album’s visibility and merits. The act of purchasing a single copy of an album won’t, in itself, translate to the kind of attention that comes from writing about that album in a public forum.
So if someone reads something I’ve written on a album, and that influences the person to then purchase that album, I feel comfortable in having received the album for free (from an authorized source, obviously).
Don’t get me wrong, Donald, I have no problem accepting free loot- particularly when the agreement is for a review in return. I didn’t have to re-buy the album out of some moral obligation, per se. I’m far more likely to buy an album I received free from an independent artist than I am a major label artist. I don’t know if I so much felt guilty about getting it free as I did compelled to throw in some monetary support for a great little EP.