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Friday, March 1, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Arts and Entertainment
CD clubs tempt students with false bargains
Careful consumers will profit
By Vanessa Fuhrmans
Kansan staff writer
A penny won't buy much these days, but it still can buy up to eight compact discs.
For consumers who recently have bought a compact-disc player, the lucrative deals compact-disc clubs offer seem like the perfect opportunity to build a collection of compact discs.
In return, however, members are obliged to buy a number of compact-diests at inflated prices during a certain time period.
"On the whole they are pretty good," said Alan Krause, Overland Park senior. "It's a way to get a lot of CDs for a low price."
In addition, most clubs send members a compact disc automatically every month unless members notify them in advance not to. And while members enjoy the benefits of being present at events, they say they question this practice.
"If you don't send the slip back in time, they'll send you one whether you want it or not," said Laura Brent, Sarasota, Fla., junior. "I had
- Alan Krause Overland Park senior
'On the whole they are pretty good. It's a way to get a lot of CDs for a low price.'
a couple sent to me."
Krause said that the club notification sometimes implied that members were obliged to keep unwanted compact discs.
"There's a lot of hidden language in there," he said. "Sometimes you can return them at no charge. But sometimes you can't."
Ralph Colin, senior vice president of business and government affairs at Columbia House Record Service, called Columbia House received complaints and questions from members every day. The steady rate of criticism is normal, though, because the more than 3 million members he said.
bers eight compact discs for one cent and then requires customers to buy six more within a three-year period at prices ranging from $12.98 to $15.98.
Columbia House offers new mem
have taken us to court," he said.
"People will say they never received a notice or something. In most cases it was easier to make a small settlement instead of hiring attorneys and everything."
"There are times when members
But the problem is a two-way street, Colin said. Often, music clubs lose money because members do not 'ufill their end of the bargain.
"There are people who deliberately rip us off," he said. "We use a variety of techniques to screen customers."
Teresa Nelson, special agent in the state attorney general's office, said that she received calls from consumers who had either questions or complaints about music club services.
"A lot of them call us before they join because they don't know that they have to buy a certain number of books in a certain price within a year," she said.
But once people join clubs, the member obligations are legally binding. Nelson said.
"They're pretty self-explanatory," she said.
REVIEWS
'Out of Time' is intense, intelligent
Somewhere around the 25th time I listened to REM's new album, "Out Of Time," I decided that I wouldn't necessarily review it. Rather, I would try to point out why it's one of the best albums that I've ever heard.
"Out Of Time," the band's second LP release since it hopped from IRS to Warner Brothers, is nothing like any other REM album. Its particularity lies mainly in its wide use of instruments.
Previously, a mandolin was the main non-conformist instrument in the band. "Out of Time" is full of mandolin, violin, organ, piano and even harpsichord. Guests include KRS-One of Boogie Down Productions, Kate Pierson of the B-52s, jazz saxophonist Kidd Jordan and former db's guitarist Peter Holsapple, who also toured with REM on the "Green" tour, doing keyboards and guitar work.
In the March 7 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, REM drummer Bill Berry said people would either really like to join or leave there is little basis for middle ground.
The third track, "low," has a somber Mike Mills bass line and other string sounds set against the sobering effect of Michael Slipe's intensity and frustration that boils hot but is never actually released.
The same is true of "Country Feedback," which features soft, almost mismatched chords gently bouncing off each other. With Peter Buck's droning guitar feedback turning into a gentle rainfall of misused sound in the sound of the song suggests as much about the title as do the lyrics.
Though Stipe maintains in this month's issue of Spin magazine that all the songs are love songs, listeners must realize that love, especially to Stipe, is a many-faceted thing. Most of the rest of the songs do sound a little more happy — "Shiny Happy People" (with Pierson), "Radio Song" (with KRS-One) and "Near Wild Heaven" (with Radio Song) may attain the same level on the redundancy of commercial radio. But consider the validity of two respected musicians yelling that "the DJ sucks," or as KRS-One says "Now our children grow up prisoners, all their life, radio listeners."
Those who say REM sold out years ago should listen before passing judgment. This may be the highest level of shrewdness and intelligence that the band has ever achieved. Phil Wells, Special to the Kansas
e Kansan
MOVIES
'He Said' depicts battle of the sexes
The back and forth comedy of the movie "He said, She Said" matches man against woman in a tale of "I'm right, you're wrong."
The story revolves around two community-issues columnists for the Baltimore Sun. Their disagreeing banter encroaches on the heels of Siskel and Ebert. The two writers and their argumentative columns become so popular that they are invited to play host to their own talk show.
Along the way, Lorie and Dan fall for each other. Kevin Bacon plays Dan in the stereotypical "all men are pets" persona.
“Am I responsible for the personality disorders of every woman I go out with? he asks Lorie after a farewell former girlfriend comes looking for her.
Elizabeth Perkins is cast as Lorie,
a neurotic but shrewish counterpart
to Cassandra.
"Sex with me is very good," he tells her.
Many people may find the ensuing bickering between the two characters all too familiar, and it does strike a somewhat universal chord despite its stereotypical nature. What "He Said, She Said," has to do with it is the bitter battle of the sexes. Though at times gimmicky, it is mildly innovative to watch the paranoid fantasies that Lorie and Dan have about each other.
The two inexplicably become involved romantically, and their volatile on-camera relationship follows the couple into the bedroom.
"He Said, She Said," despite its trifling stereotypes, does offer a comedic introspection into the nature of male-female relationships.
- Kristine Curley, Special to the Kansan
Mozart's opera 'The Marriage of Figaro' will be performed Monday at Hoch Auditorium.
National company to perform opera
By Vanessa Fuhrmans
Kansan staff writer
KU students and Lawrence residents are invited to watch the wedding of the century — the 18th century, that is.
The illustrious event will take place 8 p.m. Monday in Hoch Auditorium, when the New York City Opera National Company will perform "Trombone Suite" in four operas of all time, W. A. Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro."
The comic opera, which premiered in 1786, tells the tale of two lovers, Figaro and Susanna, who endure innumerable obstacles and twists of plot before reuniting for the finale.
"It is one of the shows that are accessible to people even if they don't like opera," said Charla Gustafson, a professor of relations for University Theatre.
Members of the National Company, the New York City Opera's
touring arm, will compose the wedding party. Founded by Beverly Sills in 1979, the National Company will be returning for its fifth consecutive visit as part of the KU Concert Series.
Tickets for "The Marriage of Figaro" are on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office, and student tickets are available at the SUA of Fairfield University. The $20 and $17 for the public and $10 and $6.50 for students.
Friday
■ "Heathers," SUA Movie, 7 and 9:30 p.m., Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union $2.50
- Rock Chalk Revue, 7:30 p.m., Hoch Auditorium, $8.
SUA Coffeehouse, impromptu entertainment, 7:30 p.m., Big Eight Room, Kansas Union, free.
Samuel Adler Festival concert, James Higdon, organ, 8 p.m., Swarthout Recital Hall, free.
"Tobacco Road," University Theatre Series, 8 p.m., Crimson-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall, tickets at Murphy Hall Box Office.
CALENDAI
Red Zone, 8 p.m., Liberty Hall, 642
Massachusetts St., advance tickets $6.
■ Tuber, Creep and Roach Factory, 9,
8th Floor, Theater #5.
That Statue Worship; 9:30 p.m., The Jazwhass, 98%² Massachusetts St. $³.
"Blade Runner" SUA movie, mid-September Auditorium, Kansas Union $25.
p.m. Haslinger Hall Theatre, $1.
■ Breakaways, 9 p.m., Just A Play-
house, 806 W, 24th St., $2
Salty Iguanas and The Sleep, 9:30 p.m. The Bottletness, 737 New Hampshire St, $3
Union, must be 18, $2.
Saturday
Rock Chalk Revue, 7:30 p.m., Hoch Auditorium, sold out.
■ "Heathers." SUA Movie, 7 and 9-30 p.m. Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union $2.50
"Tobacco Road," University Theatre Series, 8 p.m., Crayton-Prairie Theater, Murphy Hall, tickets at Murphy Hall Box Office.
That Statue Moved, 9:30 p.m. The Jazzhaus, 92%1 Massachusetts St., $3. "Blade Runner," Movie, mid- movie.
Breakaways, 9 p.m., Just A Play house 80W, 24th St. $2.
■ Blue Dixie, 9:30 p.m., The Bottleneck,
737 New Hampshire St., $4.
- "Last Tango in Paris," SUA Movie, 4 p.m., Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas
Sundav
"Tobacco Road," University Theatre Series. 2:30 p.m., Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murray Hall, tickets at Murphy Hall Box Office.
■ Sigma Alpha iota concert, "Mostly Mozart," 3 p.m., Swarthout Recital Half, free
“Heathers,” SUA Movie, 2 p.m.
Wooldruff Auditorium, Kansas Union,
$2.50
Gwar and Agony Column, 9:30 p.m.
The Bottlehead, 737 New Hampshire St.,
advance tickets $9.
Monday
Open Mike, 9:30 p.m., The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. free.
**"University Concert Series," The
Museum of Figaro." New York City,
Operational Company, 8 p.m. Hoch-庐曼
tickets on sales at Hallway Box 100.
Tuesday
■ University Bands concert, "Pops Con-
nexion," Warren Baker, guest conductor, B p.m. Library Hall, 642 Massachusetts St.
■ Of Cabbages and Kings and Weasel,
9:30 p.m. The Bottleknot, 737 New
Hampshire St., $3.
Wednesday
Evan Johns and the H-Bombs and Filter Kings, 9:30 p.m., The Bottleneck, 737 New Hamshire St. S4
Swarthout Society Resident Artist concert, Rita Slain, piano, and Mark Peskanov, violin, 8 p.m., Liberty Hall 642 Massachusetts St.
Thursday
Now See Hear, 9:30 p.m., The Bot
tleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., $3.
Black Carne Bone, 9:30 p.m., $12
Jazzhaus, 92.6% Massachusetts St.$
Main Street $284
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