The shelves of some Lawrence music stores contain CDs that were created illegally. While some KU students view these albums as collector's items, the musicians and record labels are being Burned by Bootlegs
Story by Ashlee Roll
Cheri Brown, Lawrence resident, takes time to look at the vast array of imports and collectible CDs at Kief's, 2429 Iowa St
ori Amos has a new album available. So do 311 and Nirvana. Well, not really.
But at some music stores in Lawrence, the shelves are full of bootleg CDs by popular artists. Through pirate CDs, fans can find a vast selection of live performances and rare songs. They may be labeled "imports", but they actually are recordings that have been made and distributed illegally.
'booottegs are popular for breaking artists that don't have a lot of output, like Tori Amos," said Neil Dryden, music manager at Hastings Video, Music and Books, 1900 W. 23rd St.
Hastings doesn't sell new bootleg CDs, but occasionally they are offered in the used music section.
"The corporate office doesn't allow us to buy from distributors that sell bootlegs," Dryden said.
And that's probably the safest policy because selling bootleg or pirate CDs is a crime that involves federal commercial codes, which means that bootleggers are breaking federal laws that carry stiff penalties.
"Anyone is susceptible to getting busted," said April Wiley, an office assistant at Old Hippie Mail Order Music. "Everyone from the distributor down to the store that sells them."
Owners of stores that are caught selling these illegal recordings can face five years in jail and up to $250,000 in fines, according to titles 18 and 20 of the Criminal Code and Rules of the Federal Government.
Anyone who has ever rented a movie has seen the FBI warning and copyright law. That copyright law is the same one that protects the new Korn album.
Those who sell, reproduce or distribute more than 1,000 recordings during a 180-day period are guilty in the eyes of the FBI, especially when the illegal product begins to affect commerce.
But the probability of a store getting caught isn't high.
"From what I've been told, if you don't get too big, you won't get busted." Wiley said. "But if you do get big, that's when they bust you."
Even the FBI admits that there is a difference between professional bootleggers and someone who makes a tape for a friend. But technically, it is illegal to sell or trade any recorded music that has been copyrighted bad news for Deadheads.
"It's been a long time since anyone has taken legal action." Drvden said.
In past years, bands such as Led Zeppelin openly disapproved of bootlegs and took action to stop the practice.
action to stop action. But in the past 10 years, the bootleg industry has grown to resemble a legitimate business, Wiley said. Many distributors in large cities like New York City and Los Angeles paddle illegal CDs to small stores.
"Distributors out of New York try to attract you with special deals like $1 off every CD," said Steve Wilson, manager of Kief's, 2429 Iowa St. "You know they aren't making any money on just the CDs, it's the volume."
Wilson also said that sometimes the pirate companies were sister operations of legitimate distributors that dealt in counterfeit merchandise.
The bootlegging industry even has gone so far as to publish catalogs that advertise their pirate CD collections.
"There is a catalog called ICE that sells bootlegs," Wiley said. "Stuff is getting put out, but no one is willing to carry it."
If the bootleg industry is allowed to function in the open, then who is the victim of this crime?
As it turns out, the record companies and the musicians are. They never receive the money for music that is recorded and sold. And, according to the Criminal Code and Rules, those who are caught also
can face civil charges from a record company.
While the demand for these musical morsels continues to grow, some local stores have decided not to sell bootlegs. And surprisingly, they say that decision has not affected business.
"The people that buy bootlets usually have already bought everything available by
that artist at a store like ours," Dryden said. "If someone buys a Bob Dylan bootleg, chances are they have everything he's made."
And fans don't seem to care whether a CD is legal.
Joe Alfino, Warrensburg, Mo. freshman, didn't care about the law
when he stumbled upon a Faith No More bootleg. Instead of looking at the CD as evidence, he views it as a collector's item.
derectly. "Faith No More is one of my favorite bands," he said. "I don't care that it's illegal." Alfred said he was attracted to the CD
Almo said he was that kind of person because it was a recording of a live concert.
"A lot depends on what songs are on it," he said. "Some bands do songs live that they don't normally do."
BUTTERY CHUNKS MUSIC REVIEW
The Offspring: Ixnay On The Hombre
The Discipline
Every 14-year-old with a skateboard already owns this one. It's more of the same mid-tempo Southern California punk that made The Offspring punk rock's first milli-
naires with 1994's Smash.
Predictably, there are no songs here catchy enough to be this summer's Come Out and Play. And like all punk albums these days, Ixmay's got the one token ska song, Don't Pick It Up. A pity it's surrounded by lifeless, uninspired punk/metal riff rock such as the forgettable single All I Want. An introductory disclaimer by punk god Jello Biafra (of Dead Kennedys fame), reminding the listener not to take the disc too seriously, just might be the disc's highlight.
tunes aren't melodic enough to remember or fast enough to please hardcore fans. Ixayn On The Hombre is strictly for the crowd that needs its older brothers to buy it a pack of Camels at the Amocostation.
The Bubble Boys: Bitter is Better (Unsound)
At long last, the debut
The songs all sound the same, and the
album by one of Lawrence's finest punk bands. For fans of humorous, three-chord punk rock, Bitter is Better is a nice find.
The album's 17 songs — complete with buzz saw guitars and oohs and ahs in all the right places — are so catchy they'll remain in your head for days and kick you in the skull when you're simply trying to remember where you left your keys.
Nothing too groundbreaking here. But The Bubble Boys have the cartoonish pop-punk thing down pat —particularly on the superhero instant classic Lightnin' Boy.
There's something missing from the seventh full-length album of Amherst, Mass', most famous pop noise band. Perhaps it's because bandleader J. Mascis plays practically every instrument on the disc. Instead of the raw guitar assaults he offered in the late 80s, Mascis has made an antiseptic album in Hand It Over.
In Bitter is Better, they have crafted a true rarity for the usually deadly serious Lawrence scene: an album of pure fun and energy.
He hits the bull's eye on the tuneful Nothin's Goin' On, but extended guitar solos prolifer in the album's 12 offerings,
Dinosaur Jr: Hand It Over (Reprise)
particularly on the eightminute Alone. Where Dinosaur Jr. used to provide catchy melodies hidden behind a wall of tumult, now we get a slick-sounding pop album crafted more carefully than R.E.M.'s recent releases.
And Mascis, once called a godfather of grunge, now has little more to offer us than guitar theatrics and generic slices of angst.
In between, lead singer Lou Koller taps the positive hardcore themes of believing in oneself and improving the world, all the while sounding hostile enough to appeal to followers of aggressive, message-laden music.
Sick Of It All: Built To Last (Elektra)
This New York hardcore band is still writing the book on underground success. Built To Last, the band's second major-label release, is vivid proof that signing to a major doesn't mean selling out. Built To Last is full of the same growled vocals, breakneck guitar riffs and pounding drums as the band's 1989 classic debut Blood Sweat and No Tears.
The disc opens with Good Lookin' Out, a rousing hardcore anthem reminding us that "True friends will always be there," and it finishes with Jungle, a song oozing anger and mistrust.
—Jeff Ruby and Drue Kennedy
Some CDs provided by 7th Heaven
NIGHT Life
WEDNESDAY
■ Chris & Brandon, 8 p.m. at Nouvelle
Deli, 129 E., 10th St. Free.
Earth Crisis, Coal Chamber and Damation AD, 6 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $9.
Groovaliscious, 10 p.m. at the Bottle neck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $2 and $3.
Iris DeMent, 8 p.m. at Liberty Hall,
644 Massachusetts St. Cost:
$13.50. Seating reserved.
Farmer, The Ruby Crush and Julia Sun rendered, 9 p.m. at The Granada,
1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $4 and $5.
THURSDAY
- Kelly West Swing Quartet, 9 p.m. at Nouvelle Deli, 129 E, 10th St. Free.
- Kid Quarkstar, 10 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $4 and $5.
- Soul Coughing, 9 p.m. at Liberty Hall,
644 Massachusetts St. Cost: $12.
The Lex Quintet, 10 p.m. at Nouvelle Deli, 129 E. 10th St. Freed.
FRIDAY
Ekoustik Hookah, Einstein and Stone Foundation, 10 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $5 and $6.
Rod Block's Jazz, 6 to 8 p.m. at Nouvelle Deli, 129 E. 10th St. Free.
SATURDAY
Java Junkies, 10 p.m. at Nouvelle Dairy, 129 E. 10th St. Free.
Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers, Virginia Keen and Sandoval, 10 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $4 and $5.
SUNDAY
New European Strings Chamber Orchestra; 3:30 p.m. at the Lied Center. Cost: public $22 and $18; KU, Haskell and K-12 students $11 and $9; senior citizens and other students $21 and $17. Tickets are available at the Lied Center Box Office, Murphy Hall Box Office and the SUA Box Office.
Cibo Matto and The Pulsars, 9:30 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $8 advance tickets.
■ Concert: Instrumental Collegeum Musicum, 8 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Free.
MONDAY
Open Mike, 8 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Free.
Acme Jazz, 8 p.m. at Nouvelle Dell,
129 F. 10th St. Fre.
Doctoral Recital: Stephen Patterson, trumpet; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. Free.
■ The Pharcyde, Face to Face and Voodoo Glowskulls, 8 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. Cost: $16.
The Malachi Papers, 8 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St.
Cost: $2 and $3.
.