francis

Caz, as always you bring up the usual things: boring, monotonous, academic research, etc... you're the only one who pulls out these things. By necessity, I had to include some biographical and/or thematic information, since ATR are not a particularly well-known band, and this, aside from Alec Empire's rec, is the first review of ATR on Debaser. I had to develop some sort of introduction to the band, and perhaps spark a little curiosity for listening to their music. If you were a bit more attentive while reading, you would notice that there is still a personal involvement in the rec since it's a group that I've particularly loved all the same.

I respond: the choice to start with a "I won't be brief" was added later, precisely to avoid the usual accusations of "too long review." I preferred to be honest and clarify this from the outset. Then if someone doesn't have 5-10 minutes to dedicate to this album, too bad. I don't think the final result turned out to be that heavy; on the contrary, unfortunately I had to condense some parts that deserved more space. Turkish, your critique seems a bit precious to me; let me know when you decide to read the review.

And then I find the English quite likable... perhaps because I am an islander too.

I am still a hardcore Britpop fan. I obviously listen to a lot of other music, but I believe that the music coming from England has always had an edge. Seattle means absolutely nothing to me; better New York, Boston, or Los Angeles, for that matter. Even Athens. But I think that, all things considered, the UK beats the USA at least 3 to 1. Personality makes the difference.

I can have a laugh too, but you always have three. And it’s the third one that makes me lose the desire to joke...

Shit, I have a girlfriend, I do. I write here during the breaks I take while studying, I don't owe you an explanation about my private life, which is rich and happy. Just because I treat people with respect, unlike you. And don't make cheap jokes that I might really come to Sassari and kick your ass.

Despite what some people think, I am not at all a self-important or arrogant person, in fact, I’m one of the few who has the sensitivity not to give a negative rating to a review almost ever, and when I criticize, I don't criticize the writer but the album being written about, if I don't like it. I have a lot of respect for the users of Debaser, understood as those who are educated, sensitive, and predisposed to a constructive dialogue, heated if we want, but still constructive. It’s not true that I’m only flattered by those who share my musical tastes; Nickghostdrake harshly criticized me in the past but not with vulgarity or premeditation. Man, I’m sure if a girl wrote my review, you would exalt it to the point of ridiculousness (because you do that with all the reviews written by women, in the vain hope of "picking up" at least online), that's why your objectivity goes to hell. You're not reliable.

Why has Iko crafted this artful character of the little music professor with a wand in hand who writes a review once in a blue moon and starts to lecture others with his unbearable pedantry? It bothers you that you've found someone who can take that wand away from you, right? And who gives you a spanking on the behind. Your gratuitous and scornful attacks don’t leave a mark on me, just like your pseudo mockeries. But do you want to shove it into your empty head that people who read don’t give a damn about how many times Bowie farts in a day????? Do you want it to get into your head, or your ass (because it’s pretty much the same thing)?? Oh no, the little professor has to complain... you’re a fascist and a mythomaniac; that little bit of credibility you had, you’ve ruined it trying to attack me, so don’t whine if I now return to you what you’ve thrown at me on this site.

Thank you Masterlash, I won’t hide that I also have moments of discouragement reading certain comments... I won’t say it makes me sad because I can't go that far for people so empty and shallow, but I definitely feel a lot of bitterness. Unfortunately, one can't even resort to the classic phrase "rise above it" because the way I’m attacked already puts me in a position to feel superior, given how poorly it is articulated. It only comforts me that the encouragement I receive comes from the more intelligent and "liberal" users; in fact, the criticism comes only from those three or four idiots/illiterates/excited individuals who, in the end, are nothing more than pathetic caricatures of themselves.

For Kosmo: anyway, this isn’t a review written to provoke Iko; I’m not going to write just to spite someone. I love this album and I wanted to write about it, but if you changed your mind after reading Iko's BULLSHIT, there's nothing I can do about it. I don’t need to play a trivial game with Iko about David Bowie to see who knows more. I’ve never thought that way. Iko is a little professor, all facts and no brain, no heart; I’m not. I use history and information to talk about an album, not to be a fucking notary.