Emeritus
Reviews 123 Approval 98%
Soundoffs 64 News Articles 34 Band Edits + Tags 24 Album Edits 186
Album Ratings 1515 Objectivity 82%
Last Active 02-24-17 4:45 pm Joined 09-11-10
Review Comments 7,496
| Three Years On The Sput
Three years ago to this day I posted my first ever review on Sputnikmusic.com - a 1,000+ rword treatise on Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier (which I gave a 3.5/5). The rest, as they rsay, is history: I've since gone on to post an additional 97 reviews (22 of which ended up rbeing featured), making Contrib at review #64 and eventually Staff at review #78. In that rtime, Sputnikmusic has gone from being my online haunt in between university lectures to my rsingular attempt at getting myself quoted on Wikipedia and Metacritic as much as possible. rNow, I know the term "Sputnik professionalism" is a bit of an oxymoron but I can't help but rfeel a slight twinge of pride whenever I see stuff I've written pasted and quoted next to paid rwriters and more established music sites. Despite what everyone tells you - and the damage rwrought by them stupid trolls - in its better moments, this site is pretty great. Cases in point: rI've made some good friends (albeit only on Facebook but heck isn't that 90% of our rinteraction these days) and discovered some pretty sweet music in the process...which is rwhy we're all wasting our time on here, I suppose. And it is thus that on my 3rd Sputnik rbirthday I'd like to salute each and every one of you - you make the site what it is, for better ror worse. And I would not have it any other way. Terima kasih, kawan-kawan. List is some of rmy personal milestones on here, interspersed with some pretty cool stuff you elitist pricks rtaught me how to love ;) | 1 | | Pink Greatest Hits... So Far!!!
This album was my first-ever feature, bequeathed upon me by one Dave de Sylvia, who
has long since left our hallowed halls. In the spirit of salutations to the Sputnik
departed, here's a shout-out to Emeriti like Dave - stand up Adam Thomas (who I guess
is still here sometimes but whatevs), Conrad Tao, Jared Ponton, Keelan Harkin, my half-
Malaysian bro Kiran Soderqvist, Nick Greer, and Robin Smith. I studied the work of these
greats in the process of honing my craft...and look where it has gotten me. Cheers
gents. Always missed, never forgotten. | 2 | | Disney Soundtracks The Lion King
When I wasn't reviewing shitty pop albums I tried to make a name/niche for myself by
writing reviews of Disney classics. While I thought they were humorous at the time,
they haven't aged all that well, and in recent times I've come to realized that they're
the same jokes over and over again (read: accusations of pedophilia, sexual deviancy,
and razor-thin plots on Disney's part). It was good while it lasted though. | 3 | | Soundtrack Top Gun (Special Edition)
The next three albums are reviews that became very significant to me when I first read
them in my very first few weeks on Sputnik as an uber-impressionable User. BigHans'
review of Top Gun stands tall as one of my favourites of all time - choice lines include "I
no idea what a homo-erotic overtone was, and if you happen to ignore them, Top Gun is
the quintessential 80?s movie done right, chalk full of cheesy one liners, impossible
romances (and in this case, bromances), enthralling (for the time) action sequences,
and a well-executed avalanche of unintentional comedy" and "Even if you secretly like
to play Beach volleyball and perv out with other guys, Kenny Loggins has the formula for
you". Goddamn I miss you, Hans. | 4 | | Yellowcard Ocean Avenue
There are several write-ups for this one but I'm referring to SowingSeason's. Although he
has gone on to write many more better reviews since, I can't help but keep coming back
to this one if simply for the fact that this is where everything began. Aside from studying
the work of my Staff and Contrib heroes I'd also lean over and try and take a peek at
what some of the better Users were doing...little did I know that I would end up washing
this particular User's balls for the next two years straight.
Congrats on your engagement, Sowing! | 5 | | Circa Survive Appendage
The reason this album is here is due to the Elijah Kleman-shaped hole in my Sputnik life
right now. Apart from Sowing, I'd say that I was perhaps closest to Eli - in the early days
we'd doggedly check and comment upon each other's writing, never once failing to bring
the long knives out if we thought the other was letting his standards slip a bit. We've sort
of drifted apart since (I'm mostly to blame for that - I moved to a different timezone
entirely) but I'll never forget the unbridled enthusiasm that we cultivated on AIM as we
shared our respective applications for Contrib (neither of us succeeded in our first try)
and swapped album lists.
Special mention to Gyromania and Tyraelxy, who were part of that keener scene too,
back in the day. | 6 | | Justin Bieber Under The Mistletoe
My first ever review as a Sputnikmusic Contributor. | 7 | | Jennifer Lopez Dance Again... The Hits
My first review as a Sputnikmusic Staff...because I accepted a dare from Deviant.
I also love that the Wikipedia page for this album has the following excerpt: "In his
review of the album Irving Tan of Sputnikmusic put Dance Again... the Hits into the
category of a greatest hits album that "you get facial brickbat of moderate-to-raw
disappointment at the discovery of how thin and forced the artist?s discography
really is." He wrote that having another artist featured on nine of the thirteen tracks
"gives the impression that as a product, having Jennifer Lopez alone is simply not
enough". He further criticized the decision to include the Murder Remixes of "Ain't It
Funny" and "I'm Real" over the original studio versions, stating that it was almost like
"Sony Music held their hands up and admitted that the initial cuts that they
published simply weren't up to scratch". Tan concluded that for a greatest hits
album, the track listing is "simply all over the place", with no indication that the
record executives or Lopez "looked around for a logical start" or an "easy access
ramp to her seven-album canon."
Dayum! | 8 | | Keane Strangeland
Amongst other things, Sputnikmusic also gave me some solid hardware - I won a
Sowing-organized Keane contest about two years ago, and Trey was kind enough to
send me my winnings: a Keane poster (lol), and a CD and vinyl copy of Strangeland
(which my mum absolutely loves).
So cheers for that! | 9 | | The National Trouble Will Find Me
Speaking of vinyl, this site also cultivated my interest in owning them slabs of wax. All the
research and planning came good about a week ago, when my Rega RP1 arrived along with a
Denon 720 AE integrated amplifier and Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers. My vinyl collection
is still pretty small - I only own a grand total of nine records - but I'm loving the journey so
far; this National album was the first vinyl record I ever bought. | 10 | | Gorguts Colored Sands
My rap sheet of shoutout ends with a salutation to my current line-up of colleagues on the Staff
board: Jom, Trey, Deviant, Channing, Adams Downer and Knott, Robertsona, Angel, Cam,
DaveyBoy, Eli, Greg, Hernan, Jacob, that weathered old hag once known as John Hipster Hanson,
JViney (whom I once shellacked for writing a poor review of Gorillaz...imagine my surprise when
he made Staff two days later), Kyle, Lewis, Magnus, Mike, Nick, Rudy, kingsoby, and fellow
second language speaker Voivod. It truly is an honour to form the current generation of Sputnik
Staff with you fine people, and long may it continue. Everyone should also please, please,
please, for the love of God, write and rate more. It's seriously just Jacob and Greg propping us
up at the moment. | 11 | | Rush Permanent Waves
The next five albums are great records that I found thanks to the recs and trolling
from the fine community here. S'up sonic/KILL. | 12 | | Thought Industry Songs For Insects
Trey Industry. | 13 | | Bon Iver Bon Iver
AOTY 2011 - BONNIE BEAR!!! | 14 | | The xx Coexist
AOTY 2012 Adam Downer said I ruined Christmas by rating this 5/5. | 15 | | Jenny Hval Innocence Is Kinky
AOTY 2013-elect. Believe it. | |
Irving
09.11.13 | #uncrew | tommygun
09.11.13 | way to go irving dude keep up the good work | mryrtmrnfoxxxy
09.11.13 | swee | Keyblade
09.11.13 | Congrats dude | Irving
09.11.13 | Thanks =) | Cygnatti
09.11.13 | "attempt at getting myself quoted on Wikipedia and Metacritic as much as possible"
fuck yes. | MO
09.11.13 | solid user right here. good job penguin | ShitsofRain
09.11.13 | i have to listen to 15 again to believe it | JumpTheF**kUp
09.11.13 | "It's seriously just Jacob and Greg propping us up at the moment."
these are truly the last days | Irving
09.11.13 | I am....unfamiliar with the term "night birds". | crowing51
09.11.13 | Awesome list an awesome users I feel exactly the same way about Sputnik also. | Tyrael
09.11.13 | 'Everyone should also please, please, please, for the love of God, write and rate more. It's seriously just Jacob and Greg propping us up at the moment.'
There are only like 5 staffers whose reviews I actually read and you're one of them so consider this my ultimate compliment towards you | Tyrael
09.11.13 | i'd be okay with Hep Kat replacing greg in as a staffer | PunchforPunch
09.11.13 | ternyata ada orang malaysia disini | JamieTwort
09.11.13 | Congrats, Irving. You're a great user, even though our paths don't cross that much. | Irving
09.11.13 | Omg the amount of Malaysian in here is blowing my mind | Yuli
09.11.13 | Wonderful job, bud. It's nice to see someone pointing out the great things about this site, for it's helped me a ton-- not only with discovering new music, but with improving my writing and meeting some really cool people like yourself. It's been a pleasure sharing all of this with you, and I hope we'll interact more in the future!
oh, and #feature | wabbit
09.11.13 | ilu irving | someguest
09.11.13 | if wabbit likes you that means you suck | mryrtmrnfoxxxy
09.11.13 | wait is someguest in mezz | greg84
09.11.13 | Well done, Irving. Congrats. | Voivod
09.11.13 | Here's to the next three years, Irving. Cheers! | wabbit
09.11.13 | LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL | Jethro42
09.11.13 | Congrats on the 3 years on the spot, Irving, and for being staff. | Uranium
09.11.13 | Happy sputday
ps
never forget | Nagrarok
09.11.13 | Congrats Irving. Long may your niceness and quality writing endure! | Crawl
09.11.13 | Congrats, I've always liked your reviews. | NordicMindset
09.11.13 | nice work man. coming up on 1 years soon | Judio!
09.11.13 | Congratulations buddy. Your description made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :]. I've only been on Sput for 5 months now, but I wish I have been on for longer. I really, really hope I get to be a Contrib. one day. | Sleaper
09.11.13 | woah i always thought you had been around since the beginning. | Irving
09.12.13 | OMG JETHRO SIGHTING!!!! | PunchforPunch
09.12.13 | saya orang indo bukan malaysia hehe | NightmareCinema16
09.12.13 | You're doing a great job, man. Always enjoy your reviews even if my opinion of the music itself is different. Keep up the good work. | theacademy
09.12.13 | Three years ago to this day I posted my first ever review on Sputnikmusic.com - a 1,000+ rword treatise on Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier (which I gave a 3.5/5).
Three years ago to this day I posted my first ever review on Sputnikmusic.com - a 1,000+ rword treatise on Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier (which I gave a 3.5/5).
Three years ago to this day I posted my first ever review on Sputnikmusic.com - a 1,000+ rword treatise on Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier (which I gave a 3.5/5).
Three years ago to this day I posted my first ever review on Sputnikmusic.com - a 1,000+ rword treatise on Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier (which I gave a 3.5/5). v
Three years ago to this day I posted my first ever review on Sputnikmusic.com - a 1,000+ rword treatise on Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier (which I gave a 3.5/5).
i fucking this place lol | Apollo
09.12.13 | meh | OhCarrots
09.12.13 | Your first review was on 9/11? Hmm... well anyway, congrats on the 3 year mark :] | Jethro42
09.12.13 | SUP IRVING!!! | OneMoreRoland
09.12.13 | I also love 15 | clercqie
09.12.13 | Nice, you got a Rega. Good pick! | klap
09.12.13 | great list although i have written 19 reviews this year that's not THAT bad | fr33convict
09.12.13 | Congrats, man. | ResidentNihilist
09.12.13 | Yep Irv I'm going to beat you at your own game. Congrats. | Irving
09.13.13 | @ Klap: Actually, you've been mega prolific this year. 19 reviews is actually pretty amazing - think you're the most productive behind Greg and Jacob, which is no mean feat. Tbh I was actually trying to compete against/match your production rate earlier in the year...didn't turn out too well. I've only got 14 reviews haha.
@ clercqie: Oh yes! I forgot to let you know! Yeah I decided upon a Rega - seemed like the safest and most optimum value-for-money buy at that price point. Remind me what you have again, please? Also, were you the one who recommended me an Audio-Technica? | SgtPepper
09.13.13 | happy sputbirthday, Irving! | Winsomniac
09.13.13 | God dammit, now I feel like I dont' review enough.
I don't, but I hate being made to actually feel that way. Anyway, happy sputversary, Irving. | Gnocchi
09.13.13 | Three years already? Well done Irv's : ] | someguest
09.13.13 | "My wife was standing nude, looking in the bathroom mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to me, 'I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.' I replied, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.' And that's when the fight started..." | OmairSh
09.13.13 | How the hell did you become staff in less than 3 years? | Winsomniac
09.13.13 | Presumably by infusing your opinions with writing aptitude and the ability to give enough of a fuck to put out polished, high-quality content like this list.
Also, eloquent and defensible reviews. | Irving
09.13.13 | Ho yeah, them pieces being defensible is important.
Also, I actually have no idea how to become Staff; I was ghost-promoted both times. The Contrib - Staff jump I really didn't see coming...I'd written only 14 pieces as a contrib haha. | Gnocchi
09.13.13 | quality > quantity | clercqie
09.13.13 | "@ clercqie: Oh yes! I forgot to let you know! Yeah I decided upon a Rega - seemed like the safest and most optimum value-for-money buy at that price point. Remind me what you have again, please? Also, were you the one who recommended me an Audio-Technica?"
Yeah, I recced you an AT, which I have as well, but the Rega is much much better. :] Trouble Will Find Me should sound gorgious.
Damn, I've only written like 3 or 4 reviews this year... Gonna post my fifth this afternoon presumably. | omnipanzer
09.13.13 | aw crud I forgot my sputversary.
Hey Irving, glad you're still around. I notice you forgot to list your "Best New User of 2010" achievement which you stole from me by being a better user. ;-) | insomniac15
09.13.13 | Yeah, the site is pretty cool. Congrats man! You've advanced really quick!
I can't believe I spent almost 6 years on Sputnik already. | joshieboy
09.13.13 | Yeah nice job man. Great name btw. | Crysis
09.13.13 | A pleasure to work alongside you good sir | BigHans
09.13.13 | brofist Irving | Winsomniac
09.13.13 | :( I want a brofist | Irving
09.14.13 | *brofists Winsomniac*
Also OMG HANS YOU'RE ALIVEEEE???? | Irving
09.14.13 | "Hey Irving, glad you're still around. I notice you forgot to list your "Best New User of 2010" achievement which you stole from me by being a better user. ;-)"
AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA old wounds don't heal, I see!!! ;) + XD | CrimsonLies
09.14.13 | Congrats on three years, I didn't realize I passed two not too long ago. | Acanthus
09.14.13 | Three years and high quality reviews, sounds like you don't need well wishes but are already doing pretty fine for yourself! | Willie
09.15.13 | I wish I could write more... I took on too many other 'extra' jobs here :(
Excellent list. Shit like this is why you were ghost promoted. | Winsomniac
09.15.13 | I miss Willie reviews :( | anarchistfish
09.15.13 | I've just realised you joined the site the day before me.
Always thought you'd been around for longer. | anarchistfish
09.15.13 | Also Dave de Sylvia is still active on the forums.
And 9 was the /last/ vinyl I bought.
Hooray for 14 too, super-underrated album.
Anyway, happy birthday...twin? | Irving
09.16.13 | @ Willie: Yup - lists like these and those sexy messages, amirite? ;) Hahahaha. | Gnocchi
09.16.13 | site needs more willie reviews | FromDaHood
09.16.13 | I still can't believe you're younger than me | FromDaHood
09.16.13 | I was also going to call bullshit on Klap having 19 reviews this year but I have 15 and it feels like I haven't written at all | owen
09.17.13 | Gratz dude
we're all here forever | JerrySandusky
10.09.13 | props for having 6 here although his earlier work is better |
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