We should just keep in mind that, like Robin himself said, I didn't know a damned thing about this album when posting the sound-off. I said what I said only because of its cover and title. Weird coincidence that this very album is about what I said-- however, my sound-off had absolutely nothing to do with sexism or whatever. It was about the fact that, well, she looks like the opposite of what I consider to be kinky. That has nothing to do with her being a woman, just the fact that I think any person would look unflattering in that context.

To the comments about the joke being stupid: yeah, that was kinda the damned point.

" i can't help someone else with their idiocy."

Are you referring to me here, Rudy?

"this is a fucking stupid thing to say even as a joke

likely the most confrontational comment i've ever seen from you"

this, but in a good way. if a comment about an album cover can provoke this kind of reaction from
robin < 3 smith it must be something special.

Album Rating: 4.7

...whoa.



Not what I was expecting to see upon waking up.

Album Rating: 4.7

I am gathering my thoughts for a proper response (spoilers: it features a massive apology) but in the meantime I've changed the summary for this review in light of the biggest thing that I think I learned from writing this piece.

I already feel a thousand times better. Thanks for trying to turn me into a celebrity, though I may end up being more infamous than anything haha.

your soundoff specifically jacob, but absurd soundoffs in general, which are usually pretty stupid (including mine)

I think saying "If there's one thing I've learned from this album..." would sound better than "If there's one thing I've learned from the experience of listening to this album..."

Seems kinda redundant to put in the experience part.

Album Rating: 4.7

Firstly, I want to begin by saying that although I wish there had been some form of "higher" statement that I was trying to make by using Jacob's soundoff as my review summary (irony, perhaps, or even some abstract form of satire), the truth is much less flattering. Essentially: I tried to think of a good summary, couldn't, and simply decided to use Jacob's soundoff instead. In other words, as some of you have already suspected, I was trying to go for the cheap laugh - the "lawl gud one brah u teh man" that so frequently earns plaudits on here - and paid for it by falling flat on my face.



I'll be the first to admit that I'm perhaps not the best person to tackle the work of an artist as nuanced as Hval (As Rudy rightfully observes, "irving even reviewing this feels weird to me as it isn't in what i would think to be his wheelhouse"). Some of that has to do with my style of writing, which I feel has the tendency of approaching the bone-headedness of Cro-Magnons at times, but a lot of it also has to do with the fact that (and I think I'm going to lose a lot of cred for this, but here goes) I didn't even *get* a lot of what Hval was trying to say until it was explicitly pointed out to me in the comments section of this review. For what it's worth I think the write-up does succeed in functioning as a sort of introductory text to the record, but it probably serves no higher purpose beyond that. And that's a shame - I/Sputnik had a massive opportunity to really dig deep and get into the essence of what it means to be a music critic, but I let the chance pass us by.



(continued below)

Album Rating: 4.7

To Lewis and Robin (and anyone else who feels that the summary and/or the review was in poor taste), I would like to apologize unreservedly. I know Robin already apologized some way back for being aggressive, but I don't think he should - if anything, I'm flattered by his attention, and the hostility merely serves to show that there are people who care about whether an album is being dissected properly or not (which is something which has gone missing from Sputnik all too often lately). But to get to the core of the issue here, yes the usage of the soundoff was sexist and inappropriate (this doesn't mean that the original soundoff itself was sexist - more on that later). I would plead ignorance and my failings to read into the wider implications of the soundoff's usage, but as Lewis points out, "ironic sexism is still sexism". The realization of what I've unintentionally done has hit home, and I'm very sorry. I've tried to remedy that error of judgment by altering the summary of this review, and promise to be more mindful of what the wider implications of my carelessness might be.



As for the content of the review itself (Re: Lewis' "okay.. but how? and what is it saying?"), I agree that there are many ways in which this write-up could be better. When I have some time on my hands, I intend to go back into the review and attempt to do Hval and her work more justice. I'll inform all parties involved when that's done, and if they'd be so kind as to read this piece again, I'd be very much obliged.



Finally, I would also like to apologize to Jacob for all the negative publicity it has brought him and his soundoff. In my eyes he's just an innocent bystander who's been dragged into this entire furor. I don't even think the original soundoff was made with any sexist intent - it really sounds like he just saw the album art independently and simply went "lol" without even guessing that the actual album would be about that kind of dismissive response. IMHO, it just seems really unfair to publicly flagellate him for apparent "idiocy" or whatever. I'd prefer to put it down to unfortunate happenstance instead, although it is my sincere hope that the two of us learn something from this incident.



Thanks for your time everyone.

Album Rating: 4.7

I think saying "If there's one thing I've learned from this album..." would sound better than "If there's one thing I've learned from the experience of listening to this album..."



Seems kinda redundant to put in the experience part.

shit's getting real damn

"And that's where you're wrong sir - I didn't learn that from the album, but I did learn it from the (chastising) experience of having listened to the album."

I read this a few times not knowing what on earth you meant by "chastising" but now that I've read a few pages back of comments, I understand...haha carry on!

< 3

Album Rating: 4.7

I read this a few times not knowing what on earth you meant by "chastising" but now that I've read a few pages back of comments, I understand...haha carry on!

It makes sense now in context, but yea perhaps there is a better way to word it.

The experience that comes with Innocence Is Kinky has taught me one thing: ironic sexism is still sexism.

???

closer I think

WE WILL NEVER REACH A SUMMARY WE ARE SATISFIED WITH =[[[

re-arranging the words enough times will do it eventually!

The innocence that comes with a kinky experience has taught me one thing: sexism is, ironically, still sexism.

hmm...