Wow, Sam, thank you very much! And Joey, thank you as well. It was great meeting you, you’re a sweetheart!
Rock on, you guys are the best
x-o-x-o
Brooke

Thanks for everything you have done guys. We love superstarcastic.com.

Sam,

Time to go to reality. Crunchy guitars by TRTA? Explain crunchy, I would prefer the use of the adjective “feminine.” Fit together like a chain link fence? Really their guitar melodies sound more like a plunger pushing shit down a toilet. Brooke’s voice is really not anything special, frankly. Sam, let me clarify what her voice really sounds like as you have clearly illustrated you do not understand this concept. First her voice is not attractive or sexy, which is a cornerstone of bands which choose a female as the frontperson. Second listening to her sing is like being in a nursing home, depressing, and full of complaining. Laslty, get prepared as this is going to hurt, but, she is butt ass ugly. I hate to be like Donald Trump, but the truth can be painful, but in reality needs to be said to those who strive for the public spotlight. This is why TRTA will never be famous, and will never, ever amount to anything. Go take some more retarded pictures of yourself, assclowns. You think I am bad go to American Idol… and do not say you are not pursuing fame, heard that bullshit from too many Indie bands. The second you have put a picture, website, mp3, of yourself on the you are pursuing some sort of fame. Just do me a favor, go work in an gas station, just dont make anymore music. We will all forgive you someday.

Wow, Zach, so I’m guessing Brooke just dumped you?

He probably spent all night at a party hitting on her and was spurned.

Any time a band elicits this much derision in someone, i give them credit. They must be doing something right to get someone so fired up, right? Indifference = the kiss of death. Well played, Red Tie Affair!

For the record, that was not me (the real exZAKtly) nor my views.

Hey douchebag, the next time you feel the need to mouth-poop all over a solid review of a solid band with a rock-solid lead singer (who’s a stone-cold fox, btw), please use your own name.

That is all.

yeah, i changed the name attached to that comment as the little prick ripped off the handle of one of our writers, who would NEVER be such a dumbass.

i totally agree with the just-got-spurned-or-dumped theories - i meant wtf? way to take being dumped with dignity, dude. sheesh.

If Brooke actually did spurn/dump him, I think my opinion of her just went up even further. ^_^

Actually my name is really Zak. Second, I am not familiar with any of these people in this band, please note I am not even an American, and have never once been to Chicago. When you are given criticism deal with it in an intellectual way, don’t say I am getting dumped, or other nonsense. Notice my first criticism is in the direction of other members of the band. Simply, take criticism for what it is. They always say the truth hurts, and obviously by your responses it did. I am actually a British review consultant, and I am constantly looking for legitimate American underground bands to be reviewed in the UK. So, I read your review saying something is good, and then I have to take it seriously. “I have to take it seriously (This is said twice so you understand the importance of your work).” When I download the mp3 and it sounds like shit, by any correct accord, I will say it, I am not some type of Care Bear Reviewer. If you cant handle negative reviews and comments, stay away from the music industry. By the way music is not just about the sound it is about looks personality, poetry, etc.,etc.,etc………. Please stop promoting maggots, and lying to people who are striving for good bands in the underground scene. If you do not like criticism, as I have already said, go work in a gas station. You do not say someone is good when they are not, that is called…mendacious. I will not return, as your first rebuttle was hardly worthy of this response, so I can expect nothing legitimate the second time around from any of you. What a pity.

By the way music is not just about the sound it is about looks

Okay, this and then saying ” her voice is not attractive or sexy, a cornerstone of bands which [sic] choose a female as the frontperson”? Total sexist caveman bullshit. I fail to see how calling a singer “butt ass ugly” constitutes intellectual criticism of the music.

Also, you work in the music industry as a review consultant but you spell rebuttal “rebuttle”? I hope, for your sake, that you have a damn good copy editor.

What in the hell is a “review consultant”?

Do you get paid to read these sites? If so, is there an opening in your office? I can be snarky and not understand that opinions differ. Really.

When you are given criticism deal with it in an intellectual way, don’t say I am getting dumped, or other nonsense.

Then perhaps you should leave personal attacks like “she is butt ass ugly” out of your obviously professional and well-informed take on the band’s music, thus not leaving yourself open to such speculation. After all, you are a “British review consultant,” so you should know what constitutes an actual review and not cheap shottery, right? (”British review consultant.” OOOooOOoOOOOOoooo. So, you basically get paid to coach self-important jackoffs (i.e. reviewers…hey, i can laugh at myself) on their masturbation technique? Are you hiring? Because watching a bunch of British writers fondle themselves for 8 hours a day while i take notes on it HAS to be better than working at my bank.)

If you cant handle negative reviews and comments, stay away from the music industry.

Negative reviews and comments mean more when they seem to be coming from someone who knows what they’re talking about. Just for future reference. Resorting to personal attacks on a person’s appearance tend to distract from anything that might be considered “intelligent” criticism.

By the way music is not just about the sound it is about looks personality, poetry, etc.,etc.,etc……….

…choice of gear, deli trays, backing dancers, pyrotechnics, blowing the right record company executive…the lot!

If you do not like criticism, as I have already said, go work in a gas station.

And have you criticize my pumping technique? Fuck that!

You do not say someone is good when they are not

Fair enough. We’ve learned our lesson. We will not say you are good.

I will not return

OK! Bye!

P.S. Christine, maybe “rebuttle” is a British spelling. You know, like how those numbskulls are always wasting “u”s.

Wow, an interesting discussion I have read here. First I am not condoning what Zak has said in the personal corner, also I am disinterested in the disrespect to the British writing style presented here. However, I am sorry but I agree with Zak, this is a poor review. From the follow through responses it is clear the people who are reviewing this band happen to be friends of the people who have made the album. Reviewing in this way is defies integrity, as one can assume a bias is put forth from the beggining. Really a friend reviewing an album is no different than putting a relative or a friend on a job application. It cannot and should not be trusted for a single instant in time. I am not saying friends cannot review albums of other friends, but at this level in the music industry, any one who is experienced in Indie is forced to ignore this review.

klaus, thanks for weighing in, but you are entirely wrong. no one from superstarcastic knows anyone in this band well, and in fact only met them when they played our last festival. however, we happen to take issue with someone calling out a band - any band - because of how they look…talk about defying integrity. our reviewer sam has his own opinion and he is entitled to such whether you or that douchbag zak agrees with it or not.

if you think this is a poor review, that’s fine - unlike some people we are more than willing to let people have their differing opinions around here - but you will have to come up with some other reasons for disliking it, as your perceived “bias” is a non existent issue.

klaus, thanks for weighing in,

Thanks for weighing in, is that sarcasm? As if you are saying I have not the right to enter this disagreement.

“but you are entirely wrong”… Actually after that quote, you prove me to be entirely correct. You said, “only met them when they played our last festival,” so you obviously do know them, and your review has an even better reason for bias, promotion of “our festival.” Which gives two reasons for bias: knowabouts and promotion on your own interest (ever study a basic philosophy course???). When I am wrong I can gracefully admit it, but this time I am not. I don’t honestly care about what Zak said about someone looks and honestly neither should you, we all know that is an empty insult. I am hear to talk music. I am not in the clouds when it comes to music, or the press covering the music. You are the press, and if someone calls out your work as faulty, do not deny it, improve it. Anyone who has half a brain and that is not from this website, or the band could easily see what is going on here. If you have a response to this leave Zak out of it, and just defend yourself!

I’ve tried to stay mostly out of this, and I’m starting to be sorry I ever wrote this thing, but just for the record…

Did I have an interest in promoting the bands that played at our festival? Sure — the whole point of this series of articles was to drum up interest for the festival, and it’d be disingenuous to pretend otherwise. But, after the festival was over, I spent $12 of my own money — which I didn’t earn from this site, as at least at the moment, I write for free — to buy TRTA’s album. Why? Because I actually like the music. See, we got bands we thought were good for the festival. Why would we do otherwise? If we’re going to talk about interest, it was certainly in our interest to put out a good product.

You can disagree with my opinion, and it’s obvious that a lot of people do. That’s fine — I certainly don’t agree with every review I read, and everyone’s entitled to think what they want. But I highly resent the suggestion that I somehow lack integrity or am being less than honest.

And that’s all I’ve got to say.

sigh. we are not the press. we are superstarcastic and we can like and dislike whatever we want. and of course we promote our own festival - “basic philosophy” not withstanding. i don’t understand why the concept of a music reviewer’s opinion not matching your own is so hard for you to get. howevs, i am tired and hungover and i don’t really feel like explaining matters of free speech and personal taste, so have a nice day, mr. klaus.

As the supreme arbiter of taste around here I just have one thing to say:

Links or STFU you anonymous wimp.

Neither of the posters provided links to a) contact them, b) samples of their work thats better, or c) examples of bands that we should of had at our festival, that we were promoting.

This is the internet and anonymous, negative posts waste everybody’s time. I can say all the negative stuff I want, because my personal address is listed on whois for this domain.

And yeah, I hate the British. Its a country full of white trash just like the USA, but at least we send our kids to the dentist.

“Links or STFU you anonymous wimp.” - Or else what? Freedom of speech, bitch. (Jizzbomb for you, right in the mouth).

“And yeah, I hate the British. Its a country full of white trash just like the USA, but at least we send our kids to the dentist.” - Yeah, so your saying that you invited a bunch of white trash to your festival then. Fuck you, disrespecting an enitre population of people. Call me a wimp to my face and not from behind a keyboard, you better believe you will be going to the dentist. Pussy. You have only proven you were born with a big mouth but no testicles, talk like that behind a jkeyboard, lol. Go write another bullshit review, keyboard toughguy! Eat shit, bitch. Fuck you, rofl.

Obviously this is not the same Zak, because he said he would not return.

FLAME ON!

wait a minute! i just had a GREAT idea. Yo Zak, would you be interested in writing snarky, evil reviews of bands to counter some of our more “nicely snarky” blog postings?

we can call you editorials “Reviews from a Dumb, Piss Drunk British Guy” or something along those lines?

thoughts?!

i love the flaming! keep it coming!

Zak is not a reviewer; he is a review consultant. Because, you know, someone had to invent a job that was even more useless than “music reviewer.”

Saw these clowns at the Double Door. Wow, getting tires put on my car is more entertaining. Snooze-a-thon. Double Door must be hard up for acts.

Wow. . . that was intense.

I’m sad I missed this when we were a hot button issue. Its funny Zak kept blaming us because other people on the board “couldn’t take criticism.” Fact is, I love criticism and bad reviews. I love good reviews such as the one from the fine folk at Superstarcastic.com more, but you can’t please everyone all the time. I’m sorry you didn’t like us Zak, but don’t give yourself an ulcer over it. We are just a band trying to make it far enough to make a living. I don’t need to make $30 million a year, but if I could make $30,000, that would be great. I worked in gas station already and I like that better.

William, we were for the record, not on the top of our game at Double Door and were in deed ass clowns. We would be glad to refund your $3 cover charge at our next show there, November 27th. See you there! Thanks again Sam.

Superstarcastic Rules!!

Usually on primitive bands such as TRTA I usually let the bogus unture reviews pass unnoticed. However I have to complain as I went to see this band two times now and I really have to say I have been highly disappointed. The singer should be thrown out of the band, She does nothave a voice that can go to highs and lows, it really seems to be one of the flat lined voices. She also needs to do some serious working out, because no guys want to see a fat storage container up on stage, singing crappy ass songs. This band sucks, I am sorry guys, but you really suck ass.

Wow, “Micheal,” thanks for really bringing it home. You heard the man, Red Tie Affair: give it up. “Micheal” is not impressed.

And is probably fat.

And is definitely an asshole.

This is still an issue? Really?

Michael, way to completely invalidate your otherwise completely fine criticism with a fat joke. I take it you’re not much of a fan of the following bands:

Husker Du
The Minutemen
The Pixies
The Gossip

I salute the Red Tie Affair for being able to stir up such a reaction from these people. Been awhile since my band was able to pull that off.

I see a little criticism gets on everybody’s nerves here…OK, well I do not know what is bothering you guys so much about a little criticism, but it is the place of concerned music listeners to say as they please.

Let us face some facts here:

Is the lead singer good at singing in Michael’s opinion? No
Can the musicians in this band write music worthy of public attention, in Michael’s opinion? No
Is this band desperate for attention, in Michael’s opinion? Yes
Shoudl you have reviewed this band in a positive light in Michael’s opinion? No
Should you become upset when someone becomes upset with this band, in Michael’s opinion? No
Should you attack back when someone negatively reviews your review? No
Why Not? Simply, because it is childish to behave in the low light of someone who makes fat jokes!

Simply by falling into Michael’s trap you have conceded to his childish and behaved likewise to Michael.

Why does this apply to the frequent middleman? Because I, am here, and on other blogs only to act as a guardian angel to the frequent internet bullying I encounter all too often.

I am sorry I must weigh in again, but as long as this forum is open and active be assured that I will never let anything in this light go by me like a cloud over the moon.

And the internet thanks you for your vigilance, Klaus. Whatever would we do? Whatever would we do?

Saw this band live in Kankakee. The show, to say the least sucked ass. This band is really lacking what music today is desperate to have.

I agree with the above comments by Zach and Michael, the lead singer is a fatty. Another 20 pounds on her, and stages in the Midwest are going to need serious reinforcements.

Okay, for fuck’s sake. So you people don’t like the Red Tie Affair. Fine. Why do you keep coming here to say so?

Well Josh, perhaps it has something to do with the way they treat the fans. If it were less about selling CDs, and more about the fans people would not be so negative.

Perhaps there is something deeper Josh, just perhaps. Everything seemed to get rolling when a person from this site named Zach lit the fire a year ago. Remember? Don’t act like these people are all strange comers, friend.

I guess what’s baffling to me is how this of all things became the most controversial thing I ever wrote for SSC. Given some of the other unpopular/absurd viewpoints I’ve taken — that I hate of Montreal, that I didn’t like Lovedrug, that I’m enthralled with freaking Aly & AJ of all prefab Disney-pop people — I never would have guessed that this would have been the one to be drawing comments over a year later…

Kinda weird, Sam. People should be talking about the issues, the ISSUES, man!

Kyle,

I don’t get you. Something to do with the way who treats what fans? Be more specific. Is it about how Dick Trickle lost races when his fans weren’t positive enough?

Or are you trying to tell me that all these negative comments have been coming from the same person?