Reader Katreen alerts us to a pretty clever prank Adam from the indie band Ohtis pulled on a prospective Pitchfork writer earlier this year...
Over two years ago, pitchforkmedia.com ran a purposely fragmented review for Eminem's album The Eminem Show. The interview contained a fake AOL Instant Messenger conversation between the reviewer, Ethan P. (et HAN P2 3), and the website's founder Ryan Schreiber (Ryanpitch4k).
Before I finished reading the review, I quickly tried to register what I suspected to be a fake screen name for Ryan Schreiber and sure enough, I successfully became the owner of the fake screen name. When I signed on, I was sent a barrage of IM's from people claiming to be from Sony Records, people who just wanted to talk to Ryan Schreiber, and most of all, people who wanted to write reviews for Pitchforkmedia.com.
Recently, I signed on to the old screen just for the hell of it and surprisingly still received an IM from a guy wanting to write for Pitchfork. So, I did what any musician would do and asked him to review my band, to show me he had what it takes:
Stickytuesday: I sent an application to PFM a couple months ago. I write reviews for the Voice and recently started doing some writing for Rolling Stone... Sorry to bug you here, but any way I could get an update on my application? I never heard back.
ryanpitch4k: ohhh that's right!
ryanpitch4k: hey sorry man, i've been really busy with the move...
ryanpitch4k: i wanted to have you do a test review. are you game?
Stickytuesday: Definitely. You just moved to New York, right? I think I read something about that on Gawker. ;-)
ryanpitch4k: lol. stalker, much?????
ryanpitch4k: jk jk it's cute ;-)
Stickytuesday: Heh. Just read Gawker everyday.
Stickytuesday: I live in Washington Heights, btw.
Stickytuesday: Welcome to the city.
ryanpitch4k: oh thanks. we should chill sometime!
ryanpitch4k: but let's keep love life and business seperate. ANYWAY
ryanpitch4k: i want you to review this new band ohtis
Stickytuesday: Alright. They've got an album?
ryanpitch4k: No they just have a single for now.
ryanpitch4k: give me a few minutes to dig it up...
ryanpitch4k: ah-ha!
ryanpitch4k: found it
Stickytuesday: cool
ryanpitch4k: http://ohtis.com/press
Stickytuesday: American Christians?
ryanpitch4k: so yeah get me a review, preferably here on AIM, by tomorrow at 8pm. i'll leave this up
Stickytuesday: Sounds good. Single review, so... 200 words or so?
ryanpitch4k: yeah just your typical Pfork review. include the number rating
Stickytuesday: sounds good.
ryanpitch4k: great! hope to hear from you soon, sticky!
ryanpitch4k: i gotta run
Stickytuesday: ditto
Stickytuesday: talk to you later
ryanpitch4k: bye bi!Only about 2 hours later, I got another IM with his full review for our song American Christians...
You can read it here. Then listen to the band's tunes and write your own review! Not gonna say Mr. Sticky deserved it, but c'mon -- what self-respecting indie rock journo doesn't know Ryan's IM handle is CYHSNo?
