The Airborne Toxic Event vs. Pitchfork

Autumn DeWilde

Following the release of their self-titled debut album in 2008, L.A. quintet the Airborne Toxic Event were aggressively panned by Pitchfork's Ian Cohen, who gave the LP a 1.6 and called it "almost insulting in its unoriginality."

The band, fronted by former music journalist Mikel Jollett, decided to respond, politely, with an open letter: "We have to admit that we found ourselves oddly flattered by your review. I mean, 1.6? That is not faint praise. That is not a humdrum slagging. That is serious fist-pounding, shoe-stomping anger."

They concluded by inviting Cohen to a show, but since then Pitchfork hasn't reviewed anything by the band, who are set to put out their third album in 2013.