Another fan (Mary Ralph) recently posted this to the Reputation listserv:

"Maybe Avril Lavigne is like the gateway drug of female rockers... which would make the Reputation crack cocaine..."

Here is my response. Let's just say I had an inspired moment.

Music dealer: Pssst! Hey kid, come here!

Teenage kid: Yeah, what?

MD: I hear you're into that Avril Lavigne shit.

TK: Yeah, so?

MD: Well, I got some stuff here that'll totally take you to a new world. It's the hard stuff, man, the real deal, it's the Reputation.

TK: I hear you can't fileshare that stuff, though - I'm not sure I'm into that...

MD: Naw, kid, you can try the first three tracks free. You can walk away after that if you don't like it.

TK: Well, I guess it can't hurt.

(45 minutes, 16 seconds later - including some 163 seconds of silence)
TK: Fuck, I need that. Here's my $10 bucks. You got any more?

MD: Naw kid, that's it for the Reputation, but I got some Sarge - it's a lot like that but a little more raw; and I've got some other stuff I bet you'll like, too...