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ZINE REVIEWS:
(Reviews by CHRIS AUMAN unless otherwise noted. Updated 4/12/10)
13 YEARS OF GOOD LUCK
Joel Biel
In 2009, Microcosm celebrated thirteen years of existence as an indie distributor and publisher. 13 Years of Good Luck is a greatest hits package of writers and artists whose work has been published by the collective. This 96 pager bursts with first-time reprints, in most cases (Jesse Reklaw, Cindy Crabb, Urban Hermitt and founder Joel Biel) and never-before-published stuff in others (Liz Baillie, Cristy Road, Al Burian). Some of the type is pretty tiny for my tired eyes but the overall package looks great and serves as an overview of what has become—I think it's fair to say—a DIY institution. You can't beat the price either: one buck from microcosm.com
Microcosm Publishing
microcosmpublishing.com
LEARNING GOOD CONSENT
Cindy Crabb
Learning Good Consent is more of an educational tool than a zine to be read for entertainment, although any good zine should teach you something. The intent of this zine (issued along with Crabb's publication Support dealing with domestic abuse) is to educate people—gay, straight or bi—on what the boundaries are in sexual relationships in terms of consent. Contained within are various essays of personal experiences by a host of different writers as well as lists of questions designed to help the reader better understand what constitutes sexual consent. No means no always, but other things can mean no as well. Nothing is ever in black and white (ok, the pages of this publication are printed in black and white), and there can be gray areas to consent. Crabb and collaborators seeks to help define those gray areas and hopefully change peoples' attitudes about sex and sexuality.
Microcosm Publishing
microcosmpublishing.com
DORIS #15 Anti-Depression Guide
Cindy Crabb
This is a reprint of Cindy Crabb's Doris #15 which serves, it is hoped, as an anti-depression guide. Cindy recommends long walks, day dreaming, remaining active and productive and drinking lots and lots of coffee. I'm sure scientific evidence would back all these claims up, except perhaps the abuse of caffeine. This zine was originally written in "1999 or 2000" according to Cindy's best recollection. Certainly then, as now, chemical remedies were a very popular form of curing depression. Certainly exercise and reconnecting with the outside world can be just as effective, especially for people for whom depression is more environmentally related than a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. But hey, I'm not a doctor, a shrink, a life coach, an Oprah or even your best friend, so don't take my word for it. Do consider reading this zine, however, it could only help you shake those blues.
Microcosm Publishing
microcosmpublishing.com
BURN COLLECTOR #14
Al Burian
Burn Collector #14 is a pocket-sized zine containing the further adventures of writer/artist and musician Al Burian. Al spent a few years in Chicago wandering the city, playing in bands, writing, drawing and just trying to survive on the fringe. This issue has Burian confronting such day-to-day struggles as dealing with the Chicago Transit Authority—talk about a character builder. There are ruminations on cycling in a bike-hostile city and the appeal of street musicians and house shows over concerts in more traditional venues (bars, clubs, etc.). There’s also a treatise of sorts in the form of rebuttal to "The Future of Comics", a 1997 article by artist Dan Clowes that appeared in his Eightball #8 comic.
Comics are a theme in BC#14, in fact. Burian's drawings appear throughout the issue. There are assorted sketches and one panel strips as well as a parody of a Jack Chick religious tract that just gets flat-out weird by the end. A good read for riding the CTA, which is about to get a whole lot suckier with their new service cuts this February. Fuckin' CTA.
Microcosm Publishing
microcosmpublishing.com
UNEMPLOYMENT
Aaron Lake Smith
Zine writer Aaron Lake-Smith (Big Hands) finds himself unemployed in this one-off issue of Unemployment. Over the course of seven chapters, Aaron contemplates the paradox of his situation (What's better? Free-time, but no money; money, but no free-time) as well as the age-old question of how to survive as an artist in a society that makes that pursuit extremely difficult. Aaron also wishes he could enjoy just one day of unemployment without the nagging dread of what the future may hold. He almost takes a job as a data entry temp but holds out unsuccessfully for more money, unwilling to rationalize working for less than he believes he's worth. Unfortunately, in this economy we're worth what someone is willing to pay us and nothing more.
Chapter Six takes a different track with a musing on the Greensboro, SC publishing collective, Crimethink, and Chapter Seven contemplates the crumbling of the American Empire. Whatever the future holds, Unemployment is a snapshot of a time that is (hopefully!) almost over for all of us.
Microcosm Publishing
microcosmpublishing.com
XEROGRAPHY DEBT #25
It warms one's heart cockles to see a zine like Xerography Debt still being published. It warms the ventricles of one's heart to see any zine being published period, especially one that supports other zines like XD does. Yes, this is a review zine with "perzine tendencies" that still firmly supports independent publishing and the underground press. Many zine publishers have ceased publishing in recent years, some of those finding refuge in electronic media (like the Reglar Wiglar) while others giving up the ghost of print completely. Not so with Davida Gypsy Breier. In fact, this issue looks better than ever with a great cover and clean well designed, easy to read copy. So, viva la zine!
Davida Gypsy Breier, POB 11064, Baltimore, MD 21212 leekinginc.com
From Reglar Wiglar print edition:
ADVENTURES IN ANNELAND #6
If you've never been to Anneland before (and I hadn't), this zine is a little
taste. In broad terms, AA deals with things that Anne either likes or finds
annoying. Things that annoy Anne are weightism, people who smoke and guys who
expect women to be passive. Also featured are things that rock, things that
rool, and things that are hot (Ewan McGregor and Librarians for example). There's
also four or five comics drawn by Dan (last name withheld?) that are so crude
and absurd that they almost reach guilty pleasure status. Unfortunately, the
pleasure part is not quiet there, unless you happen to dig badly drawn pictures
of poop and penises (some people do). (C.A.)
APPLICANT
"One night while rooting through the recycling bin for magazines, I found all
the confidential Ph.D. applicant files for the biology department at an Ivy
League University from the years 1965-1975. Stapled to many of the yellowed
documents were photographs of the prospective students...only later did I realize
I had to publish them." So starts Jesse Reklaw's one-off zine, Applicant. Publish
them he did. This zine is nothing but the photos and a few choice quotes taken
from what fellow professors and employers had to say about these prospective
students. The result is a very interesting, if all too brief time capsule of
a decade long gone. www.slowwave.com (C.A.)
AZMACOURT #7
This is a zine that is no longer about asthma. Auto-biographical snippets and
comics as pertaining to, and related by, its author, Mark Parker. Mark reveals
things that will no doubt get him in dutch with friends, coworkers and crushes
but he seems unaffected by such concerns. Hand printed and drawn without the
aid of computers as the intro proudly proclaims. Like many zines of it's digest
size, it's too short! (C.A.)
AZMACOURT #8
Comics and other autobiographical writings by Mark Parker comprise the bulk
of this half-sized zine. Observations and reflections on a variety of subjects
from Xanax to veganism. What do these things have in common? They all seem to
have a somewhat scatological bent to them. Find out for yourself. Price: "$5
buys a nice assortment" of A.C. and other titles. (C.A.)
THE BIG TAKEOVER #53
For twenty years Jack Rabid has been publishing this mammoth music magazine.
Forget Rolling Stone and Spin, if you want coverage of real music and not flavors
of the month, cookie cutter boy bands, or girly-girl singers, then you gotta
lug home one of these 300+ pagers. This issue alone features interviews with
Belle & Sebastian, Death Cab for Cutie, John Doe (X) , Circle Jerk's Keith Morris,
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Shins, Blondie, and over twenty more! Price:
$4.95. www.bigtakeover.com (C.A.)
CABOOSE #1
A mini from Liz Saidel of Cul-de-sac notoriety. Liz gets impatient between issues
of that bigger zine project so caboose is a little side action to satisfy the
self publishing urge. "Breath Right Strips Rock My World," "I Was the Barfer,"
and "I Had to Go on These Camping Trips with My Family That Totally Blew" are
a few of titles and the topics tackled in this short, to the point, and quite
humorous zine. (C.A.)
CABOOSE #2
The Suckass CDs I've Traded Issue As the subtitle so accurately suggests, this
issue of the mini caboose is devoted to the CDs that author, Liz, has sold or
traded when she's purged her collection of the crappy CDs taking refuge there.
It's not just a list, there's also an explan-ation. Let those without crappy
CDs in their collection cast the first stone. (C.A.)
CABOOSE #3
The Modular Karaoke Issue This is the karaoke issue of Caboose and as such,
concerns itself with the phenomenon (for some) of the karaoke experience (I'll
stop short of calling it a lifestyle). This issue is basically a discussion
or group interview of, and between, five karaoke enthusiasts who in the course
of their conversation about their karaoke passion, touch upon such karaoke topics
as karaoke etiquette (never do "American Pie" or "Paradise by the Dashboard
Lights"), karaoke style, regional variations of karaoke and their own personal
karaoke standards. This is a good read whether your a karaoke veteran or if
you're thinking about delving into that world for the first time. It's funny
too. So is using the word karaoke a lot in one review. I think so. (C.A.)
CABOOSE #4
The Ridiculous Issue Another delightful issue of Liz's Caboose mini-zine. This
is the "Ridiculous Issue" and it's about time. Included in this issue is a treatise
on Liz's experience working at a Renaissance Fair ("Ye Renaissance Faire"),
a list of people Liz idolized in high school (Rollins, Ian MacKaye, etc.), and
a "College Radio DJ Mad Lib" which you can find a reprint of on page ten of
this very zine. Aren't you lucky? (C.A.)
CASH FLAGG #2
This is basically a movie review zine written by, confessed Dungeons & Dragon/horror
film geek, Brian Marshall. These are low-brow reviews of low-brow movies I haven't
seen, but I think I would probably agree with the Hollywood-as-crap theme that
runs through the reviews. I did, however, rent Cabin Fever based on Brian's
positive review and all I gotta say is, meh, not so good. Brian also brings
up an interesting point of shitty minds thinking alike with Fred "Limp Bizkit"
Durst's cover of The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" at the end of the rather mediocre
Gothika. Certainly that version of the song is offensive, but equally so, as
Brian points out, are Uncle Cracker's cover of "American Woman" and Kid's Rock's
"Feel Like Making Love." These are truly two of the worst songs ever recorded.
Not enough people are talking about how much Kid Rock sucks. Why are people
afraid to talk about this? (C.A.)
CHORD EASY, 2nd Edition
Chord Easy is a small, photocopied, saddle-stitched digest. The publication
comes in a full and short version. I have only seen the short version. Densely
packed with type, even this short work can be an intimidating read. However,
it is well worth the effort for its straightforward explanation of the music
theory essential for anyone striving to get a working knowledge of chord fundamentals.
While the aim seems to be for guitar, of all the articles and book passages
I have taken in, this is the first time I was able to grasp the 4-3-5 and 3-4-5
rules for major chords versus minor ones. (Tom "Tearaway" Schulte)
COMETBUS #47
I must confess that I am very late in jumping on the Cometbus bandwagon, if
such a thing exists. Reason: I was a little intimidated by the handwritten style
of the thing. It's very legible but not conducive to train or bus ride reading--to
reading in general--or so I thought, but once I took the plunge I read the ninety
pages pretty much straight through. For those who are in the dark as I once
was, Cometbus is a collection of personal writings by Aaron Cometbus. Reflections
on his youth, Berkeley, and the ghosts of punk rock past or in this particular
case his girlfriend at the time, Lanky. Aaron is a great writer and I hope someday
there is an anthology of his personal writings (if such a thing doesn't already
exist). (C.A.)
COMETBUS #48
This is an interview issue, a format that Aaron returns to from time to time.
The theme: Back to Landers, a hippie movement of the late 60s and early 70s
in which the flower children, partly in fear of the coming revolution and the
resulting apocalypse, and partly to grow weed, fled to the hills of Northern
California with their young families in tow. Part I is interviews with the adult
children of these Back to Land families. Part II is the parent's point-of-view,
which I found to be the most revealing and consequently the most interesting.
Part III is interviews with young people who are currently experiencing the
urge to get back to the land. I had no idea, now I have an idea. (C.A.)
CHUNKLET #15
This zine seems to be published pretty erratically. Some highlights would be
the "Asshole Top 100" featuring the biggest a-holes in rock (as submitted by
readers) as well as the interviews with Mr. Show's David Cross and John Reiss
(Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, etc). There's a ton of other shit packed
into this big chunklet of a zine that make it worth six bucks. (C.A.)
DAY OF RECKONING
I'm not really sure what's going on with this collage of literary snippets and
stream of conscious scribbling but if the zine isn't odd enough, it also comes
with an equally bizarre CD-R with an assortment of found sounds, at least one
of which is from a squirrel. This zine was mostly done on a real life typewriter
which adds to the chaos of the layout. Add to that a general lack of cohesion
and you have a zine that's sort of hard to follow. But it's an interesting mess
for sure. (C.A.)
DUNK & PISS #11
This issue of Dunk & Piss deals with Alex's unintentional bomb scare. You see
Alex dropped off a bunch of slightly damaged zines at a Wegman's Supermarket
in Rochester, NY where he lives. The zines were wrapped in brown paper which
had the words "open me" written on the outside, you follow? Well, in these security
sensitive, paranoid times, that very pub lic invitation to open a mysterious
brown package caused the evacuation of the entire store, an event that made
the six o'clock news. Then his troubles really began, but if you want to know
more you're going to ask Alex. Send him a buck for the full scoop. (C.A.)
THE EAST VILLAGE INKY #20
Prolific writer, activist, and mother, Ayun Halliday and her entire mommy posse
of children captivate the world once again! Website highlight: full color photo
gallery of characters in zine. Strange thing about activism is it often is fueled
by a love for one's children and all children. The smile on a child's face reminds
people, more than anything else, that all people deserve freedom from corporate
exploitation, freedom to experience kindness, and the freedom to know love.
(T.v.L.i.m.i.t.BNB)
1544 WEST GRACE #19
It's been awhile since I've seen a copy of1544. This is a zine about an apartment
building, as its tag line proclaims and that apartment is located at 1544 West
Grace, as you may have guessed. (You're so smart!) The zine's creator, Larry
Roth, is a tenant in the aforementioned 1544 W. Grace building and is responsible
for this seemingly mundane but surprisingly interesting zine. This is the War
and Peace issue and as such, it documents the proliferation of American flags
throughout the neighborhood and includes essay dedicated to New Yorkers ("We
All Live in New York City") and of course, those familiar with this zine won't
be disappointed by the usual fare off-the-wall tidbits like the page of photocopied
of advertisements found on plastic grocery store bags, as well as an itemized
list by color of the 343 bags Larry managed to accumulate (248 were white but
only one green bag!) (C.A.)
1544 WEST GRACE #20
Larry Roth and 1544 W. Grace are back with another issue of the zine about nothing
(that's not an insult, in fact, it was the theme of one of the most successful
sitcoms of all-time). For the uninitiated, this zine is about a two flat building
(located at the address in the zine's title), its tenants, and the surrounding
neighborhood. This issue is comprised mostly of Larry's answering of a backlog
of reader mail. There's also a log of misdirected mail received at 1544, an
update on the new and recent tenants of 1544, and some other small pieces that
may be of interest, or possibly no interest, to you. I find this zine interesting
in its potential noninterestingness. (C.A.)
FOR THE CLERISY #54
The zine for people who love to read is back with the fifty-fourth issue. Features
the usual barrage of book reviews and answers to reader queries, also features
photos of famous glasses wearers (or is that wearers of glasses?). If you've
never read a book, or don't know what a book is, or can't even spell book, this
is not the zine for you, but then again, you probably wouldn't be reading this
review if you were one of those people. (C.A.)
HORIZONTAL ACTION #12
If you like sleazy, ugly zines about sex and rock 'n' roll, then you're probably
gonna love Horizontal Action 'cause H.A. is thee flagwaver for the local and
national garage rock scene. I would also be willing to bet a chained wallet
that the people who put out this zine are unwashed heathens which would certainly
lend a certain legitimacy to it. There are plenty of band interviews, and badly
produced photos of naked "ladies" in each issue. The record reviews are pretty
crude, occasionally funny, and on a very rare occasion, clever. This issue even
features a haiku record review. Now where have I seen haiku record reviews before?
Hmmm... horizontalaction.com (C.A.)
LEEKING INC. #20
Zine Highlights: Good content as always. This was the third zine I ever got
a subscription to. I know this may sound nerdy, but I love the construction
of this zine. Smooth dips and curves cut into the tan cover which allow the
lavender page beneath it to peek out from beneath before meticulously enumerated
white pages emerge. Reminds me of the craftsmanship that Quakers and Amish put
into furniture. Simple, yet done well Smooooth. Web site highlight: Web site
is brand new and colorful but what I like most is, it has an exhaustive index
(by title and by author's name) of all the zines reviewed within the last several
years by a certain review zine (guess which one?). Nice! I just find it cool
looking through the zine community history. I hope some of the ad-supported,
larger budget, ISBN (maga)zines that review zines do an index like this to help
archive, support, and most of all, promote the underground community someday!
Do ya' hear me glossy folks?! Yeah you! (happy laughter). www.leekinginc.com (T.v.L.i.m.i.t.BNB)
MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #213
Thee punk rock bible for some, a source of irritating, punker-than-thou, self-righteous
soap boxing for others, this loooong running Bay Area mega-zine has been consistently
covering underground bands and artists that most publications (yes, even independent
ones) wouldn't dare touch. The look of MRR has improved recently; it's cleaner
and has less ink rub-offage than before. Even if you lost touch with the punk
rock scene a decade ago, the letters section alone makes this worth the cover
price which is ridiculously low to start with. Issue #213 features, in addition
to the many pages of columns: leftist political news; a history of Finnish hardcore;
Canadian record label, Ugly Pop; interviews with photographer, Joshua Peach,
Midnight Evils, and the Zodiac Killers. Zine, book, record reviews and ads comprise
the bulk of the rest of this fat mother. (C.A.)
MK ULTRA SEP/OCT '02
MK Ultra, with a cover price of $4, plumbs the depths of Goth fashion with an
approach like that of a men's magazine. There is a cover girl (Tairrie B of
My Ruin), large breasted centerfold and a video offering: Goth Girls Gone Wild!
The professionally produced 55 page magazine boasts an impressive array of interviews:
Garbage, KMFDM, Nashville Pussy, Motorhead, Cradle of Filth, Daniel Ash and
more. The typical sections of news and reviews are included as well as a sex
advice column from "Lady Monster, Certified Sex Therapist." Packed with information
and visuals, this is a good read. www.mkultramag.com (Tom "Tearaway" Schulte)
MY FAT IRISH ASS #-3
The Official Magazine of Absolutely Nothing This zine is sub-sub-titled "Tom
Paigne, The Biggest Piece of Shit I Know." This issue serves to act as a sort
of intervention in the destructive behavior of Tom Paigne who apparrently is
one gigantic loser. Some of Tom's traits are detailed here and they sound none
to appealing. If he is being portrayed accurately, he's got some issues and
the author seems to genuinely want to get his friend on the wagon and off the
fast track to imminent ruin. While the subject matter is handled in a funny
way, it's also kinda sad and I'm rooting for Tom to get his shit together. (C.A.)
MY FAT IRISH ASS #-4
Crude drawings and even cruder humor (no wait, that's not possible) make MFIA
a guilty pleasure of a read. "Tales of the Scorched Scrotum Society," (in which
the author prefaces with the acknowledgment that this is "one of the stupidest,
most childish things that I've ever done"), "Famine Cervix" (the artist takes
liberties with the adorable Family Circus comic, adding his own caption with
sometimes humorous results). Not for those who profess to posses good taste. (C.A.)
MY FAT IRISH ASS #-5
It's taken about a year and a half for the author of MFIA to slap together another
issue of his crude and entertaining zine. This issue contains zine reviews including
props to the zine you are holding in your hands right now (if you are reading
this on-line disregard that last sentence 'cause it wouldn't make sense). And
if you ever find yourself facing a shortage of Family Circus or Dennis the Menace
cartoons altered to contain drug and sex references, then MFIA can help you
out with that too. (C.A.)
PICK YOUR POISON #4
Shitty job issues are always enjoyable. Everybody's had 'em (some of us still
do) and I always like readin' about 'em. Pick Your Poison is no exception. Whether
it's a gig at a gas station or just a temporary stint as a temp, we've all suffered
the same work day drudgery (except for rich people) and we all smoke a lot of
shitty, seedy weed like Nate too, right? Right? (C.A.)
POLKA SCENE 'ZINE #24
This issue of PSZ is a collection of "The Detective Kowolski Files" by Li'l
Robbie a.k.a. Robert E. Alletto. Written in the vein of Dashiell Hammett Li'l
Robbie's hardboiled detective is a Chicago cop of the Polish persuasion and
the cases Detective K. solves primarily concern (yep, you guessed it) polka.
With titles like "The Kishka Conspiracy," "The Silence of the Tuba," and "Danuta's
Got a Gun," if you like polka and detective stories, this is the issue of Polka
Scene Zine you're gonna wanna get. This came out in 2002 so there's probably
been twenty-four more issues since then! (C.A.)
POLKA SCENE 'ZINE #27
This issue of the PSZ features a short piece on polka band The Naturals as well
as the usual "Polka Dope" column and a four page spread of photos from various
Polkaholics shows around the polka town of Chicago, Illinois. Polka, baby! (C.A.)
PORTLAND FREESKOOL
This is a little two page zine. One page zines have the potential to be so awesome
because it shows that someone, somewhere stopped making excuses and just said,
"Ay, we're gonna' do this thing!" Freeskool is open to everyone who wants to
organize or attend a free class. If making necklaces is your skill, you could
put a free description in this zine of where your free-of-charge class would
be in the Portland area and teach people. "Freeskool is about encouraging positive
social change by creating networks based on mutual aid and understanding." The
idea of a zine promoting such a revolution in free education is spreading all
over the world and hopefully it will grow as an alternative to the traditional
"insurmountable loan + college + four years of no experience=now what?" Long
live Freeskool! Web site highlight: a monthly list of their free classes in
the Portland, Oregon area as published in their zine. (T.v.L.i.m.i.t.BNB)
PROPER GANDER #23
Anti-Comics & Stories
This is a tabloid-sized newsprint publication of anti-comics and stories straight
outa' Texas. This issue (which is probably long gone off the streets by the
time you read this) features comics by the likes of Patrick Welsch, Hans Rickheit,
and Stepan Chapman, as well as record and zine reviews and an absurdist short
story by Jeff Chan titled, "Night of the Living Dead X." It's free where you
can find it or if you can't find it shoot a dollar off to Texas. (C.A.)
PROPER GANDER #31
Anti-Comics & Stories
Bimonthly newsprint tabloid that you may have seen lying around the free-for-all
pile at your local zine/ comic store. Usually contains a good mix of zine and
music reviews, short fiction, and lots and lots of cool and bizarre comics,
most of which make you go "hmmm." (C.A.)
PUNK PLANET #41
Thee punk rock bible for some, a source of irritating, intellectual, politically
righteous whining for others, this zine just keeps getting bigger and quite
possibly better. I still skip most of the columns and most to all the record
reviews but there are usually several articles of interest in every issue making
the $3.50 purchase price a pittance to pay for a magazine of such girth, and
I have no sympathy for sniveling little snits who would bitch otherwise. The
lure of this particular issue, for those who care at all about the history of
punk rock, is a reprint of two chapters from the book Dance of Days by Mark
Anderson and Mark Jenkins, chronicling the rise and...well the rise, of the
DC punk scene as we know it today.
www.punkplanet.com (C.A.)
A READERS
GUIDE TO THE UNDERGROUND PRESS #14
It looks like the rumors are true, Factsheet Five will rise again but let's
not forget who stepped in to fill those giant shoes in the interim, ARGttUP
that's who. Not only does this clean-looking, well-organized (in format anyway,
maybe not at their office) zine provide honest, straightforward reviews on the
efforts of the underground press, they also print news from around the country
reporting on violations of our First Amendment rights especially as pertaining
to people who publish zines (the powerless as it were). So, even though FS5
is back, don't forget who had your back, you freaks! (C.A.)
A READERS GUIDE TO THE UNDERGROUND
PRESS #17
You probably won't find this in any zine shops. This is basically a mail order
only publication for fellow zinesters. It's a review zine that gives it to you
straight. For example, they had they had this to say about Reglar Wiglar #16:
"too much puffery about the indie music biz" and further expounded on the overall
worth: "Disinterested and flat, the fizz is out of this formula." Let me tell
you somethin' there never was anything like a fizz in the Wiglar formula. But
don't let one wrong opinion steer you away from this quality zine. (C.A.)
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE #907
I just got back from the grocery store. The lady behind me in line, two kids
in tow, had fifteen bags of Cheetos, a ten pack of Kit Kats, a bag of Pop Rocks
(I thought those were out-lawed in '81!), a couple of Blow Pops and produce
(about five pounds each of: yellow onions, tomatoes, and bana-nas) on the conveyer
belt. The woman behind her was also buying onions-more onions than I could find
practical use for in two years. Peculiar. What was I buying? A couple of pizzas,
a twelve-pack of beer (Rolling Rock) and, an impulse buy; the new Rolling Stone
Magazine (the one with Keith Richards on the cover). Now, to the subject at
hand, namely, records. Rolling Stone #907 features a nice, long, in-depth interview
with the always inspirational Keef, puffery on Ryan Adams, "The Sex Pistols'
Revenge" (they played a punkfest put together by Blockbuster and Levi's), Beck,
and all the CDs, books, DVDs, and movies I gotta go out and "experience" NOW
(!). But the main attraction was their list of the "Top 100 CDs of," I guess
what they mean is, "All Time." Like, did you know that Weezer's new one, Maladroit
(#91) is better than both Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland (#98) and Stevie
Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life (#96)? I haven't heard Weezer yet, so I didn't
know 'til just now. If you dig metal, be sure you pick up Toxicity (#72) by
System of a Down before you waste your money on Metallica's Master of Puppets
(#88). But if you've already got both of those, you should be aware that Linkin
Park's Hybrid Theory (#58) is a little better than Sab's Paranoid (#59), which
is better than AC/DC's Back in Black (#60). But hooray for Reglar Wiglar buddies
The White Strokes whose very first album is number #57! Yippee. If the Strokes
were a metal band, that would make Is This Mayonnaise the third best heavy metal
album of all time, with only Metallica (#42, one ahead of Rumors, and twelve
up on Dave Matthews' Crash), Appetite for Destruction (#7), and Tool's Aenema
(#27). As far as rap goes, only Eminem makes the chart (#24 & 37). Best punk
albums? Well, is Nirvana punk? If they are, or ever were, Nevermind is #2 and
In Utero is #22 and Unplugged in New York at #55. Nevertheless, we've got the
Sex Pistols at #74, Green Day at #38, and the Clash at #14. But there's more!
Didju know that Mariah Carry's album Daydream (#69) sold ten million copies?
No wonder it's better than Marvin Gaye's most popular album, What's Going On?
(#74), which has still only sold 500,000, even though it's been out for twenty-four
more years! But how does one rationalize Highway 61 Revisited (#48, one million)
over Music by Madonna (#52) which sold twice as many copies in .0285714 the
number of years? Wait a minute! I just realized, this whole list is a fucking
SHAM! Weezer's album called Weezer is #21. Weezer had TWO albums called Weezer!
And Rolling Stone counted votes for both of them as for one! That must be why
Apocalyptic Converter by Weedbrain isn't listed at #83. (Andre Salmon)
SECOND HAND ROSE #1
As the subtitle of this Australian zine suggests, SHR is a "zine for op shop
aficionados and general junk collectors" and as such, it pertains to those of
you who refuse to pay a lot for that muffler (that's funny if you remember that
old muffler commercial, but never mind). Other features include a short history
of the Pelaco garment company and the answer to "Why Do Men's Shirts Button
on the Right and Women's on the Left?" Good question and now I know the answer.
Price: $3 ppd. (you might want to e-mail to find out price in U.S. currency)
PO Box 1738, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia. (C.A.)
SLUG & LETTUCE #78
Da... Friggin?... BEST!!! Chris, publisher of S&L, is a pioneer in the zine
community. Not just by keeping it real, but by the fact that she and the S&L
contributors have produced such an incredible zine for so long! I love the way
she often mentions current oppressive politics even if she is writing a heart-to-heart
editorial about dragons and taking a mental time-out as she did in this issue. I
think S&L is so excellent though because of three things: 1) It is a punk community
of people who truly love the underground zine scene bringing together S&L with
awesome activist articles, music, and zine reviews from all over the world.This
issue has reviews of zines from many U.S. states, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
France, Netherlands, Serbia, and more! 2) Chris's emotionally deep editorials,
live action band photographs and... 3) This thing is still only the price of
postage! Does it get any better? Not!! Get this zine! Price: 60¢ stamp, USA;
$1, Canada/Mexico; $2 overseas. Slug & Lettuce, PO Box 26632, Asheville, NC
28802 (T.v.L.i.m.i.t.BNB)
SUCK A LEMON, KISS A TURD
A small book of humorous poetry. Kind of reminds me of Soggy Sprinkles a bit.
Below is just one example of the type of poetry you'll find in Suck a Lemon:
Fable Writer Aesop? Fable writer? Sorry, I don't handle short stories, Let alone
ones written by an old Greek with a moral attitude. No money in it. See me when
you have a novel. (C.A.)
THE URBAN HERMITT #12
The Hermitt returns with more tales of greyhound buses, toxic, mind-altering
car fumes, crusty queer love and Eugene, Oregon, all delivered with that hip-hoppin'
flava' and handwritten style you've come to expect from Sarah O. (C.A.)
THE URBAN HERMITT #14
The Hermitt returns to Hawaii, or at least the theme of issue #14 returns to
Hawaii with more from Sarah and her futile escape from Amerika, Land of Strip
Malls. Hippies, big trucks and sugar cane on the hip hop tip. (C.A.)
THE WHIZZBANGER GUIDE TO ZINE DISTRIBUTORS
#6
This invaluable resource is an encyclopedia of zine distributors categorized
by country. Similarly organized is a related section on "Libraries, Archives,
Info-Shops, etc." Zine stores and other, miscellaneous resources are similarly
grouped. A growing section lists reviewers that Shannon finds to be dependable.
A Bulletin Board section acts as a listing of free classifieds. While Shannon
does not review zines per se, there is a two page spread on Shannon's zine picks
for 2001. Shannon is a poet, and the editor's poetry comes toward the back of
this annual publication. (Tom "Tearaway" Schulte)
XEROX DEBT #6
A brief introduction by Editor & Publisher, Davida, some do's and don'ts for
zine publishers concerning privacy & safety, some "Basic Stuff You Should Know,"
some announcements and then nuthin' but zine review after zine review, some
short and concise, others longer and concise. Throw in a list of places to get
zines at the end and what you have is an informative, useful little zine guide.
www.linkinginc.com (C.A.)
YOU IDIOT #1 & #2
Pot smoking seems to be a common theme in You Idiot. Some of the observations
on the Drug War are right on and should be obvious, I think, to anyone with
at least one undamaged brain cell. The "Dollar Store Reviews" are entertaining
enough. A slightly cynical zine from a twenty-something zinester, a natural
fit. Other topics covered, "Crazy Preachers Who Burn Journey Albums," "The Sorry
Saga of Nick Carter," and the "Rock Solid Science of Cat Astrology." (C.A.)
ZEEN #16
The format of this ever-changing zine keeps ever changing but the attitude remains
the same. This issue, aesthetically at least, is the best one yet. It is the
size of a 7" record that fits snugly into a 7" record sleeve AND it comes with
a 7" record (a split between Wormwood and Crepuscule on clear vinyl). Also included
is an interview with Crepuscule, a brief interview with God Speed You Black
Emperor, record reviews, and the usual well-directed venom against the musical
establishment and mediocrity in general. (C.A.)
ZINE GUIDE #6
Zine highlight: Lots of reviews. I like their "Top 250 Zines" list. It is determined
by compiling reader and writer responses to Zine Guide's "what are your three
favorite zines?" survey. (No, the zines I work on did not make the list, [happy
laughter] but I still like it). I love to see so many people involved in independent
publishing. It blows my mind that as much as I love zines I haven't even heard
of all the people who are on the top thirty. So many zines, so much to look
forward to! (T.v.L.i.m.i.t.BNB)
