Ian & Stuart's Australian Mac: Not for Sale/Another.not.for.sale (Australia).iso/hold me in your arms/FactSheet Five/FuckTooth_Reviews

Text File | 1994-10-02 | 18KB | 311 lines

        Does anyone read reviews anymore? Reviews this time are by me or by
Steve Wade (SW - duh!). An asterisk (*) means they're worth the money they
ask, it doesn't necessarily mean that i liked them more than the ones
without it.
        I've gotten to read a lot of really good local zines. It's really
great that there are so many zinesters in Columbus, I'm glad everyone is
out there doing their own thing.  I mean, a lot of these come from the same
group of friends but they're all distinctive. A lot of people write the
same way they talk so it's neat to read what they've written in these zines
and be able to hear them saying the words in your mind.  Picks of the month
are Dishwasher and Simba.

Asian Girls Are Rad #3 (The zine with mucho clout!): David Harrison O'Dell,
707 W. 21st, Austin, Tx. 78705 // half size, $2, or 1.50 and 2 stamps,
20pgs // An entertaining read. Especially good when the editor  talks about
the Asian girl that he's in love with. Funny articles on the use of the
word chicken in rap lyrics, and how to balance a salt shaker on it's end.
Some slick computer graphics and some handwritten stuff. Obviously, not too
serious, but nevertheless, a fun read. (SW)

Ball-Buster #2: Amanda, POB 3277, Columbus, OH 43210 // full size, 28pgs,
$2 // I didn't think i would like this zine at all. For one, it has an
interview with a band called the Curse, who i really DO NOT like. But then,
Amanda wrote me a really great postcard and i decided to give her a second
chance. There's a lot of poetry in there and some okay letters and reviews,
but beyond that, there are GREAT articles on stuff like boys with guitars
and  The Grateful Dead (yay!), and coming out. This will teach me, once
again, NOT to judge a book by it's cover.

Canvas #6: Jamie Kennard, Skidmore College, Box 641, Saratoga Springs, Ny.
12866 // half size, $1, 28pgs // I think the reason I liked this was
because it was so neat. Really clean layouts. Interviews with Quicksand and
Ani DiFranko. An article about scams against the postal service which is
informative  and reviews. Not really that much material, but still a pretty
good zine. (SW)

* Dishwasher #11: Pete, POB 4827, Arcata, CA 95521 // half size, 40pgs, $1
or trade // I love this zine. You join Pete on his quest to wash dishes in
all fifty states. He has a great narrative style that is easy to read.
Dishwasher never fails to be the most entertaining zine, a well needed
departure from all of the bad-religion-sucks-punk-is-dead music based zines
that i read most of the time.

Disillusion #2: Josh Peach, 57 W California, Columbus, OH 43202 // half
size, 32pgs, $? // Interviews with Scab, Lincoln, and Into Another with
lots of great photos. I'd like to see more writing or commentary by Josh
because what's there is good.

Factory: Grace, 126 Chase Rd, Columbus, OH 43214 // 24pgs, half size $? //
I like this zine a lot. Maybe because i know Grace and that makes it that
much better. Most of this is personal, though there is some good political
things including the manifesto at the beginning. Stuff about televisions,
factories, feelings, meat, and love - not necessarily in that order of
course. I like it.

* Greedy Bastard #9: Bill Florio, POB 1014, Yonkers, NY 10704-1014 // full
size, nice cover, $1, 24pgs //  Interesting interview with Tony Victory
with questions like: Have you ever felched? Have you seen people fuck cows
and shit? (the answer was YES). Other interviews with Aussie Punk, Chicken
head, Jay of THD. Some other stuff crammed in there, and a hilarious phone
poll at the end that makes the whole zine worth it.

Hope and Desperation #5: Spencer Sunshine, POB 666, Oxford, OH 45056 //
half size, 12pgs $? // I can sum it up in a few words: Ads, show and record
reviews, upcoming shows, and news. Good as a contact sheet, mainly  for
Central and Southern Ohio.

Let Me Live #2: Scott Niemet, POB 29382, Columbus, OH 43229 // weird
layout, 36pgs? (i can't remember), $? //  Once you get past all of the
mispellings and typos, this is a good zine. Quite a departure from the
first issue that i liked so much, this one is more of a journal style and
definitely more personal.

Miss Michigan #1: Katie Gorell, 246 Yakeley, MSU, East Lansing, Mi.
48825-1009 // half size, $?, 44pgs // Full color, glossy cover on the
outside, and a lot of illegible handwriting on the inside. An interview
with Fifteen, and a short one with Alloy. Not bad for a first issue, a
little on the messy side. Some of the things just seemed  kind of
pointless. (SW)

Mutant Renegade #3: P.O. Box 3445, Dayton, Oh. 45401-3445 // full size, ?,
22pgs // I'll give credit to anyone who does a zine for simply taking the
initiative and being productive. But, this really isn't my cup of tea. A
lot of stuff cut out from other sources and reprinted. There's kind of a
cool thing about the life of Dr. Seuss, and a really bad interview with the
Dead Milkmen, and reviews. Kind of sloppy cut and paste layouts, but a lot
of little tidbits to look at. (SW) [Grog also runs a contact sheet for
Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. Kind of a local Book Your Own Fuckin'
Life. Send a stamp to this address and ask for the IKMO list.]

New Brand #3: Thomas Wells, P.O. Box 184, Vinton, Va. 24179 // half size,
$1,  32pgs, copied // A lot of this seems like it was thrown together
without too much thought as to what was being said. An article on how much
more rebellious it is to drink, rather than be straight edge(?). Interviews
with NOFX and Tilt. Some other articles that aren't what I'd call thought
provoking. Reviews, and other standard zine fare. Soooooo many typos. It
just seems to me like they need to think out the issues that they write a
bit more. (SW)

Restraint: Steve Wade, 4683-F E Broad St, Whitehall, OH 43213 // half size,
40pgs, $? // Undertow interview and lots of rants on or related to veganism
and straightedge.  Also the one on shoplifting that I've reprinted here. It
looks like a typical straightedge zine but it's got some good insights in
there. This issue is (really) old but Steve promises a new issue soon.

* Rotten Fruit #20: 816 Coss Circle, Westerville, OH 43081 // 56 pgs? half
size, nice cover,  $1.50 // I didn't think i would like this, but after i
forced myself to read it (just because i really like Brad and Heather), i
changed my mind. First of all, they have 4 editors. I don't know how they
do it, it would drive me nuts not to have complete control. On the other
hand, it brings this really great diversity to the zine and i really mean
it when i say there is something there for everyone. Articles, stories,
personal things, poems, art. It's like a really good personal zine with
actual articles and things in there too. There's stuff on activism, an
interview with someone who had an abortion, tons of neat clippings, and
more that i can't think of off the top of my head.  They have a new one
coming out son, so they say, but they have the jump on me by 8 issues!

* Simba #5: Vique, 20 Brandwyn Way, Brighton. Sussex. BN18XA  England //
half size,  $3 ppd., 40pgs, copied // Another great issue of Simba, with
lots of personal writings. An interesting article on volunteering in a
hospital for handicapped teenagers. Plus writings on eating disorders,
societal standards behind women shaving their legs, and too much more to
mention. Glossy cover. The layouts are a tad bland, but all in all an
inspiring read. (SW)

Sty Zine #16: Icki, 300 N Bryan, Bloomington IN, 47408 // $1.50 ppd, mini
size, 72 pgs w/48 pgs insert // Icki has a great format, and i may just
steal his idea about a separate little review booklet and modify it a
little for the next issue, it's a great idea. Besides a great format he has
a really good narrative style that's easy going and not difficult to read.
a good personal zine. Most of this is about his trip to the west.

* Teenfag #2: Chow Chow Productions, PO Box 20204, Seattle, Wa. 98102 //
81/2 x 7, $2, 36pgs, copied //  An extremely well written article about a
suicide attempt by a gay teen. Interviews with young men who placed gay
personal ads in a Seattle paper, which is pretty interesting. As well as a
transcription of G.G. Allin's last television appearance on the Jane
Whitney show. Topped off with a ton of reviews and some really good comics.
Great zine! (SW)

Thurteen #2: PO Box  2846 Loop Station, Minneapolis, Mn. 55402 // full
size, $2, 48pgs, copied // Kind of an anarchist punk oriented zine. Some
very good articles/rants. The only real complaint I have is the size of the
type. Some of the articles are printed way too small. Others are
handwritten, but easy to read. Kind of a cheesy story about hanging out
with Green Day that someone found stored in the computer and they decided
to print it. (SW)

* Trustkill #2: Josh Grabelle, 23 Farm Edge Ln, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 //
full size, $2, 36pgs, offset // Wow, is this one slick! Glossy cover, great
photos - it all makes you wonder just how much Josh spends on this thing.
The content, however, is VERY good. I would classify it at a straightedge
zine though i think Josh is a bit more openminded then a lot of edgers are,
and i decided  that after reading a little paragraph of commentary on the
last page about how hardcore and straightedge should "get along" rather
than being closeminded about each other.   That's about it on the
commentary though, one other paragraph on growing up and also some letters
and responses. Then there are good, in depth interviews with Groundwork,
Chokehold and get this: krsna. Anyway, it's a good zine and has a bunch of
reviews too. One of the few SXE zines I've read that isn't quite as
exclusionary - Josh should definitely write more.

What Me Worry #3: Jim, 1013 Ridge St, Freeland PA 18224 // 8.5 x 7, 40pgs
$? // "One more thing: Next time you're at a show, feel free to smile at
any time. Peace."  I liked this, kind of a fun spirited zine that doesn't
take itself too seriously, which is nice for a change. Interview with
Farside, which is kind of unstructured, but good. Has a piece about all of
the attractions in his hometown of Freeland, Pa, quite a few reviews, and
some comics I couldn't really get into. Good. (SW)

--------------

Brainiac: Smack Bunny Baby // Grass Records // 11 song CD // When i first
put this in, i thought it sucked. All noise, nothing else. The kind of
music that gives you a headache before you learn to listen to it. When i
listened to it more, i found i actually liked it. Sure they're loud and
they do weird electronic things that sound like your phone ringing in the
background, but they have a good vocalist and they're even melodic in their
own fucked up kind of way. "Get Away" is a the best song in my opinion,
one of the most melodic / lesser noisy ones on the album. Brainiac is a
departure from the kind of thing i normally like, but maybe i need that
once in a while. And they're from Ohio too! "I could own you but I don't
want to."

Capitol Punishment: Messiah Complex // We Bite America // 12 song CD //
Okay. I wasn't very impressed with this. Some of the lyrics are REALLY good
("I'ts Gotta Come Out")  the rest are cheesy ("Your Farts are Like
Frankincense to Me"). The music is good, but not all the time, and some of
the songs are kind of catchy ("Ethnic Cleansing"). They do go through a
number of styles though with reasonable success, mostly (relatively)
melodic punk with metal influence, vocals are gravelly and hard to
understand (except on "I wanna be the Anti Christ"). I think the disc gets
better as it goes on.  I think it's just that i don't like vocals, there's
just something about the singer that i can't take seriously.

* Chairman of the Board: Interpretations of songs made famous by Frank
Sinatra // Grass Records, 2xCD // You have to hear this to believe it. I
love it. All those  classic songs by the likes of Samiam, Jawbox,
Treepeople, too many to name. The Mind Over Matter cover of "New York, New
York" makes the entire things worth it. Benefit disc for NARAL and another
group whose name i can't remember.

Fuzz // Westworld, POB 43787, Tuscon, AZ 85733 // $3, 2 song 7" // Got this
the same time as the Spill Blanket 7", and i like them both. The lyrics are
clear on this one though, i like that a lot. Guitar is very strong and they
have a good sound, the kind of hardcore i like.  "Hard." That's what Steve
says about them. First track is really good. The second one has less
momentum and the vocals aren't as melodic, it's repetitive.

Gob / Loadstar: split 7" // Satan's Pimp Records, 1409 Tonopah St, Reno, NV
89509 // 3 song 7", $3, yellow vinyl // Everyone i know from Reno loves
Gob. Maybe i have to see them live to appreciate them. I don't like this
very much, a bit too noisy with too little melody. The Loadstar stuff is
better.The thing about them is they like weird noises. At the beginning of
the first track is a few pseudo animal sounds, and remember that sound you
used to make when you were little to imitate a car? That starts the second
song. I like "Thanksgiving Day" because it starts with the lines "Walking
down the street.. kickin my can.. thinking about this big trap... this big
trap called Reno... Reno Fuckin Nevada!" But i really couldn't tell you
what the rest of the song is about.  "110" actually has some cool lyrics
(if you can call them that) too bad the music never gets any momentum and
kind of drones along in the background. Loadstar grew on me, Gob didn't.

* Haggis: When You Cry.... You Die Alone... // Screwball Productions: POB
752, Boise, ID 83701 // $3 ppd, 2 song 7" on yellow clear vinyl //
"Cornfield Girl"  is surprisingly catchy, and if you didn't know the story
behind it, you might think it's a love song at first (Lisa, Lisa.. I think
I love you). At first i didn't like the return to the slow beginning
"theme," if you will, at the end. I felt it the momentum of the song short,
that it was kind of misplaced. On the other hand, i can see why you do
that. It provides a "non typical" ending and also ties the beginning and
end together, making a complete circle.  Does that make sense? And, well,
it grew on me. The second song is more of the same heavy, driving sound but
the lyrics aren't as good. We hear backing vocals for the first time, they
need a little work.  This is a good 7", can't help wishing the vocals were
clearer though. Oh and i really like the cover art too.

Murphy's Law: Good For Now // We Bite America: POB 10172, Chicago, IL 60610
// 5 song CD // Again, I wasn't impressed by this. It starts out fast but
lacks the momentum or intensity i like. The horns don't blend well when
they are introduced on the third track, but "Crucial Bar B Q" is actually a
pretty good ska song. I don't get the lyrics though. Sorry, there's not
much else to say, except there's lots of variety: Hardcore, ska, and even a
reggae sounding track at the end.

Naked Aggression: Plastic World // Mighty: 6607 Sunset Blvd, LA, CA 90028
// $3.50 ppd, 5 song 7", poster and lyrics // Pete was right when he said
that this band is more angry than anything else. I like that, it's
something you don't see much nowadays, there aren't many bands that go out
there singing "Smash the State" or whatever.  Great lyrics of course, like
"The first step to resistance is questioning what they are telling you."
Music is just okay, "old style" punk as i would call it, female vocals that
aren't as screechy as other popular bands whose names i won't mention, but
still not melodic.  I haven't found a female vocalist that I've liked yet.

* Spill Blanket: "maiden name / legfruit" // SB, POB 12546, Tucson, AZ
85732 // 2 song 7", $3 ppd // Well, i played this for two of my friends and
they liked it. Scott says it reminds him of Sparkmarker, but i don't know
who they are so i can't say. First off, I'm glad they include a lyric sheet
coz you would never know otherwise. But the distortion works well here and
the music is good. They're really tight and have  good momentum, it's
strong hardcore. I have to listen to this some more before i say anything
else.

Stop Homophobia Compilation // Turkey Baster Records 6403 Johnny Morris
#12, Austin, Tx 78724 // $3 ppd, 4 song 7", booklet // Okay, i'll tell you
right off that i wrote for the booklet and that's probably why i like this
7". Or maybe i like it because it starts out with "My name is Paul Bonomo,
and I'm a Fag!" Overall the production is pretty bad but I'd be surprised
if it wasn't. The first two songs by Fagbash and Black Angel's Death Song
are fuzzy, 80's style (at least in my opinion) punk rock. "Brothers and
Sisters" by BADS seems like it should be a song out of the 70's. Pansy
division is next, and i think the only reason i like them now is because
I've seen them live and can appreciate them. "Cowboys are frequently,
secretly fond of each other" is one of the better songs that I've heard.
Those three songs are relatively good and pretty catchy. The last one,
however, sucks. Sorry to be so blunt, but it does. "Toast Fire" by   Happy
Flowers is basically just some guy screaming over feedback and noise. Maybe
someone will like it and i don't.


-----------


Bob Conrad of Second Guess: #10 is clearly her best issue yet for a couple
of reasons: 1) there's no poetry, 2) Jen does a lot more writing, 3) what
isn't hers is pretty good as well. There's reviews, trips to shows, a zine
scene article on setting higher standards but not too high (yay!), Nathan
the show Promoter in LA (who got his show busted after this interview) and
more. Great.

Icki of Sty Zine on FT 11: There's lots of tasty reading here, so get ready
to hunker down.  On top of reviews, ads, some great art and an Offspring
interview Jen serves up 5 rants on subjects ranging from shows to the Bad
Religion debate.  FT has cool articles from contributors, and a rant from
Jen's dad!  (*****)

Maximum Rock N Roll 129 (Natasha Riggins) on FT 11: Many budding zine
writers start a zine because they read a really cool one and decided they
could one too.  Most times it just sucks, but not Fucktooth.  Jen-Angel
produces a finely  crafted series of editorials that stimulate your your
brain and fills out the rest with reviews and graphics.





jen - angel // [e-mail] // 221 W 12th #232, Columbus OH 43210