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

Text File | 1994-10-02 | 14KB | 338 lines

          SOME ZINE REVIEWS BY MYKEL BOARD


A PIRATE'S BEDSIDE COMPANION
xeroxed     #4
c/o Amy LJ
 1070 Via Alta
Lafayette CA 94549
This could be a trend.  It's the second great perzine I've
seen in a month.  People are writing about themselves,
their friends, their own ideas.  They're taking the time to
make things the way they want them-- rather then slave to
the columns of desktop publishing.
     This zine is about Amy and her friend Chandra.  There's a
cartoon about their meeting, some mail to each of them,
some hand-written commentary on a newspaper article about
how women live longer, but not better than men.
     There's a really smart article (computer printed, but hand
laid out) by somebody named "Wish."  A final cartoon deals
with Hildebrand who I thought was the guy who killed the
queen in the Wagner opera, but not in this comic.

COLLECTING HOLLYWOOD
Thick newsprint zine     Fall '93
     2401 Broad St.
Chattanooga TN 37408
This is aimed mainly at movie poster collectors, with lots
of ad from people with specific things to buy or sell.
There's a "review" of the year's top ten movies, talking as
much about the quality of the posers as the quality of the
movies themselves-- a unique point of view.
     This issue also has a tribute to Vincent Price and a funny
article called "I was a Teen-Age Autograph Collector"

DIRECTIVES FROM HEAVEN
1 sheet     Oct. 15 '93
     c/o Our Lady of The Roses
 PO Box 52
Bayside NY 11361
Lady Veronica often talks to Mary, mother of Jesus.  Mary
tells her things about earthly events and gives certain
commands and analyses.  These Lady Veronica transcribes and
publishes in this newsletter.
     The focus of this one is on test-tube babies.  What does
Mary say about them.  "Scientists must stop at once their
pryings, their experimentation into a realm that has
brought them in league and contact with the very forces of
hell, Lucifer and his agents."  Get the idea?
     The previous month the topic was "suffering" and why it's
good for you.

FLOUR POWER
Xeroxed     7/93
     c/o Rejoice
 Box 465
Blind Bay BC V0E 1H0
CANADA
This issue concentrates on squats in Vancouver, and the
stuff the local cops & real estate folks have been
doing to them.    There are copies of police/court
affidavits, xeroxes of posters for benefits and news paper
reports.
     Besides the squatter stuff, there is also anarchist
resource materials, as well as vegan resource material.
There are lots of poster reprints and a few live reviews to
boot.  I have no idea if this thing is still coming out, so
you might want to write before sending your dollar.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
newsprint     fall '93
     PO Box 4
Bethlehem PA 18016
This is a freebie from the central PA area.  It's got a
wide circulation due to the editor's tireless mailing list.
It focuses on local talent, although it will include big
ALTERNATIVE bands (Fugazi, White Zombie) on the cover.
     There are music interviews and lots of reviews.  The editor
is a local scenester who puts his time where his mouth is.
He's currently booking shows in the local area as well as
doing a radio show to expose the kids to new music.
Congrats and sticking it out there and not caving in and
moving to some big city like half the wimps here in New
York.

HAIRRISING TRAVEL & TOUR UNLTD.
a4 folded     2/94
     c/o Luk Haass
 28 rue de Soultz
Stasboug 67100
FRANCE
My choice for zine of the month.  This is a chronicle of
Luk's search for punkrock,  He travels alone, looking for
underground culture-- this is the story of his latest trip.
     Just another road diary?  Not exactly, here's where Luk's
been lately:  Croatia, Tunisia, Albania, Ukraine, Armenia,
Georgia, Kurdistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.
     I've been and admirer of Luk's for some time.  He really is
interested in bringing to the fore, all those people from
countries usually lost in the shuffle.  He deserves support
and congratulations.  He's got my awe!  Luke has also
started a record label TIAN AN MEN records, to release some
of this obscure stuff.  It's all amazing.  Just amazing.

IMPRIMIS
desktop published     12/93
     Hillsdale College
Hillsdale MI 49242
This is the there-per-issue from the
conservative-libertarian Hillsdale College.  Each issue
focuses on a single topic, usually something about PC
stupidity, or individuality.
     The articles are usually well-reasoned, and
non-hysterically presented.  Often they're enlightening.
Since this is the Christmas issue, they present an article
written by an astronomer who works for the only privately
fund observatory in the US
     He works to give an astronomical explanation of the star
of Bethlehem, and thereby helping to show that science and
religion do not exclude each other.

MOUTH
newsprint zine     Free Sampler
     61 Brighton St.
Rochester NY 14607
Subtitled:  The Voice of Disability Rights, this zine is
put out by an editrix and a graphic artist.  This is the
issue they send out to those who request a sample.  Do it!
It's angry, non-PC, and pity-bashing.  It is a constant
barrage of attacks on the disability industry from rehab
houses to Jerry Lewis.
     In the sample, there is an article on Jerry Lewis.  Another
is on a brain damaged child who can speak several languages
and is called an idiot by others.  Another article is a
parody of a 12 step program for "professionals."
     My favorite is a stinging piece on a post hospital half way
house that'll keep you from ever giving to those places
again.  I'm xeroxing it and enclosing it in those postage
paid envelopes I get from those places.  Fat chance they're
gonna see money from me.  I'd rather give it to the editors
of this zine.

PANIC BUTTON
newsprint     1994
     PO Box 62
Prospect Heights IL 60070
This is Ben Weasel's zine, where he interviews Johnny
Ramone, although Joey's on the cover.
     The zine is a good read as Ben is a good writer and he's
even right most of the time.  It's all funny and cranky.
This issue includes a behind-the-scenes report on a Nirvana
show (seems they'll let Jawbreaker, but not The Ramones
open for 'em).  There's also some sports stuff and record
reviews.
     The key feature, though, is the Johnny interview. Eg.
Johnny on PEARL JAM:  "I don't like the stupid outfits they
wear... always walking around with shorts on.  There was a
time when you had an image and looked cool on stage.  Now
you gotta go up there and look like a dork."

PROFANE EXISTENCE
tabloid     2/94
     PO Box 8722
Minneapolis MN 55408
This punk/anarchist newspaper is back after a long hiatus.
They're angry, informative, opinionated and well... For
example, on page 5, they lament the bombing attack of
FREEDOM PRESS in England by right wingers.  On the bottom
right of the same page is an article extolling the bombing
of a right-wing shop in France, by the left wingers.  Ah well,
consistency has never been a hallmark of fanaticism.
     Still, if people want to get international anarchist news,
insight into a particular kind of thinking, plenty of
opinionated review-- this is the place to do it.  I
actually like the paper, but I never read it without
bringing a huge box of salt to sprinkle on it-- before I
open it.

PWACNY NEWSLINE
slick     1/94
cover/newsprint
     50 West 17 St. (8th fl)
New York NY 10011
Published just too early to mourn founder Michael Callan's
death, this magazine has been a constant source of fighting
spirit and medical information for people with AIDS.
     Besides the obits and medical information, this issue
carries the text of a keynote address given by playwright
Larry Kramer at the NY AIDS Institute policy conference.
Kramer's speech has gems like:
     "The best thing that could happen is that every one of you
quit your jobs.  And every single AIDS service agency
should fold up shop...that way there would be so many dead
bodies piled up everywhere the Adolph Clinton and Adolph
Giuliani and Adolph Cuomo, and Adolph Moynihan, and Adolph
D'Amato would finally be unable to locate their front
doors....I hate people like you."
     Printing the ravings of folks who advocate the quick death
of People With Aids is only one way this paper for PWAs is
different.  They believe in open free forums when it comes
to AIDS, and boy, to they keep to their beliefs!

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF PUNKNESS
1/2 8 1/2 x 11     No. 1,2
     c/o Matt Dissonant
 3421 Brookwood Trace
Birmingham AL 35223
Alabama conjures up scary images for me.  I probably think
about it like much of the rest of the country thinks about
New York.  Scary!  I was there for the first time in my
life only last year.  It wasn't so bad.
     So in the midst of this comes punk rockers.  In Birmingham!
A self-made zine, with a scanned, hand drawn cover,
computer printed inside, but lotsa markings and weird
layout.  The first issue is almost all thoughts of editor
Matt.  There is an interview with a band I never heard of,
and a word search.
     The second issue includes an interview with me!  and some
(other) good stuff, including an interview with a mailorder
punker, letters, and some more of Matt's musings and
adventures.  This is non-slick, DIY punk.


RIGHT-WING WATCH
desktop published     1/94
     c/o People for the American Way
 200 M Street NW  (400)
Washington DC 20036
This depressing publication of PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY
chronicles the increasing political power of the religious
right in America.  Basically it is a report of various
elections and how the good guys lost.

ROSE NOTES
Desktop pub 4pgs     Dec '93
     PO Box 52
Bayside NY 11361
This is one of the newsletters put out by the folks who
believe in the visions of Lady Veronica.  In case you don't
know, she's the former Queens housewife who saw Mary,
Jesus's mom and has been having regular conversations with
her since.
     This issue features a story entitled "A repentant
Homosexual."  It tells of a father's fight to get his
AIDS-stricken son to give up homosexuality and accept
Veronica before he dies.  The father eventually wins,
despite the efforts of an evil AIDS-activist doctor.  The
young man now rests safely in heaven.  It's all pretty
inspiring.

TRUST
A4 size     1/94
     c/o Dolf Hermannstaedter
 Salzmannstr. 53
Augsburg 86163
GERMANY
This is the oldest regularly published punkzine in Germany.
Somewhat modelled after MAXIMUM ROCK'N'ROLL, it's got the
letters section up front (no letters this issue) followed
by columns, followed by band interviews and record and
zine interviews.
     This issue features NO FX, TRIBE 8, JESUS LIZARD and
SCHWARTZENEGGAR, although the HARD ONS are promised on the
cover, they don't show up inside.

     TUFTS UNIV, DIET & NUTRITION LETTER
desktop pub.     3/94
     PO Box 57857
Boulder CO 80322-7857
     This is an interesting one.  Too often these college based
nutrition/health newsletters are just shills for the
medical establishment.  "Don't take vitamins."  "Food
supplements are dangerous"  "Doctors know best"  That's
typical fare.  This one (at least this issue) is different.
     There's a story on SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), that
works as its acronym-- making people depressed in the
winter or when there is less sunlight.  There's another
feather on blood pressure-- the top number that nobody
cares about-- and a Consumer Reports type review of home
exercise equipment.
     While there's nothing earth-shattering here, it all seems
sensible and well researched.

     TUFTS UNIVERSITY DIET & NUTRITION LETTER
desktop published     1/94
     53 Park Place
New York NY 10007
     Health newsletters generally fall into two camps.  There
are the "alternative medicine" ones, that tell about
treatments with megavitamins, herbs, exotic amino acids.
And there are the "mainstream" ones that pretty much follow
the line laid out by groups like the National Institute of
Health or the American Cancer Society.
     This issue of the newsletter is firmly in the latter camp.
(but see the previous review)  While there are some interesting
articles here (one about the anorexic proportions of Barbie
dolls), the main focus is on mirroring the official line.  For
example, this issue has a "special report" called "Will the
Government Take Away Your Supplements?"
     In that report they say those rumors are false, and the
government only wants to stop vitamin companies from making
false claims.  The panic, say the editors, comes from lying
and lobbying by the supplement industry.  However, one line
gives buried in the article gives the whole deal away.
     "The government does want to take away supplements that are
ineffective, it only wants to take away those IT CONSIDERS
dangerous."  Given the governments track record in
CONSIDERING, I think I'll take my chances in the healthfood
store, thank you.

URBAN RAG
1/2 sheet folded     winter '93-94
     PO Box 100270
Brooklyn NY 11210
Basically a review zine editor Jon Ment gives thoughtful
opinions about local (NY) live shows, records
(concentrating on, but not exclusively indies), and the New
Music Seminar.  The latter he rightly complains is not
about New Music-- or new anything else.

WORLD OF FANDOM
slickish     Fall '93
     PO Box 9421
Tampa FL 33604
This is a great zine that wants to be a magazine.
Fortunately, the slickness hasn't given way to slick
professionalism.  The writers cover a wide range of stuff--
from comics, to bands, to zines, to videos and movies.
They rave about what they like and gloss over the other
stuff.  There are interviews.  A great feature on GODZILLA,
my favorite movie monster, and lots reviews.
     This is a thick zine (90 pages) with lots of b&w pix, a
full color cover, a UPC code, and a lot of fun reading.


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