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Written by David Hart
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Review by Aaron Cynic
David Hart writes in dreamerswell 7: in transit, that "true perfection lies in transit", and I am inclined to agree. At first the zine lags, opening with a story of David meeting one of his musical icons - and realizing that he's just a guy. Set in a coffee shop (all too typical), David and his friends trade whispers while they stare at him from across the room, watching him drunkenly fall over himself. David reconciles this later, realizing that even the most important influences in your life have more to do with the creation itself, instead of the creator. |
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The Life and Times of Sheldon Grubs No. 11 |
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Written by Sheldon Grubs
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Review by Aaron Cynic!
The Travel Issue (17pgs b&w digest format)
One word: excited. That pretty much sums up The Life and Times of Sheldon Grubs No. 11 - The Travel Issue. Sheldon produces an amazing travel zine here, complete with hilarious anecdotes, meets with random strangers, and a helpful list.
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Celebrity: Mining for Twilight |
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Written by Skot
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(Doghouse Records) (CD)
Have you ever gone to a show, shown up late, and missed the first act? When you ask your buddy that you met up with who got there on time how that first band was he just says "Meh, they were okay, nothing too exciting." Thats what Mining for Twilight seems like in its entirety.
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Greg Graffin: Cold As The Clay |
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Written by Skot
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(Epitaph Records) (CD)
Trade in your skateboards and pick up a banjo. At least that's what all the cool kids are doing these days. With guys like Against Me! and William Elliott Whitmore, among others, slowing it down and folking it up, Greg Graffin has jumped on the bandwagon. Not that Greg really jumps on bandwagons. He's usually discussing the obsoleteness of the wagon as a form of state oppression. But hey, after making 150 albums that roughly sound the same (albeit still fantastic) I think I'd like to try something a little different myself. |
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Written by Aaron Cynic
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(watch it now)
Brian Springer spent a year going over various satellite feeds from news networks with a fine toothed comb. After compiling and editing the footage he recorded, the 1995 documentary Spin was born. Spin shows news anchors, politicians, and unseen public relations specialists at their most candid during the year of 1992. Spin does an incredible job of showing just how campaign managers and PR specialists can frame the way issues are presented in media. From the riots in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict to the 1992 presidential debates - Springer shows us how the television media play right into the hands of those seeking to exploit public opinion |
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Written by Aaron Cynic
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The Challenged - Home Is Where You Hate It (CD)
Snotty and raw - the first two words to come to mind after popping in this disc. The Challenged hammer home 8 pop punk tracks on their first EP "Home Is Where You Hate It." This record brings back plenty of good warm thoughts, making me remember why I fell in love with punk rock in the first place. "Home Is Where You Hate It" has plenty of fast paced, fist pumping, head bobbing energy. Lyrically The Challenged have a healthy mix of semi-political tunes, personal stories, and fun sing-a-longs. At a mere 5 bucks, you really can't pass this one up.
Highlights: Pyromanicac's Recipe, Not Doing Shit, Ambition
Lowlights: Absolutely none!
Overall: 4 out of 5. Fantastic! I would've given a 5, but you've gotta send me free beer with your CD to get that.
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Written by Green Lacewing
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Review by Sarah Arr!
 | Authentic Experience
By Green Lacewing. $FREE
Contact: "greenlacewingwoman AT yahoo DOT com" This is really cool on so many levels. First I should tell you that it's a really graphic sex zine. It's written by an anonymous woman who is as much in love as she is in lust with her husband. |
There's some age play in here that might be somewhat
triggering. It's hot of course, at times, frustratingly so, and there
are parts in which I think I might have actually blushed. The author
says it best, when she closes with: "Writing about sex makes me break
my own taboos . . . All of this is what it means to me to be
sex-positive."
Available for free in our distro section! |
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Written by Jeff Disler
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Review by Aaron Cynic
 | Pink Port, Please (Vol 1: Scapeghost)
By Jeff Disler. $1
Contact: "redose AT softhome DOT net" The son of an architect and a poet, Jeff puts together an amazing but all too short zine about his relationship to music and his mother. Jeff's mom was a poet and vocalist of Chicago punk band Silver Abuse (1980-1983). |
The zine delves into Jeff's thoughts and feelings about his mother and her various mental and substance abuse issues, how that affected him as a child, and how it affects his views on parties, music, and the universe. He includes some of his own poetry as well as various unpublished works of his mother. This zine is an absolute gem, and I strongly urge you to get ahold of Jeff and pick it up.
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Written by Miranda
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Review by Sarah Arr!
 | The Pleiades #16
By Miranda. $1
Contact: "mirandaceleste AT burningtheletters DOT net" Seriously, Miranda's zine is one of the most consistently interesting, thought provoking zines being produced. She has a really non-pretentious way of writing that allows her to communicate clearly, without mensing words.
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In the sixteenth issue, she covers: guilt about not being able to save/protect her grandmother, needing to stay busy (which I fully relate to), relationships and lots more. There are a few letters included as well, one to William Shatner (Denny Crane!), to a college professor, and Miranda's boyfriend. I was really pleased by how much content was in this issue, because . . . well, more of a good thing is a better thing, right? |
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Written by Jane Boston
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Review by Aaron Cynic
 | Stab Heart #6
By Jane Boston. $1
Contact: "janeboston AT gmail DOT com" Sadly, I've never gotten to peruse Stab Heart issues 1-5, but I'm glad issue 6 fell into my hands. Stab Heart mixes some good perzine writing with some excellent photography. Jane Boston not only writes this zine, but is also the keeper of the exits, a Livejournal blog that I unknowingly shared on AMC's 2005 Superblog (sadly no longer updateable).
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Stab Heart begins at the end of winter 2006 and ends in the late spring. Jane provides us with some good insight on how the seasons affect her writing and creative process. She moves into a travel piece on Ann Arbor, a town that I've been fortunate enough to visit a few times. Her descriptions of the town remind me of the first time I wound up in Ann Arbor, marveling at it's independent retailers, really cool graffiti art, and penchant for sucking money straight out of your wallet.
Jane continues on with a bit about her hopes and dreams for the future, her love of baking, and her boyfriend. She includes a few recipes that sound delicious, and ends with an idea for an interesting project. Overall, Stab Heart is a quick, upbeat perzine that leaves a reader with a sense of some of the same hope and wonder that Jane has for the world around her. 34 Pages, Color, Quarter sized $1.00 and two postage stamps. Back issues available. To order contact:
Jane Boston
PO Box 398
Baltic, OH 43804
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