September 2003
Cold Hands Dead Heart #16, 40p, quarter-size
Stream-of-conscious writing can often seem boring or trite, but by juxtaposing
lines of rambling handwritten text and eerie ink drawings, Cold Hands Dead
Heart avoids the common pitfalls. Though every page of the zine is filled
with words and pictures, it isn’t crammed or difficult to read. The
subject matter--metalheads rolling cigarettes, dreams of knife murderers,
memories of delinquent school acquaintances, gives the reader a vivid look
into the writer’s life. The illustrations are equally inscrutable. Some
resemble mutant insect creatures, while others look like distorted versions
of things we see every day. Throughout the zine Mike refers to dreams, a theme
mirrored by the disordered and bizarre tone of his writing and art. At times,
it’s difficult to tell if he's depicting a true event, a hallucination,
or a daydream. Either way, he has a knack for including unusual details and
a taste for the macabre, which combine to make an excellent zine.
M_twohig@hotmail.com
--Kate Amok
Highest Population of Rock Stars #14, 36p,
$2 or quality trade
The writing in the latest issue of HPRS is mostly borrowed from journal entries,
lending an intimate and meandering sort of appeal. This approach, while often
problematic, works to the benefit of this intensely personal zine, likely
due to Amy’s adept and sensitive style. She draws you in on a variety
of subject matter, ranging from lists of activities and song titles, to thoughts
on her personal life. Between text-heavy pages, she has also tucked beautiful
drawings, quotes, non-sequitors, and handwriting. The overall tone of sincerity,
coupled with the delicate visuals creates an experience that is unique and
inviting.
HPRS
1357 Sullivan Rd
Alden, NY 14004
USA
choci_loni@hotmail.com
--AR
Highest Population of Rock Stars #12, 28 pgs,
half size
Amy's writing is thoughtful and honest, and perhaps the most admirable quality
she emits in this zine is her ability to recognize her irrationalities, something
rare not just in zines, but in life in general. HPRS #12 is filled
with confessions of insecurities, observations of her own depression, and
a look into her struggles with relationships. What can really be valued in
this zine is witnessing the revelations and change that take place in Amy
as she realizes with each person she is involved with, she unconsciously tries
to change for them. This is one of those zines that is easy to relate to and
makes you want to copy down things that she wrote and hang them on your wall.
HPRS
1357 Sullivan Rd
Alden, NY 14004
USA
choci_loni@hotmail.com
-Sally Harless
Mimezine (mim-uh-zine) #4, 59p, half-size,
$3
The most recent edition of Robert Hubbard’s old school zine, this issue
focuses on the 1990’s San Francisco music scene. Having lived in San
Francisco during the period, Hubbard offers a deeper insight that comes from
years spent at shows in little dives and collecting cd’s and homemade
tapes. Lots of interviews and album reviews are included: The Sextants, Jill
Olsen of Red Meat and The Movie Stars, The Billy Nayer Show, and Carrie Bradley,
just to name a few. For those in love with music, this zine may serve as an
interesting blast from the past. A reader may also discover lots of interesting
music. Well-written and in-depth, another great zine.
641 SE 35th St.
Topeka, KS 66605
USA
rlhubbard@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/lrobhubb/index.html
--AR
The White Crow Vol. 6 #1, 30p, half-size,
$2.50
This collection of submitted poetry and fiction is published by Osric Publishing.
Unfortunately, the only difference between White Crow and a high
school creative writing anthology is the fact that an independent group produces
it. Each page features one poem in Times New Roman font, and only two photographs
illustrate the entire 30 pages. Since it was laid out on a computer, the publication
doesn’t strike me as a labor of love; it is simply a blank receptacle
for scribblings. There's something dismal about a plain white zine with computer
text and no pictures, but quality content can easily make up for it. Regretfully,
the poems here failed to capture my attention, probably because they used
too many adjectives. Topics range from cocktail parties to stray cats, but
nothing is truly remarkable. To be fair, White Crow is a publication
for poets by poets, and perhaps I am unqualified to judge it. I did enjoy
the final story, “Declaration of Independence,” by Chris Panell.
The main character paints himself brown, declares himself an independent nation,
and wages war against America by throwing doughnuts at cars. Aside from Panell’s
fiction, White Crow seems but a middling enterprise, and the reader
expects more for $2.50.
Osric Publishing
PO Box 4501
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
http://www.wcrow.com/
--Kate Amok