Albatross #1

Albatross #1

8 1/2 x 11, 32 pages, $?

This zine speaks a very clear and brazen voice against the techno-industrial complex. Similar in content to magazines like Green Anarchy and Fifth Estate, but with an added focus on DIY and homesteading skills. Most of the zine appears to be reprints from other sources, but there is some original writing included as well. Many of the articles focus specifically on raising and educating children. The take home message seems to be that mainstream education is corrupted and mainstream parenting is flawed. Luckily some tips and suggestions on how to do things better are included. The two articles that interested me the most were the ones about building a solar fruit dehydrator and canning your own food. No price listed, but I assume copies are free upon request. The zine can also be accessed online in pdf format: www.albatrosszine.blogspot.com

If interested, contact David at albatrosszine@gmail.com

.......

This review was written by Dan Murphy of Elephant Mess and The Juniper. Write to him at PO Box 363, Edwardsville IL 62025

Pearls Before Swine Flu / This Is Plague City

Pearls Before Swine Flu / This Is Plague City
quarter-sized, 28 pages
$2 + 1 stamps in Canada, $3 in the U.S.A.
.....
I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say about this. Two short stories told in first person, both very bleak. Pearls is about being sick, being alone, and being drunk; but obviously there is more to it than that. Plague is a little more difficult to sum up in one sentence. There's a trip to the mall to develop a roll of film, a date, dancing on New Year's, a masturbation scene, and a rock band. My favorite line: "She was probably one of the ones that listed fun as an interest." This isn't the kind of stuff that's supposed to give you warm, fuzzy feelings in your heart; still you ought to read this and decide for yourself.
.....
dave@woodenrocketpress.com
bitsofstring@yahoo.ca
http://www.woodenrocketpress.com/
http://www.bitsofstring.wordpress.com/
.....
This review is by Dan Murphy of Elephant Mess and The Juniper.
PO Bos 363 Edwardsville IL 62025 USA
http://www.juniperbug.blogspot.com/

Secret Weirdo by Lauren Barnett

Secret Weirdo
8 1/2" x 5 1/2", 20 pages, $5
Lauren is out to convince people that she is secretly a weirdo. In order to do this, she drew a series of comics depicting stories from her life, mostly from her childhood. In the 3rd grade she started a lemonade stand and a cleaning business in order to save up money for a boombox, but she took it to the extreme, ordering an official lemonade stand from the Solo cup folks and publishing a newsletter for her cleaning business. Other oddities include a strange birthday present request, putting an egg in the freezer, stealing random objects from her aunt's house, and being freakishly larger than her older sister. These are not cute comics, though. Don't you dare call Lauren's comics "cute." But do order this from her. And do check out her blog: http://www.melikesyou.blogspot.com/
email to order: laurenmbarnett@gmail.com or order from her etsy shop.
...
Review by Dan Murphy, publisher of Elephant Mess and The Juniper, PO Box 363, Edwardsville IL 62025 USA, http://www.juniperbug.blogspot.com/

Sewing & Dawning #3

Sewing & Dawning #3
$3, quarter-sized, 112 pages
A travelogue of a band on tour told by one of the band members. Tales of the many adventures that occurred on a short tour spanning the states of New York, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the province of Ontario. At times tedious to read as the story drags on, but there are some good moments along the way. The writing needs some work, but it's a good start. Occasionally the writing style got on my nerves but at other times it was endearing. Overall, it was sincere, so that's all that matters. The best part about this zine is the layout. All the writing was tapped out on a typewriter and cut 'n pasted on obscure backgrounds. Two zines were sewn together into one thick zine with some interesting art folded into the middle. It's obvious this zine was made by someone who cares.
Rick Visser, 60-93 Myrtle Ave. Apt. 3f, Ridgewood NY 11385 USA
...
Review by Dan Murphy, publisher of Elephant Mess and The Juniper, PO BOX 363, Edwardsville IL 62025 USA, http://www.juniperbug.blogspot.com/