Gag Me With A ... #3

Gag Me With A … #3
mini-zine, 40 pages, $?
This is a compilation zine open to anyone who would like to submit. The editor accepts artwork, photography, comics, short/micro fiction, poetry, rantings, diary entries, etc. I’m not sure how selective the editor is about the submissions she receives, although judging from several of the pieces included in this issue, her expectations don’t seem to be too high. Much of the writing was pretty disappointing, but the layout and artwork at least partially made up for that. It appears that all the text was written with a typewriter, which is always fun to see. My favorite piece was an interesting discussion about a 16th century Catholic pope’s decision to classify a giant rodent (capybara) as a fish because of its scaly skin and proclivity for water. Doing this made it okay for South Americans to eat capybara during Lent, which diminished the sacrifice of this religious tradition because it was already a staple to some South American tribes. I also related to a piece about moshing at shows when you’re in your 30’s. While much of the writing in this zine lacked the quality that I generally look for, it’s still worth a browse. Perhaps you might even have some work of your own to contribute to a future issue.
http://www.gagmewitha.blogspot.com/
pinkpressblitz@gmail.com

The Filth #3

The Filth #3
22 pages, full size
$3 or something equivalent

I love it when somebody makes me eat my words. I gave this issue a decent-to-good review, (and just to be clear, decent-to-good refers to the zine, not the review. The review was perfect,) but I had to whine about a couple little things, one of which was getting a fucked up CD I couldn't listen to. About 48, maybe 72 hours after the review posted I received a replacement CD, and, a second copy just in case. If that ain't customer service, I don't know what is.
Just like I said with the previous issue, it's worth the price for the CD alone. I know nothing about modern music, so I'll relate it to what I know from the old days. If you like stuff like Amon Duul, Conrad Schnitzler, Nurse with Wound, Hawkwind, and dare I say, Art Control, (wink,) You'll probably like this. It gets a little techno-ey in places, but leans way more to the psychedelic, (but not as spacey or serious as say, Dead Can Dance,) speeds up and slows down, but never fast enough to be dance music. Doesn't take itself too seriously, there's a lot of playfulness, (Iasoa Tomita, Tubular Bells,) and a lot of raw creativeness you don't get from commercial music. Fuck Yeah.

This below is the original Review:

Okay, I'm officially a fan this rag, and Tina Armstrong.

Whether it was intentional or just came together this way, this issue has a circus theme, spiked with zombies, true confessions, poetry, pseudo-adolescent ambivalence, one provoking bit of magic realism that I couldn't finish because the photocopying deteriorated on the last page, and a cliffhanger. You fuckers better send me #4.

And again, this issue came with a CD, which I also couldn't listen to because it was fucked up from being crammed in an envelope with a bunch of stickers and crap. You can see in the photo how the black shit stuck to it.

Regardless, I still really like it. Most of the writing is less than stellar in pretty much every technical way, and yet it's still very readable. What it lacks in polish it makes up for in spunk. I read it all in one sitting, which is not usual for me. A diamond in the rough.

The Filth
5 Mira Ct
Baltimore MD 21220

TheFilthSubmissions@gmail.com
http://www.wix.com/the_filth/zine

Les Carnets de Rastapopoulos #8

Les Carnets de Rastapopoulos #8
8 ½” x 7”, 16 pages, free/trade
The 8th issue of this Canadian zine is the first part in a series detailing the author’s attempt to re-connect with pen-pals from 20 years ago. It tells the story of the author’s introduction to the world of pen-pals, which came in the form of a Denmark pen-pal agency’s solicitation received by his high school. As a young teenager in the 1980’s trying to beat small town boredom, pen-palling appealed to him. After receiving a few letters from kids in Denmark, Australia, and Sweden, the author’s next goal was to receive a letter from someone “on the other side of the Iron Curtain.” Shortly after contacting the embassies in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia in search of pen-pal resources, letters started flowing in by the hundreds. Presently, the author has corresponded with hundreds of individuals from countries all around the globe. The neatest part of this zine is the centerfold: a world map listing the countries the author has received mail from, the names of the pen-pals, and numbers of letters exchanged with each one. The layout of this zine consists of shrunken images of envelopes, letters, photos, drawings, etc. sent to him from people seeking pen friends. This zine is for anyone who has ever gotten excited about receiving random letters from strangers in faraway lands. Highly recommended reading.
Les Carnets de Rastapopoulos
2-7 Larch Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1R 6W4 Canada

Signals #4

Signals #4
digest, 60 pages, $?
DJ Frederick longs for people to get excited about radio again, and so he has compiled another great issue of his radio zine, which is full of rantings, radio histories, interviews, and profiles. Included is an interesting story about a pirate radio show that took place in a phone booth, as well as some info on number stations (which are apparently used for espionage and drug smuggling), along with the story of a wedding that led to a government shutdown of a low power radio station. Additionally, there is an interesting article about using shortwave radio as a musical instrument, as well as several interviews with individuals involved with radio in some way or another. Throughout the zine there are numerous links and recommendations for websites, radio shows, radio stations, etc. that will help fuel the curiosity of anyone interested in the world of radio. DJ Frederick’s passion for the subject is palpable, and it will rub off on you. Get ahold of this zine, and I’m certain you will find yourself gravitating towards a radio to see what you can find amidst the static.
DJ Frederick
36 West Main Street
Warner NH 03278
USA