Zine thing.

EIGHTY-EIGHT SHADES OF GREY #7, ON A BROKEN WING AND FRACTURED PRAYER

Another issue of the dark and brooding Eighty-Eight shades of Grey... and a companion 'zine that visually documents a trip through Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam). The former is the latest issue of a 'zinc that keeps getting better: travel, jaded observations on the vagaries of life, and skating, including a Berlin wallride. The latter has got some crazy eye-opening stuff, and the pictures and collages do the talking. You gotta ask yourself what you have been doing lately. Traveling the world? Skating someone else's turf? Eating bags of dicks? Send a few dollars: 195 Sharrowdale Road, Sheffield, S Yorks, $11-8ZB

SKATE AND ANNOY, VOL 2, #2

Obviously not too concerned with timeliness, this issue features throwbacks from a couple years (the Donald, OR "nontest" of 2002) to a couple decades (vert photos from the '80s-era Midwest and East Coast). It's also got a killer interview with the Godoys, tons of Oregon coverage, some random stuff, product and record reviews, a Ffej sighting (!), a Chinese wood expose, and an article that keeps tabs on ridiculous eBay prices for old equipment. The barney factor is definitely somewhat in effect--uh, I mean it's "old school, bro," but still better than so much crap floating around. Skate and Annoy was originally done in the '80s, so this is the 21st century rebirth. Send $3 to: 3439 Sandy Blvd, PMB #666, Portland OR 97232

2ND AVENUE 'ZINE, #5

Colin's back, and with a color cover this time. A trip to France and more killer NYC coverage, including the new Bobby Puleo-constructed bank-ledge spot, a Bob Kronbauer interview, video, music and movie reviews (ain't it grand when someone gets turned on to "This Is Spinal Tap" for the first time!), a couple days in the life of Gonz and Dill in the city, and some contributions. This one keeps gettin' better, and for a young 'un, Colin's got a great concept of covering interesting shit and writing it in an engaging way. Dyn-o-mite! People should send $2:26 E 2nd St, NYC, NY 10003

COPPER PRESS, #22

So I have been getting this one for a while, and have reviewed it occasionally. But if you missed the reviews, here you go again. This one is a voice for indie rock, and if you know me, I am not a huge fan of "indie rock," nor am I a fan of shoe gazing, hair products for men, wimpy music that sounds like little boys crying, caring too much about what I wear, contemplating suicide, passive aggressiveness, the whole "bring-back-the-nerds" deal, Spin magazine, gossip, and run on sentences. Now that I have that off of my chest, this mag is really well done, so if you do like those sorts of things, get it (just kidding man! Take it easy!). This one has some cool art (William Schaff) and an interview with the guy who does Minus Times. It also has stuff on a bunch of bands, including an interview with Trio Mediaeval, a trio of middle aged but still kinda hot-despite-the-dykeish-short-hair Scandinavian women who sing songs from hundreds of years ago (once again: what the fuck? Where will it end? I am now forming a band called Solo Mesozoic. It's just me, grunting and banging rocks together, but will someone in the indie press please cover me?). Send $5: PO Box 1601, Acme, MI 49610

WRECK

Another Canadian mag, but this one doesn't make me think of Nardwuar. This one makes me think of cold, wet, dark winters. Why? It's full of cold, dark, wet poetry. This one is done with a lot invested in terms of time and soul, and despite the fact that poetry is basically a no-no when I get down to writing my reviews, this mag is pretty cool. Some skate flicks and other photos, some cool art, and a long essay about why women should let their body hair grow long (well, basically). Shit man, it does get cold up there in the Great White North. A couple bucks to: 293 Bartlet Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3L 0A5

PFE, #1

When I think of Canada I often think of Nardwuar the Human Serviette. He embodies for me much of what is cool about Canada: unbridled enthusiasm with a sort of partially retarded sense of style and goofiness and complete lack of self-consciousness. Nardwuar the Human Serviette should be the fucking mayor, or king, or whatever Canada needs. Sure, this is an overgeneralization, and not all Canadians behave exactly like Nardwuar; although, I wish they would. PFE is a 'zinc made by Canadians from a different part of the Great White North who also run a record label (Stomp!). Unbridled enthusiasm is definitely part of this project (with cool silk-screened covers), as is goofiness (eating sushi is like listening to Joy Division? What the fuck?), but there is also some jaded "back-in-the-day-versus-what-is-our-future" stuff. Also, Atom from Atom and His Package has an advice column (again, what the fuck?). Send $2 to: 78 Rachel E, Montreal, PQ, H2W1C8 Canada