pxs distro

Fake Life #3 Review by Matt Fagan for Leeking Inc.

2008-05-09T15:00:00.000-04:00

This is a straight-up punk zine, and its primary
purpose in life is to love the Florida
punk scene, and teach you to love it too.
So, FAKE LIFE mostly consists of band interviews
and show reviews.

It bears mentioning that I actually read all
the interviews and reviews, because they
were written in an interesting way. So often
I find my mind wandering when I read
stuff like that, but FAKE LIFE isn’t bullshit,
it’s punk – by punks, for punks. Also, rants
and shit. If you’re planning a trip to Florida,
order up a copy before you head down
there.
NARCOLEPSY

Against The Flood - a review

2008-05-06T15:05:00.004-04:00

I write small pieces so it isn't that.

These all seem like small incomplete pieces. That isn't to say she isn't a good writer. She's a fine writer. It just seems like each section is a shard of a piece, a "piece" of something. It sems like notes for a zine, the concept of a zine.

She writes about bulimia and anrexia. She tries to be happy. She makes a list. She wants to undertand who she is, how she's differnet while somehow want to fit in. I think she's a lesbian. Pretty standard fare.

Again: she is a fine writer. Very easy on the eyes...

Also she handwrites in places and while she has a pretty 13 year old girl handwriting, its awful to read. Also address, just an e-mail: dumpster.mouse@gmail.com and no price.

Here's what I would do:

I would send her 2 bucks and get this. It's short but like I said, she has a clean earnest writing style and there isn't much filler. Now you're on her mailing list. Once she cleans up her style, tightens the screws, she'll be a writer to read. Also she reviews funtionally ill #3 which is one of the best zines out there.

Hobson's Choice Review of Dorothea #2

2008-03-22T23:16:00.002-04:00

My oh my. I haven’t been this hooked into a zine for a long time. Each story in this issue is bite-size but, like candy, you end up eating the whole package at once. What really grabbed my attention is how clearly the voice comes through; the style is beautiful. While most of the stories are on the dirty side with a large focus on sex and murder, there are a few pieces that transcend it. ‘The Creep’ is an unrealized character study, and it’s backed up by stories about a painter named Ludwig. Now for the bad: Mike’s grammar is pretty atrocious. Do not let this fool you into thinking that he cannot write, however; there is something very powerful in the way he conveys his stories. I put issue 2 down and felt the rush of inspiration again. If there is truly anything that can be considered ‘American Writing’ today, it’s coming from the mind of Mike Baker.
Check out Hobson's Choice.

NeuFutur Review of Fake Life #6

2008-03-06T08:42:00.000-05:00

This issue of Fakelife is about the trials and tribulations that individuals have to deal with around the period of Valentine’s Day. The first story in this issue is “Young Love”, a story that is written in a very idiosyncratic style. What I take from the story may not be what the author wishes individuals to take; I feel that the piece is about the youth (a younger version of the author)( hedging eir bets and trying to woo two individuals at the same time. The second piece details a letter that an individual wrote to a father figure about porn, and how DVD and pornographic movie theatres far outstrip VHS versions of the movies. “Self Love” s the next prose piece, and among the very detailed and intricate paragraphs that are present, the sense of lost love comes through, a story that everyone is familiar with but few can capture as well as it was here. The articles have a number of variations in regard to overall tone and style, but they are combined to show exactly how harmful and negative a holiday Valentine’s Day is. The piece that hits me the hardest of all of those in this issue is the discussion of the care that an individual has for a lover – going so far as to spend the last dollars ey has on bananas and milk to ensure the oncoming hunger doesn’t become too big of an issue – and the reject of that care, being that the individual wants a hamburger. Stark, hard-hitting, and a new take on Valentine’s day.
Rating: 7.2/10

Razorcake Review of Fake Life #3

2008-03-06T08:39:00.001-05:00

This was okay. Homespun punk zine out of Tallahassee. There are some good bits, such as the Paris Hilton Create-a-Con paper doll set. Actually, that was pretty damn cool. Some simplistic comics designed more for effect than artistic quality; I’m kinda tired by that shtick. Left-wing rantings are always acceptable in my book, but it’s too easy for them to get clichéd and trite. That happens at times here, but there is a noticeable attempt at even-handedness (sound of cap being doffed). Interview with Rollins—haven’t seen one of those in years; kinda nice. Too much dead space throughout, though. This could be a wonderful little zine with a bit of desktop publishing, but as minimalist as possible. –The Lord Kveldulfr

Broken Pencil Review of Fake Life #3

2008-03-06T08:33:00.000-05:00

Tallahassee punk rag Fake Life is a rather take-it-or-leave-it production. Here is a representative excerpt from an acid- dropping anecdote by principal writer Rabbit: “I am a magnet for bad trips and or drunken weekends. If I show up, please ask me to leave. It will be better for all of us and you won’t have to see a grown man shit himself.” Something of a time capsule, the zine has a very distinct worldview, a sort of pre-millennial obliviousness that is hardly dispelled by an Iraq-Vietnam comparison. Fake Life is as mid-90s as Mad About You, and nearly as white. Show reviews, which provide the bulk of the content, frequently devolve into anti-reviews because the writers seem too burnt- out to adequately describe or even remember the bands. The closest thing to an actual description of music is disappointingly prefaced by “I hope this doesn’t sound too gay”. Female performers are rarely referred to as anything but “bitches” or “sluts,” which is more than a little tedious. The Q-&-A with Henry Rollins is fairly coherent (if not particularly probing), but the stream-of-consciousness band interviews occasionally read like transcribed benders. The zine’s purpose, according to Mike Baker, is “to get people listening to Tallahassee punk, Florida punk, going to shows and helping these bands make a living,” but--despite its undeniable energy--Fake Life is too haphazard to persuade the uninitiated. (Daniel Marrone)

A Review of Natural Gas Joe

2008-03-01T15:00:00.004-05:00

A review of Natural Gas Joe!
By Rob

Natural Gas Joe is a character that’s used to teach folks how to recognize the smell of Mercaptan or Ethanethiol. To be more accurate it goes by several names and I think the Ethanethiol is in error, see here (props to the Wikipedia article on Mercaptan):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanethiol

It’s kinda cute. On the surface the reader would likely think that this is a fart zine. It’s not. It is a neat way to present this information to kids and adults alike.

Natual Gas Joe

Unfortunately the scratch and sniff portion didn’t smell like anything at all so the purpose was more or less defeated. This is not to say that this zine shouldn’t be picked up. It’s a short, easy read. I like the motivation behind the zine so I'm putting it down in a way to support it. To help the cause you can go google Mercaptain and you'll find gas companies that will send you the scratch and sniff flyer. Something to pass along, no pun intended.

Jesus Crispies

2008-02-12T18:05:00.000-05:00

Here's the deal. If you are in any way sensitive to unapologetic negative opinions about religion and specifically Christianity, this isn't the zine for you.

Jesus Crispies is written by Ali. He calls on agnostics to jump off the fence, questions our national respect for the first amendment, and thinks church would be more fun if Jesus had laser vision. It's honest and it's funny. And unlike many who write on this subject, it's not full of anti-Christian bigotry (we wouldn't be carying it if it was).

My only issue is that I don't believe Ali when he says he's an athiest. It's more like he's pissed off at Christians and Christianity and the way he expresses his anger is by claiming God doesn't exist. But none of that makes any difference about the truth of the fact that being non-religious in a country where religion dominates is hard.

So seriously hit us up or come by the table sometime and pick up a copy of Jesus Crispies.

Zine Review: Blackstitch Art Studio

2008-02-10T01:27:00.000-05:00

If you are a young teen or you fancy unicorns, flowers, and love spells, this little pink booklet is for you. Armed with girl power, Annette Padilla has authored a zine filled with easy crafts, recipes, riddles, and art. An easy read, with nothing objectionable (sorry, pervs). Review by DeDe

dream whip no. 11

2008-01-16T19:46:00.000-05:00

dream whip no. 11 is one of the best zines I’ve read so far. It details the writer’s cross country trip from Texas to California then back across to New York with wonderful bite-sized stories, most of which are devoted to New York. Each snippet of the journey is filled with musings and little-known facts, well-painted descriptions and injected possibilities. In one piece he describes the evolution of subway car graffiti and how the writers still maneuver around the transit authority’s attempts to “clean” up their cars. Another contemplates an elevator and afterlife. The operator shuttles passengers up and below “like some MTA Charon.” With wit and, what I see as, self-honesty and understanding, dream whip beautifully delivers concise ADHD-suited morsels worth every penny of the 3 dollars it costs.

--adi

Zine Review: The Strange Voyage of the Leona Joyce

2008-01-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

44 pages, mostly text, with 8 photos and 4 drawings.

This compelling zine relays a true-story tale about some friends and a dog that commit to navigate the Mississippi River together for a few months. The narrator and his chums take their ride on a tiny handmade vessel built with found objects scavenged from dumpsters and junkyards. The crew boldly takes their place on the big muddy river amid the chaos of modern commercial barges and luxury cruise ships. Within the story are some feel-good moments and some not-so-fun adventures. Emergencies creep in. For this reader, sitting upon her cushy chair in a climate-controlled room, the narrative is rich. Words reveal that the river is not entirely romantic and tame. After a breakdown on the river, the zine’s author writes a little gem in his log book, “I put the engine together last night by lantern and maglight held in my teeth. It is much nicer to hold a maglight in your mouth if you wrap some duct tape around the end so your teeth have something better to bite on than metal… As long as it keeps running, I’m happy.” So REAL with detail, isn’t it? I recommend this zine to all of those DIY types who crave adventure.
-DeDe

We carry this zine so email us. -Mike

Zine Review: Cuentos ZIne

2007-12-18T13:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a collection of random thoughts, gathered together with witty and creative yet simple illustrations. Cute without being Cutesy.
-Rob

Last Resort #4

2007-12-15T06:17:00.000-05:00

Straight out of Miami comes Last Resort, chock full of news and art by and about the Florida activist community. This issue features an update on the activities of Orlando Food Not Bombs and their struggles against the anti-homeless policies of the City of Orlando.

Maria talks about being a poor mixed race girl in white America. And Pablo delivers a scathing assessment of the policies of Hugo Chavez and those on the left who make excuses for him.

There's some awesome art, poetry, and even a pussy appreciation page. Not to mention everything you need to know to get involved in the Florida activist community.

Exxxtinction: The First Known Circle Jirk

2007-12-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

Prehistoric Bukkake!!! Yay... ahem...
-Adi

This is the filthiest comic I've read in sometime. It has dinosaurs and other extinct creatures doing very naughty things to each other. It will make you laugh til you crap your self and then you'll feel a little sick to your stomach then you laugh again. The artist/author posits a new and challenging reason for dinosaur extinction.
-Mike

Clap Your Hands: City Space is the Place

2007-12-14T21:47:00.000-05:00

Mike Ball crams the chaotic minutiae of cities into the amorphous images that fill the pages of Clap Your Hands: City Space is the Place. They call our perceptions to play, to make an attempt at piecing ourselves together. Words, fractured buildings, and eyes beg us to make sense of the patchwork madness, to see a forest of human-made trees. Sometimes a grotesque bird or a nubian beauty peer out to us; a conversation overwhelms.

CYH:CSitP reminds me of cloud-gazing, creating worlds from water vapor and light. Balls's art is like that: playful, terrifying, awesome.

NeuFutur Reviews Dorothea #1

2007-12-12T13:22:00.001-05:00

Dorothea is a zine that contains a number of short stories. While there are some overall themes present in the different pieces of prose that are present, these stories seem to be more form-less than anything. There is a picture and some handwritten text at the beginning, as well as handwritten text demarcating the titles, but the text is laid out in the same general format. The stories all occupy about two or three pages of this same (1/4th size) zine. There is a decent amount of material present in this short and small zine, but there is one thing that holds me back from completely enjoying Dorothea. This is the fact that the stories all feel as if there is something, some fact or information, missing from each story. The stories themselves are all serviceably, but I’m wanting a little bit more in the way of fleshing out these little slices of life. Mike is the mastermind behind the zine Fake Life, and this marks a shift into a slightly different style and tone. I have no doubt that subsequent issues of Dorothea will be a little bit stronger, but this issue feels as if Mike takes a decent amount of time setting the framework up and maybe not expanding on that as much as ey should. Send Mike some cash, get the beginning issue of Dorothea, get Fake Life, and have a night of reading the prose that comes from Mike’s mind. The cost is low enough the individuals will receive much worth regardless of any perceivable weakness here.

Rating: 6.0/10

She Reviews Zines Reviews Dorothea #1

2007-12-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

written after his mother died, mark (mike) dealt with at least some of his feelings through the stories in this zine. sad at times and full of people in transition, this zine can be tough at times to read. mark’s (mike's) phenomenal writing definitely keeps you reading, though.

Freeq #1

2007-12-12T07:08:00.001-05:00

Freeq #1 is the zine to check out for anyone desiring to make music who can’t afford the platinum-plated bells and whistles and loads of DIY info. Doc Awk’s somewhat anti-major-label advice on home studio setup is great for anyone with a limited budget. He describes two setups that cost less than $1000. NKSiii retrofits old axes with hardware store hardware. With tongue in cheek, Geoffrey Smith offers nine light-hearted and thoughtful bits of advice for working with promoters. Nick Andren gets technical with his “shoddy” beginner’s tutorial on ModPlug Tracker. A bit dry, but nonetheless worth the read.

Definitely check Freeq #1 out. With simple, humorous, all-around good tech info these cats light the garage music door and place the welcome mat out. We don’t carry the zine, but you can check them out at groups.myspace.com/freeqzine. All their articles and discussions are there.

--adi

Zine Review: Hysteric Glamour

2007-11-30T19:51:00.002-05:00

Hysteric Glamour is a silly zine written by some silly girls. I mean that in the best way imaginable. It isn't Keep Loving but it has a good heart and really wants to make you laugh. We sell it for a buck plus postage which I think is 48 cents.

Zine Review: Hobson's Choice #1 and #2

2007-11-30T19:51:00.001-05:00

Hobson's Choice is a litzine and a good one at that. The prose is solid and while the writing is young, it's the kind that points to the future trying to find new ways to see and say the world. Daniel, the editor, is a good guy who has a sense for the right in writing. This zine is literary as a motherfuker. Plus it has poetry, sorry, no ones perfect. It's a buck from us plus postage.

Zine Review: The Gut #7

2007-11-30T19:51:00.000-05:00

The Gut #7 has two amazing interviews: one with neo realist Italian movie actor (he isn't Italian) Allen Midgette and one with (Re)Search founder an d editor V. Vale. This makes the zine worth it all by itself. This is history motherfuckers.

It also has fiction and poetry. A good read for two bucks. We stock this one.

Dorothea Review in Razorcake

2007-11-28T13:45:00.000-05:00

Mike has written a nice, compact zine of nice, compact stories, none more than a few hundred words. Some might think that is too short of time to create something of interest or to get the reader involved. However, somehow he pulls it all together. These stories were all written after Mike’s mom died, but the vast majority have nothing to do with that topic. Mike also wishes to inform us (as he does both in the opening and closing notes) that he is a liar and you can’t trust anything he says. So who knows if some of these stories really happened; it’s obvious some didn’t, but it really doesn’t matter. While capable of pulling out some emotions from the reader here or there, it’s also a quick read and a fun zine. –Kurt Morris

Zine Review: Below Noon #2

2007-11-28T09:09:00.001-05:00

Below Noon #2 is fine stuff. I'm biased for sure because people writing about sexuality is my favorite stuff. Not the "then I touched his turgid member" variety but the kind that shows us how the most personal tends to be the most universal. Humans are great secret keepers but Angie, the author, ain't buyin'.

The first part of the zine is her description of a) discovering masturbation and how it evolved in her life and b) discovering that she was a lesbian. The writing is clear and descriptive. There's no false modesty or purple prose just facts laid out and story told.

The second part is a smattering of journal entries, quotes and quoted letters. I was dreading it until I read it. She chose well. They give a feel for who she away from her crotch.

This zine is text heavy but worth the time.

Angie is reachable at PO Box 42123, Portland, Oregon 97242. I hit her up for a trade but if you sent her a couple of bucks for her effort, I'm pretty sure, that would be fine.

Yaaaa, Self Love!

Erratic Confusion #3

2007-11-25T13:21:00.000-05:00

by Mike

half page, 12 pgs.

HC zine by my buddy Dan. He’s got interviews with Wolfbrigade, Merciless Game and We Need To Talk whose lead singer is hot. I’d beg for drippings off her talk. The zine is pretty fucking good too! Dan dedicates it fallen HC axe man Kawakami (peace be upon him). Issues cost a buck if you’re stateside and 2 bucks if you’re not. Dan also has issues 1 and 2 for the same price. One is a stream of consciousness thing. It’s cool. And Issue two has some great interviews with some great fucking HC bands. Also girls and boys, issue two is way thick.

Dan 6400 Landmark Drive, Alexandria, LA 71301. $1.00 ppd in the US. $2.00 ppd everywhere else.

Toil #1

2007-11-25T13:18:00.000-05:00

by Mike

half page, 40 pgs.

I love this zine and Kim is pretty fucking funny. It’s about working and shitty jobs and how a good sense of the absurd will save your life.

Kimberlee PO Box 660664, Sacramento, CA 95866. $2.00 ppd.