EVERYDAY I READ THE BOOK
Five Must Music Reads
by Tim Frommer
OK, so you're a music junkie. Why else would you be reading yet another record review of a band
for whom you already own every import single. You read whatever you can get your hands, or
internet server, around. So, in addition to DAA, here are five must reads for the music
aficionado. 1. Ann Powers, The New York Times 2. The Big Takeover
The junior critic, and the only woman reviewing any genre of music at
the nation's paper of record, Powers is especially strong reviewing independent and lesser-known
bands, artists with more of a cult following, as well as rap. A native of the Pacific Northwest,
Powers was music editor at the Village Voice and a contributor to Spin before that publication
decided to become another Details. A recent piece observing what the misogynist events of
Woodstock '99 mean to fans and musicians is one the best recaps of why what happened this summer
transpired.
This hefty, semi-annual book is the child and labor of love of Jack
Rabid. Jack has lived in the New York City metropolitan area his entire life and was a student
at NYU during the birth of the New York glam and punk scenes. He's seen every band you could
ever think of, been to every venue in the city and has a near-encyclopedic knowledge of music.
Best of all, he's a music fan from the rock 'n' roll roots of the 50s and 60s to punk singles to
English shoegazers. But, fortunately, his book doesn't read like a typical fanzine.
The interviews are not sycophantic, the record and show reviews are well crafted and his
editorials mix gravity with levity, comment on current events and the occasional hockey
reference. (Available at Tower Books and select music and book stores nationally. Web address:
www.bigtakeover.com)
3. Magnet
The only glossy
music mag worth the four-color process costs. We know Rolling Stone long ago gathered moss,
Spin thinks "fashion" and "music" are synonyms and Alternative Press has
become Korn Monthly. Magnet is published bimonthly and recent cover artists include Tom Waits,
Ani DiFranco, Sleater-Kinney and Guided By Voices. Plenty of profiles and reviews, plus complete
discographies of the issue's featured artists. A recent satirical essay about the death of Paul
Westerberg generated a flurry of commendation and condemnation. (Available anywhere with a
better than average periodical selection. Web address:
www.magnetmagazine.com)
4. Punk Planet
Another bimonthly publication, PP is fiercely DIY. A recent
debate over the new bar code on the cover was prefaced by a letter from editor Dan, who almost quit
putting out his 'zine over the vertical lines. Covers alternate between musicians (Fugazi,
Sleater-Kinney) and current events (the continued US bombing of Iraq, computer hacking). A
lively letters section complements the regular columnists who are every race and sexual
preference under the rainbow. Longer features tend to be a bit more subjective than objective.
Record and zine reviews clock in like punk songs; rarely longer than three paragraphs.
(Distributed by Mordam, you should be able to find Punk Planet at quality independent record
stores and it was recently sighted in Virgin. Web address:
www.punkplanet.com)
5. Aquarius Records new releases list
A sporadic, usually monthly, annotated and
opinionated e-mail list of new releases available at San Francisco's leading independent music
store. Run by Windy Chien and her extraordinarily knowledgeable staff, Aquarius specializes in
truly alternative music:
turntablism, black metal, electronica, trip hop and world music. Oh yeah, you can also buy the
new Superchunk record from them. The store is practically single-handedly responsible for a
domestically-released compilation by Brazilian tropicalismo band Os Mutantes. Windy also
produced Pterrastock II last year. Special orders and mail order are more than welcome.
(To sign up for the list, visit their web site:
www.aquariusrecords.org)
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