livingproof #2: rebound.

I will never profess to be a Peter Gabriel fan. His work with Genesis in the 1970s and consecutive solo career never really interested me—commercial progressive and post-prog rock, as a rule, is somewhat cheesy, over-produced, and boring. But there’s one song of his that makes me stop the radio scan every time I come across it, one song that seems to be on every 80’s music compilation. That one song blasted out of a boombox held up by John Cusack in Say Anything and symbolizes a last, desperate attempt to reclaim teen romance. That one song is “In Your Eyes.”... Read more.

Part of an interview with Elizabeth Elmore, of Chicago-based The Reputation.
Where did the name The Reputation come from?
It just comes from lots of people saying not nice things about me at lots of different times in my life. It bothers me to some degree now, because it’s never fun to know that stuff, to know things that people say about you, to a much lesser degree, but I think that I was basically drunk one night and thought that it would be a funny name. I don’t know, kind of a catty way of getting back at people... Read more.

It was the summer of 1998. I had just finished my freshman year at the University. In the meantime, my family had moved eight hundred and two point eight miles away, from Rockaway, New Jersey to Gurnee, Illinois. I grew up in Rockaway, working at the mall, attending high school, playing in a band, going to punk shows, having friends, and having a girlfriend. I was not about to leave a place I knew I was comfortable with for a place where I knew no one, where I needed a map to find my own house. I didn’t want to be in a position where the only place I felt comfortable was with my family, especially after the feeling of liberation that generally accompanies one’s first year of college... Read more.

stats

first printing: 200 (red numbers)
second printing: 200 (black numbers)

size: 5.5x4.25 (quarter-letter wide)
pages: 80
cover: gloss white cardstock, single-color print (brown)

reviews

Bibliotheque Zine Reviews: This personal zine continues to impress me with Andrew’s concise and detailed writing. The quality is often closer to the personal essay format than the journal format preferred by most personal zine writers. As a result, he manages to be engaging and honest, without losing any flow. Each section covers a wide range of subject matter, including: 80’s nostalgia, grunge, college, punk-rockers, ex-girlfriends, new love, and growing up. Also included is the continuation of the interview with Elizabeth Elmore of The Reputations. Having no knowledge of this band’s material, I found these portions less interesting, though some of the tangents regarding Eminem and internet fame were a nice departure. This is a text heavy zine, but the inclusion of photographs ease the eye. The text itself is large and easy-to-read with a clear and simple design style. The quality of the writing makes this one of the better personal zines out at the moment.

Loop Distro: Another collection of thoughts from Andrew, this one subtitled ‘Rebound’, perhaps because of the number of stories in here that deal with his attempts at finding true love. Girls he’s dated, girls he wanted to date, and girls who broke his heart. But along with these tainted tales of love gone wrong are plenty of stories about all sorts of other stuff, like drinking, bands, wrecking a car, and so on. There is also a nice interview in here with Elizabeth Elmore, of The Reputation, a good interview that discusses fame, fortune, and misguided trash-talking. Oh, the trials and mistrials of this life of ours.

Punk Planet #65: With strong control of the written word, Andrew articulately writes half-baked epiphanies like that of a 17-year old milk baby. This is 10 times more idealistic and melodramatic than any late ‘90s emo record could ever accomplish, yet its shallow cynicism is merely condescending. Includes an interesting Elizabeth Elmore interview.

Slug & Lettuce #81: Exceptional packaging and layout going on in both issues. Clocking in at 80 and 94 pages, respectively… you get plenty of bang for your buck with these thick slabs of pocket filling goodness. #1 is subtitled ‘crisis’ and is basically about trying to piece life back together in the post high school girlfriend break up during college and beyond. That’s not the sole focus, we also have plenty of amusing anecdotes about life and getting to know yourself thrown in there as well. Part one of an interview with Elizabeth Elmore of The Reputation. #2 is subtitled ‘rebound’ and it picks up where the previous issue leaves off. Part two of the Elizabeth Elmore interview. Excellent bits about procrastination, and chucking a microwave down the stairs. The search for knowledge, happiness, what used to be and all the messy stuff in between. Great writing, utterly engaging tales and an all around winner. Looking forward to seeing another issue!

Xerography Debt #15: A nicely made quarter-size perzine, sprinkled with just the right dose of photographs. It seems that Andrew is: a) at the end of a period of soul searching / coming of age; and b) hoping to fall in love soon. This issue is titled “Rebound”, and includes media critique, nostalgia & recollections, plus entries on migraines, finger warts, etc., and Part IIs (of a novella, and of an interview published in issue #1).

Zine Thug #6: Ninety-six pages people! It took some time reading this chunk of a zine. Andrew has included essays on such things as teen dramas, grunge, multiple car crashes accompanied by the same band’s music on the car stereo, rare encounters with girls who notice him, etc. . . . also an interview and the beginning of a novella. It’s a hearty read but entertaining all the way through. Andrew is thoughtful, searching and often quite amusing. Well-designed zine, worth the price.

Issues:
#1: Crisis. [samples]
#2: Rebound. [samples]
#3: Genesis. [samples]
#4: Rehearsal. [samples]
#5: Rapprochement. [samples]
Available for $3 each. Ordering info.
Sanitary and Ship is free.

Reader, I think I might owe you an apology. You probably picked up this zine thinking it was going to be another installment of the Livingproof perzine, a series engages in the dissecting of failures in romance and the place of underground music in such a narrative. This zine doesn’t exactly follow that format. Indeed, upon first read, you may feel like I hoodwinked you into reading a paean to my favorite band, whom you likely don’t care about and may be disinclined entirely to check out after finishing the last page and closing this zine (or throwing it down in disgust partway through).... Read more.

It wasn’t hard to find a place to stay when I first moved to Chicago: my freshman year roommate Brad had an extra bedroom in his Lincoln Park apartment because his roommate had abandoned him for the summer. I could only afford to pay half of my share, but that was better than Brad paying for the whole thing himself. We shook hands and I moved in two days later. I spent that first Chicago summer exploring the city, both formally—I had a job canvassing pedestrians around the city for Greenpeace—and informally, as I learned my way around the CTA, started meeting people, and hung out at bars and rock clubs... Read more.

Semi-Related Links:
Fall of Autumn
Punk Planet
Sanitary and Ship
Splendid
WLUW
Zine World

Sometimes, when the end comes, it’s right on time. But very rarely do things end when it feels right. Too often the end is a surprise, it catches you off guard, and you’re left in the dust struggling to make sense in your grief. Not as often, but just as difficult, is the end that drags on, milking your patience and sympathy until you’re actually happy the end has come when it finally does arrive. It’s a relief, in those cases... Read more.