Taargus Taargus

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Print media is not dead: Humanbeing Lawnmower

When I saw the last issue of Maximum Rock and Roll was about the supposed demise of print media - I ordered it quick. MRR was the first punk zine I had the pleasure of reading and my story is similar to many others: Midwest kid with small-to-no "scene," discovers magazine that lets the kid know that there is a big world full of punk rock and art and culture out there. It was a comfort thumbing through those newsprint pages while squatting for hours at the local Waffle House (drinking black coffee - stare at the walls).

Another thing MRR introduced me to was the world of mail-order zines. When I could afford it, I'd order zines from their review section. For years I have wanted to do one of my own but always manage to figure out how NOT to get it done over and over again. Not too many zines I procured back then stick out in my mind as really good, but they all were lovingly put together by dumb kids like me.

Years later another cool little punk-rocker girl named Sybilla (like 12 years old) started Youth Culture Killed My Dog (a nice, subtle nod to her favorite band). Haling from my hometown of Anderson - Sybilla did everything I wish I had done as a young punk: booked shows, printed her comics, didn't give a shit about what anyone thought or said about her, and put out a rad zine. And it wasn't just "cute," stuff by a bunch of kids. There were thoughtful record reviews of older albums her, her little sister, and her friends had discovered. There were great interviews with bands and funny show reviews. It was great! I don't know what happened to all mine - but I'd like to get a hold of those again. I have not kept up with Sybilla's doings since I moved to Muncie. If you know her - tell her to email me.

I still buy MRR sometimes and have just recently started ordering zines again. I also have found many cool little (and inexpensive) on Etsy.com, a handmade/art/craft/vintage online marketplace. I'm going to start posting reviews of exemplary ones right......now.

Human Being Lawnmower
Issue #2

I know the guy that does this has a new address so find out more about ordering one by consulting the myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/humanbeing_lawnmower

Right out of the envelope I knew that this was a good buy. The zine itself is made on a medium-thick card-stock material. The front and back cover are done in printed color with great artwork/illustrations. This is the kind of zine that you not only want to keep around for the content, but the rad rad rad aesthetic value. MRR has been printed on newsprint forever. Though I do like the lower cost of newsprint, after tossing MRR in and out of my backpack a few times, well - the covers of them are usually shredded.

Inside there are great articles and reviews of 77 type punk and rocknroll bands. I was stoked about reading not one, but TWO interviews with two different members of The Flaming Groovies. The comics and illustrations are wonderful (great "centerfold," layout for The Flaming Groovies with caricatures)and a lot of content and art are jammed in without being all bungled up. There is also a nice little review section and an article about the greatest moments in wrestling.

I'm serious: buy this zine if you give two shits about any of the featured bands or artwork. Its worth it. And now I leave you with a few tracks you can download that pertain to the music in the zine. Click on the pictures of the records for the tunes.

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Monday, May 4, 2009

Cat Profile: Inspired by Kira!

Kira is a somber, 9 year old house-cat. She acts out sometimes, biting a hand that wanders too close to her belly. When it storms outside she bleats like a frightened lamb and stays close afoot. She once was put on quarantine by the Ball State University Health Center for biting a student. The student did not wash his hands. Ever. His name was Josh. Josh's wound became infected and, despite all the flowers and issues of Nintendo Power we took to the hospital, subsequently died. R.I.P, Josh.*

*(Josh actually moved far, far away)

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Now playing: Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
via FoxyTunes

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Our Country's Death Songs

For this long overdue mix, I was going to do a Spring Fling theme. But, to put it as plainly as possible: this shit has got me down. A bunch of people got fired from my store, my hours are cut, and cigarettes have(conveniently) skyrocketed in price. I try not to let my feelings of futility kill my buzz. Life is still okay on the level: cats are still cute and BBQs with friends are still fun. I'm tired of feeling one step ahead though - and I don't even have children. To say times are tough would be a nauseating understatement - but one still made by the middle class, nonetheless.

the plasters fallin' of the wall.
my girlfriend cryin' in the shower
stall.
it's hot as a bitch.
i should've been rich.
but i'm just diggin' a chinese ditch.

i'm livin' on a chinese rock.
all my best things are in hock.
i'm livin' on a chinese rock.
everything is in the pawn shop.

-Chinese Rocks
By The Ramones

This mix is for all of my drunken, strung out, screaming neighbors. I want to blast it from the roof and yell for them all to quit kicking their dogs and yelling at their kids. I want everyone to put down their Perkesets and JC Pennys catalouges and pick up bricks and throw them. Or pick up a hobby. Or a book.

This mix is for all the people I worked with who got fired to "cut the fat," so that "the company can continue to thrive." The people were the company. Their kids and their families were the company. And we all just shook our heads, thankful to still have our stupid blue nametags on our shirts.

This mix is for both the amps I pawned and subsequently lost - leaving a huge gap in my few prized possessions.

This mix is for my mother who passed away a couple of years ago. I still attribute her death to the despair of poverty.

This is my reaction to my surroundings. This is my answer to another dead-end day. Shit is going to burn, and this is my soundtrack.

Click here for the mix.

Our Country's Death Songs
A mix by Jannell, Spring 2009
www.sonicreducerradio@gmail.com
www.taargustaargus.blogspot.com

1. Gang Of Four - To Hell with Poverty (4:57)
2. The Smiths - Shoplifters Of The World Unite (2:57)
3. Flipper - Hard Cold World (7:54)
4. Violent Femmes - country death song (5:02)
5. Marilyn Manson - Working Class Hero (3:42)
6. Mission of Burma - That's When I Reach for My Revolver (3:38)
7. Carolina Tar Heels - Peg & Awl (2:59)
8. Guided by Voices - I Am Produced (1:06)
9. Elliott Smith - A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free (4:32)
10. Fugazi - Merchandise (2:59)
11. Ramones - Chinese Rock (2:30)
12. Black Flag - Clocked In (1:31)
13. 20 Years of Dishord - 14 scream-search for employment (2:03)
14. Motörhead - Eat the Rich (4:35)
15. Bill Monroe - Mule Skinner Blues (2:43)
16. Modest Mouse - Bankrupt on Selling (2:54)
17. Neil Young - Don't Let It Bring You Down (2:57)
18. John C. Reilly - Walk Hard (2:47)
19. guided by voices - hold on hope (3:30)

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Now playing: John Peel Festive Fifty All Time 1982 - 22. #29. Stiff Little Fingers - Johnny Was.mp3
via FoxyTunes

***EDIT: Just updated the link to a filedropper link which is way easier and no pop-ups or crapola. So click the link with good faith, friends.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Nip Nip Dreams

All the tax-hikes on tobacco and talk about quitting smoking just drives the nail deeper into my feeling that smoking is cool. And so are nipples. Although nipples aren't thought to cause lung cancer - they still have an element of danger.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

This shit

, originally uploaded by snailbooty.

is radical. Check out the rest of Snailbooty's photostream here.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Jeff Taylor Art: Funny hat or not - the art is radical.

Seattle-based artist Jeff Taylor talks about his inspirations, what art he can and cant' do when he drinks, and explains his self-taught techniques in oil painting.

Originally from Anderson, Indiana, Jeff moved to Seattle a few years back. In his opinion (and mine), it was a good move to propel his art career. In Anderson he was commissioned to do things like paint strip clubs and bbq pit restaurants. A dude can only pilfer his talent on naked silhouettes and flame-patterns so long.

For more information on Jeff Taylor visit www.myspace.com/jefftaylorart

Interview by A Girl on a Mission.

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Now playing: Crystal Castles - Untrust Us
via FoxyTunes

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Peter Gaunt Photography: There IS more than corn in Indiana. There are junkyards too.

Its no secret that Peter Gaunt is pretty much my best friend in the world. I mean, he is in a band with my boyfriend. So we spend a lot of time together. Well, when he's not: playing in The Bashville Boys, shooting and editing for The Daily News (BSUs number-one-and-only capus rag), working at a print shop, partying like a champ, and keeping up his GPA.

Oh, and he just flew to New York to see his rad girlfriend and interview for a rad job.

Peter Gaunt actually makes me feel like a steamy, blogging turd.

Anyhow, the important thing is that Pete is a mover and a shaker - a guy that I can borrow money off of someday. And what makes him so effing special? A simple, clean, and artfully compositional approach to photography.

This series is one of my recent favorites - taken at G.W Pierce Auto junkyard. For the record - despite the grim pics - this is a nice place to visit for business or, um, pleasure in Muncie, IN.

I went there to sell a car battery and was overwhelmed by the massive stretch of wrecked cars - vehicles stalled in time. Gaunt's photos capture the tiny parts, the parts that tell the whole story with no words, and create gestalt, in-your-face images.