Jersey Beat #44 (Weehawken NJ)

Best as I can tell, Jersey Beat #44 was the first issue in which the Reverend's words appeared. It was only a handful of album reviews – Mary's Danish, Mecca Normal and Fatima Mansions – but it was the start of a relationship with Jim Testa's fine music zine that would run for 15 years. Yeah, I'd disappear for an issue or three as other responsibilities, work or relationships would interfere, but a note or email to editor/publisher Testa would put the Reverend back on the masthead. I always enjoyed writing for JB because of the interesting mix of indie CDs that Jim would send me to review, which widened my musical knowledge and turned me on to some fun bands.

Issue #44 includes more of the same that readers came to expect and enjoy with Jersey Beat, including interviews with former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins, the Fiendz and Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia. Testa's love of the 7-inch single is well-known, Jim once saying something along the lines of "every band has at least three good songs," making the little vinyl platter with the big hole the perfect format for young bands. Back in the '90s the 45rpm 7-inch single was still going strong, and Testa even published a single issue of a review zine called Glut that was dedicated exclusively to the 45rpm single. In this issue of JB, Testa put together an excellent article, "Still Going Steady: Singles In The 90's" (the title a clever play on words taken from a Buzzcocks' song). The article was derived from a roundtable discussion about the beloved 7-incher by a group of indie label folks, musicians and retailers and it's as quaint in retrospect as it was interesting at the time (and boy, do some of us miss the 45rpm 7-inch single!).

Jersey Beat #44 also includes the usual columns and review sections; Michael Hale's "Danse Assembly" column tackles industrial music from Consolidated, Life In Sodom and Machines Of Loving Grace. Craig Donner's "Hard Rock" column covers LPs from Warrior Soul, Enuff Z' Nuff, Primus, Anthrax and Cycle Sluts From Hell. There are six pages of 7-inch single reviews, zine reviews, Rodney Leighton's "Cassette Culture" column of demo and tape reviews, and Testa's "Diary Of A Rock Critic" column of live show reviews. The local bands section features reviews of music from NJ/NY/PA bands like Bouncing Souls, Honeymoon Killers, Throttle and the Black Rock Coalition compilation CD and the regular album reviews section includes the Blake Babies, Crime & the City Solution, Fishbone, the Godfathers, the Neighborhoods and Mr. Bungle. All in all, another solid issue of Jersey Beat from Jim Testa and friends.

(Click on cover thumbnail to see larger picture)

VITAL STATISTICS:
• Issue #44
• Fall/Winter 1991
• B&W, 64-pages, newsprint (plus slick covers)
• Style: music zine

ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS
Henry Rollins/Rollings Band interview
Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia interview
The Fiendz interview
Motel Shootout interview
"Still Going Steady: Singles In The 90's"
"Letter From Minneapolis" by Jim DeRogatis
--> also live show reviews, album & zine reviews, review columns and lots of photos