Nothing But Record Reviews v2n2 (NYC)

Okay, here's the deal...Maximum Rock 'N' Roll columnist Mykel Board published this zine called Nothing But Record Reviews back in the early-90s, but since he also reviewed cassette and videotapes sometimes, he would change the zine's name however he felt like at the time. Since he also threw in articles like this issue's Roger Ebert interview, he would add the disclaimer "Almost," which made the name of this particular issue Almost Nothing But Record (and tape) Reviews. Board also had his finger on the musical zeitgeist at the time, putting Nirvana on the cover and adding the tagline "(Almost) Nothing about Nirvana in this issue" (and there's not).

Board crammed a lot of reviews between the covers of this issue, starting with video reviews. He writes that while he was living in Japan, in the suburbs of Tokyo, "there wasn't much to do except rent videos." That means that readers get well-written reviews of obscure Japanese fare like Bio-Therapy, Robot Ninja and Pretty Body alongside films like SS Experiment, She-Male Reformatory and Maniac Cops. The aforementioned interview with film critic Roger Ebert is pointed and interesting.

As mentioned in my other Nothing But Record Reviews entry, Board's musical tastes were quite diverse, and this issue's album/tape reviews run the gamut from notorious and/or well-known indie artists like G.G. Allin, Snuff, Band Of Susans and Roky Erickson to the truly obscure like Iron Prostrate, Drop Acid, Dr. Gonzo and Naked Violence. Throw in early-90s era advertising from labels like Lookout Records, Bomp Records, Alternative Tentacles, Dischord and ROIR and fringe musicians like John Trubee and G.G. Allin and you have a valuable print relic of a bygone time....

(Click on thumbnail to see larger picture)

VITAL STATISTICS:
• Vol. 2, No. 2
• Winter 1992
• B&W, 32-pages (including covers)
• Style: music zine

Mykel Board official web site

Mykel Board MySpace page

Nothing But Record Reviews (NYC)

Published by former Maximum Rock 'N' Roll columnist and all-around scenester Mykel Board, (Almost) Nothing But Record (And Tape) Reviews was a sporadically-published zine that featured, well, mostly record reviews, with a smattering of other material as per Board's whims and interests at the time. This issue included a flexi-disc of some sort that I didn't receive because I traded zines with Board (thanks Mykel!), but otherwise the zine is a lot of fun.

Ten years after the compact disc had raised its ugly head, Board was still reviewing only vinyl records and cassette tapes, focusing exclusively on indie labels and artists. Board had pretty diverse tastes, so (Almost) Nothing But Record (And Tape) Reviews covered everything from punk to heavy metal to Japanese pop. This issue includes reviews of such disparate fare as Pentagram, Rocket From The Tombs, Swans, Nuclear Assault and Mudhoney alongside more obscure stuff as Kyofushimbun, Osgood Slaughter, Kicking Giant and Nick Riff.

Board had spent two years in Japan previous to this issue so most of the video review section covers films like Tetsuo, Kurasawa's Dreams and Japanese animation as well as Hollywood releases like Pet Cemetery and Child's Play. This issue also includes "Letters That MRR Wouldn't Print," which outlines the feud between that zine's Tim Yohannan and cartoonist Ace Backwards. One of the things that is the most fun about revisiting (Almost) Nothing But Record (And Tape) Reviews are the ads for indie labels like Dischord, Alternative Tentacles and ROIR which help provide a snapshot of the era.

(Click on thumbnail to see larger picture)

VITAL STATISTICS:
• No number on issue
• January 1992
• B&W, 32-pages (including covers)
• Style: music zine

Mykel Board official web site

Mykel Board MySpace page