Music Lovers Unite

Music reviews, band/artist interviews and no bullshit. Skyscraper is my new favorite music pub. Reminds me of my Tallahassee days, hiding in the magazine corner at Vintage Vinyl reading up on the latest, trying to find the soundtrack to my life. The format gives the reader an underground feel- printed in a thick newsprint, no color, with a bulky amount of pages, all bound together on a matte, full color, stock cover- heavy loaded with illustration- you know you are reading something that had a lot of love put into it. The editorial design is so simple and straight-forward, it almost feels like it was put together in someone's basement. First issue was published in 1998- rooted by Peter and Andrew Bottomley.

Deep Pockets

Got a chance to look at issue 56 of Visionaire and all I have to say is WOW. Under indoor light the case that holds the board bound book with white embroidery on the cover and black and white photography inside is entirely white. When the issue hits sunlight everything transforms into color. This would explain the $675 subscription price. Limited edition of 3,000 numbered copies. I want to know where they got this printed and how big was that invoice!!!
AND- Visionaire World also unveiled the Goyard Trunk Magazine Collection- kill me now, please. It is a series of 10 numbered trunks designed to hold issues 1-50 of Visionaire. Currently on display at Goyard's historic Paris flagship: Maison Goyard 233, Rue Saint-Honore, Paris, France.

Stick it to the man.

Instructions...
A do-it-yourself jam: just print the PDF on label sheets and stick them on all the commercial magazines you love to hate. www.areyougeneric.org/confessions

ha ha ha.

Why not in Miami?

Frustrated by my limited selection of magazines in Miami (If I want to check out alternative pubs I either hit up Borders...bleh, or Base on Lincoln Rd) I am going to wish upon a star...I WANT MAGMA IN MIAMI!! While I lived in London one of my second homes was Magma. This store looks like something straight out of Michel Gondry's Science of Sleep, and is a magazine/book buyers dream come true. Jam packed full of the interesting, inspiring, unique and the quirky pubs/dvds from big brands, to one off kind local designs, it's my mecca. Needless to say I came back to Miami with a jumbo suitcase full of books and magazines from there and I had to pay a $300 overweight luggage fee. Worth every penny.

Stop fucking with my eyes

The re-design of the US magazine Dwell by art director Kyle Blue makes me want to throw up. His 90 degree page turn-around has been discussed as a "playful change", done in order to "stimulate the reader". Well, as a reader and a designer I say "NO THANKS." There is a major turn off about having to read an article about design as a Playboy centerfold. If I wanted to be that uncomfortable while I read I would just pick up a newspaper.

Changes at Interview

M/M Paris have now taken over the design and art direction of Interview, with the first sign of change being the revised logo. I understand the need to update but the change wasn't loud enough to have a purpose. Note to M/M Paris- conceptualize or don't waste your energy.

Shepard Fairey still knocks my socks off, except I don't really wear socks.

Swindle- the Studio One project. I wish I was this cool. Bi-monthly, hanging out with Banksy and just overall amazing graphics.
check it: swindlemagazine.com