I picked up a copy of this publication today and have to say I'm not impressed with the local coverage. I mean, for one thing, there's a two page spread on the editor's tattoos and what they mean to her. Seriously, who gives a shit and how does that help the scene?
Anyways, I think it stinks as a 'local scene' rag. Anyone else have an opinion?

Is this a new zine?

It's printed like The Alibi and IQ and has the appearance of a weekly. I think it comes out once a month.

So far: "Meh"
But it has potential.

Harry / U7d

Stop yer whining. Pretty soon you'll be reading THIS, anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by terryb:
I mean, for one thing, there's a two page spread on the editor's tattoos and what they mean to her. Seriously, who gives a shit and how does that help the scene?

I think its called Muse Ink because it devotes equal coverage to music and tattoos.
So, maybe you dont give a shit, but its not claiming to be something else.

I like mus-ink. They're great.

that's a good point. I didn't think of it as a music/tattoo paper.

It's not a good time to start a paper.
Or a juice bar.
Or a CD store.
Or a nightclub, for that matter.
It's never been a good time to open a shop of home-made crafts and baked goods.
That having been said, never give up on your stupid, stupid dreams.

Good luck to them. It's an uphill battle for sure. Gotta be a pain in the ass: try and find people to contribute decent shit to anything you're doing on a regular basis. Hard enough with a band, but with dealines and overhead? That's why so much folds here and elsewhere. I haven't found much meat in there, lotsa typos (like LOTS, like the kind spellcheck alone should catch, like message-board level of typos), but they are enthusiastic, motivated and friendly. They constantly take the slots where I deliver to for Local IQ; Go to the rack that clearly reads "local IQ" and find Mus-Inks. Wonder where those IQs end up?

I'm suprised by one thing: half the bands in there I've never heard of, and most of the bands you often hear of headlining locally are absent. Maybe one name drop per issue that isn't all-ages. Not saying that's bad, just seems like I'm/we're not their target market.

Still: check out the recent cover where you can see dozens of my pins and pieces of my shirts adorning Marnie! Yay!

there is definitely a lot of potential especially with minimal staff. i first noticed its brightly colored cover when walking out of a store, it had snuck onto the zine stand. grabbed it, was first bummed about the minimal content, but impressed by the fact that someone was actually trying. i havent seen anything like it since 200 paged dirtculture (rip?). i hope it does well, and cheers to those who are making the attempt i'd like to see anyone who talks shit about it do anything comparable. i agree it could be in the zines best interest to broaden the scope of things covered, but "i'm surprised by one thing: half the bands in there i've never heard of" - amen. i would like to read about someone i haven't already seen, heard and/or met. like i said minimal staff, if you feel you may a coinsurer of downtown or anything you dont see included, why don’t you contact the people putting it together im sure they would be happy to include your contribution. besides the music section of the alibi has never been that extensive. i loved it when they did flyer on the wall! “look people without deep pockets get to be represented in our local papers!” however small it was enough to make me smile. i think however i may be biased, im all for the underdog – i’ll be the first to give my middle finger to the self important high society snobs. but they are friendly and you don’t have to give anyone a hand job to get a little representation. i think there is so much potential, all it needs is a little time and maybe a few more people involved. and what better topic to have a zine about than two of the things albuquerque has an over-abundance of per capita, local bands and tattoos...

I was bummed that my graphic for my ad didn't come through. Just looks like text on a bunch of black. Boo.

Hopefully the mag will hang around. As mentioned the potential is there and staff seems willing to work with anyone who will support them.

the more ink given to local bands, the better.
no, i don't give a crap about body ink either but so what.
good luck to 'em.

Amen cap'n. Hey by the way it would be cool if you reviewed our new CD in wig wam bam or something. Let us know if you want to and we'll get you a copy. I know you aren't a big fan but I think I recall you wrote something positive about one of our crawl shows. Any way positive or negative I know your opinion is objective and thoughtful, and thus, valued at least to me.

Scanned through one of these for the first time while hanging out at the bro-in-law's tattoo shop yesterday. Some gems!:

"'Going Behind the Scenes of the Albuquerque Scene' [apparently a column on how to form/maintain a successful local band or something]

...If you want gigs, you must be packageable. Go to Free Radicals if you are counter culture in genre, Buffalo is great for trendy clothes, and watch MTV for ideas because MTV is all about packaging and image....

...get on Sonicbids....

[later on]...brush your teeth and your hair [i'm not making this up, get a copy for yourself]...[then goes on about where to get a glossy press photo made up]..."

quote:

Originally posted by Skreech:
Amen cap'n. Hey by the way it would be cool if you reviewed our new CD in wig wam bam or something. Let us know if you want to and we'll get you a copy. I know you aren't a big fan but I think I recall you wrote something positive about one of our crawl shows. Any way positive or negative I know your opinion is objective and thoughtful, and thus, valued at least to me.

thanks mr skreech. sent you my address in a private message here.
one thing i must disagree: i'm not objective at all and don't wanna be.
thanks

Got your message finally Cap'n Internets are sparse on the road especially in texas. We're in Austin today and have plentiful web access at least here. We'll drop one in the mail for ya tomorrow thanks.