OP: Lost Music Network's Independent Music Magazine

"T" issue, November-December 1983

First issue included skateboarding, cartoons by Terry LaBan, and a provocative article called "David Bowie--Friend or Foe," as well as a reprint of that editorial I did for the "R" OP.

OP: Lost Music Network's Independent Music Magazine

"W" issue, May-June 1984

Issue No 2. continued its series of wholly original critical essays about rock stars with a piece comparing the Violent Femmes to the Ramones, along with an article about Univ. of Michigan sit-in, cartoons, and consumer guide.

OP: Lost Music Network's Independent Music Magazine

"Z" issue, November-December 1984

Certainly the most intellectual & revolutionary "fanzine" we receive, editor Brown's analyses of modern society -- often on what pop culture really means -- are frequently full of shit but certainly provocative. I hope they give him a podium somewhere, because he has a way of getting you thing. #4 of this "negationist journal" puts Prince and Michael Jackson in perspective (separate articles), has a 6-page piece condemning Aldred Hitchcock's Vertigo, "Will Androgyny Save Capitalism?" plus more, bibliography included.

Low Life

No. 7, 1986

A thought provoking journal of what editor Bill Brown describes as anti-situationist thought. Brown has a thorough knowledge of Debord, Deleuze, Marx and other radical thinkers. He notes that the situationists themselves denounced the term and saved themselves from being "introduced into the reigning spectacle." Brown applies radical criticial analysis to subjects sublime (TJ Clark's The Paintings of Modern Life) and silly (the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Often this approach is obsessive, but I find his ideas inspiring and truly revolutionary. Issue #9 also includes excerpts from an extraordinary untitle letter from George Dahl.

Low Life

No. 10, 1987

Not Bored #11 The editor of this always excellent xexrox magazine of ideas has in this issue literally marked his name from the credits. Whether this anonymity is for security or a resistance to the tendency of intellectuals to become commodified, I do not know. This issue contains excellent analyses of Edward Ball's soon-to-be published essay, "The Great Sideshow of the Situationist International" and two new films: Blue Velvet and Little Shop of Horrors. There is also a debate over the value of the musical genre here called "Go Go" and extensive coverage of the "graffiti scandal" at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Low Life

No. 11, 1987

NOT BORED! #12. There's more intense coverage of the "graffiti scandal" at State University of New York at Buffalo in this issue. So much [sic: so far?] it is clear that the editor is much responsible for the "scandal" and it's continuation. Yet, the day to day journal of events that unfold makes for interesting reading. Hang on your seat's edge anticipating how Bill will rip apart the latest reactionary anti-graffiti letter in the campus newspaper. Maybe this all sounds pretty petty and uninteresting, but it is not. Bill always manages to make his so-localized stories interesting for everybody. Rest assured this is not boring. Bill focuses on specific events using methods steeped in situationist thought and adapted from Derrida, Deleuze, Vaneigem, Baudrillard, etc. he shows how significant these events are on a larger scale. This "scandal" over some writing on walls around some college provides a ton of ammunition.

Low Life

No. 13, 1987

NOT BORED #13 and Appendix to Not Bored #13 This is a photo-copied magazine dedicated to revolution and change in its theoretical and practical everyday application. With recent issues the editor has reached a certain instance of flux with his concepts and their manifestation in the everyday. Specifically, the "Graffiti Scandal" that has unfolded in the last few issues has somehow affected the magazine. The Appendix suspends Not Bored "up there, hanging by a thread of autobiography." What I think this all means is that until the editor reaches a resolve, his magazine will continue to come out only as the Appendix to Not Bored #13. There's no doubt that it will continue to be a source of well thought articles on topics/concepts you will not find anywhere else. Even if this wasn't the case, I'd still recommend #13 if only for the article on the Mekons.

Low Life

No. 14, 1988

Still around and kicking up a lot of intellectual dust (or something that spilled all over these pages!), Not Bored! survives as the lone (and lonely sounding) voice of situationist thought in the mail network. This thing has grown and continues to grow ever more heady and self-reflective. At heart Not Bored! remains a very human, personal work in search of revolution. This issue continues the endless documentation of the "Graffiti Scandal" in Buffalo, but the better half of the issue is made of the editor's re-analysis of Paul de man, Derrida, and Guy Debord in light of recent revelations and media trends. This essay is omething no one who's interested in these issues should pass up.

Low Life

No. 15, 1989

Not Bored #14 This zine is still struggling along,a nd I know it must be a struggle to just barely maintain this dialogue with an undoubtedly hostile world. This latest edition pontificates on the concept of the "Cowboy Philospher" by analyzing some ideas of Greil Marcus, TJ Clark, Leslie Fiedler and Guy Debord himself. Our editor is up to his usual idiosyncratic tricks and this time I can only vaguely see his point. But the essay is interesting anyway for the perspective and tidbits it offers on the Lettrists, a pre-SI group, about which I've been reading lately. As for "The Continuing Adventures of the Cowboy Philosopher," a "diversion of" an "entire comic strip," I honestly didn't get much out of it, and actually it is several strips combined as one.

Syzygy

No. 1, September 1990

Despite being written entirely by one anonymous person, the contents of Not Bored! are diverse, and I've only seen one issue, so it's difficult for me to make general statements about it. Excessively theoretical it is not. #17 has some recaptioned pieces of art, a rebuttal to Mike Gunderloy's response to his response to a review, a list of things "That Can Fuck Themselves As Far As I'm Concerned," an appreciation of Fear of a Black Planet, and some complaining about the housing policies of Brown University. Not Bored! "doesn't even want to be reviewed," so I'll stop here.

Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed

No. 33, Summer 1992

NOT BORED #20 is a very idiosyncratic, 64-page, photocopied situationist-influenced zine. This issue includes accounts of "What's happening . . . " (in Buffalo, New York City & Providence, RI). "Letters by Weishaupt and other Illuminati," Rodolphe Gasche's "On the Spur process," and "Further comments on Debord's Comments," and a text titled "What? Panties again?" Interesting in some parts, crptic in others, unusual throughout.

Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed

No. 34, Fall 1992

Not Bored #21 is a 54-page, photocopied situationist-influenced zine. This issue includes "What's happening" columns for Providence and the San Francisco Bay Area, along with the text of a presentation titled "The forty-one curses, crises, and conspiracies of everyday life" which the publisher gave at a philosophy conference.

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