The Believer 2010 Music Issue

Summer is really gone over here in Amsterdam but I feel too good to do some sentimental reminiscing. One way to keep that hot period close to me is by finally having a proper look at the things that came in through realmail.

Summer 2010 saw the release of the seventy-third issue of The Believer Mag: The Music Issue. As far as I knew kind of hard to get in The Netherlands, though I found a reasonable price through Amazon.de. Free Shipping.

So here it is, a literary magazine about music. Published by McSweeney's, type setting and artwork are pretty and it has a free CD illustrated by a piece about the new badge of artistic black freedom fighters with rebel yells and drum circles. Yeah! Some cool songs on it though.

Much more articles then I would have thought appeal to me. Nina Simone, Orientalist Party Music, Drum Machines are all subjects to the clever text. As a non-visitor of the Nothing Hill Carnival this year, I was happy to read interviews with both political pop princess M.I.A. (can't get enough of that vid) and bashment queen Lady Saw.

I like reading most of them but, since I hardly read any magazines, I need to get used to it. Books, newspapers, scientific articles no problem. But a full-length article based on a subject that is both the most important thing in the world to me but on the other hand quite trivial. How does that work for you?

Personal favourites: The article about locked grooves and other pro pressing of my favourite medium, and the Warp Records tea table discussion. Yes, please remind me to send a copy of this magazine to my good friend & graphic designer SLEM. Also nice: The drawings of iconic hip-hop headwear by Nathan Gelgud and the Comics section in the middle of the mag.

I don't think I'd go for a subscription for now, but I will keep an eye on the music issues. If you are a movie enthusiast it Might be interesting to check out Wholphin... nah wait let me send you to Timothy's home and let you find your way through all those nice McSweeneys' outings.


Disco Download M.I.A.'s Born Free