We've officially come full circle. If you were ever a fan of zines, tapes and/or music, then you are probably any person ever. But more specifically, you're probably somewhere in your 20s or 30s, and you probably remember a different time when Chocolate Bobka and The Tripwire's Michael McGregor could have released The Report—an all-new released-whenever-he-can-get-it-out journal. Luckily for everyone, making shit yourself and doing a good job of it is back in style. After the jump check his rundown of just some of the 100+ pages of content as well as a tracklist for the tape that comes with the whole shebang. Also there's something about including "whatever goodies we can find in our Greenpoint headquarters." Which could either mean something awesome or an extra gym sock and one of those jawbreakers that scrapes your tongue and takes like four months to eat.
"The journal features new criticism by Pitchfork writer Rob Mitchum, interviews with the Feelies and the Grateful Dead's official historian Dennis McNally, as well as musings by Ben Chasny on the Japanese label PSF, a photo essay by Matt Mondanile of Ducktails/Real Estate, a brief history of Javelin by their cousin (and former co-conspirator), as well as an inside look at the burgeoning Syndey, Australia music/design world, and the first ever interview with Joseph Childress, arguably the most overlooked artist of the 'freak-folk' era. (Also, lots more content, 117 pages worth, no ads).
Trying to make it a full-sensory experience, the journal is bundled with a mixtape (yes, a real C60 cassette tape) featuring new, exclusive, and, in many cases, never-to-be-performed again songs by a slew of "now" artists. (digi-download emailed when package ships.) Tracklist:
Side A
1. Madalyn Merkey - Excerpt from Orphic Breathing
2. Twin Sister- Kimmi In The Ricefield
3. Raw Thrills- Komiche Traveling With Vampires
4. Javelin - Clamato
5. Family Portrait- Dog Wah
6. Holiday Shores- Three Peat
7. Run DMT- Let's All Take Acid
8. Alice Cohen- The Binding of Cords
9. Real Estate - Wonder Years jam (10 minute jam)
Side B
1. Alex Bleeker- Journey Through The Past (Neil Young cover)
2. Mountain Man- The Loon Song
3. Pillow Talk- Living Room Jam (Julian Lynch + Evan Brody of Family Portrait)
4. Pigeons- Behind the Reeds
5. Woodsman - Mothka
6. Pure Ecstasy- Dream Over
7. Alex Craig & the Cedermark Kitchen Singers - If It Makes You Happy (Sheryl Crow cover)
The DVD features commissioned footage shot exclusively for The Report, including live performances of Mountain Man playing in a church, Pure Ecstasy playing in a Bushwick loft, as well as selections from the NJ Backyard show that never aired on the web and a bunch of other stuff that I'd rather keep a secret so readers/viewers will be surprised when they see it.
Each one will be lovingly packaged with a letter from the editor and whatever goodies we can find in our Greenpoint headquarters to throw in."