Manual Dexterity is a music zine that focuses only on independently released bands, artists, and albums. Each issue has in-depth interviews with a up and coming and veteran bands, enlightening articles, reviews and the popular “SIXES” feature where six subjects of the same field (band, label owner, publicist) gets asked six questions which result in a wide variety of thoughts and opinions.
In 2010, three new features were added to Manual Dexterity.
Transmissions - A tour diary/journal of the ups and downs of life on the road.
Scrnd - An in-depth look into the art of poster makers and the process behind the posters.
A Sound Design - Discussions with the graphic designers behind some of the more memorable album designs and packaging.
Press about Manual Dexterity:
Feb/March 2011 Issue: “An indie/punk music zine, leaning more towards the indie side of things, that occupies the strange stylistic purgatory between “zines” and glossier independent “magazines”—it feels like a black and white bootleg of a larger, full-color glossy magazine. And if you follow me, the content is kind of the inverse of that. The dogged enthusiasm of a DIY zine editor is behind all this (interviews, reviews, etc), but it is getting crammed into slick, preconfigured boxes—the same old stock questions that haunt the echo chamber of band interviews and are the crutch of say, A.P.magazine, are all here, which I find boring. The spirit and work are already in place here, but the interviewers could stand to take a lot more risks in their questioning to make this (ahem) rise above.” – Dave Brainwreck
April/May 2011 Issue: “Manual Dexterity covers the indie side of the DIY scene and focuses on the how-to of a musician’s life. The interviewing is intelligent and draws interesting answers from the bands. Cool recurring features include spotlights on record and poster designers and Sixes, where they ask different musicians six quick questions, expecting humorous results. Featured: Survival Guide, The Prizefighters, Basemint Design, Laura Stevenson And The Cans, Nervous Energies, Zack Nipper, and No Friends.” – Chris Terry
January 2011 issue: “Manual Dexterity is an indie rock music zine with a slick layout and a bunch of great-looking photos, but the zine really suffers as it lacks a discernible sense of personality within its pages. Included are interviews with Tokyo Police Club, Mixtapes, The Aquabats, and a few others. The questions asked in every single interview are from a perspective that the reader is already familiar with the bands/artists being interviewed, without any background or context to what the band is all about. Also included are music reviews and top ten lists from members of various bands, again, with no background as to who they are. While the interviews are all in depth and the writers know their stuff, the way they’re presented here leaves all of the content seriously lacking character, and, therefore, ultimately uninteresting.” - Mark Twistworthy, Razorcake #62
Summer 2010 issue: “Nice-looking offset zine with a focus on the type of indie rock that Polyvinyl and Lovitt records release – the stuff that the punx dismiss as bougie but that doesn’t get covered on mainstream outlets like Pitchfork. They interview designer Jason Gwenikow, who is responsible for the design-intensive aesthetic of late ‘90s emo rock groups like The Promise Ring and Cap’n Jazz, and talk to band members and label heads about the importance of packaging and design in the MP3 era. This focus on the things that go into sharing music, as opposed to just the music, is an interesting angle that provides insight into what makes the indie economy tick and makes this magazine singular.” –CT Terry, Razorcake #60
Spring 2008 issue: The highlights of this indie audio zine are the process-oriented interviews with musicians, sound engineers, and even a cartoonist. My favorites: Tim Kinsella, Jesse Cannon, Graeme Gibson, and Haram. It’s evident that the editor is altogether passionate about independent media. Quote: “Oh, and a pocketful of nice, soft toilet paper is always a special treat when things get bleak.” - Jaina Bee, Zine World #28
Winter 2007 issue: “Music zine that has interviews with Mustard Plug, Look Mexico, and Maritime. It also has interviews with six more bands in that quick format where they ask them all the same six questions. The part that I liked was the interview with the old editor of Anti-Matter zine; it took me back a few years. I would guess that most of the people involved with Manual Dexterity, at some point in their lives, have given A New Found Glory, at least, a chance. Whatever that means to you…” –Craven Rock, Razorcake #44
Correspond:
Manual Dexterity
PO Box 1616
Monticello, MN 55362
Email:mandexzine@yahoo.com
