Manual Dexterity Music Zine

Just a few pre-cut pieces of the new issue.

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:42:10 -0400

Just a few pre-cut pieces of the new issue.

If anyone wants to get their hands on a copy of the new issue,...

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:55:17 -0400

If anyone wants to get their hands on a copy of the new issue, you can now do so here: mandexzine.com/print (scroll to the bottom)

NEW ISSUE!!! Manual Dexterity Music Zine May 2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:37:00 -0400

You probably notice that we did things a little bit different with the latest issue of Manual Dexterity. Instead of doing the standard zine that we usually do, we decided to have each article and interview be their own piece and then stuffed into a 7” record packaging. Colors of paper may vary from what’s shown. Copies will be available for purchase this weekend. Limited to 50 copies.

Click on the descriptions to view the layouts. This issue is meant to be viewed physically, not digitally, so the layouts might not view correctly.

This is how it breaks down:

Signals Midwest Interview: 12pg 5”x7” zine, with colored cardstock cover

State Lines Interview: 7”x7” split cover that opens up to 7”x14”

The Polyphonic Spree Interview: 4pg 7”x5” zine

Birthmark Interview: 7”x7” top staple zine, with inset name card

Sixes Interviews: 6 - 3.5”x7” cards with paper wrap

A Sound Design: 4 panel 4.75”x4.75” booklet, including CD and artwork of album featured

Transmissions: Small Printed Envelope with folded letter inside

SCRND + 7” packaging: Original art drawn and screenprinted by Chris Pernula

Reviews: 5 - 7”x7” sheets

Finally, a new issue of Manual Dexterity! I’ll get a...

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:59:00 -0400

Finally, a new issue of Manual Dexterity!

I’ll get a better description and more photos posted later. For now you can read the following:

Interviews with: State Lines, Signals Midwest, Birthmark, The Polyphonic Spree
Sixes with: Betterment, Lion Cub, The Small Cities, Candy Hearts, The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Lifted Bells
Transmissions with: Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)
A Sound Design with: Matthew Rezac / Monarques, My Imaginary Move
SCRND + Package art hand drawn and screenprinted by: Chris Pernula
Reviews

Friday

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:09:00 -0400

A new issue drops.

New Followers / New Issue Updates

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:39:11 -0400

Thanks to the awesome dudes at Topshelf Records (and their kind words), we got a bucketful of new followers this weekend, so… Hello new followers! You all should check out the ManDex 2011 Year End Sampler here or maybe check out some back issues here.

The new issue is coming along swimmingly, just a couple things left to get back, and it’ll be ready to go! This next issue is definitely a departure from what we’ve done in the past, so put that pocket change/allowance aside, cause you’re gonna want to pick this one up.

Here’s a peek into just one of the many parts to the next issue:

That’s the CDEP that’s featured in the A Sound Design section in the new issue. Everybody gets one with the new issue! And like I said, that’s just one piece of the new issue pie.

So yeah, just a couple weeks left and it’ll be done. I’ll post some photos when it’s all complete.

I’ve gotten more work done on this new zine in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last 2...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:41:03 -0400

I’ve gotten more work done on this new zine in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last 2 months. New deadline set, the countdown is on!

I was looking for something else and found these. This was a...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:46:41 -0400

I was looking for something else and found these. This was a great show and I hope they come back again. Braid Reunion Tour 2004

razorcake: troy and abed making zines!

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:54:15 -0400

razorcake:

troy and abed making zines!

First 5 recipients of the supersecreturl give-a-way.

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:59:24 -0400

First 5 recipients of the supersecreturl give-a-way.

Next 3 people...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:48:29 -0400

Next 3 people...

Sky Corvair- “Iris Is Aching For A Day” Unsafe At...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:34:51 -0400

Sky Corvair- “Iris Is Aching For A Day” Unsafe At Any Speed
Feat. Bob Nanna, Tim Kinsella, Kevin J. Frank, Neil Sandler

I think this album often gets overshadowed by Braid’s and Cap’n Jazz’s material, but it is seriously so good.

Playing Fest11 this year.

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:44:30 -0400

Playing Fest11 this year.

Premiere: State Lines, “Win Free”

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:25:23 -0400

Premiere: State Lines, “Win Free”:

tinyengines:

Check out State Lines’ “Win Free” from the band’s forthcoming 7”, premiering exclusively on Alt Press this morning. Pre-orders are right around the corner!

Suggestions!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:19:46 -0400

I’m looking for suggestions for albums to cover under the “A Sound Design” section of the zine. What are some album’s art that you adore or albums you think have really cool design or an unique packaging? Send your suggestions to mandexzine (at) yahoo (dot) com

Reviews

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:57:24 -0400

I’m slowly chopping away at the stack of reviews I have here and this is the first batch. Clicking on the highlighted band’s names will bring you to a website where the band has offered the release for free or for the “name your price” option.

Betterment
Volume Two
Volume Two, the latest output from this Florida band, is a little bit more raw/less polished than their previous EPs, but still sounds really good. The songs on this EP show some definite growth and some experimentation with differnt sounds not yet heard by this band. It’s always exciting to hear new stuff from Betterment, because they’re still new and don’t have a defined sound yet. They’re just having fun and writing good songs. (Self-Released)

Birthmark
Antibodies
Antibodies, the third full-length from former Make Believe drummer and frequent Joan of Arc and Owen collaborator Nate Kinsella, is his best yet. Most of the songs have a simple foundation of a drum beat or a loop or something and then layers and layers of instruments are added with Kinsella’s hushed vocals being the keystone of each song holding it together. Antibodies is another achievement in Birthmark’s discography.
(Polyvinyl Records)

Cursive
I Am Gemini
I feel bad for Cursive sometimes. Led by Tim Kasher, who has always put out really amazing fairly straight-forward music through The Good Life and his solo stuff, leaves his most thought-out and difficult stuff for Cursive. While some albums are just flat out amazing, The Ugly Organ, other albums are less than memorable, Mama, I’m Swollen. I Am Gemini has a really long story behind it, I’m not going to get into it, but it helps to read about it to follow the album. The music on this album is closer to what The Ugly Organ sounded like and I’ve found myself listening to this more that the previous two Cursive albums. I Am Gemini is a must for any fan of Tim Kasher’s music. (Saddle Creek)

Field Music
Plumb
Plumb is a throwback to Field Music earlier albums where the songs were shorter and less connected to each other. I’ve been a fan of this UK band for a while and they consistently put out good music. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it is always interesting and fun to listen to. Take the song “A New Town” for example. It starts out kind of quite and slow, then bursts out with this funky bassline. If this song wont get you hooked, then nothing will. Field Music have practically created their own sound and are true masters of it. (Memphis Industries)

Grey Area/The Reveling/The Copyrights/Luther
4 Way Split
There have been a number of four band splits in the last year and I think they are awesome. Seriously, if you put together four great established bands, you’re gonna get platinums results. I don’t even have to tell you that each of the two songs by these four bands are incredible, including The Copyrights cover of Sacred of Chaka’s “Straight to the Office”. (Black Numbers)

The Jealous Sound
A Gentle Reminder
A Gentle Reminder, the long-awaited album from Blair Shehan and The Jealous Sound was totally worth the wait. This album is quite near perfection for any Knapsack/The Jealous Sound fan. Having never gotten into Knapsack, I’m not going to make comparisons between the two bands. Coming into this band with fresh ears, I really enjoyed this album. It sounds more polished than I would have expected, kind of like a Jimmy Eat World album. After listening to A Gentle Reminder quite a few times, I really want to explore their past material and Knapsack’s material as well. (Music is Subjective/Fontana Di)

Literature
Arab Spring
Literature is a band from Austin, TX that perfectly blend garage rock with a new wavey brit pop feel. It’s really fucking fantastic. Ifyoumakeit.com is hosting this album for free and you’d be a dunderhead if you didn’t download it. (Square of Opposition/Austin Town Hall Records)

Museum Mouth
Sexy But Not Happy
I was a big fan of Museum Mouth’s last album, but in the time since then, singer Savannah Levin left and guitarist Karl Kuehn took over vocals. While Kuehn sang on some of the songs on their previous album, Tears In My Beer, and also does a good job on this album, there was something about Levin’s vocals that really stood out. It’s almost pointless to compare the two albums, because it was almost like two different bands. It took a few listens to get into, but Sexy But Not Happy has certainly grown on me. (Self-Released)

Nada Surf
The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy
I wonder if kids that were born around 1996 even know of Nada Surf’s brief stint as one-hit wonders with their 90’s alt anthem “Popular”. After being dropped from their major label and taking time off between 99-02, they came back reinvented as an indie rock band and have really took off. They have released 4 amazing albums, including their most recent, The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy, and have pretty much made people forget of their early “Popular”-ity. Had they given up after 1998’s The Proximity Effect, they would just be a footnote in music’s history, but coming back they way they did, whole chapters will be dedicated to this band. (Barsuk)

Old Neighbors
Dishwasher
Featuring former members of The Fucking Cops, Old Neighbors picks up where Fuck You Up With Some Truth leaves off. Dishwasher may be a little short at six songs, it’s only short cause you’d love to listen to more if you could, but it really holds up all the way through with no bullshit filler to speak of. (Self-Released)

Soft Swells
Soft Swells
This self-titled album starts out strong with the most memorable song on the album, “Every Litte Thing”. It’s a breezy number with handclaps and a strong hook.The rest of the songs are quite good as well, but fail to reach the potential of that opener. With this album, this duo have shown a knack for writing catchy pop songs and a promise of possibly incredible future albums. (Modern Outsider)

Zola
Gang
The last time we heard from these young English musicians, they were named Archives. Not sure why they switched names, but the music is still catchy and inventive. While my ears are becoming more critical and growing somewhat tired of the noodley emo revival, each of the 3 songs on Gang are really good and have a exhilarating quality to them. (Self-Released)

My take on the old saying “Kill ‘em all and let God...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:41:00 -0400

My take on the old saying “Kill ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out!”.

New Zola EP!

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:44:30 -0500

New Zola EP!

The Jazz June “When The Drums Kick In” The Boom The...

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:58:46 -0500

The Jazz June “When The Drums Kick In” The Boom The Motion and The Music (1998)

Totally Vague Update!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:13:51 -0500

Here’s what’s been happening at the ManDex lately:

A new issue is in the works and will be a departure from the normal format and will be released on a special date in April, if all goes as planned.

The Signals Midwest album is killer! Thanks Tiny Engines!

The new Now, Now album is incredible!

Rediscovering The Jazz June, anyone else listen to them? So good!

Editing this thing. Copies available soonish!

There are so many awesome bands coming thru MN in March! (La Dispute, B&C, IIOI, Empire! Empire!+ others I’m forgetting)