What do I love about magazines? I think a few people might think it's typography and design, but my Print Fetish isn't specifically about design - it's about print, about the art of editing. I'm not interested in a magazine that utilizes inventive layouts or pristine typography if those elements are not completely conceived and utilized to support the point of view of the editorial whole. Point of View is the most important aspect of a magazine, and if a magazine lacks point of view, which most seem to, I could care less about the design.

How wonderful then is it to find New Zealand zine (or magazine), White Fungus, which has a wonderfully independent, funky yet thoughtful point of view. White Fungus is an art and literary (and sometimes political) zine that gives you writing and art work you aren't expecting. Although many magazines espouse their mission of promoting talent and giving voice to those "outside the mainstream" who "go unnoticed" (God... HOW many magazines have written about or done interviews with Daniel Johnston? Give me a break), White Fungus actually delivers. Without all the absurd mission statements and press kit boloney.

Genuine interest in the subjects and art works presented is what makes White Fungus an interesting read. It really balances the slightly punk enthusiasm of its look and voice with superb editing. This is what I personally love to see - a magazine that utilizes non-corporate, irreverent aesthetics (design and writing), yet maintaining high language standards and classic (maybe old-fashioned) typography. The attention to detail and standards never get in the way of the fun, and although this is an "art" zine, it is far from the sterile and humorless voice of most art magazines. In many ways it's like the editors took the best aspects of Cabinet, Zing and Butt and squished them into White Fungus.

White Fungus #9, the first issue available in the U.S, features artwork by Richard Killian, Yao Jui-Chung, Hye Rim Lee and Tim Bollinger. Writings on Terrence McKenna, the end of art history and a conversation with sound artist and composer Annea Lockwood. I particularly enjoy the opening feature on New Zealand historical figures, and this issue Jane Janesly writes about Chew Chong, a chinese immigrant to New Zealand in the mid 19th Century.

This is absolutely the best magazine anyone has sent to me at Print Fetish, so definitely go find it.

The much coveted music issue of the Believer is out featuring a well constructed mix CD of a bunch of white people (and one of my hip-hop favorites Aceyalone) inspired by African and middle eastern music. I'm not convinced, but found it an interesting listen nonetheless. The issue also has a great story by Rick Moody about attending a music residency in upstate New York, Brandon Stosuy's thoughts on American Black Metal and a wonderful essay about the personal connection between music and changing technology by Lavinia Greenlaw. The most awesome thing about this issue is the Interview with New Orleans soul singer Irma Thomas (who is illustrated by Charles Burns on the cover). Irma Thomas is usually always described as someone who should have been as world famous as Aretha, Tina or Dionne, and once you start listening to her you see why. Read the Interview, and go buy her new album!

Capricious #8 is a format departure from earlier editions—it's larger and unbound so each page can be hung as poster—but it still features the same flawless editing, gorgeous images and a mellow uncluttered approach to displaying them. This issue is a tribute to animals and it's really good. Each photographer, including PF favorite Melanie Bonajo and Olaf Breunning, included a statement about their relationships to animals. Go buy it at once!

Ah Doingbird, you make me wait so long to enjoy you. Doingbird 13 is finally out and has model Hilary Rhoda on the cover. I must say I'm getting a tad bored with the Terry Richardson covers but... She looks good! I don't think I've seen her face around as much lately. Jeff Burton is in here as is David Armstrong, a photographer I totally like, and Nobuyoshi Araki. Phosphorescent (a band of Brooklyn boys who make very nice music) are in this issue too. Overall a solid issue.

I keep seeing these in my many searches for fabulous magazine racks... but I always hold off because none of them seem to be in production anymore, and these amazing vintage pieces do not come cheap. Austrian designer Carl Aubock seems to have designed more magazine racks than anyone from the Mid-Century period (or contemporary for that matter), leading me to believe he was a fellow Print Fetishist. LUST after these, or if you're rich, buy one and send us a pic of you lounging beside it.

These are the best images I could find, but he's done even MORE magazine/newspaper racks than this. I love his use of leather, wood and metal - natural looking, but modern, my favorite. Simple and apparently obvious like all great design.

We must organize an a movement to get these manufactured again! Who is with me?!

It is possible to buy some of these pieces here, here
and here.

COMING SOON: Graphic Design Referenced (GDR) is a 400-page guide to the most commonly referenced terms, historical moments, landmark projects and practitioners in the field of graphic design...

Flickr finds: Jan Tonnesen's album cover collection

I've recently discovered one of my favorite magazine blogs... Glossed Over. Hilarious and bitchy examinations of American women's fashion magazines by Wendy Fellton, a freelance editor and writer who can't stop buying tacky magazines even though she seems to really, really hate them.

During Butt Magazine's early years they had a companion zine, a sisterly counterpart, called Kutt. It was started by their friend Jessica Gysel. She put out a few issues of Kutt and then seemed to disappear, only to resurface a few years later with the fantastic Girls Like Us magazine. Ultimately, Girls Like Us is the better mag--more fully realized, existing on its own rather than as a version of Butt, etc. Regardless, the issues of Kutt are still totally good, if you can find them... I had been looking for ages before I finally found a single copy of issue #3 at St. Marks Books.

Funky and colorful, this wood mag rack is wrapped in a patchwork of misprinted metal cans that would've otherwise been discarded. Each rack is unique and would be perfect for a kitchen - maybe EVEN a bathroom. Go wild.

The Misprint Magazine rack is available at Viva Terra for $89