Ms Valerie Park Distro (Blog!)

2012-05-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

go to our...
NEW WEBSITE!
(this is now the Ms Valerie Park Distro blog and not a place to order)

Lovebot

2012-01-14T13:54:00.000-08:00

Should have made it onto this month's newsletter. A must watch. Featuring members of the MVPD family.

Lovebot: 3000 from LLAMAMAMA on Vimeo.

January Distro Update

2012-01-13T03:21:00.000-08:00

NEW!

Erosion #4 (Zine) ($1)- In the tradition of great variety zines, Erosion covers a lot of ground. The kind of zine you don't see around much anymore.
Erosion #5 (Zine) ($1)- Comics, an interview with Gainesville’s Grow Radio, a report from Afghanistan, tons of weird art.
Erosion #6 (Zine) ($1)- AM radio, comics, music formats, art galore, free advice and even a crossword puzzle.

Hoopoe Bird Notepad (Blank Book) ($4)- A rich-colored, offset print, bird notepad. Spiral bound, unlined pages, recycled and reused materials.

I Love Bad Movies #1 (Zine) ($5)- Before the well-played themes of later issues began, they traversed the cinematic spectrum of Road House to Showgirls, Sleepwalkers to The Pick-Up Artist, all in one issue.

Imaginary Life #7 (Zine) ($3)- Thoughts on life, losing loved ones, family, and understanding things in a new way with age. Simple, little, and beautiful.

Monarch, No. 1 (Book/Literary Journal) ($10)- The first print publication from the awesome new Seattle literary collective, The Monarch Review. A mix of short fiction, poetry, non-fiction essays, interviews, and photography.

Paper Crush #4 (Zine & Postcard) ($4)- A fun zine for mail geeks and fans of postal history, Paper Crush #4 is about postcards. The history and collecting of postcards, to be exact. Interesting and informative. Plus every issue comes with a free vintage postcard.

Pipsqueak- Fowl Hymns (LP) ($12)- Speedy sad politically-conscious love songs.

Primahood (Zine/Graphic Novel) ($6.50)- These wonderfully bizarre comics tell an interesting tale of being a mother and having a daughter. Raising questions of gender and feminity along the way.

Resume of Charm Archie Magnets (Magnets) ($4)- A 3-pack of adorable Archie magnets from the always-wonderful Resume of Charm.

Scenes, Music, and People of Electronic Music, Part One (Zine) ($4)- A hilarious insider’s look at electronic music.

Suitcase(s) of Memories, Time After: Revisting the Pacific Northwest (Zine) ($3)- A fun little road trip zine about revisiting the Pacific Northwest. Xeroxed photos and hand-written notes about the places they visit along the way.

Tiger Pad 3-Pack (Blank Books) ($8)- A three pack of the flexible 5“x7” ruled notepads from Eberhardt Press. 44 pages a piece, made from recycled and reused materials, beautifully packaged.

Truckface #15 (Zine) ($3)- LB takes us through another year teaching in the Chicago public school system. As always, a great mix of humorous tales and getting real about class and racial injustice in this country.

RESTOCKED!

2012 We Are Bleeding Menstrual Calendar (Wall Calendar) ($12)- marked down!

8-Track Mind (Zine) ($3)

DIY or Don't We? Number One (Zine) ($3)

DIY or Don't We? Number Two (Zine) ($3)

DIY or Don't We? Number Three (Zine) ($3)

Flesh and Bone (Zine/Graphic Novel) ($6)

Foxdye- Monsters of Meme (CD) ($10)

Free to Choose (Zine) ($2)

Funwater Awesome #2 (Zine) ($3)

Funwater Awesome #3 (Zine) ($3)

Funwater Awesome #4 (Zine) ($3)

Hippie Watching in North America #1 (Zine) ($5)

Hippie Watching in North America #2 (Zine) ($5)

Hummingbird Pocket Sketchpad (Blank Book) ($3)

I Love Bad Movies #2 (Zine) ($5)

I Love Bad Movies #3 (Zine) ($5)

I Love Bad Movies #4 (Zine) ($5)

Ilse Content Vol. 8 (Zine) ($3)

Ilse Content Vol. 9 (Zine) ($3)
Keeper's Kanzine #1 (Zine) ($3)
Keeper's Kanzine #2 (Zine) ($3)

Mini Blank Notepad (Blank Book) ($2)

Paper Radio #6 (Zine) ($2)

Paper Radio #7 (Zine) ($2)

Pedal Powered Propeller Graph Paper (Blank Book) ($4)

Shortandqueer #8 (Zine) ($2)

Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide (Zine) ($2)

Snake Pad (Blank Book) ($4)

Truckface #12 (Zine) ($3)- last couple copies of 12 and 13 before they go out of print!

Truckface #13 (Zine) ($3)

Where You From? #2 (Zine) ($3)

MP3'S!

Barren Nieces- Wicked Wicked Whisper (off Lascivious Occupations...my favorite album of the year)

Sharkpact- Ocean (off Ditches)

NEWS!

*In a few weeks, a few of us from the MVPD crew will be going on the Letters & Poppet tour around the west coast, so you should come out and say hi if we're coming to your town. In addition to sounds and performance antics, we'll have a table full of interesting things both on and not on the distro (handmade bags, one-of-a-kind postcards, dolls, magnets, hair clips, alongside the expected tapes and zines and things).
*Our friend Charlie Zaillian (from Chung Antique) recently wrote an article on Pierced Arrows for the Seattle Times!
*Our dear Ms Alexis Wolf had an excerpt from her Hyena in Petticoats zine republished on the Vindication of the Rights of Mary blog.
*One Minute Zine Reviews has been doing a number of write ups and radio spots for various MVPD zines.
(and i think that's all).

Bestsellers 2011

2012-01-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

Zine Top 15

1. Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide

2. The Prince Zine

3. Awkward Sex

4. Basic Paper Airplane #3

5. Radical Mycology

6. Loose Lips Sink Ships

7. Hyena in Petticoats: A Mary Wollstonecraft Zine

8. Ilse Content, Vol. 10

9. Jesus Christ Superzine, Vol. 2

10. Criminal: Writings of Isabelle Eberhardt

11. Shotgun Seamstress #6

12. Think it Over: An Introduction to the IWW

13. DIY or Don't We? Number One

14. In Through the Window: A Collection of Poetry and Short Stories by Incarcerated Women

15. Flesh and Bone

Music Top 10

1. Various Artists- Well, I Don't See Why Not, Vol. 3

2. Letters- All the Adventures to See Them I Will

3. Various Artists- Summer Soul, Vol. 3

4. Tattered Dress-Self-Titled

5. Christina Antipa- Dirty and Wrong: Songs Left Behind 2000-2010

6. Foxdye- Monsters of Meme

7. The Ovens- Self-Titled

8. The Northern Rail- Eves

9. Corespondents- Ur

10. Agatha- Nothing is Static

Miscellany Top 5

1. Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (Book)

2. 2012 Organizer from Justseeds & Eberhardt Press (Planner)

3. My Love for You is Fathomless (Greeting Card)

4. Miami, You've Got Style: A Little Golden Girls Book (Book)

5. Woman on Bike Notepad (Blank Book)

$1 comps

2011-12-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

So, raising a few dollars to reprint Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 2 (on cassette tape!) & to start thinking about putting together Vol. 4 (!), so we're making Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3 cd's $1 each up until Christmas (buy a few!). We're also making both volumes be a "name your price" situation on our Bandcamp, should you want to donate a little extra.

December Distro Update

2011-12-08T19:11:00.001-08:00

New

2012 We Are Bleeding Menstrual Calendar (Calendar) ($18)- A wonderful way to “start understanding your monthly cycle better, to keep track of ovulations, and to follow the moons patterns in relationship with your body.”

Field Guide to the Aliens of Star Trek TNG Season Two (Zine) ($2)- Another season of TNG’s aliens is made into a handy field guide by an 11 year old boy in 1991.

Keep Writing Postcards 10 Pack (Postcards) ($10)- 10 different hand letter-pressed postcards from the Keep Writing postcard series.

Mini Blank Notepad (Blank Book) ($1)- A mini book, fits easily in your pocket, great for ideas and lists.

Paper Radio #8: A Media & Radio Zine (Zine) ($4)- Obsolete communications systems, shortwave, longwave, reviews, interviews, radio fiction.

RVIVR- Joester Sessions (LP) ($12)- 11 songs collected from RVIVR's first two (out of print) 7"s and the Dirty Water EP.

Sharkpact- Ditches (LP) ($10)- One our favorite new Olympia bands, Sharkpact is Camille and Jeff from the Hail Seizures making amazingly full, well-crafted, punk songs with just synths and drums.

Snake Pads (Blank Book) ($5)- A beautiful blank book. Spiral-bound, offset print, on unlined paper, using recycled and reused materials.

Syndicate Product #20.0: Meta Comics Issue (Zine) ($4)- Comic artists and comic lovers think about comics and the importance of comics in their lives.(hint: it's really awesome!).

Tiger Sketchbook (Blank Book) ($7)- A large version of the Tiger Notepad. Unlined, spiral-bound, offset print, using recycled and reused paper.

Restocked

8-Track Mind (Zine) ($3)

Agatha- Nothing is Static (7"+CD)

Awkward Sex (Zine) ($4)

Criminal: Writings of Isabelle Eberhardt (Zine) ($4)

Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (Book) ($6)- quickly becoming one of bestsellers!

Man on Bike Pad (Blank Book) ($4)

Miami, You've Got Style: A Little Golden Girls Book (Book) ($12)

Pedal Propeller Graph Paper Pad (Blank Book) ($4)

Reclaiming Our Ancient Wisdom: Herbal Abortion Procedure and Practice (Zine) ($6)

RVIVR- Self-Titled (LP) ($12)

Shotgun Seamstress #3 (Zine) ($3)

Shotgun Seamstress #6 (Zine) ($3)

Woman on Bike Pad (Blank Book) ($4)

Download

*Well, I Don't See Why Not, Vol. One- the first volume of our NW compilation series went out of print, so is now free. 17 songs from a few years back.

News

*Seattle friends! We'll be tabling again at the annual Hollow Earth DIY Holiday Fair at the Vera Project this Saturday, Dec. 10th, 11am-5pm. Come say hello!

*We have updated out Links page and there are now some (long overdue) words about the goodnesses of some of our wonderful friends.

*Brooklyn Zine Fest is taking table applications now!

*Our friend Jon Potrello recently did a live in-studio on KEXP.

*Through a Tumblr post from Your Secretary, Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide became a Tumblr sensation, selling out completely the morning it was posted.

*Our dear noise friend, Abusive Consumer, was reviewed on Foxy Digitalis.
*Author David Abram (Spell of the Sensuous, Becoming Animal) gave an awesome review to local Olympia poet Bill Yake's book, Unfurl, Kite, and Veer.
*Our friends at the Seattle soap company Herbivore Botanicals have stepped it up and are making tons of beautiful vegan soaps these days. They've even been making soaps out of herbs harvested from the MVPD garden! You should most certainly check them out.
Good luck making it through the holidays. Until the new year,
JJ/MVPD

Well, I Don't See Why Not, Vol. One (now FREE!)

2011-11-22T13:35:00.001-08:00

After having toreprint Well, I Don't See Why Not, Vol. One at least a dozen times, we havefinally decided to give it a rest in the physical realm and declare it free inthe digital realm. While the subtitle declared it “A Compilation ofUnsigned/Barely Signed Northwest Artists,” we’ve realized that a lot of theseartists have moved onto other things and maybe it was time to, like them, moveon. And many of them are signed- Yes Please is in Grass Widow now, Kendl Winterof Kite is signed to K Records, Hail Seizures are on Black Powder, Foxdye getsher records released on labels the world over, the list goes on. Point is, perhapsit worked?

An interestingcollection that spans from strange lo-fi pop and cello punk to sample-heavyindie electronic and tape collage music, Well, I Don’t See Why Not Vol. One isa great recent history time capsule of underground Northwest music.

1. Twig Palace- Wicker Frames-still in existence, Twig Palace is now split between Olympia and Oakland. Playing in bands such as Upside Drown, The Hive Dwellers, The Mumlers, and Lazer Zepplin in their time apart.

2. Yes Please- Crucial Things- no longer in existence, Yes Please now plays in Grass Widow, who have left their former home at Kill Rock Stars to start their own label, Wizard Mountain.

3. Hail Seizures- Daddy- still in existence, Hail Seizures tour the world and also play in a number of other bands (including the super amazing Shark Pact).

4. If It Ain't Breakfast Don't Fix It- October- still in existence, this is perhaps one of my favorite songs ever. Currently living in North Carolina, this winter will find If It Ain't Breakfast moving back to Olympia.

5. Eleanor Murray- River- still in existence, taking the winter off to work on a new album and playing shows with side project Tattered Dress.

6. A Collective of Dirt- Leaving- no longer in existence, members of this group always play in a thousand groups at once. Crystal Fists and If It Ain't Breakfast Don't Fix It are the ones I know pretty for sure are still going.

7. The Background Front ft Pet Club- Lullaby- neither group still being in existence, members of these groups play in Letters, Gumar, Grass Widow and co-run Dropping Gems Records. This song was recently redone on the Letters' album All the Adventures to See Them I Will.

8. Ariel Birks- At Best- still in existence, a full length album years in the making will someday appear.

9. Kleinen Fruhstuck- What the Turtle Tolled Me- no longer in existence, Kleinen can be found in groups such as Little Angry, The Hive Dwellers, Lazer Zepplin, and running Bellhead Studios.

10. My Peach is Pickled- Rerun- no longer in existence (?), My Peach now plays in bands such as Corespondents and the Contraband Country Band.

11. Kite- Fill My Glass- no longer in existence, some of the songs from the Kite project are being redone for the new Kendl Winter album on K Records.

12. Hecka Ar- My Memory's Fine- no longer in existence, members of Hecka Ar can be found playing in Corespondents and DJ Dogwater.

13. Tapestry- Little Buddy- still in existence, but on hiatus.This song was redone on the Letters album Letters Plays Selections from the Tapestry Songbook.

14. Gumar- Seventy-Six- still in existence and producing, dj'ing, mastering, and co-running Dropping Gems out of Portland, Or.

15. Foxdye- Harp Heart- still in existence, putting out albums and touring the world.

16. Blindfolder ft Makeout Hangover- Buckets Full of Honey- Blindfolder is still existence, making sporadic recordings out of Seattle, Wa. The current state of Makeout Hangover is unknown.

17. Letters- Pull on the Reins- still in existence, but typically making music that sounds a good deal different than this.

November Distro Update!

2011-11-16T09:27:00.001-08:00

New!
2012 Justseeds/Eberhardt Organizer (Planner) ($8)- This gorgeous little planner is a perennial favorite. With beautiful art from the Justseeds arts collective and printed by the always-amazing Eberhardt Press, it serves as a great alternative to the more-commonly seen Slingshots or Moleskines.
I Love Bad Movies #2 (Zine) ($5)- This hilarious issue deals with love, sex, and relationships in movies. From obsessive amputation love to dorky buddy movie love, all kinds of love gets reviewed here.
I Love Bad Movies #3 (Zine) ($5)- This issue takes a look at the future. Or, rather, how a large handful of semi-ridiculous movies view the future. The results make for some pretty great reading.
I Love Bad Movies #4 (Zine) ($5)- This issue is ridiculously good. This time around, they review movies that are meant for, or star, children, but should perhaps never be watched by children. With a powerhouse of amazing contributors (including two writers from The Daily Show!), this is a zine that can be enjoyed by people within and outside the zine community.
N'Drea: One Woman's Fight to Die Her Own Way (Book) ($4)- "a powerful condemnation of the medical industry, a passionate analysis of the society of the commodity and its destruction of the human individual, and a personal expression of one woman’s decision to live her life fully and to die on her own terms among those she loved."
Nuts #1 (Zine) ($1)- Interviews with H.P.P. and Gun Outfit, a scene report, photos.
Nuts #2 (Zine) ($1.50)- Interviews with Sex Vid and Broken Strings, lots of cool photos, “The American Work Experience” by Carrie Keith, secret lake, experience through vision.
Nuts #3 (Zine) ($1)- This issue has lot of art and photography, band pin-ups, a Milk Music interview, Olympia restaurant reviews from Judd Taylor.
Nuts #4 (Zine) ($1.50)- Interviews with Nodzzz, Hell Woman, White Boss, and Mae Kessler & Sam Kates-Goldman (on dance performance!). A history lesson from Tobi Vail, reviews, art, photos, more.
Nuts #5 (Zine) ($1.50)- This is the travel issue, getting us out of the Olympia scene and into the U.S. of A. Interviews with Brilliant Colors, St. Dad, Justin Clifford Rhody, and The Spits. Art, photography, comics, Captain America’s balls (ew).
Nuts #7 (Zine) ($2)- Musicians interview their parents on their impression of the Women’s Movement (awesome), art, photography, comics, more.
Reclaiming Our Ancient Wisdom: Herbal Abortion Procedure and Practice for Midwives and Herbalists (Zine) ($6)- “Reclaiming Our Ancient Wisdom is a guide for practiced herbalists and midwives to better serve the women of their communities."
Shotgun Seamstress #6 (Zine) ($3)- The brand new and (gasp!) LAST issue of Shotgun Seamstress is here and is so good.

Old! (But back!)

Criminal: Writings of Isabelle Eberhardt (Zine) ($4)

Flesh and Bone (Comic Zine/Graphic Novel) ($5)

Hummingbird Pocket Sketchpad (Blank Book) ($3)

Keeper's Kanzine #1 (Zine) ($3)

Keeper's Kanzine #2 (Zine) ($3)

Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (Book) ($6)

Peaches & Bats, Issue 7 (Literary Zine/Jornal) ($5)

Resume of Charm #7 (Zine) ($1)

Resume of Charm #9 (Zine) ($3)

Resume of Charm #10 (Zine) ($2)

Shotgun Seamstress #1 (Zine) ($3)

Shotgun Seamstress #3 (Zine) ($3)

Shotgun Seamstress #4 (Zine) ($3)

Too Dark to See (Comic Zine/Graphic Novel) ($5)

Woman on Bike Notepad (Blank Book) ($3)

Downloads
Letters & If It Ain't Breakfast Don't Fix It- Scattered Areas Where a Thousand Follow in Likeness (Album)- went out of print, so now free!

News
*We have been busy busy busy and the postal service has been slow slow slow. Seriously. There is something amiss. Many apologies for those who have had abnormal wait times, we promise, nothing has changed on our end.
*Nicki Sabalu (editor of DIY or Don't We, among many other things) started off her new video series of zinesters doing readings by filming our own Joshua James reading from Basic Paper Airplane. It's to eventually air on TCTV, but for now can be seen over on her Vimeo.
*We fixed a few things on our website and having been blogging more than we have ever blogged over on (bet you'll never guess) our blog. Check it out.
*All issues of Paper Radio and Signals are now half off! Editor DJ Frederick asked us to make way for issue #8, so these interesting examinations of radio culture are now even more affordable.
*Submission Call! The ever-amazing Jordan O' Jordan is putting together a zine of fun things to do around the U.S.- a travel guide for touring musicians and wanderers, perhaps? More details over here.
*Local Olympia zine, 23, is doing an issue about porn. They're doing a survey for it and if you're interested in participating, go here.
*Craven Rock (of the Eaves of Ass zine) got an essay about almost going on the Jerry Springer Show published in The Monarch Review recently.
*The one-and-only DJ Rupture made the cover (!) of The Wire.
*Poppet got a feature on the British music blog, The Devil Has the Best Tuna.
*Prince is coming to the Tacoma Dome in December!
*East Bay Zine Fest is coming up in a couple weeks. If you're in the area, go! And please say hi to our dear friend Gina Sarti (author of Shit's Fucked) who will be tabling with the collective bakery she's a part of.
*Olympia's Milk Music got interviewed on Pitchfork.
*And, finally, the Olympia Film Festival is in full effect right now and it is so good. Go, won't you?
Until next month,
JJ/Chask'e/MVPD

Submission Call! Yr City Zine

2011-11-13T10:23:00.001-08:00

The ever-amazing Jordan O' Jordan is putting together a zine of fun things to do around the U.S.- a travel guide for touring musicians and wanderers, perhaps? More details below, but, in his words: "Realistically, if each of you can make 5 lists for your city (for example: Good eats, Free Fun, Cool shit, Weird shit, Where to drink), we'll have SUCH a great thing! All-in-all, I feel the lists should take you about 15 minutes. These are the things that JUMP into your mind when you think about your town. "
(Those already represented: Austin; Brooklyn; Chicago; Cleveland; Davis, CA; Huntington, WV; Oakland, Olympia; Sacramento, Ca; Seattle)
"Two Assumptions:
1. My friend Gina Sarti made a SUPER-awesome Welcome-to-Oakland zine that tells newbies all about the fun things to do in the East Bay. (SO RAD!)
2. In my time hosting visitors in Seattle, I seem to make the same list of "things to do" over and over, often scratched on a post-it. (inefficient!)
A Hypothesis:
It seems to me that we are all travelers. And thus, in hopeful reciprocation, often host other travelers. And also thus probably often offer Here's-Cool-Stuff-To-Do-In-This-Town advice to said guests. Is this true?

A Conclusion/Proposal:
Here's my thought: Let's make our lists! Then, let's compile them! Into a tiny set of punk zine city guides! What are your thoughts?
Experimental Methods:
I'm not thinking that these need to be anything crazy-involved...just perhaps a set of a few lists that travelers in your city might find handy.
For example:
1. A list of Delicious Sandwiches!,
2. Are you broke? Free Shit to do!,
3. My Fave Dance Nights,
4. Best Late night dining options for drunk queers
5. DON'T try to bike up these hills!
6. Best Places to take an Adventure-Date. "

Paper Radio & Signals now half price!

2011-11-12T14:34:00.001-08:00

In anticipation of Paper Radio #8, editor DJ Frederick asked that we mark all other issues as half off. Simply to get them, affordably, into the hands of you, dear readers. The most dedicated advocate of radio culture, Paper Radio/Signals makes you feel the passion of real radio. And it feels good.
Signals #4 (now $2.50!)
Signals #5 (now $2!)
Paper Radio #6 (now $2!)
Paper Radio #7 (now $2)

2012 Organizer from Justseeds and Eberhardt Press

2011-11-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Organizer from Justseeds and Eberhardt Press is here! Last year's run away bestseller (sometimes selling as many as ten a day!) is a favorite with all our friends and (we can attest) handles a lot of wear and tear.
"This gorgeous little planner is a perennial favorite. With beautiful art from the Justseeds arts collective and printed by the always-amazing Eberhardt Press, it serves as a great alternative to the more-commonly seen Slingshots or Moleskines. Weekly spreads, a year-at-a-glance, a lunar phase calendar, and a piece of art to start off every month. 4"x5", strong wire binging, cardstock covers." (More Images).

May we present: Barren Nieces

2011-11-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

So, Barren Nieces is coming to the NW for a small series of shows next week (one of which will be at our house in Olympia) and it made me dig up this promo thing I wrote and didn't end up using.
Olympia, Portland, Seattle folks: you must go see this guy! So good.
"Our favorite album of 2011 (by far) is the lo-fi indie pop masterpiece Lascivious Occupations by Barren Nieces. After playing a show with him in his home of Tempe, Arizona, we have made that cassette tape a part of our identities (it's that good). Using a guitar, a loop pedal, a piano, and a cello, he creates brilliantly crafted mini-epics; melodies so strong in songs that shy away from any kind of memorable chorus. Giving just enough pop to keep you wanting more, but ultimately taking some mythical high road of songwriting. To us Northwesterners, it reminds us of days when we would see (now-famed) Seattle bands play to 20 people in a room and wonder at the cruel joke that kept them from being known outside their hometown."
Barren Nieces- Nevada
Barren Nieces- I Thought This Would Be Louder

Sunday, November 13th Portland @ Bahh House (w/ Emp Moe, Zena Bat, Desiree' Ale'ne Rousseau)
Monday, November 14th Olympia @ The Alamingo (w/ Poppet, Letters, and Josh Kane)
Tuesday, November 15th Seattle @ The Mystery Machine (w/ Daycare and Nod & the Hobgoblins)

Nuts!

2011-11-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

The famed Olympia punk paper, Nuts! has finally been added to our catalog. Six issues up, more to come. Nuts is always fun, packed with lots of music stuff, visual oddities, interviews, and a cool not-of-this-era aesthetic that makes it something special, indeed.

Basic Paper Airplane Video

2011-11-07T02:03:00.000-08:00

zine reading: basic paper airplane from nicki sabalu on Vimeo.
This is the first video from what will hopefully be a series of short films centered around folks reading from their zines (or other similarly self-published work).
In this video, Joshua James Amberson shares stories from his zine, Basic Paper Airplane. Joshua is also part of a team of people who run Ms. Valerie Park Distro in Olympia!
www.msvalerieparkdistro.com
Music by Letters!

Mixtape Deal!

2011-10-31T17:33:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION: Now whenyou make a purchase of $50 or more you'll recieve a unique handmade mix tape bynone other than Hannah Horovitz, author of 'Hair Zine', who knows what sort ofjams will invade that brain!

New (and final) issue of Shotgun Seamstress

2011-10-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

"The brand new and (gasp!) LAST issue of Shotgun Seamstress is here and is so good. There is so much in here: interviews with Trash Kit, Ms. Jacci Gresham, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, and (the one-and-only) Poly Styrene of the X-Ray Spex before her death earlier this year. Plus a Manifesta excerpt from Cocoa Puss- one of my favorite (and former Tacoma, Wa-based) zine, 80’s DC hardcore, a Camping comic, punk through the African diaspora, and more. But the highlight of this zine is Osa’s introduction, where she lays out what Shotgun Seamstress has meant in her life. And, while she says she never wanted it to be a personal zine, this brief moment of perzine sentimentality is so moving and important. 44 pages, half-legal size."

I Love Bad Movies

2011-10-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

Our new favorite around these parts. I Love Bad Movies is so hilarious.
And, actually sometimes makes you reconsider the artistic vision of bad movies (or consider what's appropriate for children; how we choose to represent relationships; and how interesting and weird people's visions of the future can be). Highly recommended.

October Distro Update

2011-10-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

New!
2012 Famous Faces Wall Calendar (Calendar) ($8)- A wonderfully unique wall calendar. Unnamed pop stars from other eras looking gorgeously otherworldly.
Foxdye- At Our Bleakest (Bonus Tracks) (Tape) ($6)- Hand spray-painted by the artist herself, comes with a digital download code, bordering on weird cassingle- perfect for the Foxdye collector in us all.
French Quarter- Desert Wasn't Welcome (LP) ($12)- Addicting pop music played by extremely competent musicians who know how to make it fun and interesting without ever being over the top.
Lynnae Gryffin- Abigail (CD) ($8)- Of the most hypnotizing order, Portland, Or.‘s Lynnae Gryffin creates songs that are almost not songs, but instead long walks through woodland folklore.
Newsprint Poster (Poster) ($4)- A wall poster of gorgeous photography from Mr. Carson Churchill.
Paper Radio #7 (Zine) ($4)- “The goal of Paper Radio is to help readers connect and reconnect with radio. Unlike other mediums, radio sparks the imagination, it paints scenes with sound, it can be dreamlike of crystal clear, and is as intimate as talking with friends in your living room.”
Shana Cleveland and The Sandcastles- Oh Man, Cover the Ground (Tape) ($6)- Featuring some of Seattle’s best, this is the side project of Shana Cleveland from the K Records’ band The Curious Mystery.
Show & Tell #9 (Zine) ($3)- This issue deals with the ephemeral. In a way that relates to nature, is grounded, feels good (like Autumn).
Timothy Blackman- Everybody Needs Something to Hold Onto (CD) ($10)- New Zealand ambassador to the Northwest, Timothy Blackman, makes carefully crafted folk music.
Trophy Wife- ST (7") ($6)- Imagine The Raincoats organically chopped and screwed. Or a weirder version of Grass Widow or New Bloods.

Back!
Awkward Sex (Zine) ($4)
Crescent City Stories (Zine) ($2)

Criminal (Zine) ($4)

DIY or Don't We? Number Three (Zine) ($3)

Field Guide to the Aliens of Star Trek (Zine) ($2)

Free to Choose (Zine) ($2)

Funwater Awesome #3 (Zine) ($3)

Funwater Awesome #4 (Zine) ($3)

Ilse Content Vol. 10 (Zine) ($3)

Loose Lips Sink Ships (Zine) ($2)

Love is Not Constantly Wondering if you are Making the Biggest Mistake of Your Life (Book) ($6)

Mend My Dress #7 (Zine) ($1)

Mend My Dress #8 (Zine) ($2)

My Love for You is Fathomless (Greeting Card) ($2)

Newish Jewish (Zine) ($2.50)
Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide (Zine) ($2)- our bestseller!
Show & Tell #7 (Zine) ($3)
Show & Tell #8 (Zine) ($3)
Takhoma- Old Haunts (Tape) ($5)
These Here Are Crazy Times #1 (Zines) ($2)
These Here Are Crazy Times #2 (Zines) ($2)
These Here Are Crazy Times #3 (Zines) ($2)

Downloads!
French Quarter- Checks & Balances (off Desert Wasn't Welcome)
Lynnae Gryffin- William Reminder (off Abigail)
Shana Cleveland & The Sandcastles- Oh Man, Cover the Ground (off Oh Man, Cover the Ground)
Timothy Blackman- I Can't Blame You (off Everybody Needs Something to Hold Onto)
Trophy Wife- Light Socket (off Self-Titled)

News!
*As the Occupy (everything) movement grows the world over, we'd like to give a hand to the fine folks doing Occupy Olympia. Stopped by today and it's great to see the amazing tent city growing in Heritage Park. Good work to all the folks organizing, expect a donation of some reading material and tea soon.
*Our good pal Casey Fuller will be making his way back home to Olympia for a poetry reading at the Olympia Poetry Network this Wed, October 19th at 6:30pm. The event will be celebrating his winning the Floating Bridge Press chapbook contest and the release of his new book, Fort Made of Doors.
*The ever-amazing Alexis Wolf (Ilse Content, Letters, Hyena in Petticoats) now has a website, dedicated to her writer-ly life. Sounds like she's working on some interesting research in Lyon, France these days, so we can probably expect some cool things from her in the future.
*8-Track Mind, Crescent City Stories, and Angry Violist #3 all got reviewed on One Minute Zine Reviews.
*Submission call: Awkward Sex is now taking submissions for its second issue. The first time it was women telling their stories and this one they're asking for submissions from the men folk. Got a story to tell about some awkward sexual experiences? Submissions can be sent to: awkwardsex(at)gmail(dot)com
*Mend My Dress got a great write-up on Rookie and has been selling like hotcakes as a result.
*Awesome interview with Tomas Moniz of Rad Dad over at the Washington City Paper.
*Our buddy Derek M. Johnson has just released a fantastic album of experimental cello compositions (produced by Mr. Bob Schwenkler) over at Aphonia Recordings.
*Jordan O' Jordan got little write-ups on Earmilk, Said the Gramophone, and Das Klienicum.
*Angelo Spencer et Les Hauts Sommets' track from Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3 made KEXP's Underground Top 30 last month.
*Olympia's own Wolves in the Throne Room were discussed at length in a recent New Yorker article on the new wave of black metal, just a few pages away from a profile on Taylor Swift (which was actually pretty fascinating).
*Our friends at Dropping Gems Records got a mention in the Xlr8r Decibel Fest wrap-up & Seattle Show Gal and their own DJAO spent three weeks in the Top 10 on KEXP's Electronic Charts.
*And lastly, Seattle artist (and former MVPD distro-er) Drew Christie was interviewed by The Atlantic (!) about his amazing animated video about the whale-human musical connection. Highly recommended.
Until next month,
JJ/Chask'e/MVPD

Fall Music Sampler

2011-10-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

(A little collection of sounds that can be shared and should be enjoyed.)
Spiel: This Fall's sampler has a little something for everybody. The lead track from Poppet that recalls Post-era Bjork and Dreaming-era Kate Bush simultaneously; the reclusive-genius songwriting skills of French Quarter and Barren Nieces; the beautiful call-to-arms post punk of Kickball; the unearthed classic Olympia compilations that give us the driving noise pop of Crayon (later to become twee icons, Tullycraft), among a whole host of others.
Download: MVPD Fall Sampler (zip file)
Tracks:

1. Poppet- The Crustacean (off Unitard Galaxy)

2. French Quarter- Checks & Balances (off Desert Wasn't Welcome)

3. Letters- Hideaway (off All the Adventures to See Them I Will)

4. Crayon- Penny Lock (off VA- Julep: Another Yoyo Studio Compilation)

5. Jordan O' Jordan- Lever, Leave Here (off Drawn Onward)

6. Barren Nieces- Nevada (off Lascivious Occupations)

7. DJ Dogwater- Bumper Lullaby (off Back from Fighting Nazis on the Moon)

8. Kickball- Handmedowns (off VA- Well, I Don’t See Why Not Vol.3)

9. Tattered Dress- Green Pea (off Tattered Dress)

10. World History- Forcefield (Beck Cover) (off A Tribute to One Foot in the Grave)

October Feature of the Month

2011-10-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

Well, took us half the month to actually get one up, but here's this month feature! It's Crawdad Cleveland's Famous Faces 2012 Wall Calendar. Unnamed pop stars from other eras looking gorgeously otherworldly. So good.

New News

2011-10-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

*Today brings the long-awaited restock of some of our bestselling zines: Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide, Loose Lips Sink Ships, Awkward Sex, and all the These Here Are Crazy Times.
*Our 1,000th sale on Etsy is only 5 sales away and our 25% off sale continues! Leading up to a big grab bag of fun if you purchase the 1,000th one.
*Today also brings the release of the new French Quarter album. Unbelievably addicting.
*We're going to be adding a TON of new stuff in the next week or two, so keep checking back!

"1,000th Etsy Sale" Sale

2011-10-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Never would have imagined it, but we're almost up to our 1,000th sale on Etsy! Which is weird. What we thought would be a small side outlet at the beginning of 2010 has become a daily operation.
We're super happy to have our community be a part of the Etsy community and, to celebrate, we're going to mark the countdown to the 1,000th sale with our biggest sale of all time- 25% off everything! And whoever orders the 1,000th thing will get something special (a fun grab bag? a small collection of pop 45's? who knows!).
www.etsy.com/shop/msvalerieparkdistro
Coupon Code: 1000th

Get Physical

2011-09-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a short list of stores that are currently carrying some items from the MVPD catalog. We get this question a lot and, while they each only carry a small amount of our catalog, it's pretty hard to maintain a physical storefront these days and pretty wonderful that they carry anything at all.
The challenge is a funny contradiction, since cool storefronts are often what makes a town or area of a city seem exciting and fun. A future where there are no independent bookstores, record shops, or second time around clothing stores and only big box stores seems sad (and in so many places is the reality now). In short: independent businesses need your support. We appreciate them supporting us.
Orca Books (Olympia, Wa)
Quimby's Books (Chicago, Il)
Mass Media Records (Costa Mesa, Ca)
Rainy Day Records (Olympia, Wa)
Powell's Books (Portland, Or)
Phantom City Records (Olympia, Wa)
Reunion Vintage (Portland, Or)

News!

2011-09-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is a busy time of year for creative projects and people organizing cool things. In short: we can't wait until the next newsletter to report the news because then you'll miss out on so much great stuff!
*Albuquerque Zine Fest is this coming weekend! If you're in the area, or are looking for an excuse to take a trip (and who doesn't love the Southwest in fall?), you should go. Sept. 30th-Oct. 2nd. If you go, you'll have a chance to win a Ms Valerie Park Distro gift certificate!
*Awkward Sex is now taking submissions for its second issue. The first time it was women telling their stories and this one they're asking for submissions from the men folk. Got a story to tell about some awkward sexual experiences? Submissions can be sent to awkwardsex(at)gmail(dot)com
*Mr. Karl Blau is doing some much-needed fundraising over at Kickstarter and we so highly encourage you to go over there and lay a few dollars on him. Only a few days left! For the last day, he will be hosting a 24 hour event where a Karl Blau song is played every minute of the day, around the world. It's going to be wonderful.
*Dropping Gems has their own showcase at Decibel Fest in Seattle this Wednesday. Should be an amazing night.
*Our buddy Derek M. Johnson is releasing a fantastic album of experimental cello compositions (produced by Mr. Bob Schwenkler) this weekend. Expect a live performance on Hollow Earth Radio on Sept. 29th and a record release show in Olympia on the 30th. The album can be found over at Aphonia Recordings and our dearest Foxdye will be opening at both performances.
*Some of Olympia's best female poets will be reading at an event called Godiva Speaks this Friday, the 30th at 6pm. Gaia Thomas, Jeanne Lohmann, Lucia Perillo, and many others will be making for a rare gathering of great poets.
More soon.

September's Distro Update

2011-09-14T01:24:00.000-07:00

Arriving
Barren Nieces- Lascivious Occupations (Tape) ($5)- This is my favorite album of 2011. Since getting it, I have let it flip endlessly and have not tired of it. It's that good.
Basic Paper Airplane #5 (Zine) ($2)- The current state of the United States as seen from car windows mixes with historical oddities of Americana.
Caboose #7: Britney Spears 101 (Book) ($5)- The 2nd edition of this 100+ page book on the life and times of Britney Spears…through the eyes of cancer patient.
DIY or Don't We? #3 (Zine) ($3)- Focusing on food and the way it makes a community. As always, inspiring and made with gorgeous simplicity.
Jordan O' Jordan- Drawn Onward (CD) ($10)- Put simply: this is the Jordan O’ Jordan masterpiece we have all been waiting for.
Keeper's Kanzine #1 (Zine) ($3)- Just in time for the canning season! A fun and attractive zine of canning recipes and awesome canning-related things.
Keeper's Kanzine #2 (Zine) ($3)- A host of contributors weigh in on the best recipes and ideas for saving the harvest.
Poppet- Unitard Galaxy (Doll & Thumbdrive) ($20)- A small handmade doll carries a thumbdrive with a 16 song collection, wonderfully known as Unitard Galaxy.
Shenandoah Davis- Two Cover Songs (7") ($6)- Seattle’s own Shenandoah Davis works her magic on a Paleo song and a Shelby Sifers song.
Shotgun Seamstress #1 (Zine) ($3)- The one that started it all, back in print for a limited time!
Shotgun Seamstress #3 (Zine) ($3)- Mick Collins, royalty battles, Kali Boyle, no capitalism, comic, Alvin Baltrop, free travel.
Shotgun Seamstress #4 (Zine) ($3)- Focusing the black punk perspective into the world of visual art.
Sugar and Heartstrings #5 (Zine) ($3)- Touring Europe, hormone therapy, the bubble of the Northwest, breaking up, redefining radical.

Returning
Awkward Sex (Zine) ($4)
Hyena in Petticoats: A Mary Wollstonecraft Zine (Zine) ($4)

Ilse Content Vol. 5 (Zine) ($3)

Ilse Content Vol. 10 (Zine) ($3)

Shotgun Seamstress #2 (Zine) ($3)

Shotgun Seamstress #5 (Zine) ($3)

Truckface #12 (Zine) ($3)

Truckface #13 (Zine) ($3)

Mp3's(we haven't done this section for a few months, so here's some catching up!)
Barren Nieces- Nevada (off Lascivious Occupations)
Christmas- Winter (off Self-Titled LP)
Corespondents- Westminster Fuller (off Hairy Ghost Pipefish)
Crayon- Penny Lock (off VA- Julep: Another Yoyo Studio Compilation)
DJ Dogwater- Bumper Lullaby (off Back from Fighting Nazis on the Moon)
Jordan O' Jordan- Lever, Leave Here (off Drawn Onward)
Letters- Hideaway (off All the Adventures to See Them I Will)
Poppet- The Crustacean (off Unitard Galaxy)
World History- Forcefield (Beck Cover) (off VA- A Tribute to One Foot in the Grave)
You Are Plural- Broken Arrow (off Hand it Over)

News
*Our very own Prince Zine has made The Bitch List in the Fall, 2011 issue of Bitch Magazine. We are so honored.Here's the review.
*Our dear friends at The Northern/Olympia All Ages Project are raising funds for a new home after their building got unexpectedly sold! Donations are being accepted over at The Northern Kickstarter campaign.
*Our friends in Portland have started a lovely little vintage shop called Reunion. Check them out over on 17th and SE Morrison if you're in PDX and at their website, if you're not.
*Olympia/Seattle zinesters: Nicki from DIY or Don't We? is working on a zine video project with zinesters telling their stories. Want to be involved? You should! Email her at diy diy.or.dont.we(at)gmail(dot)com
*Cock and Swan was intriguingly interviewed over at Delusions of Adequacy.
*The new Letters album was glowingly reviewed on Fensepost.
*Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3 had a nice write up in the Olympia Power & Light this month.
*And I don't know how we'll fill orders if the entire postal system crashes, but we're taking suggestions now (just in case).
Until next month,
JJ/Chask'e/MVPD

Prince Zine reviewed in Bitch Magazine!

2011-09-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

Our very own Prince Zine has made The Bitch List in the Fall, 2011 issue of Bitch Magazine. We are so honored.
"What do Prince and 'the wives of Washington' have in common? That would be 'Darling Nikki', the titillating track off 1984's Purple Rain, whose racy lyrics sent then-senator Al Gore's wife, Tipper, on a crusade to save the world from the devil's music. Joshua James Amberson recounts these and other fun facts in his substantial compendium of Prince appreciation. Amberson notes in the introduction that, while he's not necessarily the purple one's biggest fan, 'I love when famous people do weird things with their fame.' His insights on Prince's movies (apparently Madonna turned down a role in Graffiti Bridge because 'the screenplay was awful'), beloved side players (Wendy and Lisa!), and music-industry battles combine with Rachel Lee-Carman's killer sketches of the artist for a fun, if emphatically not comprehensive, read. The Prince Zine illustrates that Prince has his highs and lows, but that's not why he wears heels." -Bitch Magazine

August Distro Update

2011-08-09T01:37:00.000-07:00

Things of interest: most new items in a single month? Perhaps, yes. Some classics from the Yoyo Records catalog (including an actual yo-yo!), plus a brand new release (today!) on Yoyo from MVPD house band, Letters. One zine that's back from a ten year hiatus while our favorite zine just reached its tenth issue. Proudly serving as the U.S. distributor for awesome European-made goodnesses (Shape & Situate #2 & the new Foxdye 12", to be specific). Missed the Portland Zine Symposium for the first time in years, so having a sale because of it. Dahlias are blooming, sunflowers aren't quite there yet.

Nuevo
8-Track Mind (Zine) ($3)- A look at the future of paper media and analog technologies in the digital present.
Angry Violist #4 (Zine) ($3) -The best issue yet of the zine dedicated to “adventures in alternative string playing”.
Christmas- Self-Titled (LP) ($12)- The type of band that makes me believe in the power of rock n' roll again.
Christmas- Metal (7") ($6)- "Pies" on the A-side and "El Colorado" on the B. It's Christmas, so of course the fun ensues.
Christmas- Winter (7")- "Winter" on the A-side, "Gut + Castle" on the B-side, total Christmas madness throughout.
Corespondents- Hairy Ghost Pipeline (CD) ($10)- Intricate guitar ambiance from Seattle's Corespondents.
Corespondents- Hairy Ghost Pipeline (CD & DVD) ($15)- The Hairy Ghosts Pipeline CD plus a DVD of work from Seattle video artists.
Corespondents T-Shirt (T-Shirt) ($15)- Spoon-tastic shirts from Seattle's Corespondents.
Dogwater- Back From Fighting Nazis on the Moon (Tape) ($3)- Sound collage in the tradition of Negativland. Weird fun, hilarity, occasionally groovy.
Field Guide to the Aliens of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season One (Zine) ($2) - A zine written from the perspective of an 11 year old boy in 1990 who is obsessed with the character Data because he can't deal with his mom's panic attacks and emotional outbursts.
Foxdye- Self-Titled (12") ($13)- Four songs from (the cd-only) Monsters of Meme release are pressed and ready for excessive spinning. Cover art by Kinoko.
Ilse Content Vol. 10 (Zine) ($3)- This, the tenth issue (!) of Ilse Content is the “home” issue. Places lived, the home you carry inside, travel, displacement, moving and staying put.
Letters- All the Adventures to See Them I Will (CD) ($8)- Cassette tapes mix with dance beats and ambient-noise soundscapes, all under the guise of indie folk music.
Letters- That Which We Do Not Yet Know How to Say (Tape) ($5)- Letters' "noise" album. Howling feedback mixes with Philip Glass-ish pulses, Mick Turner soundscapes, and droning ambience.
Love is Not Constantly Wondering if You're Making the Biggest Mistake of Your Life (Book) ($6)- Brilliantly styled as a Choose Your Own Adventure book, this spoof is "about being an ace starfighter pilot who has crashed on a planet of malevolent space ants, but it is actually about a four year relationship with an incredibly self-destructive alcoholic."
Peaches & Bats Vol. 8 (Zine/Literary Journal) ($5)- A literary journal of the most interesting quality. Poetry, experimental writings, interviews.
Shape & Situate # 2: Posters of Inspirational European Women (Zine) ($5)- Another issue of fascinating history and bad ass feminism.
VA- Julep: Another Yoyo Studio Compilation (Tape) ($3)- An Olympia classic from 1993. Noise pop, punk, twee, and riot grrrl gracefully collide.
VA- Throw: The Yoyo Studio Compilation (CD) ($5)- The compilation that got people moving in droves to Olympia in the early 90's.
VA- Yoyo-a-Gogo 1999 (CD) ($5)- Excellent live recordings from the legendary festival.
Where You From #2 (Zine) ($3)- Another fantastic issue from this zine about hometowns. Various authors (including our own Joshua James) give their thoughts on where they're from.
Without Words & Without Kneeling #9 (Zine) ($3)- In the absolute best possible way: a radical soap opera.
Yoyo-a-Gogo Yo-Yo (Yo-Yo) ($3)- An adorable yo-yo at an affordable price. From the classic Olympia Yoyo-a-Gogo festivals.

With Us Once Again
Corespondents- Ur (CD) ($10)
Hyena in Petticoats: A Mary Wollstonecraft Zine (Zine) ($4)
Ilse Content Vol. 6 (Zine) ($1)
Kickball- Everything is a Miracle Nothing is (10") ($12)
Peaches & Bats Vol. 6 (Zine/Literary Journal) ($5)
Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide (Zine) ($2)
Signals #4 (Zine) ($5)
Signals #5 (Zine) ($4)
Sugar and Heartstrings Vol. 4 (Zine) ($3)
Tattered Dress- Self-Titled (CD) ($10)

Newsies
*Our dear friend Julia Wills started a natural soap company you should totally check out and give your support to.
*Last week we had the pleasure of seeing (and participating in) Tomas Moniz reading from the new Rad Dad book and it was fantastic. As always, we encourage everybody (not just parents) to support his work and check out this wonderful new collection.
*I'll be out on Letters tour for the next couple weeks and took a minute to make a Letters website the other day (you should check it out).
*Apologies to those who looked for us at the Portland Zine Symposium this weekend and could not find us, as stated above, we're having a sale this week to say sorry.
*Many congrats to distro friends Amanda Wolf and Vincent Calvetti on their wedding this past weekend!
Until next month,
JJ/Chask'e/MVPD
--
Ms Valerie Park Distro (new website!)
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Etsy Page

The "Sorry for Missing Portland Zine Symposium" Sale

2011-08-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Many people have now expressed their concern/surprise/sadness that we didn't make it to the Portland Zine Symposium this year and we just wanted to say: sorry! Through a variety of busy summer plans, we weren't able to get it together this year- even though we always do it and we know that's the way a lot of people connect with us every year.
As a way of saying sorry, we're having a sale this week! There are two ways to go about it (you can do both, too):
1. Order $10+ from our website and get a free zine of your choice. Just put the zine's name in the Paypal instructions, or send us a separate email.
2. 15% any order on our Etsy store! Just enter "PZS15" when checking out.
See, it's almost like we were at the Zine Symposium this weekend.
Questions? Let us know! msvaleriepark(at)gmail(dot)com

August's Feature of the Month

2011-08-01T10:08:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I got the pleasure of being in Chicago for the first time and, as is required of a zine enthusiast, spending my first extended period of time at Quimby's, the legendary bookstore that carries more zines than any retail location I've ever seen. After being overwhelmed, I asked Liz who works there (and also does the Caboose zine) for recommendations and she show me 8-Track Mind, which editor Russ Forster had just dropped off.
It was fate. I read it on the train back to where I was staying and was in love.
"This issue of 8-Track Mind comes after a ten year (!) hiatus and is by far one of the best zines I’ve read in a long time. No longer purely an 8-track fanzine, it is now a look at the future of paper media and analog technologies in the digital present. Editor Russ Forster asks 14 people who have been creating for long enough to be considered legends (from filmmakers to authors, magazine publishers to members of punk bands) the simple question “zines vs. blogs?” and gets an amazingly wide range of thoughts on everything from the collectors’ market to 8-track Boy Scout merit badges. Fascinating and sometimes hilarious, refreshingly level-headed."

Distro Update for July

2011-07-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

These days, the Ms Valerie Park Distro is glamorously operating from many different locations at once. We’re in Olympia packing orders and stocking shelves and (at the same time!) out on the road doing paperwork and responding to emails. It makes us feel big, grand even. But we’re trying to not let this go to our heads and remember that we scrape by mostly through selling $3 zines to the masses. And we are humbled by such reminders and thankful to have such great friends supporting us, no matter where we are.
Newbies
Eleanor Murray- Thunderling (LP) ($12)- Re-imagining last year’s Oh Thunder album and turning it into something a little different- more raw, rocking, dark.
Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills (Book) ($7)- a wonderful guide to being consciously domestic. A surprise and continual bestseller at independent bookstores the world over.
Mend My Dress #8 (Zine) ($2)- The next four single sheet installments of Mend My Dress are here, adding up to become issue #8.
Paper Radio #6 (Zine) ($4)- Paper Radio is the new name for the long-running Signals zine. Yet another great examination of radio and media culture.
Rad Dad #20 (Zine) ($3)- If being on the verge of becoming a book (!!!) isn’t enough, Rad Dad celebrates its 20th issue.
Show & Tell #7 (Zine) ($3)- Charming tales of childhood & family, church, maps, and baptism in Vegas.
Show & Tell #8 (Zine) ($3)- Connecting to nature, meditating on home, people living together, loneliness, fairness, day to day folk art, magic, fire.
Spore Sticker 3-Pack (Stickers) ($3)- A three pack of mushroom spore (and mushroom harvesting tool) stickers from Olympia’s own Spore Liberation Front.
These Here Are Crazy Times #3 (Zine)($2)- The long-awaited third issue of Sarah May (Loose Lips Sink Ships, DIY Guide to Reno)'s main zine is finally here!
VA- A Tribute to One Foot in the Grave (CD) ($5)- My favorite Beck album and one of my favorite K Records albums of all time gets paid the tribute it deserves from some of Seattle and Olympia’s finest.
Virgin #2 (Zine) ($1.50)- Issue #2 of Virgin gives us six different perspectives on virginity, all fascinating.
Without Words & Without Kneeling #8 (Zine) ($3)- The continuing saga of an anarchist book club and the characters’ relationships to each other and the works they read.
You Are Plural- Hand it Over (CD) ($8)- an absolutely gorgeous combination of cello, wurlitzer, and voices.
Joining Us Again
DIY or Don't We? #1 (Zine) ($3)
DIY or Don't We? #2 (Zine) ($3)
Foxdye- Close Hearts Over Far Hills (Tape) ($6)
Foxdye- M4g1c47 G71mm3r1ng R41nb0w (CD) ($10)
Loose Lips Sink Ships (Zine) ($2)
The Ovens- Self-Titled (Tape) ($5)
Signals #4 (Zine) ($5)
Signals #5 (Zine) ($4)
Tattered Dress- Self-Titled (CD) ($10)
Truckface #14 (Zine) ($3)
Without Words & Without Kneeling #6 (Zine) ($3)
News
*The half of MVPD that is touring the country right now is headed from Jamestown, NY to Cleveland, OH today. You can check out tour updates over at the Eleanor Murray website.
*July brings the 3rd Annual Olympia 24 Zine event at the Oly Timberland Library, Friday, July 29th, 1-9pm. Zine making, zinester open mic, epic dance party with Gumar and his Magical Midi Band. Should be fun.
*Speaking of the amazing Olympia Timberland Library, if a Cindy Crabb/Snarlas event wasn't rad enough, they're bringing Rad Dad editor and founder Tomas Moniz to town on Aug 3rd at 7:30pm, as part of his book tour. Nikki McClure, Sky Cosby, and (our own) Joshua James Amberson will be sharing the stage.
*Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3 has been getting reviewed all over the place, more so than we can provide links to here, but we wrote a few words about it on our blog a couple weeks ago.
*A children's book is being made from a song by our dear friend Jordan O' Jordan. Called A Mountain Lullaby, it's currently having funds raised for it at the We Heart Arts organization.
*David Lester of the long-running, inspiringly-DIY, friends-by-association, Mecca Normal, recently published an awesome looking political graphic novel called The Listener.
*Our buddies at LAKE recently were the NPR Song of the Day.
*And lastly, just wanted to say that June was a super great month here at the distro. So, as always, thanks for helping make it so and spreading the word. It's totally appreciated.

Make Your Place

2011-06-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Through a conversation with Ms. Raleigh Briggs, we ended up carrying her Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills book. And we couldn't be more excited.
Raleigh Briggs brings us her wonderful guide to being consciously domestic. A surprise and continual bestseller at independent bookstores the world over. “Make Your Place is a forceful antidote to the cheapening of thrift culture: a meticulously hand-lettered, pint-size volume of natural first aid, nontoxic cleaning and body care, and gardening know-how. When you raise your fist against the values that derailed our economy, lift this book in it.” -Utne Reader

Well, I: The first couple weeks

2011-06-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

So, this has been an exciting first couple weeks of Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3. It has gotten more press and sold more than any of the volumes that came before and for this we are quite pleased and thankful. The Bandcamp site has gotten almost 2,000 plays since the June 1st release date and has gotten posted on music blogs all over the place- Seattle Show Gal wrote our favorite words about it. On the road, we've sold a good amount to people around the west coast and southwest and hope to keep bringing them from town to town for the next two months. Here are the two songs that have gotten the most postings around blog town.
Little Angry- From a Fond Telephone
Letters- Oceanwide

Beck tribute album!

2011-06-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

I remember hearing Beck's "One Foot in the Grave" album when I was 14 and my mind getting blown. I'd already discovered that Beck ran a lot deeper than the "Loser" buzz clip that had made him a slacker alterna-rock star by ordering "Stereopathetic Soul Manure" from a Flipside mail order catalog, but "One Foot in the Grave" was not the random home recording adventure of Stereopathetic, but a focused metaphysical folk album. It was something that I hadn't heard a modern singer do and I think it influenced my tastes for years to come.
The One Foot in the Grave Tribute album is awesome. Put together by Seattle photographer and house show booker, Joseph Peter, its got some of my absolute favorites: Christopher Francis, Cock and Swan, The Pica Beats, World History, Twig Palace, and Jordan O’ Jordan...and they are but a few of the star-studded treatment this album gets.

May/June Distro Update

2011-06-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

(Newbies)
Chung Antique- Go Poetry (Tape) ($5)- Math-y, instrumental post punk out of Olympia. Melodic, jangly, and easy to get lost in.
Jesus Christ Superzine Vol 2 (Zine) ($3)- After years of waiting, the follow-up to Ariel Birks’ award-nominated zine of adventures as an Evangelical teen is finally here!
Mend My Dress #7 (Zine) ($1)- Another zine that's taken years of absence, now back with intensity.
Moon Diary (DVD) ($12)- In this tragically beautiful short-length animated film, we're given a week through the dream-like eyes of the moon.
The Northern Rail- Eves (CD) ($8)- Beautiful dark folk out of Olympia. Gothic, witch-y, woods-y, lush, completely gorgeous.

Shit's Fucked: A Positivity Guide (Zine) ($2)- This is a small self-help manual by Gina Sarti, who is perhaps the punk rock Sark.
Tattered Dress- Self-Titled (CD) ($10)- Eleanor Murray and Pamela Margon combine to play to make 9 gorgeous songs of old time folk fiddle goodness.

Too Dark to See (Zine/Comic) ($5)- Julia Gfrörer's latest, a story of a relationship’s deterioration and a mysterious shadow side.
VA- Summer Soul Vol. 6 (Tape) ($5)- 23 songs from the early days of soul music when rhythm & blues, early rock n’ roll and doo wop could all be one-in-the-same.
VA- Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol 3 (CD) ($5)- 20 previously unreleased tracks from Olympia, the Northwest, and beyond.
Without Words & Without Kneeling #7 (Zine) ($3)- Another wonderful installment in the Great American Zine Novella (at least that’s what i’m calling it).
Without Words & Without Kneeling: The First Six Issues (Zine) ($6)- Tomas has done the favor of putting together the first six issues into this whopping 96 page(!) zine.

(Restocks)
Basic Paper Airplane #3 (Zine) ($3)
Basic Paper Airplane #4 (Zine) ($3)
Dum Thumbz (Zine) ($3)
Jesus Christ Superzine Vol 1 (Zine) ($3)
Letters- Plays Selections from the Tapestry Songbook (CD) ($5)
Letters & If It Ain't Breakfast Don't Fix It- Scattered Areas (CD) ($5)
Nextdoor Neighbors- Magic Vs. The Machine (CD) ($12)
Rad Dad #18 (Zine) ($3)
Rad Dad #19 (Zine) ($3)
VA- Summer Soul Vol 3 (Tape) ($5)
VA- Summer Soul Vol 4 (Tape) ($5)
VA- Summer Soul Vol 5 (Tape) ($5)
(Mp3's)
Chung Antique- Tim (off Go Poetry!)
Letters- Sacred Chime in Glowing Light (off the Northwest Interpretive Dance comp)
Little Angry- From a Fond Telephone (off Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3)
Mary Wells- Bye Bye Baby (off Summer Soul Vol. 6)
The Nextdoor Neighbors- Magic Vs The Machine (off Magic Vs The Machine)
The Northern Rail- Sighs to the Devil (off Eves)
Tattered Dress- Green Pea (off their Self-Titled)

(News)
*This Saturday, May 28th brings the Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3 release party. Right here in Olympia, at The Alamingo household. Twig Palace, Blindfolder, and Letters will all play some tunes, Dj's Electriot, The Baron, and Tristam Shandy will keep the party moving and Chester Malcom will be performing some stand-up comedy. $5, which comes with a copy of the new Well, I Don't See Why Not (if you buy it ahead of time, you get in for free!).
*You can also buy Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3 digitally through Bandcamp. Check it. It is remarkably easy. Pre-order up now, goes on sale first thing Thursday morning.
Summer's almost here. Until then,
JJ/MVPD

Mail Order!

2005-11-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

We know Paypal isn't for everybody. It's better this way, honestly. We kind of miss the era of distro catalogs that you'd send away for in the mail and having to send letters to get what you wanted (sigh).
Sadly, these days, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for us to do it that way, but it doesn't mean we don't do it. Within the U.S., you can send (well-concealed) cash to PO Box 2645 Olympia, Wa 98507 with a list of what you want and a couplefew dollars for shipping and those things will be on their way as soon as we get yr letter. If you'd prefer to write a check, send us an email!

Links

2005-11-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

Distros
Black Light Diner- great distro of comics, perzines, and more.
Click Clack Distro- out of Virginia, carrying zines that are "personal, political, DIY, How-To, skill sharing, mental health, and health" related.
Fight Boredom- zine distro out of Montreal, Canada, carrying a wide range of zines and posting lots of blogs and reviews.
Hen House Distro-zine distro out of Birmingham, Alabama.
Last Earth Distro- Olympia radical book distro, carrying a range of books, zines, and pamphlets that explore radical politics and counterculture ideas.
Marching Stars- UK distro of zines, buttons, and temporary tattoos.
Microcosm- giant mega-distro. Tons of great zines, books, planners, shirts, buttons, patches, etc.
Riot Grrr Distro- a more focused distro that mostly takes on zines and music that deal with feminism, queerness, gender, and the personal as political.
Stranger Danger Distro- great zine distro out of Chicago, Il. One we always turn to for a good selection.
Sweet Candy Distro- long-running distro (now based out of Olympia!) carrying zines, buttons, books, and handmade goods.
Take Care Distro- zine distro based out of Sydney, Australia.
Things You Say Distro- awesome zine distro based out of Keyport, New Jersey.

Record Labels
Anonymous Monk- Olympia label of dark folk minimalism and beautiful art prints.
Bicycle Records- long-running Olympia indie pop label.
Corpus Callosum- NW label/distro of noise and experimental oddities from around the world.
Dandelion Gold- Seattle label/collective that combines well-crafted songwriting with experimental leanings.
Dropping Gems- Portland label of future roots, stuttering beats, and low end.
Electricity and Lust- NW limited edition vinyl and printmaking label.
Fkdp Records- Portland label of broken breakcore, melting ambiance, and ravestep.
Lost Sound Tapes- Seattle tape label of indie pop all stars and sweethearts.
People in a Position to Know- limited edition and interesting-ly shaped and sized vinyl out of Olympia, Wa.
Rumbletowne- Olympia-based punk label of never-ending goodness.
Talking Helps- it's true. Limited edition vinyl collective, running out of many spots throughout the Northwest.
Wizards of the Ghost- Seattle tape label of haunting indie pop tape music.

Shops
Boy Girl Party- cuteness abounds.
Buy Olympia- independently made everything out of Portland, Or.
Earthlight Books- Walla Walla, Wa.-based bookstore.
Eberhardt Press- our go-to press! Blank books, radical pamphlets, and available for all yr printing needs.
Herbivore Botanicals- amazing vegan soap company out of Seattle, Wa.
Last Word Books- Olympia bookstore run by great guys.
Orca Books- long-running Olympia bookstore that houses many MVPD things and keeps us employed.
Quimby's Bookstore- zinester Mecca based out of Chicago, Il.
Reunion Vintage- amazing vintage clothing shop out of Portland, Or.

Sites & Blogs
Campfire Island- punk radio show, blog, and show calendar out of Olympia, Wa.
Democracy for the Cartoons- the amazing art and adventures of Seattle's Drew Christie.
Dumpster Values - Olympia's biggest and best vintage shop, amazing community space.
Funwater Awesome- the observations of Funwater Awesome author Zach Mandeville.
Letters With Mixtapes- Olympia-based music blog.
Monarch Review- Seattle-based literary journal.
Occupy Olympia- standing strong.
Punk Rock Permaculture- Olympia-based blog of permaculture ideas and happenings.
Punk Rock Preservation Society- run out of The Evergreen State College here in Olympia, Wa. Zine archivers, event organizers, and more.
Racoon Collective- Olympia arts and event organizing collective. Purveyors of Westside Artswalk.
Rad Dad- the blog of radical parenting, based on the zine of the same name, written by the amazing Tomas Moniz.
Ravenswing Zines- new spot for great zine reviews.
Resume of Charm- observations from the eyes of Resume of Charm author, Danielle Rodeo Warhola.
Syndicated Zine Reviews- an amalgamation of zine reviews.
Zine World- home to the longest running zine review publication and a great reference spot for all things necessary to the underground press!

Mailing List

2005-11-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

We do a monthly mailing list. It comes sometime between the 1st and the 15th of the month and gives a little list of new things and things we've restocked. There's also usually some mp3's (sometimes whole albums, or live sets) attached and some news about what's going on with distro friends, interesting articles, or events. We never send you anything else (unsolicited, that is) other than this once-a-month thing. We promise.
To join, just send us yr email!

2010 Bestsellers

2005-11-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

1. Basic Paper Airplane #3 (Zine)
2. VA- Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol 1 (CD)
3. Jesus Christ Superzine Vol 1 (Zine)
4. VA- Summer Soul Vol 3 (Tape)
5. Va- Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol Two (CD)
6. Hyena in Petticoats: A Mary Wollstonecraft Zine (Zine)
7. Letters- Plays Selections from the Tapestry Songbook (CD)
8. Friends of Polly (Zine)
9. Radical Mycology (Zine)
10. DIY or Don't We? A Zine About Community (Zine)
11. 2011 Eberhardt/Justseeds Organizer (Planner)
12. Loose Lips Sink Ships (Zine)
13. VA- Summer Soul Vol 4 (Tape)
14. Ilse Content Vol 5 (Zine)
15. DIY Guide to Drums (Book)
16. Ilse Content Vol 8 (Zine)
17. DIY or Don't We? Number Two (Zine)
18. Funwater Awesome #2 (Zine)
19. Ilse Content Vol 9 (Zine)
20. Miami, You've Got Style: A Little Golden Girls Book (Book)