CITIZINE REVIEWS
Read what the critics are saying about CITIZINE.

CITIZINE #10 October 2005

CHICKEN-HEAD RECORDS ZINE #17 (January 2006)
by Foghorn

Citizine: Punk Rock Commentary Issue No. 10, Fall 2005
citizine.net, $3.25 U.S., $4.50 Canada
I always get happy to get these from Paul when it's review time. I like this magazine (yes, it's a fucking magazine and not a true "zine" but I fucking like it) there is always something good to read in here and this one is no exception. What I really like is the political stuff. Usually there are no bands in here that I care too much about although this one does feature an interview with Chuck and Henry from Black Flag. But, be that as it may, I always look at the political stuff first. I won't get into what they discuss in this issue but I give you three guesses on what it's about, and if you are wrong all three times, I say "Off with your head, American Infidel!"

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RAZORCAKE #31 (March 2006)
by Brian Mosher

CITIZINE #10, $3.25,
8-1/2" x 11", glossy black and white cover, 48 pgs
Citizine never disappoints. From insightful commentary on politics and the so-called war on terror, to great interviews (Henry Rollins, Chuck Dukowski, Billy Zoom), and with more reviews than you can shake your dick at, this issue is jam packed with quality. They've also got some poetry, lots of photos, and an astrology page. How you gonna beat that? Best of all, it's actually well written and printed in an easy-to-read format. As good as it gets. (Citizine, 2513 West Fourth St., LA, CA 90057, citizine@citizinemag.com)

CITIZINE #9 July 2005

CHICKEN-HEAD RECORDS ZINE #16 (October 2005)
by Foghorn

Citizine Magazine, Punk Rock Commentary, Issue #9
2513 W. Fourth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057
citizinemag.com, $3.25 U.S., $4.50 Canada
As I have stated before, I don't know what it is about this magazine, but there are never any good articles on any bands I care about. And when I do see a band listed on the cover that I would like to read about (in this case that band would be the Exploited), it turns out to be a review of a CD re-issue that came out in 1985 (that CD would be Horror Epics). Let me ask you, does one short CD review deserve to have the band listed on the cover? I almost classify that as false advertising. But one thing I must say is I do always seem to find an article that intrigues me or catches my attention. In this issue, that article was about the assassination of R.F.K. I do know, as most of you do, the inconsistencies and conspiracy theories revolving around the death of J.F.K. What I didn't know was those same things applied to R.F.K. as well. I guess they felt compelled to write about it due to the Ambassador Hotel being demolished by the L.A.U.S.D. That is the building where R.F.K. was shot and there is evidence in that building that proves Sirhan Sirhan's innocence. Anyway, I won't get into it, but i must say that did provide some interesting reading while in the crapper. I wouldn't pay the cover price for this zine, but the good thing is I always find free copies by the front door at CD Trader here in own little town (Reseda, Calif.).

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SLUG & LETTUCE #85 (November 2005)
by Europian

CITIZINE-PUNK ROCK COMMENTARY #9 (3.25 / citizine@citizine.net)
If you like old punk especially so cal stuff this is for you. The two featured interviews this issue are with Steve Albini and Billy Zoom. The Billy Zoom one is very interesting for all the background it gives on him and his really really long career. There is lots of punk news and a section of local news as well. The highlight of this zine for me though was the article on the Bobby Kennedy's assassination which is just another in a large group of sixties cover ups. The low light had to be the fake interview with C3PO about him coming out as gay which was just not funny and offensive to both gays and Star Wars fans. There are also tons of reviews and other goodies in here.

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RAZORCAKE #29 (October 2005)
by Keith Rosson

CITIZINE #9, $3.25, 11” x 8½”, offset, 52 pgs.
We make mention of heroes a lot of the timethe line seems to be drawn in the sand about having heroes and idols in punk rock. On one hand, some folks feel we should respect those that, like, carved the way before us, right? Those that forged the way for us, that helped build the foundation of what’s considered punk today. On the other, there’s such talk about the separation of band and audience, of musician and fan, how there should be no division between the two, how we should all be on equal footing. I interviewed Nofx for my first zine back in 1993. A large group of skinheads rolled up at the show and did their best to overtake and control the pit the entire time, generally acting like fuckheads and consistently starting fights and dropping kids throughout the evening. Later that night, finally sitting in the band’s tour bus after waiting nearly two hours for the interview, I asked Fat Mike and El Hefe about their obvious apathy towards the skins that night. About their indifference towards the violence that was taking place while they’d played their songs, while their between-song banter consisted of little more than their fervent declarations about how much they loved to eat pussy, while kids in the audience who’d paid to see them were getting stomped. On the bus, Fat Mike shrugged and said (and this is a near-quote), “Man, we’ve been a band for, like, ten years. I’ve been beaten up by skinheads before, lots of times. We all have. I’m just tired of it all. We’ve paid our dues. We just want to play music now.” Then El Hefe farted. I was sixteen, seventeen at the time. I was full-throttle in the arms of that aforementioned hero worship; I didn’t say anything, I didn’t call them on it, I didn’t tell them how hollow and chickenshit that answer sounded. Granted, that interview was well over ten years ago and people change. Fat Mike’s now the poster boy for Punk Voter, and has apparently become “politicized” over the past few years. But at the time he was shooting his mouth off and I was too young and starstruck to do anything but nod mutely and ask the next question. The point to all this is: yeah, people change. And we all get to make the decision to either view people as people or as someone to be placed unquestionably on some altar where they can’t be criticized. So this issue of Citizine mostly consists of short record and DVD reviews, some ads, a brief article about Sirhan’s Sirhan’s questionable conviction regarding the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and a pretty good interview with Steve Albini. All of my previous blathering is put in perspective, however, when I read the interview with X guitarist Billy Zoom. There are two reasons why I brought all of that previous stuff up. One, Billy Zoom is a Christian. Two, Billy Zoom believes Bush is “okay” and is “disturbed to see everyone get so bent out of shape and up in peoples’ faces about it.” He is talking, presumably, about the actions of the current Administration and many people’s less-than-thrilled response to Bush’s re-election. Is it fair of me to point these things out when it’s only a small section of a lengthy interview? Do I really need to even mention this sort of thing? Maybe not. He was, after all, fairly low key about it. He was by no means frothing at the mouth, talking about “the scourge of liberals” or Jesus’ might or anything like that. In the end I suppose it’s really not a huge deal, and I should probably just take Zoom at his word when it comes to his part in punk’s history and write the rest off as just some guy simply stating his opinion. But at the same time, the editor agrees with him, and it all just smacks of that same sort of starry-eyed, hero-worshipping bullshit that seems to fly right in the face of what I love so much about punk. So this one’s a mixed bag; at the very least, the interview got me thinking. But I doubt I’ll be picking up another issue of Citizine anytime soon. (Citizine, 2513 W. 4th St., LA, CA 90057)

RAZORCAKE #29 (October 2005)
by Rev. NØrb

CITIZINE #9, 52 pp., 8.5” x 11”, glossy cover, $3.25, blah blah blah
I really love Citizine. I really do. And what makes Citizine cool is the exact opposite of what makes other fanzines cool: Lack of a strong, idiosyncratic personality running the show. I mean, in this Crazy Modern Age, most fanzines are just a bunch of... well... writing, you know? Like writing, as in stuff written by people who want to be writers. Razorcake is an excellent example of this. Flip through the zine you're holding in your hands right now a little bit. What does the writing say to you, under the surface? What's the Chomskyan Deep Structure here? In large part, the writing in Razorcake says I am a good writer! Look at my writing! Isn't that good writing? I am a good writer! Aren't you interested in hearing what I have to say? I am a good writer! Now, Citizine, however, is almost a throwback to those crazy pre-internet days of the early ‘80s, when punk fanzines were not so much a collection of writing and opinions (although, of course, they were that too), but a real, honest-to-gosh way of disseminating just plain NEWS about punk rock from one corner of the country/globe to the other. Citizine actually just prints articles involving "punk news"like, say, an article about Anti-Flag signing to a major. The article isn't reprinted as a springboard into a rant by the editor, or a 3000-word diatribe by the resident kook, it is what it is: "here's something you might be interested in knowing." Citizine is also a readable length - that is to say, you can read the whole god damn thing cover to cover before the next one comes out. That seems kinda wimpy to say, but it's true - the last time i read an issue of Razorcake OR MRR OR Flipside OR Hitlist cover to cover was twenty years ago, when i read an entire issue of Flipside in the tub (i was really dirty). Let's face it: Most of today's big fanzines are too fucking large to read. Almost all of us just flip thru them, skimming for a few keywords that will catch our eye and draw us in. Most of us start reading interviews in the middle and editorials on the last paragraph, and, if we see something we like, maybe we read the whole thing. Citizine is actually thin enough that we can READ THE WHOLE DAMN THING, START TO FINISH. That sounds totally stupid, but it's totally true. Punk rock and politics, delivered in a convenient dosage size that does not overtax the time budget set aside by the consumer for perusal of punk rock literature! What a concept! Yes, i will admit that the layout of Citizine is unimaginative to a fault (the predominant typeface is Verdana; the cover is always red and black), and the interviews - while very interesting - are almost never with contemporary bands (which ain't really a problem in and of itself, but does cast doubt on Citizine's conception of punk as a living, breathing culture) (this issue had interviews with Billy Zoom and Steve Albini; last issue had interviews with Spit Stix and Derf Scratch of Fear and Kira of Black Flag). The review section - unless you're particularly interested in hearing someone explain exactly why the new REM record sucks - is pretty much useless, and, uh, Tom? Flipside circa 1984 called, they want their poetry section back - but, that said, Citizine is probably among my top five zines of the Crazy Modern Era of Now. Whoopee ding, i know. (2513 W Fourth St., LA, CA 90057)

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MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #271 (December 2005)
by Layla Gibbon

CITIZINE #9 / $3.25
8.5 x 11 - printed - 48 pages
I guess this is the printed version of a web-zine. It features interviews with Billy Zoom and Steve Albini, local LA news, and a shitload of reviews and advertisements. The Steve Albini interview was pretty interesting -- I liked the part: "You don't hear a lot that scares you anymore. Like I haven't heard anything that's as unhinged as that Void/Faith record or the Negative Approach record or Die Kreuzen records. You don't hear anything that's that unhinged now." This a pretty standard punk music zine. There's also a piece about trying to save the Ambassador hotel, an old Hollywood landmark doomed for demolition in the name of progress. I like seeing the decay of old Hollywood landmarks, it makes it apparent that culture is temporary. 2513 W. 4th St. / Los Angeles, CA 90057 / www.citizine.net

MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #272 (January 2006)
by Andy Shoup

CITIZINE #9 / $3.25
8.5 x 11 - printed - 50 pages
Punk news, DVD show and zine reviews, and a piece on the RFK assassination all in a straight-forward style make this L.A. publication worth getting your hands on. If you're a die-hard X fan (the L.A. "X", that is), the exhaustive Billy Zoom interview will make it a must have. 2513 W. 4th St. / Los Angeles, CA 90057 / www.citizine.net

CITIZINE #8 March 2005

MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #265 (June 2005)
by Ben Ditch

CITIZINE #8 / $3.25
8.5 x 11 - printed - 48 pgs
If you are the kind of person who relishes little tidbits of punk trivia about bands that broke up when you were like, four, then Citizine will probably have something for you to add to your backlog of extremely geeky and useless knowledge. In this issue you can read the second installment of a very long interview with former Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler and hear from Derf Scratch and Spit Stix of controversial LA punk band Fear. I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that contrary to recent accusations in the letters section, I have nothing against geeks. I mean, c'mon, I do fanzine reviews! Doesn't that make me a total geek automatically? Anyway, in this is issue as with all issues of Citizine you will also find loads of record reviews and a dash of political commentary.

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PUNK PLANET #69 (Sept/Oct 2005)
by Vincent Chung

CITIZINE #8
This CA-based zine continues covering punks of yore (two ex-Fear members and Kira Roessler from Black Flag). While the last issue seemed more concerned with documenting punk's history, this issue pads the nostalgia with more mainstream coverage. Reviews of Probot, NOFX, and the Beastie Boys dominate the filler.

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MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #267 (August 2005)
by Julia Booz Ullrey

CITIZINE #8 / $3.25
8.5 x 11 - printed - 50 pgs
Well, here we are again. I feel like if you are the sort to appreciate the kind of material that Citizine supplies (i.e. interviews with bands from the 80s, or who is left of them, usually who aren't even making music right now, or if they are it is not punk music, and who don't really have anything to do with punk today, and are too brain damaged from all the partying to even remember anything) then you wouldn't even read Citizine. You would read Search and Destroy, Slash, Flipside, or even old Maximums to find relevant pieces of history in interviews that actually reflect the times that spawned these bands we "worship." Goddammit. The washed-up-ass dudes who were in Fear grace these pages, and the only thing I can imagine I would be interested in reading about would be some kind of analysis of the possible effect of the blatant homophobia and bigotry that Fear championed in their stage persona, which of course does not get touched upon at all, or rather, the interviwer brings up how funny it was when Lee Ving said "It's great to be be gay and be here!" to a San Francisco crowd, and that is it. Can we afford to iconicize bands without addressing obvious antithetical views they may have against the pillar of social consciousness that some of us punx purport to uphold? There is also an interview with Kira Roessler about when she was in Black Flag, reviews of Jello with the Melvins, Frank Black & Two Pale Boys, and a whole mess of other bands.
2513 West Fourth St. / Los Angeles, CA 90057

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RAZORCAKE #27 (August 2005)
by Brian Mosher

CITIZINE #8, $3.25,
8-1/2 x 11, 48 pgs
Lots of good stuff, including part two of their interview with Kira Roessler. Also, separate interviews with Derf Scratch and Spit Stix from Fear, with very different perspectives. About a bazillion CD reviews, including Jello Biafra with the Melvins, Frank Black and Two Pale Boys, Coffin Lids (who I love!!), NOFX, Neko Case, and many more. Also some fiction, some social/political commentary, some analysis of the declining creativity of some major stars (Eminem, U2, REM), poetry, news... pretty much anything you could want. And it's all well written and cleanly laid out. Worth the $3.25. (Citizine, 2513 W. Fourth St., L.A., CA 90057)

CITIZINE #7 December 2004

MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #262 (March 2005)
by Ben Ditch

CITIZINE #7 / $3.25
8.2 x 11 - printed - 44 pgs
As can be read in the press release that accompanies this over-priced glossy, this issue contains "exclusive interviews with John Denny [sic] of LAs' Weirdos, Joey "Shithead" Keithley of DOA and Kira Roessler, former bassist for Black Flag." I got shit in the letters section last time I reviewed Citizine for not paying enough respect to the punk pioneers interviewed within its pages. Maybe I was too harsh, but I still refuse to accept that the Dead Kennedys are still "awesome and punk," even after touring without Jello and suing him. But I digress. This issue is a lot more bearable than the last one. I was totally stoked to read the Kira interview because I think she's awesome, but when I actually read it, it was pretty dissappointing. It focused almost entirely on Black Flag, and barely touched on other projects she's been involved with over the years. I guess my bone of contention with Citizine is that all the interviews are conducted over the telephone, and I think that's really obnoxious. Especially when the interviewer cuts off and interrupts the interviewee constantly. Also, some editing is sorely needed. As it is, I find myself reading through whole pages of "hello ... can you hear me?" Hello... ?" "Let me try the other line... " etc. Is that really necessary? Anyway, other than idiotic interviews you can find "irreverent looks at characters that dominate American politics and popular culture" and of course plenty of record and DVD reviews. Don't say I didn't warn you.

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PUNK PLANET #67 (May 2005)
by Vincent Chung

CITIZINE #7
With in-depth interviews with Kira Roessler (Black Flag), John Denny [sic] (Weirdos), and Joey Shithead (DOA), nothing can go wrong. While not on the edge of the underground -- the rest focuses on the independent mainstream, mainstream independents or politics -- they offer significant and intelligent insight on punk's history.

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RAZORCAKE #26 (May 2005)
by Brian Mosher

CITIZINE #7, $3.25, 8-1/2 x 11, glossy black and red cover, 44 pgs
The print version of Citizine is a compilation of reviews, interviews, and other articles previously published through their website citizinemag.com. This issue contains interviews with John Denney of L.A.'s Weirdos, Joey "Shithead" Keithley of D.O.A., and Kira Roesller, former bassist for Black Flag. There are a ton of CD reviews, as well as a few political commentary columns, some poetry, and some original artwork. Well-written, professionally laid out.

CITIZINE #6 September 2004

CHICKEN-HEAD RECORDS ZINE #12 (October 2004)
by Paul de Valera

Citizine #6 2513 West Fourth Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 $3.25
Firstly, any "Zine" that has a price tag over 2 dollars is a magazine. When the price climbs above a couple of bucks, you have to ask yourself, "I could get a burrito with this money, or an inner tube for my bike, so is worth it?" Personally, I won't let myself have enough disposable income to justify a purchase such as this. This Zine is very sharp looking and very well put together, oop s, I mean Magazine. It's a nice looking Magazine, that's what it is ... yeah. Inside we have interviews With John Doe and Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion, & others) A few articles on the next presidential elections, and some record reviews of the new Vandals and Bad Religion albums among other things. I've picked up a few of these (well, they sent them to us, that is.. yeah) and they seem to deal only with bands that were formed no sooner than 1983. So if you're into old school punk and want to read more interviews about older, well-established bands in the punk scene, then you may want to skip a burrito today and pick this up.

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REVIEWER MAGAZINE (September 2004)
by Robert Rowsey

Citizine #6 Sept. 2004, glossy zine, from T.Dubbs Enterprises, Rogg McFadden - editor, $3.25, CITIZINEmag.com
Thom White is who I've been told is the publisher of this indy-type zine. Pretty balanced politipunk coverage here. Perhaps MRR will have some company in that department. White's interests are decidedly punk rock and politics, and he's got a savvy view of both: mixing interviews with John Doe and Brian Baker and reviews of the Vandals and Bad Religion with articles about whether or not John Kerry will or would be a good President. Coming to LA from Texas (University of Texas at Austin, 1999) White seems firmly right wing in a predominantly left environment, which is the LA music scene. But on its surface, Citizine has an objective veneer. One thing I've been wanting to say: in Fahrenheit 9-11, didn't Michael Moore describe the Senate non-vote of nonsupport to get the disqualified black voters in Florida to have their votes counted, thereby allowing the current White House resident to take office? Not one Senator voted in favor ... has anyone questioned John Kerry about this? In an age when the Constitutional right of Americans to be safe in our homes and papers (meaning our personal and business communications, mail, email, telephone and otherwise) from the prying eyes of the Government, we need some more serious objectivity in the alt-press. But the question remains, is White a right-wing spy sent to infiltrate the punkrawk zine scene? And should he be closely watched?

CITIZINE #5 May 2004

MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL
by Ben Ditch

CITIZINE #5
Glossy covered interview zine. Bands that used to be cool, but then had lame reunions to cash in on their past include Dead Kennedys, and Descendents. Then there's a long interview with Tommy Ramone. He seems like a jackass. All the interviews are conducted over the telephone, seemingly unedited and basically come off as a bunch of ass kissing. However, if you are interested in what these washed up rockers have to say, check it out. Also includes record reviews and a pinch of politics.

CITIZINE #4 January 2004

REVIEWER MAGAZINE (December 2003)
by Robert Rowsey

Citizine indy zine edited by Rogg Mcfadden, Mark Pringle-music editor, Thom White-marketing director, stapled, 8.5 x 11", black and white w/ red spot color, $3, www.citizinemag.com LA-based T. Dubbs Enterprises is the org credited with publishing this big read. There's in-depth articles on national and state politics (albeit out-of-date now that the September election is over), a vox populi on the Sammy Sosa corked bat issue, and some great punk rock icon interviews, among them Black Flag legendary founder Greg Ginn and Cliff Roman of The Weirdos, and an article on Jello Biafra. When the review package came in the mail, I was immediately impressed because there's not a single ad in it. I figured, 'now that's DIY dedication.' With the high cost of printing you have to guess this is a real labor of love. There's punkrock, politics, sports, some poetry and even a page of "Asstrology" on the back cover so Citizine has something for about everyone unless ya want porno. With us seeing more political activism in the music scene, maybe things will get totally reactionary and we'll have a punkrock resurgence of the 60's with nude love-ins and stuff and lots of steaking, anarchic flower power. All we need is the draft. Their citizinemag.com website is pretty good, too, more potential there for cost-effectiveness and timeliness. Check it.

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MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL (February 2004)
by Julia Booz Ullrey

CITIZINE #4 / $3
8.5 x 11 - printed - 60 pgs
Robert and I were talking about zines. Hey Robert, when's your zine coming out? I don't know, the writing is fastly becoming dated. fastly? Don't you mean quickly? Fastly isn't a word. Let me put it this way, the writing is getting more dates than me. I understand exactly now what Robert meant about old writing after I read Citizine. For example, in the Greg Ginn interview, they ask him about the Black Flag reunion show for a benefit for cats, and he says he isn't quite sure who will be playing as Black Flag, because it is too far in the future, but that show happened in September. Or how about the California Recall election coverage? Citizine sounds all formal while rehashing information that was readily available everywhere else and doesn't belong in a punk magazine unless it has a punk slant and it totally doesn't. I forgot I wasn't reading a regular newspaper. Blech. And while we are on the subject of irrelevance, a lot of the interviewees seemed to be questioned about really old wounds and gossip, like how Klaus Fluoride was repeatedly asked about suing and getting sued by Jello Biafra and about how many fans picketed outside Dead Kennedys shows protesting them touring without Jello singing. At least there is an awesome interview with Mike Watt about life and music he makes now. I think my favorite part of this magazine is the astrology on the back cover, because it is light-hearted amid a bunch of we-take-ourselves-way-too-seriously crap. www.citizine.com

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CHICKEN-HEAD RECORDS ZINE #10
by Foghorn

Citizine Punk Rock Commentary Issue #4
T. Dubbs Enterprises, 2513 W. Fourth ST., Los Angeles, CA 90057
www.CitizineMag.com $3.00
This is more of a commercial magazine than a zine (notice the business name to contact), but this issue is not that bad at all. I was really perturbed at Issue #3 because when discussing teh only three 70's bands that mattered (Ramones, AC/DC, and Motorhead), they left out Black Sabbath and that is sacrilege in my book. I must say though, for a big business type magazine, this was very interesting reading. This issue has an interview with Greg Ginn, Mike Watt, Jerry O. from the Misfits, Klaus Fluoride from the Dead Kennedys, and Cliff Roman from The Weirdos. Also included are articles on Jello Biafra, Sammy Sosa, Anti-Flag, Morbid Angel, Metallica, and various other bands and topics (Hummers, California Recall, etc.). Also, I really like the political commentary with the articles on Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich, and of course any article with Jello is going to be very political and entertaining. So, if you are like me and liek a little politics with your punk rock, some satire, and lots of opinions to agree and disagree with, this magazine might be just right for you. And although $3.00 is a little steep to pay for it in my book, it seems worth the price being 60 pages long and printed on good quality paper.

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