Review 2007: Mark Robinson

The Boicozine Review 2007 ain’t quite over yet [boicozine/review2007]. Mark Robinson is the original D.I.Y. indie mogal and head of Teenbeat Records [teenbeat.net]. At Boicozine, we’re not just fans of the music — Mark not only enlists some of the US’s finest musicians who you’ve never heard of, but also plays in a number of bands on the label including Air Miami and Flin Flon and on a number of solo projects — we’re also big fans of much of the artwork Mark has helped produced under the moniker of Teenbeat Graphica. So without further ado were pleased to present Mr Robinson’s highlights from 2007…

Publications
National Geographic [nationalgeographic.com] – Hands-down the best. Runners-up: Good [goodmagazine.com], Beer Advocate [beeradvocate.com] – new beer aficionado’s periodical, McSweeney’s [mcsweeneys.net] – consistently great fiction / nonfiction / whatever
 
Film
I end up seeing only two or three per year in the cinema so I’m sure I missed many good ones. I’ll have to go with The Kite Runner [IMDb] and Ratatouille [IMDb]. I saw Rataouille with my kids and The Kite Runner with my mom and stepdad on Christmas. I really want to see Guy Maddin’s Brand Upon the Brain [IMDb]!
 
Design & illustration
Deerhoof’s Friend Opportunity [deerhoof.killrockstars.com] album cover illustration by David Shrigley [davidshrigley.com]. I’m kind of hot and cold with his work but I really love his spray-painted letters.
 
Events
The Somerville Art Council events in Union Square are always fun [somervilleartscouncil.org]. I discovered our local chocolate factory (well, a new small independent chocolate factory, not to be confused with the other big brands in town) called Taza [tazachocolate.com] and a beekeeper that makes his own Jamaica Plain honey.
 
Purchases
When Pigs Fly [sendbread.com] seeded whole wheat bread. Bread prices sure have gone up, but this is worth the $US4.29. A small bakery in New Hampshire that makes a variety of super duper stuff.
 
Places to Visit
Saint John, New Brunswick [tourismsaintjohn.com]. Pretty much the only place I visited in ‘07. Quaint, British, run down, beautiful. Drink St. Amboise cream stout on tap if you can find it. A superb Oatmeal stout.