‘Sup is to interviews that Shredding Paper is to reviews. However, interviews can be constructed a myriad of ways and questions can be asked pretty much any way to get to any final point. To keep it short, interviews are a much more versatile way to get to know a band or act, and allow for the act to verify or deny certain things that must be taken as speculation during a review. ‘Sup really runs a gamut of different styles, moving freely between indie-rock and punk to rap and emo, interviewing Nada Surf, Murs, Ted Leo, and Paul Barman all in the same issue of the magazine. Even the reviews in ‘Sup are more cultured and well-rounded than the average ones found in an independent magazine, pretty much achieving Pitchfork Media-deepness with much less fluff than Pitchfork tends to throw in with each review. A sort of know-it-all smugness runs its course through the magazine, whether it be the editor’s claim that they are known as a zine that talks to all the big bands before they hit it big, or the MC Paul Barman interview in which Paul himself takes a very condescending tone. The layout is pretty typical, with everything placed into columns, broken up into the typical picture/text dialogue, and the advertisements even look snazzy! ‘Sup is probably also the only zine I’ve ever seen that has an advertisement for a beer company – probably a small market one (“Rheingold Beerâ€), but the fact that an alcohol advertisement made it into a somewhat independent magazine still tickles me. Worth your money! (I understand its free, but its worth it even if you spent $3 or $4).
‘Sup #11 (Free, The Zoo York Institute, 1384 Broadway, NY, NY 10018)