You Could Do Worse

#5 $3 (P.O. Box 76647, Cedar Rapids, IA 52407)
by J. Lianna Ness

Don’t let the name fool you. You Could Do Worse is a hip, high-grade, tri-monthly publication that has something for everyone. This 66-page issue is packed with lots of intriguing and multifarious columns, and covers a broad range of music (including rap and world music). The reviews, which include fanzines and live shows, are concise and arranged alphabetically. There are interviews with local (Iowa) and national acts (Goo Goo Dolls, Steel Pole Bathtub, Chevy Heston [who’s worked with Lollipop‘s very own William Ham], etc.), cartoons, fiction, essays, great photography, and so much more. Excellent layout, quality printing, and a high-caliber cover make this first-rate. Highly recommended.