1986-87 (collected 1988) / Ecomics / 126 pages / UK
****
"Matured" would be a completely inappropriate choice of phrase, but the DIY 'zine has established a professional pisstake production line as it enters the second half of the '80s, though still with plenty of typos keeping it real. Newcomers Buster Gonad, Terry Fuckwitt, Finbarr Saunders and Mrs Brady would provide handy repeatable formulae, supplemented by an endless parade of less enduring characters with names like Davy McGraw and His Unbelievable Magic Door and Raymond Porter and His Bucket of Water. Like all the inane features, a lot of this is funnier in theory than execution, but they still have to fill the page after they've got the laugh.
1999 / Ebook / 124 pages / UK
***
Explores the multi-faceted musical, poetic and social influences that blended to make a cutting-edge, depressing and unlistenable opera.
2008 / Ebook / 160 pages / UK
***
A decent overview of the minimalist art punk suite, interspersed with repetitive quotes from other notable musicians giving exactly the same take about how this band was different.
2014 / Ebook / 196 pages / Canada
***
It does, but top marks for effort. If he had to write this because he lost a bet, or to prove the pointless pretension of formulaic film studies, he really threw himself into it, he almost had me.
2018 / Ebook / 240 pages / Various
****
A pleasing package of communal contemplations. No earth-shattering revelations, but a great excuse to indulge in a marathon. Here's hoping Popoff's reliable formula is eventually extended to every band out there.
