Shiny Adidas Tracksuits and the Death of Camp: And Other Essays

Rating:
Summary: Great essay compilation from brilliant but extinct mag.
Review: It's sad when things die, especially when those things are good magazines like Might. Based in San Francisco, the five times yearly pub went belly up last year despite a small and loyal readership. But alas, in the big, ugly world of glossy magazines, it's always the little guy that gets his insides handed to him on a platter. The editorial staff seems to be taking the sudden loss of employment in stride and recouped enough to compile a selection of some writing from issues past. The writing works best when it gets to the point, and rearranges what we think we know into what actually is. The brief rambling by Soul Coughing lead singer M.Doughty injects a dose of reality into the insanity of celebrity (whatever the caliber) and syndicated cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall spews venom at the institution of higher learning with "College is for Suckers." The longer musings on pop-culture like "Adidas Track Suit," "Cool Like Me," and "T-Shirts" are required reading! ! , but the fictional tome on the death of Adam Rich is lacking without the visual punch of the 1977 Eight is Enough publicity photos from the article. The selection is varied and arguably not the best of the best, but the essays give the newcomer a glimpse into the sublime joy of an issue of Might. Considering that they never paid for their writing, they attracted quite a group of contributors including David Foster Wallace, Donnell Alexander and R.U. Sirius. I think the best work was done inbetween the lines, in the small print with the recognizable and sarcastic voice that the magazine shouted with. They were smart-alecs most of the time, but could shift gears into just plain smart when needed. They were cool enough to turn the tables on people like Michael Moore (Roger & Me) and Elle MacPherson, but silly enough to 'out' people who weren't really gay. The periodical racks are a cold and unfeeling place without the well-meaning magazine that cared,and eve! ! n though I ache from the idea I'll never hold a crisp new i! ssue in my hands - this book helps dull the pain.

Rating:
Summary: buy this book. steal it if you must.
Review: its well worth 10 buck or whatever it is it costs. its good. its very good. its funny its interesting, and its unlike anything else. i never got away with anything better for my required "summer reading"

Rating:
Summary: Be the first one of your friends to buy it!
Review: There are two types of people: those who have never heard of Might magazine, and those who think it was the most original and brilliant part of 90's media. Both types will find the essays in Shiny Adidas track suits to be brave, fresh, and most importantly, very funny.