Overview

Burn Collector compiles the first nine issues of Al Burian’s sporadically published and widely acclaimed personal zine. Beginning in the mid-nineties, Burian distributed his work through the tight-knit network of the DIY punk music scene. Burn Collector caught on because of its unusual content—in a scene rife with dogmatic political diatribes and bland record reviews, Burian presented his readers with humorous anecdotes, philosophical musings, and nuanced descriptions of odd locales and curious characters, taken mostly from outside of the punk milieu—and also because of the author’s narrative voice, which reflected the literary influences of Celine, Henry Miller, or even David Sedaris more than the influence of his contemporaries in the zine world. The writing in Burn Collector blueprinted a post-punk persona that was smart, strange, political but not correct, attached to subculture, but striving also for a connection to the world at large, and to the greater themes of human existence. The book went through six printings, along the way garnering acclaim from readers, inspiring a film (Matt McCormick’s 2009, Some Days are Better than Others) and a major label album (Thrice’s 2003, The Artist in the Ambulance). More importantly, the book inspired readers to write and self-publish: to do it themselves, in the true punk spirit.

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9781604862201

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Reviews

Al would probably deny it, but reading these stories again it's quite clear that he was the voice of a generation. --Dan Sinker, founder, Punk Planet zine

Ridiculously entertaining autobiographical accounts of [Burian's] travels and living situations in various metropolitan burgs across America. --Creative Loafing Al Burian's name invariably comes up in every list of great zines. And there's no question why, really -- he's one of the most talented writers ever to sit down and bang out a zine. --www.BoingBoing.net Al would probably deny it, but reading these stories again it's quite clear that he was the voice of a generation. --Dan Sinker, founder, Punk Planet zine Burn Collector pairs existential dread with rapacious wit. --Jessica Hopper, Punk Planet zine Burn Collector is best read aloud, alone, line by line as each piece's train wreck unfolds. Al's shrugging, self-deprecating tales camouflage a truly hopeful and humanizing perspective, and are as biting and relevant as they are unassuming. --Nate Powell, author, Swallow Me Whole

Author Information

Al Burian began producing small-run photocopied pamphlets, or zines, while touring with bands in his early 20s. Since then he has published two collections of his efforts, Natural Disaster and Things Are Meaning Less.

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