Bikini
The premier issue of this square-shaped mag is filled with all kinds of tinted pictures and bizarre artwork. Printed on really neat paper, Bikini is supposedly "about what young guys are into," but unless you dig Camaros, snowboarding and progressive music, you might find yourself feeling very out of style.
A bit pricey at $3.95, Bikini is truly an eyesore and can be headache inducing when you try to decipher its poorly printed lingo. The interviews are with up-and-comers, or those that just never made it to the big time, and conducted very informally. Some get too personal and become ego trips for the reporters.
For example, a story about hip-hop act Luscious Jackson is half a page of text that describes when the band members used to dance in a club where the author was a DJ. At least it has some female writers and doesn't take itself too seriously.
Dirt
Dirt is truly the pick of the litter. With concise writing displayed in a readable yet friendly format, it has gotten past the MTV-on-cardboard approach some mags are taking.
With articles on everyday people that have done some really interesting things, Dirt manages to pull in the right elements of testosterone and the young. Band profiles on the Breeders, Fugazi and the Beastie Boys display some authenticity, selecting artists that aren't drowning in success.
Snappy pieces on oddities and interests all over the country bring life and style together, but Dirt keeps it on an available level. Slightly aimed toward the youngins', even a college grad could gain from skimming its pages. We won't hold its affiliation with teen-girl mag Sassy against it.
Details
The truly corporate entry, Details is the young man's GQ (they even have very similar post office boxes). With as many ads as a typical issue of Cosmo, don't be fooled by its 200-plus pages.
With plugs for Hennessy Cognac and Rembrandt Low Abrasion Whitening Toothpaste, Details expects its readers to have $20,000 a year to spend on clothes alone. They get the big name interviews like Uma Thurman and Howard Stern and have a well-established (and well-financed) base.
Stories range from adult circumcision to a lesson in home porno-making written by their own sexual affairs columnist. The short attention span of young males is not lost on the staff, which keeps 'em short 'n' sweet with lots of pictures -- tales of how to be cool from people who probably aren't.
Inside Edge
This sexist, shiny garbage says it's for men, but Inside Edge for Pigs might be a more appropriate title. Information is not provided unless you're interested in how to become an ignorant slimeball.
Stories on blowing off jobs and good party schools are colored with pictures of unbelievably beautiful, well-groomed dudes and dudettes, almost entirely Caucasian.
The car profiles include Alfa Romeos, BMWs and Saabs -- what every college-aged guy is driving.
This is one truly tasteless rag, full of upper-class, money-to-burn users. Only on its second issue, it already has merchandise you can buy with its name on it, so everyone can know how narrow-minded you are.
An article on venereal disease truly crosses the line, titling Herpes "The Gift That Keeps on Giving" and pubic lice "The Beach Disease."
