Stop Smiling, “the magazine for high-minded lowlifes,” just published its second annual interview issue. The lineup is stellar. Some of the more well-known interviewees include Jay-Z, David Cronenberg, Paul Verhoeven, Lee Hazlewood and Nigella Lawson. While some of the interview subjects might be unknown to the average reader, the interviews are insightful enough to make readers want to dive in.

The writing in Stop Smiling is consistently high quality, though few of its contributors were immediately familiar to me. The magazine does seem to be attracting the attention of some more well-known writers. The most recent issue has contributions from renowned hip hop writer Dave Tompkins and New Yorker television critic Nancy Franklin.

A few highlights in this issue:

• Gary McMahon’s heartfelt tribute to Factory Records founder Tony Wilson.
• A beautiful collection of Neil Leifer’s sports photography.
• Michael A. Gonzales’ interview with Jay-Z, where he gets Shawn Carter to talk about his childhood in the Marcy Projects and African-American culture’s fascination with gangster movies.
• James Hughes’ interviews with director and screenwriter Paul Verhoeven and author Tim Weiner, who talks about the failings of the CIA.
• Patrick Z. McGavin’s interview with director Todd Haynes about his Bob Dylan sort-of-biopic, “I’m Not There,” which works as an excellent supplement to understanding the film.
• Damon Locks’ brief but great interview with Bad Brains’ bassist Daryl Jennifer on his influences and his opinion of the Afro-Punk movement.

There are a few weak points as well. The Nigella Lawson interview is really a profile. Nancy Franklin’s talk with author A.M. Holmes had potential to be interesting but felt a bit like filler. Overall, this is an excellent issue with only a few weak spots. Let’s hope the third annual interview issue of Stop Smiling is as good as the first two.

The Chicago-based magazine is available at several independent bookstores and record shops (a full list here). Subscriptions are available for up to two years, with nice bonuses, including limited edition 7′ records, CDs and DVDs. They can be ordered online at the Stop Smiling online store. They also maintain a well-designed website for the magazine, along with a blog and several online exclusives.

Me Magazine is a fantastic concept. Each issue is devoted to one individual. All the stories are interviews with friends and family of that person, about that person. By the end of the issue, you know this random stranger in an entirely new way. Or, at least, you should.

Issue 13 was about Ryan Donowho, an actor and musician that I’d never heard of. And, sadly, this issue shows the weakness of the concept. Because when the central character is weak, the whole issue is weak. Even after reading it, I still feel like I don’t know Ryan Donowho … and don’t really care.

Still, I love the concept of the magazine and the potential is great. Imagine the stories intersecting with each other, the same way our lives do. I have high hopes for the next issue.

Further Reading: Me Magazine is, naturally, on the MySpace as is Ryan DonoWho.