Thanks to Jay at Arthur for many things, among them his long-time practice of putting his free magazine out for download the instant it’s done, so people who can’t wait for print copies—or possibly can’t get print copies if they live somewhere the Arthur seeds have yet to root, though the magazine offers direct distro options if you’d like to get involved—can still make sure their minds stay a little more lively and alive. I personally am a proud fan of (and very proud occasional contributor to) Arthur, which is basically the last human magazine in America—Jay and former partner Laris started with nothing but absolute dedication to an idea, and put together the first publication that (to my caveman perceptions) connected in any meaningful way the lost rock presses of the ’60s and ’70s to music and movements happening now. I couldn’t say exactly what links the philosophically unlimited topics in each issue without spending way more time on a blog post than I am administratively advised, but maybe I can at least clarify some of what I mean by saying that Arthur is one of the few publications I trust—although they get casual knocks for covering too much hippie-ism, those come from the same people who think Lavender Diamond is “ironic” so that counts for about nothing, and every time a new issue pokes out, my feelings toward the future improve. Contents and download links immediately after this late valentine, huh? Also: check out Galactic Zoo Dossier, which you can get at Fingerprints this very day, if you want.

PDF files of Arthur No. 28: PART ONE, PART TWO and PART THREE.

“The Woman Who Knows Too Much”: For over two decades, she has terrified and enraptured audiences with plague masses, homicidal love songs and sensational vocal and piano acrobatics. Meet DIAMANDA GALAS: avenging queen of the damned, obvious musical genius and the only person alive who’s a fan of both Doris Day and Vlad the Impaler. By John Payne, with photography by Susanna Howe.

“Guerrilla Warfare”: What happens when bands play live where they’re not supposed to? Paul Moody dissects the London GUERRILLA GIG scene of the early ’00s spawned by the Libertines. Plus: No Age’s recent daylight guerrilla gig by the L.A. River, with photos by Joshua Pressman.

“Reign of Blood”: Erik Morse tells the amazing-but-true, blood-drenched story of how fictional pulp criminal FANTOMAS begat numerous classics of early cinema and inspired the most revolutionary art movements of the 20th Century.

“The Girls Who Fell To Earth”: Clothes make the alien. Photography and styling by Molly Frances and Mark Frohman.

“Do the Math”: When the Man went after Dave Reeves, Dave took notes.

“Applied Magic(k)”: How to use a magic wand, by The Center for Tactical Magic.

Zodiac by Molly Frances: 2008 is a ‘1 year’ in numerology. Time to draw up those blueprints for the future of you.

“The Analog Life”: The debut of a new column by ERIK DAVIS exploring cultural life outside the ascendant empire of the digital.

“21 Recently Discovered Delights”: Farmer Dave Scher waxes enthusiastic about aging, elliptical machines, using your left hand and more.

“Where’d You Get That Name ‘Arthur’ From?”: If you don’t know, now you do. Art by Joseph Remnant.

Plastic Crimewave salutes the late CHARLIE NOTHING

“Strings” by PShaw: the final episode

“People Are Talking About” by Brian J. Davis

“Bull Tongue”: Columnists Byron Coley & Thurston Moore review the latest burps and gurgles from the deep underground.

C & D: Two pseudonymous know-it-alls get their comeuppance while still having the last word on new records by The Carbonas, Beach House, Cloudland Canyon, Clark, Earth, Dead Meadow, Graveyard, Monade, The Dirtbombs and a live one by Harmonia. Stephen Malkmus makes a cameo, discussing the meaning of golf

Tags: arthur, fingerprints, galactic zoo dossier