Magazine
Sumner, Washington, USA

Published by Tom Stepheson. Started as a list of bands and releases with contact information. Expanded to include interviews and other lists related to the scene. Focused on alternative music and related genres. All produced three compilation music CDs.

“Published over a 3½ year period in the late eighties and early nineties, ACM Journal was designed to provide practical information and contacts for various alternative ministries - theatre, music, art - with an international emphasis. Publications and mail-order avenues that developed during these years began to duplicate much of the publication's material and readership.

Our subscriber base grew to well over 2000 by Issue 10, while circulation peaked at 10,000 with Issue 6. Ultimately, advertising and subscriptions were never able to fully cover printing, mailing, and cd pressing costs.

For those interested in a bit of history, ACM Journal was born from the unmet need for timely industry news during the mid-eighties when I hosted an alternative Christian radio program at Texas A&M called New Account and then Things Break with an obvious nod to Elim Hall's release of the same name. Later in Orange County, I co-hosted a show titled Off The Record' with Charles Gates.

Related outlets for alternative music and ministry at the time included DJ'ing at a couple of 'I Love Jesus Parties' in a neighboring dorm and organizing three alternative Christian dances in College Station, Texas.

A final note of trivia - there was an early predecessor to ACM Journal when I printed and circulated a two issue paper named Alatheia at Texas A&M in 1983. Humble origins indeed…”

1990 Independent

1. Dead Artist Syndrome – Dance With Me
2. Blue Trapeze – In Your Garden
3. LSU – Industry, Inc.
4. Sincerely Paul – I Saw Sin
5. Blackhouse – We Will Fight Back (Re-Mix)
6. Uthanda – The Way You Are
7. Windy Lyre – Ave

1991 Independent

1. Deitiphobia – A.O.G. (4:33)
2. Vague – One Raindrop (2:05)
3. Robert Deeble – The Kiss (edit) (5:09)
4. Hidden Faces – Glorius Day (3:45)
5. Eric H – One Inch From Dumb (2:18)
6. Go Vertical – Cure (3:57)
7. Tim McLaughlin – Ritual (3:48)
8. The Primaries – Along the Way (4:52)
9. Black Carnation – Today I Danced Upon a Fallen Tree (4:52)
10. Stinging Rain – Like a Child (3:35)
11. Mental Destruction – Metamorphoses (4:05)
12. Harborfield Gathering – Be Back Soon (4:33)
13. One Fine Day – Use a Big Brush (edit/inst) (1:52)
14. Blue Trapeze – Now I'm Sure (4:10)
15. Martyr – Get Drunk (5:03)
16. Elim Hall – Terry and the Pirates (3:51)
17. Chris Taylor & Windows – Love and Rhythm (3:22)
18. Geoff Mann – For God's Sake (4:32)
19. The Biscaynes – She Don't Care (demo) (2:50)

1992 Independent

1. Mellowdramatic Wallflowers – Spelunking Through the Chaos (2:47)
2. Three Nails – Sex Sells (0:28)
3. The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus – Psalm (4:30)
4. Hunting Man – Flower Child (3:22)
5. Waterfront – Like I Do (3:40)
6. Fat and Frantic – Last Night My Wife Hoovered My Head (2:48)
7. Cornerstone – What is Happening (4:17)
8. The Plymouth Brethren – Seasons (5:05)
9. The Happy Jerks – Cow Lift (3:00)
10. Love Coma – What’s Behind Those Eyes? (2:38)
11. Poor Old Lu – Shine (4:06)
12. Dance of the Porcupines – If You Believe (3:41)
13. The Echoing Green – Brand New Day (5:24)
14. Blenderhead – Invasion of the Brainsnatchers (4:03)
15. Situation Taboo – Live as Brothers (4:57)
16. Salt Solution – The Art of Growing Old (3:59)
17. Modest Attraction – Action (3:33)
18. Raspberry Jam – Gotta Love (4:13)
19. Sixpence None the Richer – Spotlight (4:42)
20. Sam Hill – I Believe in Freedom (3:16)
21. Three Nails – The Fall (2:24)

1993 Independent

1. Sorrow of 7 – I Could Murder (4:54)
2. The Happy Jerks – Deck the Halls (3:08)

• Archive of all ACM Journal issues