Music Magazines - Advice Needed!

[middletoenail]

Having recently relocated jobs I have started using public transport, so for a good hour in the morning and evening I am at one with the iPod or reading!

Im trying to get a little inspiration for some new albums to listen to and want to get a subscription to a decent music magazine, the only problem is I dont know which one to choose from so Im looking to you fine folk for some advice. My musical palette is quite eclectic, although Im not massively into RAP and Electronic (Techno/Drum and Bass etc) and I would say my preference is rock/folk/indie.

I used to get the NME but have found it has gone really downhill over the last couple of years so Im thinking of either MOJO (being number one choice) or Rolling Stone, although the latter having Justin Bieber on the front has put me off!

Anyone have any advice on these or suggestions of better alternatives?

Thanks!

 

[kevo]

Mojo and Q are definitely very much aimed at the 'dad rock' market. Lots on dead rock stars, singer songwriters and boring AOR stuff. Used to like Uncut, but that seems to have gone the same way too.

It's a shame there isn't a grown-up, monthly version of NME (which I personally think will go bust very soon - there's nothing in it, they don't even do proper-length album reviews anymore). The freebie magazine, The Fly, is better. And if you are seriously into your left-field indie, there is also Artrocker - tho it tends to be quite up itself.

The best of the glossy monthlies I would say is 'The Word' - not just music, covers film etc as well, but usually lots of entertaining content and a bit more sussed than Q and Mojo.

 

[Mellotron]

Mojo sounds like it would probably suit you, but as kevo says its a shame that no one has really villed the void left by NME when they became the new Smash Hits a few years back. Q is painfully mainstream and safe.

Middletoenail, I would also suggest (if you don't already) that you engross yourself in a few podcasts, can really help to pass the time.

 

[JonathanLivingstonSeagull]

I would say The Word also. It comes each month with a CD of new music that usually contains at least a couple of gems. Great for introducing you to new artists.

 

[kevo]

Record Collector is often surprisingly quite a good read too - this month's is excellent (esp if you like Bowie and British Sea Power!)

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Online blogs are so much better for keeping up with music, like above poster all music magazines seem to be geared for dad rock or kids.

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

I would agree with the above comments that Uncut is a bit Dad Rock. It makes no real secret of the fact that Americana is what it likes best.

HOWEVER, i would still recommend it. Some great articles in there, and even though it retains a focus on 'classic' acts (the cover stars are always fairly predictable- Beatles, Stones, Led Zep, Dylan - though Paul Simon is an unusual one for next month....) it does cover loads of new music too. I've gotten into plenty of brand new stuff over the past few years because of the mag. I think it does do a decent job of being a more 'mature' step up from NME; though again i would agree with the posts above that suggest there is a gap in the market for something even better.

 

[Mellotron]

Record Collector is often surprisingly quite a good read too - this month's is excellent (esp if you like Bowie and British Sea Power!)

Ooohhhhh.

 

[house your seagull]

i read stool pigeon when i find a copy

 

[Icy Gull]

At what age do you qualify for Dad Rock? I'm probably more Grandad rock but I prefer Uncut to all the other magazines I've bought over the last couple of years. It covers new albums as they all do but I've always found magazine reviews very hit and miss, one man's "superb" is another man's "dross". You do get an idea of what the music is about though and a quick listen on itunes will let you know if it is your style or not and whether it is worth pursuing.

 

[kevo]

Ooohhhhh.

Big feature on Station to Station, and just about the best article on BSP I've read, if you like them.

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

Big feature on Station to Station, and just about the best article on BSP I've read, if you like them.

Meh. Uncut had a quality article on Station To Station MONTHS ago

In fact i bought the album off the back of it (had been meaning to for ages) and was very very happy with my purchase.

 

[kevo]

I am ashamed to say I haven't got it - and I have friends who love Bowie and reckon it's his best album. How does it compare to Hunky, Ziggy, and Low?

 

[Mellotron]

All about the Berlin trilogy for me, especially Low. Sounds good though will check it out.

 

[Mellotron]

I've got to admit to being MASSIVELY underwhelmed by British Sea Power. They seem the type of band to have very devoted fans, and before I saw them at Latitude a couple of years back I had plenty of people in my ear telling me they were superb - "like Arcade Fire, but better!"

Then saw them live and honestly couldn't recall a single moment, the songs seemed completely forgettable to me. Apologies to any BSP fans here, any of their albums recommended for me to go back and have another try?

 

[kevo]

I've got to admit to being MASSIVELY underwhelmed by British Sea Power. They seem the type of band to have very devoted fans, and before I saw them at Latitude a couple of years back I had plenty of people in my ear telling me they were superb - "like Arcade Fire, but better!"

Then saw them live and honestly couldn't recall a single moment, the songs seemed completely forgettable to me. Apologies to any BSP fans here, any of their albums recommended for me to go back and have another try?

I was at Latitude. That was a terrible gig - one of the worst I've ever seen them play (and I've seen them a lot!). And to be honest, they don't really suit large outdoor festival stages.

But I can also honestly say that they are the best live band I have ever seen. They can go through the motions occasionally, but if you catch them in a small venue when they are on fire, there is no-one else that can touch them. They p*ss all over Arcade Fire!

It's true to say they have calmed down a bit in recent years (used to end their gigs with a 20-minute improvised song, acccompanied by a ten foot bear, with most of the band members ending up in the crowd). But still well worth catching. They are playing the Komedia this week - tomorrow and Thurs.

I would say get the first album (The Decline of British Sea Power) - it's quirky and eccentric, but probably sums them up the best. The Record Collector article has an overview of all their releases.

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

I am ashamed to say I haven't got it - and I have friends who love Bowie and reckon it's his best album. How does it compare to Hunky, Ziggy, and Low?

Funnily enough Low is the only one of those three that i actually own! Though i have listened to the others.

I prefer it to Low by quite a distance - which, although i like, is a bit too minimal and even cold for my liking. Station to Station is funky but dark with a fuller sound? And i thought it worth the price just for the title track alone, which hits a riff about halfway through and then just goes on and on and on and on... but in a good way! I bought jsut the album btw, not the epic reissue package from last year.

 

[Mick Beard BHA]

I would say get the first album (The Decline of British Sea Power) - it's quirky and eccentric, but probably sums them up the best. The Record Collector article has an overview of all their releases.

At risk of completely hijacking Middletoenail's thread, if we havent already!..

I used to think i was a BSP 'fan' but i was quite disappointed with the third album, and only liked the recent Zeus EP in patches. Havent bothered getting the new album yet.

But i did like the debut. And i think the second album 'Open Season' is a wonderful record.

 

[n1 gull]

I subscribe to Q - its only £19.99 a year including postage - can't go wrong

 

[kevo]

At risk of completely hijacking Middletoenail's thread, if we havent already!..

I used to think i was a BSP 'fan' but i was quite disappointed with the third album, and only liked the recent Zeus EP in patches. Havent bothered getting the new album yet.

But i did like the debut. And i think the second album 'Open Season' is a wonderful record.

I didn't really like the Zeus EP that much either. The new album is much better (Zeus essentially being the tracks they decided to leave off).