Anybody read this? I'm looking for a new quality music mag. I've been trying to read Wire and they are a bit too obscure for my taste and $7 per issue. RS and Spin do nothing for me, and the Brit mags aren't my bag anymore either. I don't need to talk about CMJ and its dependability issues here.

What magazines do you read?

Skyscraper
Magnet
The Big Takeover
Filter

among a whole bunch of others, these are the only ones i try to read regularly. paste tends to run a bit too NPRish in their tastes for me. The above (at least the top three) are just shitloads of reviews, which always treats me right.

I've tried just about everything.

I currently subscribe to Wax Poetics and Songlines, and more often than not pick up Uncut, Mojo and Global Rhythmn at the newstand.

I used to subscribe to:

Magnet
CMJ
Harp
No Depression

I'd subscribe to Magnet or Harp again...I really dropped both more because I'd lost most of my interest in new alt/indie stuff and they choice of freebies they were offering at my renewal time wasn't very compelling.

Based on your top 20 list on your blog, I'm guessing that you'd like Harp.

np: cmj sampler 124

Paste is pretty interesting. Definitely a quality magazine. I very much regret not having picked up the Wes Andersen issue. My only complaint is that it seems a little on the whitey/adult-contemporary side of things.

I used to think Magnet was cool, but it seems to have slipped a bit over the years.

I get to flip through most of them at work and from what I can see apart from Paste the only other interesting one is Word.

Alt. Press
Outburn
Blender
Spin
RS
CMJ Weekly/Monthly
Billboard
and 5-6 others.

Very well said. I've considered subscribing to Paste at various times in my life, and then I always pick up an issue and see that it is rather "whitey." It seems to me that Paste appeals to 40somethings and over who are still interested in music, but perhaps not as willing to explore as much. Maybe it's just me, but it also seems that they focus on the singer-songwriter slant vs. diverse music (not a lot of mention of world music, beats, electronica, etc.).

I'm now subscribing to Magnet again. It's just nice to have a music magazine come into my house every couple of months.

Why thank you.

Yeah, I've thought about subscribing to Magnet as well for the same reason. I keep putting it off though because I'm waiting for there to be a good freebie cd included.

I Read:

Under The Radar
Skyscraper
The Big Takeover (Personal Fave!!!)
Magnet

Paste is pretty good, see if you can find my monthly contribution to the magazine.

Yes, I read it. Kind of geared towards Americana.

And I didn't realize Skyscraper was still publishing. I haven't seen an issue in a while.

Urb too.

Urb used to be so on top of their shit. Now I only check the hip-hop page in the back.

I can see the "whitey" complaint about paste. Harp is focused on the same niche. Really though, I can't think of a magazine that does a good job covering all genres. You almost have to buy different magazines to focus on different types. I used to subscribe to 7-8 different mags but dropped more because I just didn't have the time to read all of them than complaints about the content.

If you are interested in exploring more non-whitey focused magazines, I think Wax Poetics is really great. It takes me a few weeks to get through an issue. Rarely do i skip a single article. They don't cover whitey music at all (100% jazz, hip hop, beats, funk, soul, and the occassional world music). Songlines which is a bit pricey is the best I've found on world music and includes a free sampler with each issue. To me these are much more valuable than the indie mags, because you can always find a well of info about indie bands on the internet but its a bit harder to duplicate the content of Wax Poetics or Songlines online.

I forgot to mention I also subscribe to Jungle Drums which is a Brazilian culture mag. I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone else as its pretty expensive and not really all that great. I'll probably renew though. If I find one good tip a year its worth it to me.

np: 400% Dynamite

I've subscribed to Paste for some time now, am white, nearing the 40 mark and like the magazine, free cd and lately free DVD of videos/short films and the like I get monthly. I'll probably re-up my subscription soon.

If I had my druthers, It'd cover a bit more alt/indie, but they do pretty ok on that front as well, and the fact that I like the idea of triple A format (Adult Album Alternative) but not the overall execution, I think this magazine fills a real solid niche in my collecting/cultural intrests.

I've also subscribed to CMJ New Music Monthly (Don't get us all started on that one again), and Uncut in the not-too-distant past and Spin & Stone way back in the way back.

To this day, I still browse newstands to try and find other outlets/voices/alternatives, but am still left wanting. [/i]

I love Uncut but just pick it up at the newstands. Out of curiousity, when you subscribe from the US, do you get much of a price break vs. the single issue price and do you still get the monthly samplers?

np: some cmj sampler from last year

i got a bit of a price break, but it was still pretty bleeepin' expensive, and yes, I got the CD's

I'm not familiar with Paste...must go take a look.

I don't subscribe to music monthlies (never have), but I do buy Mojo, Wire, Stop Smiling, and the occasional Uncut or Magnet at newstands from time-to-time. I practically subscribe to BTO...

KPH

Reasons why I like it. It's one of my favorite magazines for the fact that yes it is geared towards singer/songwriters more then anything. I guess you could say that's what I like the most musically.

I read Paste and Harp mainly. And No Depression once in a while. But I've pretty much stopped buying music mags other then that. No money, no time.

I just started picking up Paste and really enjoy it. I'm a casual fan for Americana, but I do enjoy the music. The CD alone is usually worth the price, with at least half of the songs worth it. The new one has Solomon Burke, Mary Gauthier, Of Montreal and Aqueduct on it.

Still subscribed to Magnet and Cmj and now Paste.

Paste got some nice reviews/interviews but I subcribed really just for the DVD. You get some sweet music videos.

I'm waiting for my subscription to Paste to start. I subscribed a week or two ago.

ITs been a while since i have checked out music mags..

I subscribe to the Big Takeover.

I checked out an issue of paste this past weekend- didnt seem too bad, but like the comments above, middle-aged NPRish coverage- I probably wont subscribe but might check it out from time to time.

I also picked up an issue of Amplifier, which used to be ok, but now seems really generic.

I will probably get Magnet again.. dunno

I like the whitey comparison about Paste. I tried one issue about six months ago and unfortunately quickly dismissed it. It seemed to me it was for the VH1 crowd (years ago because VH1 is now cool if you have megahits and classic) For my tastes, Paste is lame.

CMJ to me is and will always be the best. I don't subscribe, but I'd love to. You guys still get issues in the mail???

URB is now my music magazine of choice even though it's far from perfect.


np: VH1 Mega Hits!

Does Skyscraper have subscriptions? I enjoyed the last issue that I read.

Last issue I saw and/or got was Mars Volta on the cover. Their debut album was still fresh.

white bread americana, no world music or electronica - sounds like I would probably like Paste