Blender
Dennis Publishing
10 issues/year
Subscribe to Blender

They Say: The ultimate music magazine.

We Say: An irreverent rasperry to the po-faced solemnity of most American rock mags, recalling the oh-so-cheesy glory days of Creem, Blender is clearly aimed at a younger crowd. They concentrate on mostly new music, but they never sneer at the past or pander to their audience -- unless, of course, they can get a good, cheap laugh out of it. In the classroom of good students, Blender is the class clown reading MAD Magazine and making farting sounds with his armpits.

Sure, it's tacky and goofy, and if they sometimes stray into puerile humour and questionable USA Today lists and polls (50 Sexiest Stars! Rock's Greatest Arguments! 50 Worst Songs!), well, they also offer way over 100 smart and concise CD reviews a month written by people who have a clue, and haven't forgotten that rock'n'roll is, after all, supposed to be about fun.

Don't be put off by the obligatory cheesecake covers -- this is a far better rock mag than Rolling Stone these days, and nowhere near as obsessed with its own image, like Spin. And in these days of ponderously solemn sky-is-falling pronouncements from the recording industry, you gotta love the snotty attitude that concludes each review with suggestions as to which tracks to download.

Bonus CD: No. Too bad.

Typical Artists Covered: No Doubt, Alicia Keys, The Strokes, Courtney Love, The Vines, Melissa Auf De Maur, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson

MOJO
Emap Metro
Subscribe to Mojo

They Say: The Music Magazine.

We Say: The British Rolling Stone, but with balls. The Redcoats just seem to do music mags better for some reason. They take music as seriously and passionately as anyone this side of Pete Townshend or Dave Marsh, but they never take themselves too seriously -- a fine line many American mags can't help but trip over. Like Uncut or its slightly hipper sister publication, Q, Mojo is sleek and polished, and covers music from all over the stylistic spectrum-- from rock to r&b, punk to country, from the past and present, so you'll finds articles on, say, The Who bumping up against an interview with Outkast or Willie Nelson. Sure, they lean towards classic rock, but that doesn't mean they don't know what's out there.

There are hundreds of record reviews in every issue, and their excellent in-depth features, often highlighting one artist or group or genre, are always well-written and entertaining and even -- get this -- educational.

Bonus CD: Most issues. As well as the obligatory year-end CD, they've lately been offering "Mojo Music Guides" to such diverse sub-genres as garage rock, soul and the blues.

Typical Artists Covered:  John Lennon, Bob Dylan, The Who, David Bowie, Rolling Stones, The Jam

Paste
Paste Media Group
Subscribe to Paste

They Say: Signs of Life in Music and Culture."

We Say: You won't find much gangsta rap or death metal spotlighted here -- Paste aims for the lucrative Adult Album Alternative market, with an emphasis on singer-songwriters and a sort of pleasantly affable, semi-acoustic, sepia-tinged Americana folk vibe, with excursions into adult pop, indie/college and world music. But their commitment to indie artists is unmatched among mainstream music mags, as evidenced by their auxilliary music site http://www.pastemusic.com.

Their reviews are occasionally a little on the bland side, and the writing a little puffy, lacking any real critical fiber, but they get bonus points for covering and supporting some of the more obscure indy acts out there (it's nice to see ads for musicians in a music mag again), particularly on their coresponding web site, and for reaching out recently to hip-hop.

They also cover books and film.

Bonus CD: With every issue. Selected cuts from a wide range of recent releases.

Typical Artists Covered: Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Wilco, Steve Earle, Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright, Bruce Cockburn, Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Ben Harper, Cat Power.

Recent writers: Chuck D., Ben Fong-Torres (former Rolling Stone editor), Bud Scoppa (The Byrd's manager)

Q
Monthly
Emap Metro
Started in 1986
Subscribe to Q

They Say: Q4Music

We Say: Q is slightly loopier (and a little hipper) than its sister mag Mojo, but still serves as an entertaing and frequently enlightening music guide with more than 200 reviews in each issue covering a wide variety of genres, plus interviews, feature articles and plenty of goofy departments, such as Cash for Questions (where readers send artists questions and win cash) and Buyer's Guide, where they sifti through a major artist's finest work, and tell you want to buy and what not to waste your money on. They really shine, though, with their lists, on such erartz topics as "The Top 100 Albums Ever," "The 90 Best Albums of The 90's" or "When Rock Stars Go Crazy - The 100 Greatest Acts of Rock'n'Roll Folly." The humour's not quite as broad as that in Blender, but you can have a lot of fun with an issue.

They also publish several special standalone editions, usually spotlighting certified classic artists such as Dylan, The Beatles and The Stones.

Bonus CD: Occasionally. The obligatory year-end CD is a must-have.

Typical Artists Covered:  Beatles, Radiohead, Oasis, The Stills

Rolling Stone
Wenner Publishing
Bi-weekly
Subscribe to Rolling Stone

They Say: All the news that fits.

We Say: The moss is growing a mite thick, doncha think?

Once the ballsy rallying cry of an entire generation, and the finger-pointing front man in the culture wars, founder/publisher Jann S. Wenner and the late jazz critic Ralph J. Gleason's Rolling Stone now keeps one toe lightly in politics, but mostly keeps their eye on "pop culture," coming off as a weird hybrid of Tiger Beat and Time. I mean, I remember Dr. Hook and even Donny Osmond making the cover back in the heyday (once!), but how many times can a magazine plop Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson or some other MTV fluffhead on the cover (with corresponding puff pieces inside), or run advertising tie-in "fashion spreads" before losing any and all street cred?

Worse, the few record reviews they still feature are often cursory, rather than concise, and their music coverage is content now to follow trends -- preferably from a safe distance -- rather than stick their necks out.

Still, some of their special issues, invariably retrospectives of one sort or another, are really something -- their year-end issues are always a pleasure, and their theme issues, such as the recent "Immortals: The Fifty Greatest Rock Artists of All Time," which featured articles on 50 great rock'n'roll artists written by 50 other mostly contemporary artists (Bruce Springsteen by Jacksdon Browne, The Who by Eddie Vetter, Ray Charles by Van Morrison, Little Richard by Little Richard), are keepers.

Aging baby boomers who lean to the left will enjoy their still top-notch political commentary, special reports and investigative photojournalism features, and Random Notes, the long-running gossip section, remains one of the juiciest sources for pop music malarkey around. Meanwhile, their feature interviews, although few and far between, are still some of the best out there. But sadly, the bulk of Rolling Stone is now aimed squarely at the younger pop-culture set, and the handful of stubborn, aging boomers who can't quite let go.

Bonus CD: No.

Typical Artists Covered:  Classic rock faves like The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, and younger artists like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Beoncé and Jessica Simpson. Jann Wenner's friends.

Spin Magazine
Monthly
Miller Publishing
Started in 1985
Subscribe to Spin Magazine

They Say: "All the Music That Rocks"

We Say: A snottier, self-consciously hipper version of Rolling Stone.

Spin was founded in 1985 by the son of Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione, and was supposed to offer a hip alternative to Rolling Stone, which by that time was definitely in calcifying mode. It lucked out and managed to ride the coattails of then-growing alternative rock movement, and even did a little of that "journalism" thing, but its primary focus was -- and continies to be -- music.

Their niche is the progressive new music scene, and with their hipness-obsession, they often come off as a little too trendier-than-thou. Whereas Rolling Stone often seems mired in the past, Spin too often appears stuck in a sort of perpetual present, never quite being able to see around the corner into tomorrow, but desperately afraid of being left behind. So they tend to jump on bandwagons.

Each issue includes reviews (generally of pretty high quality), essays, profiles and interviews on a supposedly wide range of music, although it's unlikely you'll find any coverage of the latest Rod Stewart CD or Eric Clapton tour.

Bonus CD: Rarely

Typical Artists Covered:  Nirvana, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, The Darkness, Jet, The Vines, The Strikes, Blink 182

Song that best describes them: Dedicated Follower(s) of Fashion by The Kinks.

Tracks
Bi-monthly
Started in 2002, Passed Away in 2005
Subscribe to Tracks

They Say: A celebration of musicians with staying power.

We say: It's pretty clear this newest kid on the block isn't aiming for the Blender generation -- Tracks get definite bonus points for aiming unapologetically for an adult readership. After all, the kids are still alright, even if they're not kids anymore. Unfortunately, after all the endlessly patting themselves on the back about demographics and staking out their turf -- they're still struggling to give us something to read.

Each issue is filled with reviews, music-related books, technology, travel & culture.The writing's still a little on the fluffy side, and they're nowhere near as critical , discerning or adventuresome as, say, Paste, even if they are at least theoretically trying for a larger chunk of the musical pie. Fortunately, the mag shows a lot of promise, and every issue has reached out a little further and shown definite signs of improvement.

Not enough, though, evidently -- the plug was pulled in 2005.

Bonus CD: Every issue. Selected cuts from new releases. Thank god the music does the talking -- the magazine falls flat too often.

Typical Artists Covered:  Norah Jones, Sting, R.E.M., Eric Clapton, Patty Griffin, Lou Reed

Song that best describes them: Rocking the Suburbs by Ben Folds

Uncut
Monthly
Ipc Magazines
Subscribe to Uncut

They Say: The UK's most authoritative film and music magazine.

We say: Simply the best.

This U.K. mag has the sharpest music writing around, by some of the best in the field, covering every artist -- past, present and possible -- that's worth covering. Every issue features hundreds of CD reviews, and they're consistently sharp and savvy.

It's an added kick to see the sometimes vast differences between American and British tastes, even if Uncut's relentless support of all things Americana, particularly Ryan Adams, gets a little weariesome at times. But why quibble? These guys deliver the rock'n'roll goods straight up, with wit, grace and passion.

But that's only the half of it -- they're also pretty damn good at covering film, and every issue sports plenty of reviews of new flicks, as well as well as DVD and video releases. In fact, it's hard to read through an issue without naking a mental list for the next trip to the video store.

And they get bonus points for assuming their readers can actually read -- they make a point of reviewing literature as well. They may not be quite as goofy as Blender, or as cutting edge as, say, Q, but overall, Uncut is simply the best-written, most wide-ranging music mag out there these days. And I haven't even mentioned their CDs yet...

Bonus CD: Every issue. Their year-end best-of CD is always a highlight, and they do the usual sampler CDs of selected cuts from new releases, but the real treat here is their theme CDs: bands that influenced various artists (The Byrds, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, REM) and "tribute" CDs, which feature a diverse array of artists covering a major artists work (The Beatles, The Stones, Springsteen, The Clash). The two CD Dylan tribute, Hard Rain (you had to buy two issues to get both CDs) ranks as one of the most imaginative and eclectic and just plain rockin' Dylan tributes I've heard.

Typical Artists Covered:  Ryan Adams, The White Stripes, The Clash, The Who, Radiohead, Pete Townshend, Pearl Jam, Neil Young, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Hammel On Trial (who also writes a column).

Radio Paradise
"Eclectic intelligent rock."
What You'll Need: iTunes or WinAmp.
Recent Sample Playlist: Bruce Cockburn, The Tragically Hip, Muddy Waters, Lloyd Cole, Air, Janis Ian, Elvis Costello, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan

Indie 103.1
"Alt-rock radio."
What You'll Need: Windows Media Player.
Recent Sample Playlist: The Ramones, Franz Ferdinand, XTC, Vines, The Strokes, Beck, The Clash, Crystal Method, Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer, The Thrills, Elvis Costello.

radioioAcoustic
"Your world. Your station. No boundaries."
What You'll Need: iTunes or WinAmp.
Recent Sample Playlist: Natalie McMasters, John Hiatt, Bela Fleck, Bob Dylan, Greg Brown, Bruce Cockburn, Patty Griffin, The Browne Sisters

Grassy Hill Radio
"The Best Folk/Acoustic Stream Since 1999."
What You'll Need: iTunes or WinAmp.
Recent Sample Playlist: Dar Williams, Aimee Mann, Julian Dawson, Mustard's Retreat, Adrienne Jones, James R. Newell, Cara Luft

RadioStorm Classic Rock
"The Net's Best Music"
What You'll Need: iTunes or WinAmp.
Recent Sample Playlist: The Spencer Davis Group, Fleetwood Mac, Curtis Mayfield, Steve Miller

Lost Highway Records
Yeah, I know -- it's a record company site. But they have an awesome roster of talent. Just give their jukebox a listen. The playlist may be limited to only (ONLY!) a few hundred songs, but it features cuts from some of the very best roots, Americana and alt.country artists around, and even allows you to pick and choose from both "popular picks" and rarities.
What You'll Need: To tell the truth, I don't know -- it just works!
Recent Sample Playlist: Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, Joe Tex, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Johnny Adams, The Jayhawks, Ruth Brown, Whiskeytown, Etta James, Lyle Lovett, Arthur Alexander