Wednesday, June 14, 2006
"Blender" magazine has just turned five years old and the Maxim music spinoff is as loud and obnoxious as ever. It's the music magazine that "Rolling Stone" was in the 1980s. "R.S." is gathering some moss , trying to woo both the "Blender" audience and still keep its relevance to the baby boomers (who were anti-war however many wars ago Vietnam was) with Cindy Sheenan, Michael Moore, and the rapidly-approaching-64 Paul McCartney. But as "Blender" is the Honda Civic to "Rolling Stone's" original Volkswagon Beetle, there is a third vechicle - a figurative Prius Hybrid on the road too. "Paste" magazine hadn't really caught my eye on the shelves of Borders, Albertsons, or Walgreens until the last few issues with a May feature on The Flaming Lips and the new June issue on the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" (Bob Dylan, is #1, since you asked). Where "Blender" distinguishes itself with a monthly phonebook of reviews and downloading suggestions (keeping tabs more on college rock), and "Rolling Stone" still likes to think of itself as "gonzo" journalism (weighted with classic rock), "Paste" is the "Utne Reader" of music rags.
Their website brags of "thoughtful analysis". It's more a "you know who you'd really like" review from your best friend over lunch as opposed to "here's what's already #1 on the charts." For someone who would spend a few hours at listening stations of B&N or Borders (instead of illegally downloading an entire week's new releases overnight on Napster replacements limewire and bearshare.) All three magazines love hip hop / soul / Zydeco hybrid Gnarls Barkley, with Blender proud of themselves for being in with the in crowd, "Rolling Stone" being proud of themselves for liking the same things "Blender" does, and "Paste" revealing why the collaboration between singer Cee-Lo and DJ/producer Danger Mouse is a great album (thanks to both the Violent Femmes and Al Green).
At $8 an issue on newsstands, it includes a 21 (or more) song sampler CD of everything from indie rock, Triple-A, and Americana, to folk, blues, and jazz. A veritable music lovers' smorgasboard of comfort food, unexpected new tastes, and just desserts.
Their website brags of "thoughtful analysis". It's more a "you know who you'd really like" review from your best friend over lunch as opposed to "here's what's already #1 on the charts." For someone who would spend a few hours at listening stations of B&N or Borders (instead of illegally downloading an entire week's new releases overnight on Napster replacements limewire and bearshare.) All three magazines love hip hop / soul / Zydeco hybrid Gnarls Barkley, with Blender proud of themselves for being in with the in crowd, "Rolling Stone" being proud of themselves for liking the same things "Blender" does, and "Paste" revealing why the collaboration between singer Cee-Lo and DJ/producer Danger Mouse is a great album (thanks to both the Violent Femmes and Al Green).
At $8 an issue on newsstands, it includes a 21 (or more) song sampler CD of everything from indie rock, Triple-A, and Americana, to folk, blues, and jazz. A veritable music lovers' smorgasboard of comfort food, unexpected new tastes, and just desserts.
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