Here's a blog entry from Mark Wheat, who stayed home for a couple of days nursing a cold so bad he couldn't speak.

Being sick last week...thanks for all the cards and flowers (Not!)...gave me a chance to catch up with my reading. I'm still a sucker for music magazines, I had three at home that I had not picked up yet! What are your faves? I'm always open to finding something new.

What makes a good magazine? Well, like a good radio station, it should cover or at least acknowledge, the core canon of artists who have contributed to contemporary music history, while also featuring new artists that are thought to be worthy. I personally prefer interviews where you can hear the artist's voice undiluted, but surrounded by good creative, critical writing. Tons of well chosen reviews, well laid out, of both recordings and gigs is imperative. A cd used to be a nice bonus but these days almost seems required and coverage of other media artforms, especially movies, DVDs, the
internet and books is preferred.

Under these criteria, MOJO, a monthly out of the UK is still my all-time favourite. It probably appeals more to me and the 'older demo,' but they seem to have a good understanding of their heritage position and constantly get excited about new artists too. Some of their recent cds have been worth the stiff import price ($11) especially the recent compilation of Cash covers and this month's post punk collection related to their Joy Division feature. Mojo has a sister publication called Q that is a little less reverent and has a bit of NME cheese, but is just as well informed. Test your shelves against their "Ultimate Music Collection" in this month's edition.

WORD is another UK glossy monthly that has been attracting me of late. They made Morrissey their 'Man of the Year 04' and had a rare interview with him and their cds feature some prime 'sneak peaks' like the Mercury Rev months before it is out here.

You've probably been hearing me on air, declaring 05 to be "Reunion Year", well I got the idea from UNCUT magazine another UK monthly (yes it's glossy too!) In the past they have seemed to really concentrate on covering both films and music equally, but last month they had Queen on the cover and features on Big Star and Gang of Four, with another tasteful cd comp of new stuff.

By now I bet you think I am totally biased towards Britsh journalism, well honestly don't you think we are woefully underserved by the American music press?

Only bi-monthly, but better than the major monthly messes, MAGNET does well at covering the 'college indie rock' scene. So does, perhaps obviously, College Music Journal (CMJ) New Music Monthly which always has a few tracks on the cd worthy of note but reads like the trade mag that it grew out of, without much creativity involved. THE BIG TAKEOVER only comes out twice a year, but its thickness and inclusivity make it encyclopedic with a pure punk heart. It started as an early example of a fanzine, xerox and stapled by Jack Rabid while he was in high school in New Jersey. Jack has lived on the lower eastside, literally around the cornor from CBGB's for years, and makes a living out of keeping this bright rock journalism light shining.

PASTE is my fave new discovery, another bi-monthly that has been going for 2 years and comes out of Decatur, GA. Its layout and design are unique and entertaining although it can go over the top sometimes, like when the Hem interview was printed on what looked like wallpaper decorated with a floral pattern in relief...it all became a bit busy! Self billed as covering "Signs of life in Music, Films and Culture" they do a fine job of picking their topics and write with unobtrusive intelligence. They trumped everyone on the freebies front when in their Jan 05 issue they had not only an 80 minute cd of interesting tunes but also a 4 hour DVD of music videos, DVD trailers and short films! It was enough to make me want to breakdown and buy a DVD player...we don't even have a decent TV, when is there time to watch anything, there's all this reading to do?! I still have 3 novels I got at Xmas that I haven't started yet!

Of course you should pick up MINNESOTA MONTHLY,especially this month...I'm in it! Sarah and Thorn told me that I had to mention THE WIRE, which I keep trying to approach but it always looks soooooo serious. Lucia always leaves ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY laying in the studio and like me, still surfs the NME.com website for all the juicy bits! So send in your faves, what have I been missing?

Mark 'Magazine' Wheat