Get In The Q: We Read The British Music Magazines, So You Don’t Have To
Once again, we save you precious time (2.5 hours) and money ($27.74) by surveying the latest issues of the big British music magazines: Q, Uncut and Mojo. After the click-through, our handy consumer’s guide.
Uncut Cover: Radiohead Centerpiece Feature: The tenth anniversary of OK Computer, an event that apparently necessitates not only a full-length cover story, but eight additional sidebars. Highlights: An interview with Peter Perrett of the Only Ones; Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside defending the Beatles’ Love. Lowlights: Blimeny gee, do we really need to be reminded once again of Elvis Costello’s late-’70s coolness? Number Of Photos In Which Damon Albarn Looks Mopey: 2 The “Whosit’s Doing What Now?” Award For Most Prominently Featured British Celebrity We’ve Never Heard Of: Steve Hillage
Q Cover: The 500 Greatest Lost Tracks, including Thom Yorke, Kate Bush and the Beatles. Centerpiece Feature: See above. It pretty much takes up the entire issue. Highlights: A too-short interview with Jeff Lynne. Lowlights: A feature that tries to convince us that Kasabian is breaking big in America, even though most of us could give a Karap; way too many photos of Ray Lamontagne, who looks like he’s about to weep from malnourishment. Number Of Photos In Which Damon Albarn Looks Mopey: 2 The “Whosit’s Doing What Now?” Award For Most Prominently Featured British Celebrity We’ve Never Heard Of: Marco Pierre White
Mojo Cover: Joy Division Centerpiece Feature: Joy Division: Been a few years since we put them on the cover, innit? Highlights: A feature on the British heavy-metal scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s; Shaun Ryder discussing his fondness for mountain biking. Lowlights: We love Ian Curtis, but if the British mags are keen on turning Joy Division into the next Sex Pistols–that is, a beloved but short-lived British act that’s martyred to the point of exhaustion–we’re ready to move on. Number Of Photos In Which Damon Albarn Looks Mopey: Zero The “Whosit’s Doing What Now?” Award For Most Prominently Featured British Celebrity We’ve Never Heard Of: Jamie T
