| Product: |
Mixmag |
| Date: |
04/06/08 (74 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Excellent content, well laid out, visually pleasing.
Disadvantages: Quite expensive, accompanying CD can be a bit hit and miss.
Mixmag is a monthly dance music magazine that can currently be found for a price of £4.20. Over the years I've noticed that the price of the magazine has been steadily rising, it's still quite good value however I feel as every month a compilation CD is included and the magazine itself contains over 150 pages. According to the front of the magazine Mixmag is 'The World's Biggest Dance Music and Clubbing Magazine'; I fail to think of any similarly large dance music magazine so I'll take their word for that.
What I like most about Mixmag is the fact that every month a directory is included of all the dance club nights around the country for the coming month. It's an extensive list and all places both big and small are covered across the UK. Many times I have used Mixmag to plan a night out and never do the listings pages cease to amaze me. The listings are neatly laid out, it's easy to find out what's going on when and where; to keep the listings pages visually interesting a number of pictures are also included here of clubbers from around the country and amusing captions are given for each of these pictures.
The reviews section is I feel another area in which Mixmag shines; all genres of dance music are covered such as techno, trance, and Drum and Bass also. Some genres are given more coverage than others; these however are the most popular genres and the ones that will appeal to the majority of the magazines readers. House tends to be the most heavily covered genre in the reviews section, it's not a type of dance music that I personally am hugely fond of but still it is interesting to read about all the latest releases in the genre. The reviews are well written and always are interesting to read, for each genre there is a 'Tune of the Month' and a 'Compilation of the Month' also; I often end up going out and buying the compilations that are recommended and on many occasions have been highly impressed with what I've heard. The reviews section is extensive and always the writing is packed full of energy, the section is strong and does I feel cover an excellent array of genres within the spectrum of dance music.
Fashion is a feature of Mixmag, each month a number of pages are devoted to fashion and a variety of pictures are shown with people modelling the clothing. Prices are given for the clothes and although generally the clothes tend to be fairly awful, occasionally you can spot an item of clothing that is really quite nice within these pages. I always browse through these pages on the off chance that I might spot something, few times have I actually seen anything of worth but still I choose to take a look through.
In terms of features the writing style of the magazine is excellent; the words really come to life on the page and even when I don't particularly like the artist that is being spoken about still I find the writing interesting to read. It is generally current dance music sensations that are given articles within the magazine, dance acts currently shifting plenty of records are often interviewed and this can provide for a hugely entertaining reading experience. When the summer months are nearing the magazine often speaks of hot holiday destinations to visit; places to go with excellent venues for clubbing and with a strong dance music line-up for the summer. The best clubs to visit all around the world are given, Ibiza always features heavily and often the magazine will feature the best dance music venues in Ibiza. For all those hoping to holiday abroad and take in some of worlds finest clubbing venues then Mixmag is I feel essential reading in the summer; even if you're not going away then it's always nice to read about clubs in far away lands anyway. Always the magazine makes the club nights sound so exciting, you just want to get out your passport and head somewhere where the weather is hot and the dance music is pumping.
Towards the end of the magazine is the letters section, a place where readers from all around the world write/e-mail into the magazine in the hope of their letter being printed in the fine pages of Mixmag. A 'Star Letter' is a awarded each month, the prize for attaining such an accolade as this is generally something alcohol related; a star prize of a bottle of absinthe or other such alcoholic beverage. It's all a bit of fun, random rants about the magazine/the world of dance are here written and always I find this section of the magazine to be an interesting one. I always love the letters sections of magazines, Mixmag is no different and every month I make it my mission to at least read the letters pages of the magazine.
For those that love their dance music then Mixmag is definitely a magazine that I would recommend giving a read. It's a nice glossy magazine, it comes complete with a fair share of adverts but they're all dance music related and therefore not quite such a chore to read through. Adverts in the magazine include ones for mixing equipment shops, ones for the latest dance music CD releases and other such exciting capers. Mixmag is a decent magazine all round really; the features are good, the reviews section is strong, and the club night listings also are excellent. Sometimes the compilation CD can be a bit useless, this is something that is true of most magazines that supply a monthly compilation CD however and given that the magazine covers all types of dance music then the compilation is bound not to appeal every single month. Over the years the magazine has included a number of excellent Drum and Bass compilations and various other dance music delights also, I give the CD a whirl every month regardless of whether or not the genre covered is one that I'm a fan of; more often than not the quality of the CD is high and the music has much to offer. Give Mixmag a read some time, it comes with quite an expensive price tag but given the quality of the magazine I'd definitely say that the price is worth it; it's a great magazine for all fans of dance music and a fine place to find out about all upcoming club nights in the area.
Current Price: £4.20
Website: http://www.mixmag.net/
Summary: Mixmag is an excellent magazine for all fans of dance music.
|
|
