Who needs NME's? (NME)

Name: Chris_Moyles

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Product:	NME
Date:	02/07/03 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: reviews, news

Disadvantages: gone a little glossy

I have only been reading NME for a year so I wont be commenting on how the magazine has declined over recent years or whatever other criticisms I notice people seem to be saying. In this review I will write about what it is like now, primarily for those who are new to the magazine.

Half the reason I read NME is down to the competition. In other words there isnt any, not any that covers new music through such a broad range of genres. And not any that comes out every week. The only other weekly mag is Kerrang which I think has a better layout but lacks the depth of news and quality of reviews, not to mention the fact it covers the 'heavier' side of music.

The key aspects of NME for me are the news and the reviews as i just mentioned. With the reviews, they dont do every single album out there but then they dont need to. An NME reader wont care about the Blue album for instance. They also do quite an in depth single review section. All the reviews are sharp and honest, not pompous (generally) and you get the impression the reviewers know what they are talking about.

The news is also a big part of NME. There is a lot of it and if you go on their website (NME.com) you can get it up to date as well. This can mean that some of the news you read in the mag has already been read on the website however. One problem I have noticed over the last year has been pointless, gimmicky news pieces. Their recent Glastonbury issue had some stupid news carpet where you could pray for no rain on it. Whats the point in that?

As a lot of people are saying, NME needs to tread carefully and avoid becoming too gimicky, cheap and basically going 'Smash Hits For New Rock' but I feel that it is still a good weekly read. It does its job of keeping me informed of proper bands and what albums to get and when. It also has a very in depth website, more so than any other magazine.

Summary: