Select

So Select magazine has been redesigned yet again, and as with every earlier attempt has pratically gone back to the old format within a few months. This possibly says something about not changing a winning formula, but hey, the new graphics are quite nice. The cut-out dotted lines around reviews seem a bit superfluous (Select has allways had a Blue Peter element to its journalism), but the new layout is rather clean and easy to peruse whilst riding a bus. The music covered is unchanged, although there is no specialist "dance" section and everything is mixed in. As usual, Select goes for the Yoof readers with features on popular bands like Travis, DJs ...

Select magazine has always been, for me, somewhat of a standby magazine; you know, one of those mags that you may as well buy as youve got the cash and need something to read. The layout has always been nice and easy to ind something that appeals to you and the reviews are reassuringly and consistentl well written. Select seems to use journalists that really know about current and, more importantly, past music culture... It also covers other media such as TV, films, books and clothes etc. rolling many magazines in to one (saving your wallet!). My only gripe is that Select sometimes tries to have a go at things that, really, it isnt any good ...

I have only bought Select magazine since its revamp, so I can't say if it has improved. I buy it because it covers the music I like - mainly indie/pop/rock with a bit of dance. The magazine is basically 3 parts - the Select 50, where there are 50 seemingly random clippings, such as quotes from musicians, reviews of TV shows/products, little tiny interviews/reviews and some quite funny articles. Some of these are good, some are dull, and some just leave you wanting to read a longer piece. The second part is very long interviews with a few bands, which are good if you like the bands but are otherwise dull. Thirdly, there are reviews of live gigs, albums, singles, ...