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Jazzlife
http://www.jazzlife.com/
If you are uninitiated into the jazz idiom, this is not the place to begin.
You will walk away convinced that jazz music is nothing more than bleary
eyed losers smoking whacky weed in dingy bars, wailing on beaten up old
saxophones, hoping to purge the last drop of failed humanity out of the
end of their instrument. This of course is only a small part of the jazz
experience, and you wouldn't want to be led astray now, would you? In
this site you get a total number of one band in residence, a few links
to some good jazz sites, a bookshop and a record store or two. Not my
idea of what a jazz E-zine could be. This is "avant-garde" jazz, which
in English means "unemployed". It is a new site, so it could improve.
Verdict: Less jazz cigarettes and more jazz required here. --SS
Net Worth: **
The RAG-music e-zine - CD reviews, band interviews, films
http://rag.ml.org/
Here is a great example of a grass roots multimedia publication. Using
a simple format of a menu down the left hand side, the reader is welcome
to browse the musings of various contributors (spelling mistakes and all),
with reviews, news, backstage gossip and a nice little links collection.
A great feature here is the live music station, which virtually anyone
can DJ for, once you get the password. A schedule of who is broadcasting
is available, and you can chat with the creators of "Rag" on a Java applet,
or on DALnet. Cool! The reviewer predicts an explosion of this kind of
site in the very near future. Get in now!
Verdict: Cute, personable, informative and regularly updated. Now that's
a rag!
NetWorth: ***
Attach to the Womb
http://www.thewomb.com/main.htm
This South Florida gestation zone of the techno/trance scene is surely
worth a visit and a bookmark. Updated regularly and stacked with dozens
of Real Audio files, along with a 24/7 streaming real audio channel, this
is an example of how a bit of networking and belief in your genre can
create substantial growth in this lively and innovative world. DJ's galore
pump out their grooves. A "shoutout" section gives visitors their own
say. The comprehensive link section takes you to all the top sites around
the World, and you can order a custom CD from 'the womb' burned with all
the tracks you like here.
Verdict: This nurturing collective is making waves, and you're surfing
them!
NetWorth: ****
F1: Tranzfusion - Sounds from the Underground
http://www.tranzfusion.sprint.com.au/
If you haven't seen this site already, DO IT NOW! Melbourne's underground
dance scene has set the standard here. It wouldn't be hard to believe
that this multi-award-winning site didn't have extra-terrestrial help
in the construction department. A phreaking phat phest of DJ's, VJ's,
CD's, reviews, interviews, live broadcasts, event info, and more groovy
fonts and than you can point a mouse at, fill this site with more bookmarkability
than Yahoo.
Verdict: Say No More - go see for yourself.
NetWorth: *****
Grand Royal World Headquarters
http://www.grandroyal.com/
Alternative record label, and representatives of the Beastie Boys and
Sean Lennon, to name a few, dish up a light-hearted but fact-filled site
of it's largely eclectic and fringe talent. The Beastie Boys are their
"cash cow", and the site for the new album is quite a joy to behold, with
a groovy space console, including video clips, tour dates etc. The rest
of the artists are represented in direct proportion to their earning potential,
but the information is rewarding. These guys also do a cool newsstand
magazine. Back issues are here.
Verdict: You don't have to fight for your right to bookmark this site.
NetWorth: ****
BeatThief
http://www.beatthief.com/
A quick squizz at the history of Beattheif will put you in the picture
of where this guy is at and why this stuff is here. It's a great collection
of cool artsy, funky, jazzy stuff from all over the web, selected by criteria
of musical style, political leaning, or coolness factor. This man understood
the potential of the web long before the mainstream, and maintains his
determination to present anything and everything that is aligned with
his views. All stolen from around the world, of course, hence the name.
Verdict: Journeys into coolness.
NetWorth: ****
N U D E Magazine
http://www.sigma6.com/nude/
This stands for "Nations United, Divisions Extinct". These self-confessed
freaks give you a stylish and easy to get around e-zine bringing the latest
news, reviews and views from Detroit and wherever the writers happen to
cruise to for the weekend. Everything about this site is cool, but I began
to wonder that maybe coolness is becoming a little passe. Redesigning
fonts and renaming chapters for the sake of it doesn't make hanging round
nightclubs until dawn seem any more interesting.
Verdict: It's got style, it's got... um.. that's about it.
NetWorth: ***
Technotica.com...Techno-Culture, Music, Art, Design & Living
http://www.technotica.com/
Don't let the chunky appearance of this site put you off. Sure it's not
as slick as some, but the content and vibe here is well up to par. Armed
with the philosophy that human evolution is tied to the merging of the
technical and the natural essences of life, Technotica present the culture
music and art that supports the theory. The emphasis is on interaction
and involvement, so listen, leave a message, and try and get to the big
events. Technotica sits half way between Bill Gates and The Unabomber.
This could be just the place to call home.
Verdict: Technotica - It's a way of life.
NetWorth: ****
Fused UK Club Music Record Shop and Magazine
http://www.fused.com/
The opening page is a little deceptive here, not looking like there is
too much on offer at first glance, but it's just a top 10 chart. Once
you click around the nifty menu, you are drawn into the world of England's
vibrant & creative world of electronic dance music. DJ's would be
advised to bookmark this site. The music is cool as a chilled bottle of
water from the bar, and there's plenty to sample. The reviews and live
gig reports are detailed. There's also a great pirate radio section.
Verdict: Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the raves!
NetWorth: ****
The Ambience of Nothing
http://www.dope.org/ambient/
This magazine comes in the form of a downloadable zip file, so you won't
find too much on the site. A little more commitment is required here.
After reading the manifesto, it's easy to tell if you ought to download
or not. Do you love music, taking drugs and hating your parents? If so,
click here. Their recent readers poll is an interesting analysis of the
readership's lifestyle and demographic. Actually, besides the hating your
parents bit, I think these guys are pretty cool. Not that I'm a parent,
but I think the old generation gap thing is a bit silly here, since these
guys parents were surely exactly like them.
Verdict: When I tried to download... nothing.
NetWorth: **
The Fly - Dope Music Magazine
http://www.fly.co.uk/
The self-proclaimed "home" of dope beats and music writing, The Fly is
willing to take your own submissions and review them or feature them on
the site. Plenty of features abound on such notable artists as "Ubiquity"
and "Dot". There is also a fly club guide and radio guide, so all you
dope heads and funky jazz jammasters can hip hop to the house of your
discretion.
Verdict: This site is buzzing.
NetWorth: ***
DezMix Muzik
http://www.dezmix.com/
This DJ is a one-man music corporation, spreading the good word about
NY house across the globe. For a solo dude's site, it rivals many collaborative
efforts in its design & content. DezMix's resume looks good, and he
broadcasts to his site when the "off air" button blinks live. Also, you
can listen to past live gigs as well as order tapes and CD's of his mixes.
All in all a groovin' jammin' New York beatmaster with a flair for web
design, marketing and blasting out the soundz.
Verdict: If cloning takes off, this guy will be dangerous.
NetWorth: ****
Streetsound Channel
http://www.streetsound.com/
Enter the world of the underground scene through this "megazine" and web
music channel. Lots of Americans acting cool because they think they are
on MTV, host a multitude of shows pumping out the rhythms of the street.
This is certainly a site with a lot of cool activity. Of particular interest
is the "groove selector", which is basically a glossary of styles. When
someone drives past you with the boom boom boom on the car stereo, you
can now go "ah, they are grooving to some hardstep jungle lounge with
a twist of Italo House, sounds phree-quay!"
Verdict: Welcome to the world of webcasting. 4 million Ricky Lake's on
pills.
NetWorth: ****
Wah Wah Magazine
http://www.uv.es/~alminyan/wahwah/
Unfortunately this reviewer isn't very fluent in Spanish, so it was a
bit hard to figure out what was going on here. It looks like a mag dedicated
to live acts, and seems to have quite a good range of material here. The
only English words I could make out were things like "Lollapalooza" and
"Oasis". To get the full picture, watch more Sesame Street.
Verdict: Que?
Networth: ?????
Jelly
http://www.jellyroll.com/
Jelly magazine, a quarterly paper version and this online version one
issue behind (so you might subscribe) is pitched at the heart, the soul,
the spirit, the soft juicy centre of American music. It's simple design
suggests that readers come here because they love music, not some kind
of hyped up lifestyle where music is the wallpaper to fashion, drugs and
cool vernacular. We're talking mainstream, but we're talking quality.
Music of the rock era, spiced with many cultural influences and dished
up by musicians with talent. The contributors have cred. and the mag is
for listeners.
Verdict: If you hate techno and death metal, welcome home.
NetWorth: ***
Make Room!
http://www.vvm.com/~case/
This Texas based effort is yet another attempt to bring the news reviews
and views to the web. For an apparent solo effort, it's not a bad job,
although it seems the creator "Typo" has been spending a little too long
in Photoshop designing 50 different logos for the site to go chasing the
really good stories. There are, however a whole bunch of interviews with
some bands like "The Infections" and "The Stinkies". To make up for this,
the links page takes you to the real big interviews done by other people.
Verdict: I guess my bookmark file has room for this URL.
NetWorth: ***
fOREhEAD e-zine (music, art, poetry, life)
http://thedeepend.com/fh.htm
Here is a place where anyone with a flair, or even just a primal urge
to write can become a part of the e-zine phenomenon. This is a Christian
site, so forget about your drugs and sex, but don't think for a minute
that these people aren't cool and groovy. Input is strongly encouraged,
so get typing. Review a concert or a record. Write a poem. Send them some
favourite links. Post a message. Bookmark it and return to see what others
think of you.
Verdict: Satan would hate this site. He can go to hell.
NetWorth: ****
e.p. magazine on-line
http://www.vigilante.co.uk/
Dedicated to the Brit-Pop scene, and based around the Norfolk, Suffolk
and Cambridgeshire areas, e.p. presents, apart form the usual reviews
etc, a great selection of undiscovered local talent in Real Audio. If
you like what you hear, you can send off for a cassette, at a very cheap
price. Maybe one of these would-be Blur's will crack the big time, and
you can say you hear them first on e.p.!
Verdict: Neat, simple, easy to digest - just like Brit Pop.
NetWorth: ***
Consumable OnLine
http://www.westnet.com/consumable/
Representing the alternative and indie band scene, the web's "Oldest collaborative
music reviews 'zine" surges forth from the dim dark days of 1994. Unfortunately
the layout hasn't changes in four years, the whole thing coming in as
plain text, but the content is plentiful. Twice a month, reporters from
all over the world dish out their take on all manner of concerts, events
and happenings. The artists represented range from Garbage to The Beastie
Boys and everything in between. A diary full of tour dates is included
with each posting. Subscribe and get it in your email in tray.
Verdict: No graphics required.
NetWorth: ****
Absolute Jazz
http://www.abjazz.com/
In this colourful splash of a web site, Jazz is the order of the day.
Live and recorded jazz reviews, a forum discussing the state of jazz and
improvised music across the globe, and some interviews with the cool cats
of jazz make up this growing Jazz-zine. A nice feature is the glossary
of terms and people and places of interest. The site could do with some
more input to fill it out, because the overall "vibe" is cool. If you
are a swinging cat, start sending these guys some material. There is still
plenty of room to swing a cat in here.
Verdict: Waiting for the three-piece combo to turn into a big band.
NetWorth: ***
Cosmik Debris
http://www.cosmik.com/
This little enterprise features a good stable of writers all contributing
to a well organised venture. This e-zine actually has an editor and staff.
With regular columns and features, the usual reviews and links, Cosmik
Debris covers a mish-mash of styles from Jazz to Reggae and the style
is intelligent and friendly. An hour-long real audio program presented
with a sense of humour allows you to dig the grooves these dudes are drooling
over.
Verdict: The flotsam and jetsam of the music world have drifted into this
catchment area.
NetWorth: ****
Djembe OnLine
http://www.djembe.dk/
You wouldn't pick Denmark as a hub of World Music, but here is the proof.
This small circulation Scandinavian publication prides itself on bringing
cross-culture and African rhythms to the snow fields. It's quite an impressive
effort, with a nice dark look to it, and a good range of activity. Get
involved. They want non-Scandinavians to participate in forums, contributions
and a guest book. Live bands, back issues and links all make up a well-rounded,
though somewhat unlikely site.
Verdict: Bang that Djembe drum, Denmark is dancing to da rhythm!
NetWorth: ****
Pitchfork
http://www.live-wire.com/
This fledgling publication is shaping up to be a cool little spot on the
web. The layout is nice, the topics and columns look great, but there
is still little bit of work to go in some areas before you'd really call
this a happening e-zine. This being said, the reviews area is rather large
and impressive, with additions going up daily. Albums are rated, clips
are available, and the reviewers do a wordy but thorough job. The A-Z
menu reveals a great deal of reviewing time. All they need now is to finish
off the columns and special reports and it's a sure-fire bookmark.
Verdict: Poke around and see what you can dig up.
NetWorth: ****
Chemical Peel
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/7908/
Dedicated to introducing new bands, this grungy site is quite a decent
effort by one person to get all the metal, death, gothic and alternative
bands a bit of exposure. It's hard to keep these things up to date when
there is no money in it, but if you like what you see, you can always
help out. That's the beauty of on-line publishing - anyone can do it.
That's also one of the downfalls - everyone IS doing it!
Verdict: Well meaning, a nice job, but not enough support staff.
NetWorth: ***
Queer In Your Ear
http://www.interlog.com/~joeclark/QiYEmain.html
This is humorous and light-hearted look at music and entertainment from
a gay perspective. It's not all Elton John, Bronski Beat and K D Lang
here. Mainstream pop, rock and alternative is given the big put down in
a creative and very funny writing style. It's like Julian Clarey with
a thesaurus on high grade speed. Of course nothing is sacred and the writer's
opinions are dished out without fear of offending. An entertaining read,
no matter what your leanings are in the sexual preference department.
Verdict: Queer in your ear will tickle your funny bone.
NetWorth: ****
Le jazz
http://lejazz.simplenet.com/
This French/English publication is a veritable Jazz festival. Though it's
a little short of actual music, there are in depth interviews with Jazz
greats, dozens of record reviews, some great photography, and plenty of
news about Jazz events and concerts. The links section is rather small,
but at least there are descriptions of the sites, before you go off chasing
around the web. Being in two languages makes the site twice as time consuming
to put together, I guess, so a few extra points are awarded for what's
here. Jazz fans would be advised to bookmark this, as it is surely going
to continue to expand.
Verdict: Le Jazz, le cool.
NetWorth: ***
Sled Bag
http://www.users.interport.net/~carll/
Now this is a good concept. Here we have a magazine with no direction,
no particular style and no plan, that is totally dependent on its contributors
to take it where they want to go. A selection of coloured "splats" take
you to the various sections, and surprisingly the ad hoc approach has
lent itself to building a respectable collection of reviews and articles.
No real agenda, coupled with a simple design has created a very useable
e-zine.
Verdict: Stick your mouse in the bag and see what you can find.
NetWorth: ****
Freeloader
http://www.syspac.com/~freeload/
A small but hip and zippy e-zine containing a few interviews and funny
stuff on various semi-unknown acts, like Sonic Youth and D.C. photographer
Cynthia Connolly. Not really enough here to rave about too much, but some
of the pictures are OK and it is a small insight into the lifestyles of
some fringe demographic sector of the music buying public.
Verdict: Freeloader is for the guy who crashes out on your couch and keeps
using your internet account without asking.
NetWorth: **
Thick Media
http://www.thickmag.com/
Thick magazine is a spin off of "This Is The Sound" which is a production
of Thick Records, a small record company that wants your demos and likes
to show that it is in touch with pop culture. Some nice interviews and
articles here, but I think it is just a little too small to worry about
too much. There are other sites worth more of a visit than this. Maybe
you'll have to wait a little longer, like many of these e-zines, until
production can manage to get into full swing.
Verdict: Not as thick as some.
NetWorth: **
One Billion Robots
http://www.io.com/~wasson/records.html
About four years of fairly consistent effort by one lone reviewer in cyberspace
has created this site full of "music reviews for a troubled world". Punk
is the style dealt with predominantly here, even though it seems the reviewer
has grown out of it since starting the site. He's been quite a prolific
writer, so the selection is impressive, and the reviews long and detailed,
covering a great range of talent.
Verdict: You must be feeling lucky, punk, coz you just discovered this
site.
NetWorth: ****
Bucketful of Brains
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~spacedog/Bobindex.htm
This site is a sampler and teaser of the print magazine of the same name.
You won't get too much here, but they really would love you to subscribe,
so you do get a nice sampling of their quality articles. Operating since
1979, and featuring the best Rock & Roll/Pop/Psych/Garage/Punk/R &
B/Country/Folk, BoB has been pitching itself as an intelligent, straight
shooting publication of the ilk of "Creem" and "New York Rocker".
Verdict: This is the web. We want more, and we don't want to pay a cent!
-- SS
NetWorth: ***
Phat! Amsterdam
http://www.xs4all.nl/~aras/
Another solo DJ effort at providing a comprehensive view of the techno
scene. This dude is from Amsterdam, and although he probably indulges
a fair bit in the local intoxicants, he has done a great job with this
site. The graphics are cool, and there is a lot of information about the
world of hip hop culture. A few real audio files are accessible as well
as an event list and DJ profiles. The good thing about this site is that
he has stuck to a fairly strict design and in doing so, makes it easy
to get around and experience what is on offer here. No site like this
hailing from Amsterdam would be complete without a guide to the coffee
shops, so DJ Aras obliges willingly.
Verdict: A one man hip-hop Lollapalooza. -- SS
NetWorth: *****
Mindspell
http://wwwbacc.ift.ulaval.ca/~thibauds/
The heavier and darker side of music is featured here in an online version
of another "in-print" magazine. They don't hold back too much, though,
even though some of it is under construction. The interviews are cool,
and you will need an MP3 player to hear some of the sounds. The site is
far from comprehensive, but is surely worth a bookmark whether you subscribe
to the real thing or not. Unsigned bands have the opportunity to advertise
themselves on this site for free. Can't complain about that.
Verdict: Almost had me mesmerised. -- SS
Networth: ***
Anarchist Barbie Doll
http://lehua.ilhawaii.net/~mj/zine/main.html
This, obviously, is a "punk-zine". Anarchy rules. There is no purpose,
no direction, no control, but as such turns out to be quite an interesting
place to mess about in. There are poetry, reviews, links, articles and
comics on offer in each of a number of issues. Contributors are welcome,
so budding writers get out your safety pins and start piercing your brains
to see if the creative punk juices can start flowing onto your computer
screens.
Verdict: Troubled childhoods create happening e-zine. - SS
NetWorth: ****
All About Jazz
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/
You can achieve what many other e-zines can't by simply having commercial
sponsorship. This affords you far more ability to get the job done, and
fulfil the goals of the publication without cutting too many corners.
A music magazine, besides providing information about artists, should
probably be supporting the activity of actually buying the artists' recordings.
In doing so, the site can expand into many areas, and does so very well.
All the little extras the other sites haven't got the resources to include
are here. A great "History of Jazz Time Line" is provided. Lot's of fun
stuff, like where some of the Jazz greats' nicknames came from, and a
free Jazz greeting card service are among the bonuses.
There are even a few freebie CD give aways to put your hand out for.
Verdict: The name says it all. -- SS
NetWorth: *****
Beamy magazine online
http://www.wwnet.net/~mikelod/beamy.htm
This self-confessed electronic music fan has dedicated a chunk of his
life to offering his thoughts on the subject to the world. He also claims
to not be very good with pictures, so he got a friend to pretty up the
site nicely, so that the writing, his forte, could be presented well.
The style is friendly and informed, with a sound background in various
genres, so it may be worth reading what is written here. He is no raver
or drug taker. He is committed to appreciation of the music. If you have
a few minutes to spare in between dance parties, give beamy a quick read-through.
Verdict: beam me up, beamy. -- SS
NetWorth: ****
Bubblehead 105 Perth Music Magazine
http://cygnus.uwa.edu.au/~lavida/bh/
A Perth local music scene e-mag, Bubblehead has already won two WA industry
awards for its efforts. There is a local indie chart, live gig reviews,
band info, and plenty of opportunity for your involvement. The only trouble
with a local rag on the net is that until any of these bands really take
off, no-one is really going to give a damn about them. The challenge is
to somehow generate a reason for the whole world to want to hear about
what is going on in your local scene. This is certainly a start, and from
the links page, it seems there are many acts over there itching for a
break.
Verdict: Bubblehead is bursting onto the world stage. --SS
NetWorth: ****
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