7 Reasons to SAVE PASTE MAGAZINE!
By Abby Johnston

I grew up in a musically handicapped town.

The only radio station that came in void of unnerving static was the local country station that played the greatest hits of yesterday and, well…actually, just yesterday. It had a hard time even keeping up with the newest songs in its own genre. Even at a young age, I recognized the filth that is country-fried radio. Rather than subjecting my impressionable ears to this filth, I spent years with my head buried in my father’s vinyl collection, refusing to recognize that any good music had been made after the Pixie’s Doolittle. I was living in the past.

One day as I perused the internet (and by peruse I mean I crawled at a snail’s pace…does anyone else remember the days before high speed?), I stumbled upon Paste magazine’s website. Intrigued, I gave my information for a free subscription. A few weeks later, my first issue of Paste arrived. While I had no clue who the artist on the cover was or any of the bands mentioned, there was an article on Lou Reed, which drew my old soul in. Plus, I figured I owed a read to any magazine that was willing to send along a CD with their trial subscription.

The rest was history. I quickly became a cover-to-cover Paste enthusiast. The tagline, aptly proclaiming, “Signs of life in music, film and culture,” proves nothing but true. Editor Josh Jackson and his staff sift through piles of mediocrity to bring you the very best in movies, trends and, most importantly, music. As I listened to the complimentary “Paste Sampler” that came with my first issue, I realized that there was a whole other musical world waiting for me. It was on this mix that I first heard the soft tenor of Ben Harper, the intensity of Cat Power, and even the country crooning of Lucinda Williams.

So, to celebrate the publication that is solely responsible for my knowledge and obsession about modern music, I have compiled the top 7 reasons that I love Paste, honoring each year it has been in print.

1. It’s Like College Radio…With a Filter!
One of the easiest places for music lovers to turn for a fresh, new music is university radio stations. But, speaking from experience as a college deejay, sometimes we have sticks so far up our asses that we have trouble admitting that no, we don’t like that African tribal music with the 20 minute bongo solos, even if we played it for the sake of obscurity. Paste does an excellent job of ferreting out artists that get too hard to access, while neatly sidestepping most of the artists readers would already know. Their mission is not to bring you something to jabber about to your culture savvy friends, but rather something you actually enjoy.
Note: You can usually name drop the bands and still remain ahead of the culture curve. Bonus!

2. They Have Small Town Values
Even Sarah Palin could read Paste.
Headquartered in a place that you have only heard of if you pay attention to Sufjan Stevens’ song titles, Paste has separated itself from the New York bubble. Based in Decatur, Georgia, a town with a population just shy of 20,000, Paste has given rise to the hope that good things can come out of small packages. Although I find it hard to believe that culturally aware people can thrive in small town settings, it warms my East Texas heart to think that, just maybe, Paste writers get off work and have a glass of iced tea on the front porch. Paste also believes in giving back to their surrounding community, frequently promoting Atlanta-based bands and happenings around the area.

3. The Lists
Much like this one! But much more witty and developed! Paste compiles lists ranging from the predictable (annual nods to the best albums/movies of the year) to the playfully redundant (list of the best lists). Rather than just forking over a concrete compilation with no backing, Paste gives their reasoning behind the pick in an entertaining manner. Without these lists, I would have never known that Neko Case lets bats touch her while she’s walking her dog, or who are the funniest Twitterers. Basically, Paste is preparing me for the World Series of Pop Culture.



4. Josh Jackson Could Be Your Best Friend
Unlike the ancient Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner, the significantly younger Josh Jackson seems approachable and friendly. I can’t, of course, attest to his true character, this is only based on what I’ve read in his opening address in every issue of Paste. Jackson does not uphold the “too cool for school” attitude, even though he obviously way too cool for school. The sheer fact that someone so talented threw his efforts into an independently published magazine rather than selling out to the corporate masses is admirable.

5. They’re Socially Conscious
In an effort to preserve wasted paper and poly-carbonate plastic (the stuff CDs are made out of), Paste has converted its samplers to digital only. Paste has also pushed for readers to opt for the VIP Digital edition of Paste, rather than the traditional print copy. Paste does not, however, shove their environmental beliefs down your throat. By request, Paste will continue to send a hard copy of the CD. That is, if you’re selfish and anthropocentric.

6. The Mixes!!1!one
Paste samplers continue to amaze me. Just when I’m running out of new music, and I’m sure I’ve already discovered everything worth listening to, Paste pulls through with a fresh collection of songs I haven’t heard. Plenty of my “favorite” bands have come to me via the Paste sampler. These perfect blends of genres are perfect for any mood, climate or season. The song choices epitomize the mood of the album they originated from, giving readers the truest sense of the respective album. Paste does not jack up the price to make the CDs available either, coming in at about the same price as most other music magazines.

7. They Don’t Take Themselves Too Seriously
Perhaps, this is the best thing about Paste. They have all the makings of just another pretentious, flat music magazine, but instead of embracing that fate, they present you with their cultural know-how in a playful manner, but still maintain journalistic dignity. Never once have they resorted to slamming an album, instead taking you through the high and low points without an invasive, harsh criticism. Paste also prints not only the gushing letters to the editor (I’m sure there are many), but the light suggestions and even blatant attacks.

Thank you, Paste, for being my musical guru. It’s been a good 7 years, and I hope there are many more to come.

Right now, my favorite magazine is in trouble. The economic downturn has lead to cuts in advertisement, putting Paste into an economic hot zone. So if you can, I urge you to give back to the very magazine that has given you years of free mp3s and even let you name your own price (a la Radiohead). For more details on how you can help out, visit http://www.pastemagazine.com/paste/the-campaign-to-save-paste.html. With a donation, you gain access to a treasure trove of mp3s , and are entered into drawings for a wide variety of prizes.



Subscribe to PopSense via feed or email, or friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for free updates!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of article, view comments-