Magazines Rolling Stone (1-year)
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Growing Stones
After years of being an avid Rolling Stone reader, I slipped into the category where I renewed hoping that whatever their glitch was, they would soon fix it....but as you all have previously written they just did not for along time. I finally let my subscription lapse. Just after hurricane Katrina re-wrote our life plan I ran across a copy of the Rolling Stone. I was impressed. Yes you are right it is not the music mag it used to be but it is still a venue for journalists that have something to say. I remember back in the day when everyone complained about any cutting edge articles they did outside of music, LPs, FM and all that stuff. I secretly admired/enjoyed them. I find I do so now too.I admire how they openly wrote about American troops playing w/bundles of cash as footballs because our president is spending cash on this war. That he is making his succubus Cheney richer than god. I liked the imagery of pallets and pallets of cash sitting around. I love how the writers are telling the truth, the whole scary truth about a narcissistic president totally run amok and how Americans would rather watch TV and/or read about little Whitney off her meds and running amok in Hollywood than take umbrage w/their elected leader who seems to be hell bent on destroying our country. This is the Rolling Stone as it was when we were all so young and angry about a senseless war. So as in years past I skip articles about asinine singers/performers that hold too many readers enthrall and go directly to their very informative stories concerning our world today. I also read some great reviews about new music, new cds and new movies. If you think about it the Rolling Stone has come full circle and landed square in the middle of the beginning of a new millennium. While back in the day the world was smaller, the Rolling Stone was smaller and it more often seemed they were speaking directly into our ears. Now the world is so much larger and so very much scarier and instead of going to rallies to express ourselves it seems everyone is sitting at home waiting to be entertained by a broad new world of entertainment genres. Unfortunately though some of those genres include asinine, insipid music, cds, and movies. So for me I am so happy the Rolling Stone is back. I admire the writers they are using now...there are a couple I love. There is no doubt that Matt Taibbi has a hanging pair using the vernacular we used in the old days. He is rather like a Jon Stewart of the real news. We hip folks watch Jon Stewart and laugh at the irony of America today. If we aren't too tired we will watch Cobert because we are cool and well informed. Sometimes we get really angry and write negative reviews about transitioning magazines. I am ashamed to include myself in this group too, cheer leading the front runners from the sidelines. I am so proud of the Rolling Stone for having what it takes to stand up and point out our knuckle headed president is not wearing any clothes. I also find I enjoy their take on Amy Winehouse, and the newly old Radio Head and their latest album. All is good and growing at the Rolling Stone. Sometimes growing pains hurt is all.

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Rating: - "Not what it used to be doesn't cover it ," anymore..
Ok, a lot of people have bombed Rolling Stone on Amazon, and for good reason.

I used to buy it monthly on the news stand, and at one point I had a subscription. I no longer buy it.

Why? I picked up an issue the other day and was reminded of why: poor, completely sub-par editorial and ads ads ads completely out of control; it's a ad medium now, only.

It's always been about money. Please understand that I'm not stupid, and I recognize that it's about the mighty(weak) dollar and always has been.

But it's far too commercial now; Rolling Stone should be Spin, or Hit Parader or whatever. They used to be aimed at the high minded low-life, not just any stupid kid in high school.

What made me pick up the latest issue and flip through it's pages? An article on Radiohead, a band I somewhat respect. Also featured in Wired in the same month or close, I was caught off guard by them being on the covers of magazines, so I took a look.

The article was poorly written and too short for it being a cover story.

Not only that, but they don't have the sense of where everything is, now, like they used to. Rolling Stone used to be the pulse marker for Rock music and emerging outlets and styles. Now it is just the steady hum of it's own dead dream. Get a subscription to something else...

Don't waste your money.

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Rating: - My favorite magazine!
The political articles in this magazine are amazing! I am not much of a music or entertainment fan though. Maybe that is why this magazine has such low ratings; it is missing the right subscribers. On the other hand, my boyfriend is a huge music fan and he loves some of the music articles. But one thing is for sure, if you are a political lefty you will love this magazine. (the only reason I didn't give it five stars is for the fact that it's main focus is music/entertainment, so I couldn't say it is a perfect magazine for me.)

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Rating: - Maybe no for all but it IS for me
While I have been a reader of RS for only about 7 years now, my love for the mag has never changed. I read the reviews here and it's a lot of readers from the '70's and from when the mag was first getting started. Yes the older issues of RS are by far different than now but so is tv and society as a whole, if all things change and adapt over time does that mean we should hate and rant about everything? What a sad life...Anyway back to the topic at hand. RS keeps me in tune with what's new and I love that RS has the courage to say what most people my age are thinking ( political views that is) I don't have a lot of time to watch tv and i stay far far away Music TV. This mag shows up like little slice of well written heaven. I will never cancel my subscription, in fact i may upgrade to a life time subscription. I like a mag that is willing to grow with the times and say what others wont. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.