No Depression, high quality Americana mag: RIP

Americana, like most musical genres, is a mixed bag.  It has a core of unmissable folksy/country/bluesy musicians – Hank, Gillian Welch, Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Adams, John Hyatt, Lyle Lovett, Ralph Stanley and a few more are quintessential musicians for grown-ups.

 

But there aren’t many more.  In fact, I’d cross the street to avoid most of the musos covered in Americana mag, No Depression.  Below the top level, most Americana sounds like gnarled nostalgia to me, sung by an army of mostly superannuated left-field guitar pickers way too deep into their own mythology.

 

Regardless, No Depression is a high quality, stylish magazine, covering Americana with passion and authority. 

 

Or, rather, it was such a mag.  Because, after 13 years of publication, Issue 75 May-June 2008, is the last: collapsing CD sales claim yet another victim.

 

Undaunted, No Depression’s founders plan to serve the community they’ve developed by expanding their web site. 

 

May they live forever young.  And prosper.

  

www.nodepression.com

 

 

 

 

 

Gerry Smith

Mags go under: No Depression and Resonance follow Straight No Chaser

Hot on the heels of the demise of London-based urban mag Straight No Chaser comes news of two more casualties.  No Depression, the alt-country/Americana bi-monthly, has announced it’s to close its doors following the May-June issue, after 13 years of playing a lead role in fostering the emergent genre.

And Resonance, the stylish NW coast-based champion of hip pop culture, is closing after 14 years of documenting cutting-edge indie rockpop, film, books and the visual arts.

But why are music mags going t*ts up like this? 

Simple.  Reduced CD sales because of free digital downloads means record labels reduce adverting spend.  Competitive discounting by online retailers and supermarkets mean small music retailers close down, reducing distribution outlets.  And web sites (like this) supply free news and views which people used to buy in magazines.

Serious fans of grown-up music will miss all three fine magazines.

Gerry Smith