[atlantaprog] Re: Progression

I usually see Progression at the Borders at Cobb Pkwy and Cumberland Blvd and I pick it up there occasionally.  I would personally advise against subscribing, unless you're just a lot more charitable, patient and good hearted than I, simply because the publication schedule is so insanely erratic.  The issue that just came out was originally supposed to be out in late summer of 2003.  I have no problem with a delay of a month or so, but when a publication is consistently 4-6 months late then I prefer to just buy as I see the magazine and feel like it instead of paying up front for a subscription. 

You can also buy single issues of Progression from the site IIRC. I wouldn't recommend subscribing either unless you really like the mag and are willing to put up with a truly erratic publishing schedule!

Also, you have to read the album reviews *very carefully* because the album rating system is inflated and and just about everything gets a positive review seemingly just for being prog in many cases.  I ordered a few dogs that I was lucky to be able to unload for a couple of bucks at Book Nook before I figured that out.  Learn from my mistake.  I trust the opinions I read online more.

I've found the reviews in Progression no more positive than just about any other fan publication's reviews (i.e. they smack of boosterism, moreso than true criticism). Therein lies what I see to be the biggest problem with Progression - it really seems like a fanboy publication at times, rather than a serious music journal. Even the Roguefest coverage loses a bit of credibility to me with it's uniformly glowing praise of virtually every act (only Datura Blues received a slightly less than stellar appraisal being called "an uneasy listen, at best"). Not that there wasn't a lot of good music that weekend... it's just that being positioned right next to almost equally glowing coverage of NEARfest and Bajaprog really seems to inflate Roguefest to world-class status (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

That being said, Progression does often feature some great interviews (incl. in this issue Hackett, Levin and Larry Fast) and some decent columns (especially John Covach's Professor's Seminar). These are the things that keep me subscribing. Also, I feel like I'm "supporting the troops" so to speak, by subscribing.

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