fett on 7/1/2007 at 05:28
Bah - I guess for Pantera, you had to be there - and be really pissed off at the world. I notice there's a certain age group and segment of listeners that really got Pantera, and everybody else seemed to just scratch their heads.
Cool list btw.
Singing Dancing Moose on 7/1/2007 at 18:36
Quote Posted by Turtle
you should listen to Eels.
:thumb:
OnionBob on 7/1/2007 at 18:55
what i really want is to listen to a very narrow selection of music directly related in a linear way to things to which i already listen
Fingernail on 7/1/2007 at 19:08
Quote Posted by OnionBob
what i really want is to listen to a very narrow selection of music directly related in a linear way to things to which i already listen
Quote Posted by OnionBob
to things to
Quote Posted by OnionBob
to to
Quote Posted by OnionBob
tot tot
you split your infinitive.
Aerothorn on 7/1/2007 at 19:43
Pandora analyzes lyrics? Hmm. Guess it will just take it a while - I should give it more of a chance. I guess it's hard to find alternatives when 80% of songs are about love and relationships, and at least 15% of the rest are one-line songs are based upon a cliche.
Sign me up for "abstract lyrics"!
Stitch on 7/1/2007 at 20:21
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
I guess it's hard to find alternatives when 80% of songs are about love and relationships, and at least 15% of the rest are one-line songs are based upon a cliche.
There is something wrong with you, son.
TheGreatGodPan on 7/1/2007 at 22:53
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Sign me up for "abstract lyrics"!
I often find that tag when I click "Why is this song playing?". I don't quite see what they mean by it judging by my failure to find much connection between the songs that has popped up for.
My dad got the Best of Eric Clapton for Christmas, which we were listening to on the way back from shooting, and he remarked that a psychedelic song from Cream had "Nonsense lyrics, like Jethro Tull". I didn't say anything, but that strikes me as odd. Tull have always been into concept albums and stuff where the lyrics are fairly important. I'm not much into lyrics myself, but that just seems like an innaccurrate description to me.
Speaking of 70s prog bands with dense lyrics, I'm listening to Dancing With the Moonlit Knight by Genesis right now. I thought I'd dislike them because I heard Phil Collins was their front-man, but I was unaware he was just the drummer back then.
fett on 8/1/2007 at 00:39
OB clearly listens to a wider spectrum of music than anyone here. You are all uncultured sheep.
Paz on 8/1/2007 at 00:58
I recognise that you're just trying to slide gracefully into your newfound position of massive prick, but his comment really has nothing to do with how wide a range of music he may or may not listen to.
What I believe he is suggesting, and what I would echo, is that an attempt to artificially recreate the beautifully organic way people get into and discover new types of music feels doomed to being a bit shit. Making connections to similar artists is a nice way to initially spark some new listening (you might go from Slowdive to Moose to My Bloody Valentine, or whatever) - but, firstly, it's a lot more rewarding to do that FROM ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE (not always possible, I suppose) or even just dipping haphazardly into new stuff; and secondly it's going to be severely limited after quite a short space of time.
It's probably great for bulking up your "genre of choice" catalogue, but not a lot else.
Anyway, why would you give up the responsibility for seeking things you might enjoy to some piece of machinery or code or whatever cold, heartless beast is behind this? If you're stuck for time and want to EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS just get some people you know to recommend five favourite albums or something.
Well done if you've found 5 bazillion new bands from every colour of the rainbow with this thing though, I guess.
fett on 8/1/2007 at 04:44
Aw I wasn't meaning to slag on OB - I feel the same way about programmed music, but I've actually had great luck with Pandora. It you get out of these things what you put into them. If you only enter your 3 fav metal bands, you're going to get metal. It's possible to expand your horizons by inputing an artist or genre that you've been minimally exposed to (or not at all) and having an open mind about what it spits back out. Pandora really turned me on to some great world artists when I knew nothing of the genre - I input 'Sting' and 'Peter Gabriel' (I know, I'm a pop whore), but got some great/bonafide world artists out of it that I wouldn't have found through the avenues you mention. For people who are home or in front of the PC more than with other actual humans, it's a great way to expand your tastes.
But as you say, if it works, then it works. What would make it terrible is if these services offered a very narrow group of artists or genres, but variety seems to be their strong point. I don't see much difference between this and buying a new album b/c someone from your favorite band produced/played on/toured with the unknown artist. We usually discover new music by association whether it be on Pandora, through friends, or through liner notes. I don't know many people that are willing to blindly shuck out $50+ for stuff they've never heard and may not like. And it's a step up from pirating music at that.
IIRC the Genome/Pandora guys actually listen to these artists and classify them according to various criteria - not necessarily a heartless machine. Much like some of us pay attention to certain labels or websites because they have produced artists we liked in the past, I have no problem with whoever is behind Pandora essentially saying, "Hey, if you like ____________, there's a possibility you might like ___________ based on ___________, _____________, and ______________."
