Music Recommendations?

July 28, 2005 11:48 AM

There have been numerous questions about I like X music and want to find more like it. What I want to know, besides the basics like All Music Guide, Pitchfork, etc... where do you go for recommendations for music?
posted by szg8 to media & arts (18 comments total)

I go to clubs and when I hear something new or different I ask the DJ what it is.
I usually keep a tiny notebook and pen in my purse so he or she can write down the song and artist for me, too.

Most DJs are more than happy to show off their musical knowledge by listing other things you might like, too.
posted by Kellydamnit at 11:54 AM on July 28, 2005

I find out about a lot of good music from my favorite record store's mailing list. Each week, Other Music sends me an email filled with reviews of new releases (or reissues) and links to audio samples from each. You can sign up for the free service on their home page.
posted by mds35 at 12:04 PM on July 28, 2005

I have a friend who is a major music person and he swears that the amazon (people who bought this also bought this) is a great way to find new people he likes. he also uses: rateyourmusic.
posted by karen at 12:19 PM on July 28, 2005

(Warning: self-link.)

We rely almost entirely on blogs and net radio for new music (well, that and friends' recommendations). If you go to our links page and scroll down to "some music blogs" you can see our choices. We don't link to Tofu Hut, but he links to just about all our favorites as well as across a very wide array of genres. Have fun.
posted by melissa may at 12:19 PM on July 28, 2005

A question very much like this one came up recently. Some of the answers there are pretty good. My comment in that thread, if you're curious.
posted by ubersturm at 12:31 PM on July 28, 2005

If you go to the front page of Audioscrobbler now, there is a box where you can type in an artist, and it shows you what people who listen to that artist also listen to. Sometimes the results are unexpected.
posted by smackfu at 12:35 PM on July 28, 2005

Definitely check out the thread ubersturm linked to.
(my contribution from it)
posted by hototogisu at 12:59 PM on July 28, 2005

There are a lot of online music magazines besides Pitchfork, and the more you read the mroe you find out about. Check out Stylus, Perfect Sound Forever, Coke Machine Glow, Dusted, and PopMatters. I also read a couple of music bulletin boards.

Bar none, though, the best way to learn about new music is to work as a college radio DJ. If you are seriously into music you should see if any local universities have radio stations you like. They are an amazing resource.
posted by josh at 1:04 PM on July 28, 2005

I work at a store that has a red dot system in the music department. One fo the tricks is to look for something you like, then press the similar artists. With the red dot, you can hear parts of albums by lots of artists.
posted by drezdn at 1:11 PM on July 28, 2005

Find out who the bands you like consider to be influences. Also, bands sometimes include other bands in the "thanks" portion of CD liner notes. that might provide some interesting avenues to investigate.
posted by clarahamster at 1:20 PM on July 28, 2005

Ditto on college radio. If you know anyone who works at a college station, ask if they have a "recommended if you like list" (something many stations have to help new DJ's expand their horizons) that you can get a copy of.

I also like Epitonic, and you can actually download mp3's legally from it.
posted by radioamy at 1:28 PM on July 28, 2005

It's amazing I read Ask Mefi regularly and didn't remember the question (which is why I asked and why I didn't follow the cardinal rule of searching first).

Thanks for the responses and sorry for the double post...
posted by szg8 at 1:37 PM on July 28, 2005

To be fair, it's not exactly the same question...
posted by hototogisu at 1:45 PM on July 28, 2005

You might want to check out Soulseek. Yes, this is a p2p program, yes it can be used to commit copyright infringement. I'm not trying to advocate for or against that, so please don't bring up that topic. I'm just saying that it is particularly well suited to finding new music styles, through chatting in the genre-specific areas and looking at other people's shares. Whether or not you buy the music once you find that you like it is up to you.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:11 PM on July 28, 2005

Pretty much the same advice from the other thread:
1) Learn to articulate what you like.
2) Go see a lot of shows
3) Listen to freeform radio, as it's going to have a much bigger variety of stuff.
4) Ask record store folks
5) Read blogs/media. Recommended ones that haven't been mentioned above: WIRE, Signal to Noise, Uncut, Pop Culture Press, Dream Magazine, and whatever your local free weekly/monthlies are (caveat: I've written for a couple of those. But they're good despite that, honest).

Oh, and lately, through Thepiratebay.org, I've found an assload of global music, especially psychedelica, that I really like and had never heard of...
posted by klangklangston at 5:06 PM on July 28, 2005

Like klanglangston said, I go to a lot of shows. Usually what ends up happening is I like one of the other bands that is playing that night with the band I went to see. Before you know it you're listening to a bunch of new music and catching those bands when they come back to town. Then, who knows, they might bring along another band you like...it's a vicious, musical circle.
posted by bwilms at 6:22 PM on July 28, 2005

Yeah, live music is where it's at, frankly. And especially local acts. They're usually only about $5, and then of they're good, you can buy a cd for $10. Then they get famous, and you can be all "I remember when..."
posted by klangklangston at 6:46 PM on July 28, 2005

It's not being updated anymore, but The War Against Silence has nine years worth of interesting music reviews.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:36 PM on July 30, 2005