Comments on: Music Recommendations?

Question: Music Recommendations?

szg8 — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 11:48:17 -0800

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?

By: Kellydamnit

Kellydamnit — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 11:54:34 -0800

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.

By: mds35

mds35 — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:04:15 -0800

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.

By: karen

karen — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:19:31 -0800

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.

By: melissa may

melissa may — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:19:50 -0800

(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.

By: ubersturm

ubersturm — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:31:17 -0800

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.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:35:21 -0800

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.

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:59:43 -0800

Definitely check out the thread ubersturm linked to.
(my contribution from it)

By: josh

josh — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:04:16 -0800

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.

By: drezdn

drezdn — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:11:19 -0800

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.

By: clarahamster

clarahamster — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:20:25 -0800

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.

By: radioamy

radioamy — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:28:29 -0800

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.

By: szg8

szg8 — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:37:03 -0800

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...

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:45:18 -0800

To be fair, it's not exactly the same question...

By: Rhomboid

Rhomboid — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 15:11:28 -0800

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.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 17:06:56 -0800

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...

By: bwilms

bwilms — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 18:22:39 -0800

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.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 18:46:11 -0800

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..."

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 14:36:46 -0800

It's not being updated anymore, but The War Against Silence has nine years worth of interesting music reviews.