Pandora

This was in Popular Science magazine, so I checked it out. Pandora is designed to help you find more music you will like, given bands you know you like. Its pretty simple and is pretty effective. It goes like this:

1: You put in a band or song that you really like
2: Pandora analyzes the core musical components of that song or band--rhythm, harmony, type of singer voice, type of guitars, speed of drums; there's a crapload of data.
3: It plays either a representative song of the band or a song you picked
4: If you wish, you can say you like the song or don't like it, like Yahoo's music service
5: To choose your next song, however, you don't just get another song that people who like your band like--you get a song that fits those core components assessed earlier. So, for example, if I said I liked a Metallica song, it might give me a Testament song next because they both play fast metal and sound very similar
6: You continue picking whether you like or don't like a song, or just pass it by if you don't care
7: Over time, the program (which you can get a free account to) stores what songs you like and don't like and finds out what characteristics you like and don't like.
8: In theory, this service will eventually get you to a band with all the right stuff--the right harmony, drums, singer, all that junk, to fit your taste,

Frankly, I think this is pretty darn cool. It seems pretty effective--I get songs closer to what I like more often here than I do in Yahoo music. My only problem so far has been that I've been getting a lot of punk rock because System of a Down got categorized as having "punk influences".

I think that, if you have any taste for music, you should definitely try this. It's free, quick, and is a quick and interesting way to find new music. When somebody tries it, tell me what you think of it.

Pandora

This is actually pretty cool I just started it out. I wouldn't say its that much better than Yahoo music but the interface is definitely nicer and there are more indy-ish bands...

If they're anything like Pantera they've got to be awesome. :thumbup:

I agree, Fycus, that the interface is really nice...much nicer than I expected.
There's only one problem with having a lot of lesser-known bands on there...if you like one, chances are it'll be impossible to find! :P

And I'm not quite sure I get Cow's Pantera comment... :Oo:

I gotta get more info into my station sometime later today or later this week...filter out all this punk rock crap...they've gotten some pretty good hits I haven't heard of so far, but nothing mind-blowing yet...I'll keep working it, though, because I'm pretty picky with my musical tastes.

I'll report back in a few weeks with a long-term, in-depth review.

They even know Cannibal Corpse and Six Feet Under, I love ´em :francesco: :francesco:

Works for Aphex Twin (well it found 3 others before asking me to register heh), so I'm happy! Don't think I'll be registering, but it's a cool concept if they can get a wide enough library.

Well, it says right now that they've got "over 10,000 artists" in there...that's certainly big enough for me.

I've been using Pandora for a while now - I have to admit - it's pretty good, and I've definitely found some music there I never would have listened to without it. My only problem with it is that sometimes it tends to get a little bit repetitive, offering up a song you have heard recently. I dont think it's memory for stuff like that is very long but for what it is, it's pretty darn good.

mmm aphex twin....

Thx for the input very nice site! :thumbup: