Pandora

Pandora internet radio is an excellent invention. It is powered by the Music Genome Project, an organizational music structure identifier using 400 attributes to a song. All you have to do to create a new station is type in a song or artist, then Pandora will find similar songs and artists and play it like a personalized radio station. After you request a song or artist, you can "add variety" to your station to expand the variety of songs and bands that will emerge from your station. What I have done is picked a staple band from every genre of music I enjoy, then added other songs and bands from the same genre to the station. My stations are "Asheru"-hip hop- "The Bakerton Group"-jam rock- "The Decemberists"-indie folk rock- "Duke Ellington"-jazz- "Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad"-dub reggae- "Hootie & the Blowfish"-90's alternative- "Kasabian"-electronic indie- "Mad Season"-grunge rock- "Passafire"-reggae/rock- "Pink Floyd"-classic psyc rock- "Smashing Pumpkins"-90's rock- "Taking Back Sunday"-punk- "Umphree's McGee"-alternative jam band. The "Decemberists" station is probably the best, because I have discovered more bands that have found their way into my iTunes library from the related artists that Pandora has picked for that station. Once Pandora has picked up on your musical interests are for a certain station, it becomes one of the best inventions in the universe.

"Video" Saturday

Well, like the title explains, on this Saturday I am posting several videos of songs I have "favorited" on YouTube that I just can't stop listening to. They're songs from all genres, hope you enjoy them.

Ted and Will of Passafire playing a cover of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love"


Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek of Reflection Eternal ft. Mos Def, Jay Electronica and J. Cole - Just Begun


Dave Matthews Band - "Lie in Our Graves" - Live in Chicago (1998) pt.1


pt.2

Arctic Moneys

British indie rock band Arctic Monkeys have been around for almost nine years, but have only just recently been inducted into my iTunes library. The album I was drawn to is titled Favourite Worst Nightmare. I have a Pandora internet radio account, and one of the artists I picked to base Pandora to pick play songs based on is the Decemberists. On that station, Pandora played the song "505" by Arctic Monkeys. Immediately after the song finished I checked all the information Pandora offered about the song and artist-I couldn't do it during the song, because I was too engulfed in the listening. I downloaded(Legally or illegally? you'll never know) the whole album and listened to in in its entirety straight through. There are many different aspects and characteristics of indie rock that are displayed on the album, and "505" is a musical masterpiece. The transitions, tempos, instrumentals and vocals, in the whole record but in "505" especially, create an awesome listening experience and really live up to the indie rock genre brand name. I found myself very, very upset when I realized I missed their set at ACL last year, but hopefully I will get the chance to see them again. Attached is a live version of "505" from Glastonbury 2007. Do yourself a favor and listen to it entirely, especially the climax around 3:20. enjoy!