Okay, okay. For one, I know that it’s been a shamefully long
time since I posted here. If you’re in it for my life updates and witty
cynicism, check out my other blog Adventuring As An Artist, which I update
vastly more frequently. If you just actually care about my taste in music, hang
in there. I have way more time to blog during the summer since I have regular
work hours this summer. Yay!
Anyway, on to what I’m actually here to blog about: As I
mentioned, I have a job this summer, but even now, I don’t have oodles of
expendable income to blow on, say, new music. I’m in college, and I’m an art major so I’m pretty much
double broke. The preceding facts generally result in me seeking out free ways
to find new music as often as possible. As such, I have compiled a list of bangin ways to get/listen to/discover new, awesome music. Here you have it:
- Pandora Everyone knows about Pandora. If you don't, here's the quick rundown: Pandora allows you to create "stations" based on a certain style of music. It could be influenced by anything from a whole genre (Pop-Punk) to one band (Bowling For Soup) to one song (Shut Up and Smile). Pandora then takes information from the music you already like, and plays a whole bunch of music with similar qualities.
- Spotify Spotify is actually software you download on to your computer, and it's basically iTunes' better, prettier, 'roided-up cousin. If you have an internet connection, Spotify allows you to stream basically any music you can think of. A European-based company, when Spotify first became available in the United States it was by invitation only (every hipster's dream) but I'm pretty sure anyone can get it now. If not, I'm sure one of your friends who is cooler than you can shoot you an invite.
- Turntable Remember back in middle school when you would go over to your friend's house to listen to her Britney Spears CDs and make up cool dance routines? No? Just me? Okay, anyway, turntable is basically that, except nobody can see how bad your dancing sucks. Turntable allows you to listen to music together over the internet. Fun, no?
- Last.fm To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what Last.fm does, but it's related to music, it's free, and I've heard of a lot of people using it, so it can't suck too hard. But the same could be said for Facebook Chat, so....
- The iTunes free music section The link actually goes to the site where you download iTunes, but as most Mac/iPod/iPhone/iPad/iMsickofthis user knows, there's a section of the iTunes store where they offer a few various songs for free every week. Sometimes there's nothing good, sometimes you stumble upon something cool, and sometimes they have something free from one of your favorites. It's worth a shot.
- Come&Live Come&Live is a website that offers free downloads of Christian music, but this is not your Mom's Christian music. They have everything from metal to pop to spoken word poetry (Levi the Poet, anyone?). You have the option of downloading for free, no guilt, donating, or "paying with a tweet" basically just helping to spread the word. Even if you're not a Christian, it's seriously worth checking out.
- TheSixtyOne Okay, gather my little hipsters, because you're gonna love this one. TheSixtyOne is a website that lets you listen to mostly unheard artists and "heart" what you like. You get more hearts to hand out based on achievements that you unlock by exploring new music. OR you can just listen, whatever. Nobody's judging you and your overpriced coffee, pretentious literature, and thrifted skinny jeans. (On the downside, pretty sure I just described myself.)
- I have saved the best for last: Pocket Hipster This little gem of an app, lauded as "the coolest music app ever... but you’ve probably never heard of it." and oh so sweetly free, this is an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad app that recommends music based on what's loaded on your iDevice of choice. Plus it's witty, cynical, and just insulting enough to be funny.
Until next time, Love, Tea, and Rock&Roll,
Larra
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