How do you keep yourself updated?

[RyanS]

This is my first post. Just wondering, with all the information available and all the countless means of accessing it, how do you guys stay updated with the current good songs out there? Radio, television, internet, etc.? Thanks!

 

[badgas]

I have no TV so I know about that.
I don't have internet access nor a computer anymore, I'm at my folks place right now.

As far as the songs on the radio, I don't listen to them. I became disallutioned with lable recordings long ago. I'm not saying I don't like many of the songs,,,,

What I want to say is, I listen primarly to music by guys like you, and everyone else here, who write their own songs, songs from the heart and soul of the people of the world, not commercialized songs for $.
Since I record my owns stuff too, I guess I'm keeping up with the pulse of the people of the world.

I am, ain't I?

 

[Greenshoe]

I usually discover new music through discussion boards such as these or at large 'indie' record stores like Streetlight, Rasputin, or Amoeba Records here in San Francisco. Another great resource is www.allmusic.com which is probably the most comprehensive database of recording artists - bios, credits (down to assistant mix engineers), reviews, discography, similar artists, influences, who've the artists worked with, etc.

I always get a kick when people complain about the sad state of music these days. There's tons of great music out there being made by newcomers and vets alike - and yes, even those who are on major labels. You just have to dig a bit and most of it is probably not what a 15 year old would listen to. Just off the top of my head, examples below of non-obscure, major label artists who have released good to great albums of new material in the past 2-3 years that also are selling:

Warren Zevon (R.I.P.)
White Stripes
Robert Randolph (Stevie Wonder with a lap steel)
Wilco
Coldplay
Flaming Lips
Solomon Burke
Eminem
The Roots
Norah Jones
Black Eyed Peas
Fountains of Wayne
Bruce Springsteen
Johnny Cash

 

[RyanS]

So when a song is commercialized, it's not from the heart? How do you judge the essence of a song? The lyrics? The music? The artist? And if based in one or all of these? How do you make the distinction between a sincere song and one that was written just to sell?

What I want to say is, I listen primarly to music by guys like you, and everyone else here, who write their own songs, songs from the heart and soul of the people of the world, not commercialized songs for $.

 

[studioviols]

The major labels have no real system that is fair and accurate to rate music. They tell us their charts are based on sales and requests to radio stations but it's a deciet.

The big labels are telling you what is popular because that is what they want you to buy, anybody else that tells you different is going to be ... fired, it's that simple.

The internet gives us a powerful and exciting tool to really see what people like.

Imagine a two banquest tables filled with food.

One is free.

The other costs $15.00US.

The free table has food that has been cooked in peoples kitchens, prepared with love and care. There is handmade bread in old iron pans, there are fruits with maybe a bruise or a bug-bite or two picked from the trees that grow in the peoples yards or on their land. There are chickens hanging taken from their range fed stock. There are vegetables taken from gardens that don't look perfect, there are smells peculiar that remind you of old people's houses.

The $15.00 table has highly processed, fancy looking, multi-colored food decorated with things you might not even should eat, it has the best cuts of meat, (so they say), it has large shiny well-waxed fruits ... etc ... etc ... The servers are hired, sterile corporate drones dressed in cute little outfits.


So, a very real percentage of the population, (20% of the US lives in abject poverty, 40% is the bottom of middle class, 65% makes less than 35k per year), a very real percentage of the population is going to the free table first. They may eventually go to the pay table, but more than likely they will only look, and may even wait until the prices are reduced.

So how do you know which of the foods on the free table are good, are the best and DOES it matter to anybody but yourself ?

And how do you know which of the foods on the pay table are best, and who does that really matter to ?

Interesting quandry huh ?

So how do we know on the internet ... which is the best song. Even those of us with broadband, it's not quite as important to us as to which songs we should spend our bandwidth on, as it certainly is crucial to serious audiophile dial-up users, but with broadband users, they are genuinely concerned with what they should actually spend time listening to.

How to tell which is the best table, what is the best song.

I say for the 'time' ... which is money and the most dearest form of money ... the free table on the internet will ultimately provide you with more of what you want, and what you need to be healthy and satisfied.

Always look for the ratings mechanism on a music website first I say.

Look at nowhereradio.com, they have a monthly top 10, that is primarily built through the listenings of actual musicians ... and you might say ... well sure, we're sure to get something good from the top 10 if actucal musicians have been voting ...

NOT

 

[Cyrokk]

I don't keep up with the current good songs out there. I tend to stay a good five or ten years behind the times. Frequently, when asked whether I like a particular artist I respond with "I've never heard of them" which then follows a huge gasp of surprise followed by enquiries as to the kind of rock I live under.

Honestly, I don't care about anything new. I let what I feel like listening to determine the next cd I buy. For example, after attending the jamfest I noticed that there wasn't enough funk being played. I never really listened to funk per se, but rather bands that were inspired by funk such as Zeppelin and RHCP. My next CD purchase will be Fishbone. I have no idea how long they've been around, but word of mouth indicates that they kick outrageous funk ass, so I am headed in their direction.

Neither am I concerned that by not taking in new music would I ever grow stale in my songwriting. Like most people, my typical playing style is confined to the same boring box. Knowing the box allows me to jump out of it, which is a struggle at times, but all you have to do is not play the same damn notes over and over. The end result is that people will tell me my style sounds like other bands I never even heard of, so once again current trends are completely irrelevant to me.

Cy

 

[Greenshoe]

<snip>.... I never really listened to funk per se, but rather bands that were inspired by funk such as Zeppelin and RHCP. <snip>

Cy

Zep inspired by funk? Um...not that category/genre definitions matter much as long as the music is good, but Led Zep ain't funk my friend or inspired by it - at least based on what most people would say is 'funk'. Zep is more of a blend of electric blues in their early albums, with celtic folk and middle eastern/Indian mixed in on later albums.

For funk, try the real thing (and Led Zep's contemporaries) - James Brown, or Parliament (George Clinton, Bootsy Collins who played bass on James Brown's early records) to start. Sly & the Family Stone is another good one (Family Affair, Everyday People, Dance to the Music). Stevie Wonder's mid-70s records like Talking Book and Innervisions also come to mind. For 80s stuff, try Prince, the symbol dude. Funk arguably has a greater influence on hip hop and rap more than rock - Dr. Dre, Tupac, Snoop, Biggie, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, etc. all are heavily influenced by the 70s artists I mentioned above.

 

[Cyrokk]

Zep inspired by funk? Um...not that category/genre definitions matter much as long as the music is good, but Led Zep ain't funk my friend or inspired by it - at least based on what most people would say is 'funk'. Zep is more of a blend of electric blues in their early albums, with celtic folk and middle eastern/Indian mixed in on later albums.

The Crunge is funk inspired. Trampled Underfoot.. hell most of Physical Graffiti was inspired to some extent by funk.. It is quite well known that the band had very high respect for James Brown, in fact digging on his stuff in between shows. Plant on many occasions did James Brown-isms throughout much of the later catalog.

So yes indeed, Zeppelin was inspired by funk as well as all the other influences you mentioned. And if you really read my qualifier you would know that I said Zeppelin wasn't close to the real thing.

 

[RyanS]

studioviols:

Nicely said! To put it simply, you're saying that you go to the internet and check the charts in nowhereradio.com. What do you think of mp3.com's charts?

 

[mikeh]

As a consumer, I'm much less interested in following current music than I may have been in my youth, however as a musician I feel it important to follow the current charts (although I don't like much of what I hear) as well as indie releases and varous world music.

When I drive in m vehicle I force myself to listen to the radio, always searching for songs I've never heard (drives my wife crazy, since I always turn off the classic rot songs that she likes).

If I do hear a group that appeals to me (because I like the writing or their "sound') I'll write the name down and look for them in the store.

I also spend a fair amount of time (and money) at used stores and rummage sales where I can buy recordings of people I never heard of at a low price - and while this may not be currect music it is always new to me, and in many cases a pleasant surprise.

I don't download, since I have certain ethical problems with tha issue (not judging anyone else - just my personal view).

 

[studioviols]

What do you think of mp3.com's charts?

From what I understand, http://www.mp3s.com charts are generated in much the same way that therealwaldo.com generates charts for nowhereradio.com , and that is they are based on the 'unique' attempts to stream the song.

People who come to mp3s.com are voting with their bandwidth, their time, and they tell others, and send links to others ... and I think that is a fantastic 'new charting system' it is much more accurate in many respects than 'sales driven charts' that are NECESSARILY perverted by spending on marketing.

cdbaby.com , I don't know if they do charting, but their chartinge would be purely based on ... what is selling ...

and they could also do charting based on 'what is streaming', just think of the 'pure marketing data' that can generate when you compare the two ... they could sell that stuff ya know

 

[studioviols]

What do you think of mp3.com's charts?

From what I understand, http://www.mp3s.com charts are generated in much the same way that therealwaldo.com generates charts for nowhereradio.com , and that is they are based on the 'unique' attempts to stream the song.

People who come to mp3s.com are voting with their bandwidth, their time, and they tell others, and send links to others ... and I think that is a fantastic 'new charting system' it is much more accurate in many respects than 'sales driven charts' that are NECESSARILY perverted by spending on marketing.

cdbaby.com , I don't know if they do charting, but their chartinge would be purely based on ... what is selling ...

and they could also do charting based on 'what is streaming', just think of the 'pure marketing data' that can generate when you compare the two ... they could sell that stuff ya know

 

[TheRealWaldo]

Actually mp3.com bases their charts on criteria that is COMPLETELY different than nowhereradio.

1) You can pay to be on mp3.com's charts
2) Numbers on mp3.com are based on downloads, and all downloads, not unique, as well as other criteria they've thrown in to keep Vivendi's (owners of mp3.com) own bands on the front page.
3) Numbers on NWR are based entirely on unique playbacks at this point (streams)
4) You can't pay to be on NWR's charts, no matter how much you beg, or offer

W.

 

[studioviols]

therealwaldo :

In the short term you will suffer for your integrity, knowing that a few out there respect your greatly for it.

In the longrun, you will win a loyal base of fine musicians, and be known for your truthfulness.

In the longrun, you will cash in, because YOU will have the better dataset, and your code and database will be designed with greater integrity, literally and philosophically.

A suggestion, that only members may download, no ifs ands or butts.

You have got to get something, if only an IP for demographic analysis purposes at some point joined with whatever garbage they 'might' enter into the member ship form.

Non-members should only be able to stream at Lo-Fi, and Hi-Fi should be limited to 128kpbs only for non-members, this gives a greater chance on 'no-hiccup' playback and encourages return visitors from non-members, and encourages membership generally.

Anything above 192kbps should not be offered for streaming until the hardware and network solution is iron solid, those may only be downloaded, and again, downloaded only by members.

MP3 at greater than 256kbps should only be available to 'collaborators' or members with a certain length of standing or other qualities IMHO.

I urge you never to change the 'unique stream' policy for charting ever. It can be your 'hook' that differentiates you from all others.

By the way, how can I get information about banner advertising on nowhereradio.com for my service, string arrangements, solos and cameos with violin, viola and cello ?

sincerly,

studioviols

 

[TheRealWaldo]

Just e-mail me. BTW, the artists can decide weather they want to allow streaming or download to non members, etc. It's up to them, and it'll stay that way.

As far as streaming issues, it's all been outlined on the NWR forums as to what is going to happen.

W.