Stereogum is doing some awesome things that I wanted to point your attention to. The first one that I want you to take notice of and show your appreciation for is their MySplice project. They just recently released the third installment to download for free. With the help of team9 they have taken some of the best/most popular songs of the year and mashed them together. I’m usually not a fan of mash ups but this project is pretty darn entertaining. Here is a couple of my favorites, if you like them head on over to Stereogum to hear the whole project.
I also want to draw your attention to a new series of stripped down studio sessions called Decomposed. They invite both well-known and up-and-coming artists to drop by and record stripped down, acoustic versions of a couple of their songs. They have only featured two artists so far, but I am already a big fan. Check out this awesome performance by The Uglysuit. You’ll gain an even greater appreciation for these guys after hearing this fantastic perfromance of “Chicago.”
Well the web is all giddy with rumors that online internet radio giant Pandora may be forced to turn out all the lights and go home. The service has been free and I’ve taken advantage of the wonderful music it has bestowed upon me many a time. But to finally think about it’s mortality, and to think that it won’t last forever? AGH!
The Copyright Royalty Board last year decided that the fee to play a music recording on Web radio should step up from 8/100 of a cent per song per listener in 2006 to 19/100 of a cent per song per listener in 2010.
Multiplied by the millions of songs and thousands of listeners Pandora serves, that means the company will have to pay about $17 million this year, Westergren said.
The internet is serious business, and if they must take away my precious Pandora then I suppose it must happen. But today I want to reflect upon all the good Pandora hath brought me over the span of about 2 years.
Albert Hammond Jr.
Albert Hammond Jr.
I first heard the song “Everybody Gets a Star” while borrowing a computer from my church. I immediately rushed to iTunes and got the whole album. This is one of my favorite artists of all time, and it’s wonderful music.
Some of the most beautiful soft melodies I’ve ever heard. I first heard the song “Acrobat” while letting pandora explore some new genres. This is the kind of music you always love to discover.
Band of Horses
I wasn’t ever a really big BoH fan until I heard some great tracks off their first cd via Pandora. I really connected with songs like Great Salt Lake, and Our Swords. My all-time fav track will always be No One’s Gonna Love You More (see Best Albums of 2007)
A band I originally discovered via an iTunes single of the week, I never heard another song by them until Pandora. This has sealed them in my permanent Top 10 of bands that shall always be on my iPod.
The Gugenheim Grotto
I heard this on Pandora, and then bought it on a compilation cd from Starbucks. The song rocks, and Starbuck’s compilations do too. This band is amazing
The Jayhawks
This song does exactly what it says it’s gonna do in the song, it’s gonna make you smile. The band will continue to do the same if you keep listening to their beautiful tunes.
Longview
This is my new life song. I love it. I listen to it on repeat. I’ve only heard this one song by the band. One day I’ll move on, but I’m still cherishing this one.
Muse
Another band I didn’t know how much I liked until Pandora wouldn’t let me skip again that hour. I really like Muse. Partly because I downloaded a Muse song for Rock Band. It’s tons of fun to play.
Nada Surf
The name was always familiar, but now it’s burned into my brain. I love this band. Their music is just… perfect? I love the song “Popular”, it is unlike any song i’ve ever heard. Ever.
Rooney
I LOVE POP MUSIC. Not normally, but these guys do something that makes me feel like a 6th grader listening to pop music on the radio all over again. Perfect pop rock is the key to my heart.
The Slip
The best song I’ve ever got from anything. This song is my gamechanger when I need a pick me up. It is my powersong. Plus, they have a song in Guitar Hero I, how awesome is that.
