We all know that Music for the Month is the best place to discover and discuss new music (ahem) but a recent question on the interwebs (Alternatives to MySpace) had me nodding my head in agreement at the parlous state of MySpace so I followed a suggested link to Bandcamp and within seconds I was enjoying music by Roman Candle, Novalima – well, I won’t go on, I’ll save them for a future post but I was so impressed at the way it works – you can listen to whole albums before you buy them, read the lyrics and enjoy the (often fantastic) artwork. Everything is geared towards making it easy for the consumer to listen to and buy new music. What a novelty!
But it got me wondering, now that it’s no longer possible for most of the population to go down to their local record store and listen to new stuff coming in*, where do you find new music? Suggestions in the comment box please!
* Am I showing my age here? Do some of the youngsters who frequent these parts have no idea what I’m talking about?
A great site is Gomusicnow.ru
You set up an account in US dollars and go from there. Each track is either 9 cents or 15 cents depending on how recently it’s been released. Disounts are then given if you buy the whole album. There is a feature that allows you to listen to the music before buying it.
I tend to read the reviews on Amazon, then have a listen on Go Music and buy if I like what I’m hearing.
Hi Techy – thanks for your post. I’ve heard about this site and others of course and I like the way that they are sticking 2 fingers up to the record company (cos they deserve it) and providing what looks like a very good digital service.
Unfortunately, the artist also suffers from sites like this as they receive no royalties and this is why I cannot support them and always ask visitors to this site to always support the artist and buy the album. Whenever I download I use itunes or legit sites that do pay royalties to the artist.
Anyway thanks for your comments
I really only have three sources to find new music these days – but they have proved to be admirable sources nevertheless.
1. Despite Mr D’s barely concealed modesty, my top source is right here on Music for the Month. The reasons for this are many and complicated but, we have a very varied range of contributors: Sinny with his new indie type bands may not be exactly my cup of tea, but he has provided quite a few very worthwhile suggestions. He is obviously a well travelled young chap and I am confident that he will keep on suggesting new discoveries as he goes along. And with his delving into the older stuff he just keeps on reminding us of classics we had forgotten all about.
Uncle RD with his blues background has got me right into R L Burnside amongst others. I still want to go and raid his collection so look out.
LZ has thrown up a totally new area for me to explore. I had never really considered singer/songwriters before. Although I may not comment on too many of them, I can assure you that I do listen to practically everything she suggests.
What can I say about Mr D, except that he has cost me a fortune in new discoveries – long may it continue.
Ken (where has he gone) has thrown in some true classics, I am thinking particularly of the likes of Pat Metheny who I had never really considered before.
Now we have some new blood with Che and Technoflid – can’t wait for Wednesday and his radio show.
I have been pleasantly surprised at how well some of my suggestions have gone down, Siena Root & Space Debris in particular.
All in all, things are looking quite rosy in this neighbourhood.
2. I have found that Amazon’s recommendations can be truly awe inspiring. OK it takes a while to list your collection and rate it. But once done, these suggestions can be spookily amazing. Yes the odd duff CD gets thrown up – but at least we can take the suggestion or leave it. I have found that very often I am delighted to take it.
3. You just can’t beat heading to your local club and checking out the latest wannabees. It may be difficult to do this in Doha, I’m not too sure where the rest of you are. But here in Cork we have a very vibrant gig scene with some scarily good young bands doing the rounds.
OK, so very few record shops to browse through. Who needs em when we have MFTM?
Hi Laughing Dog – I totally agree with you. If I like something, I invariably buy the whole album. I dread to think how much money I’ve spent on Amazon. I keep on having to buy new CD shelves for my little ‘den’ at home!
I apologise profusely if this looked like I was trying to advertise a site that was robbing artists of their deserved royalties.
I don’t think I’ve said hello properly yet Technoflid, so a big hello and welcome. Glad to hear that you’re another compulsive music buyer, you’ll fit right in here!
Spacey, I blush! Do have a look at Bandcamp though, I came across a number of [???] rock listings that I’m sure you’d like but I’m not up on the terminology I’m afraid! Is it prog rock? I’m surprised that they haven’t (yet?) organised music by genre although I’m kind of hoping they don’t – it’s perfect as it is and not categorising allows you to browse “without prejudice” so to speak. I just clicked on the artwork that appealed to me most – not as hit and miss as you might first imagine!
I absolutely agree with you that Amazon’s suggestions can be spot on, at least for books, which is what I primarily search for and buy.
And yes, where has Ken gotten to?
Well I’m off to spend “a few minutes” (ha!) browsing Bandcamp before bedtime…
Okay, I was of course wrong, you can easily search Bandcamp by genre, for example, Indie Folk or love song or accoustic (and you come across beautiful artwork like this).
[An aside, what on earth is Nerd pop?]
Anyway, finds of the night:
- Dan Lyth, Everything is Simple (free album download and you can buy the 10 track album on CD with 12 page full colour sleeve for £8)
- Marian Call, will definitely be going back to listen to more of both these tomorrow.
And being a bit potty about dogs made me click on Alex Time‘s (free to download) album that will also be getting another listen.
Spacey, Technoflid – you guys might like Omar Rodriguez Lopez?
p.s. Dear brother, I think I need to have a “Bandcamp corner” where I can post all my nightly finds without cluttering up the comments! Will email you on the morrow.
OK LZ I was persuaded to give it a go, and I found – theHEAD (its a bit quiet here at work today).
You’re right, we do need a Bandcamp corner. There’s billions of bands on there to be discovered. Now all I need is several million dollars and another 100 years to get through them all.
Glad you had a look spacey, do keep an eye on there, looks like there are new signups daily.
Hi LZ and thanks for the welcome. This is a cracking site which has provided me with some great new listening experiences.
Hi Spacey – thanks for you fine comments makes it all worthwhile. Especially like “Who needs em when we have MFTM?” think I’ll use that for my next marketing campaign.
I can only agree with everything you say, our friends here make the site – this is not about me – its about the music and I have received as much enjoyment and pleasure from the music you and everyone (URD,LZ,SA,Ken) has suggested – and it looks like our new friends Techy and Cheezy will add much. Also, don’t forget that you were my first visitor when you very quickly visited the site after we went live last August and I will always remember and appreciate your contributions and friendship.
My source of new music is varied and changes – I respect Andy Gill from the Independent, I love Amazon, I have 2 good record shops in Doha, I have 3 kids who love music, much comes from them and of course I have the Internet with myspace et al. I hate Q magazine and if they give a bad review I normally buy, and I always have this passion for music, this passion for discovering new music and I’m very lucky that I have an open mind and will listen to anything – if its good its good.
Thanks LD – I hope I can contribute just a little bit. I love the whole kindred spirit feeling of this site – music lovers who are open-minded and always on the hunt for new, great tunes…. it’s very refreshing. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I’ve been sneered at for liking some unusual stuff…..
Hi Techy – great comments thanks – I also feel we have a kindred spirit feeling here, makes me very happy (raises a glass of rather nice Chianti to toast my friends here)
Bandcamp – I know this might sound crazy but I’m not sure I like!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why?
There’s just too much music, too many bands, too many artists, too many genres, too many songs, too many new sounds, too much choice – as my dear friend UncleRaveyDavey once said “too many tunes – not enough time”.
I’m not sure I’ll be a regular visitor to this site
I think I know what you mean Mr D. The problem is, there is plenty of good music on their if you can just find it. But you have to sift through the dross and so-so stuff to hopefully eventually strike gold. Not just that, we all know that you can’t judge a band on one song. But with so much on offer, I know that if I play one song, and don’t really like it, then I just jump onto another band.
What they need is a rating system. Then, over time, a general picture would be built up of the bands which really deserve special attention. So if you come across a particular user who just happens to have similar tastes in music to your own, you could try out their recommendations.
The idea of Bandcamp is good. I am all for giving young bands as much exposure as possible. But I do think the site needs a bit of work on it yet to make it really worthwhile.
Laughing dog, it’s funny that what puts you off is what I like about the site, clicking from here to there, basing my clicks solely on the name of the artist(s) and the cover artwork (there’s some gorgeous stuff in there!). But fear not, I shall be a regular visitor and will bring back the (imho) best of bandcamp to share with you guys.
Spacey, I would hate to see a rating system! The tagging system is so specific that it’s easy to find the sort of music you like whilst rating systems always cause problems (see Digg, Reddit, etc.) Bandcamp is perfect as it is, I think. But I’ll make myself a regular visitor and report back if that changes.
Best of Bandcamp – we have a title for my wee selection corner! But first, the dogs need walking…
Yes , yes, yes Ms LZ but!!! Lets use some well known bands as examples.
Prog Rock covers bands as diverse as Genesis (even with Phil Collins), The Moody Blues, present day Marillion even. Now, if I had first searched Prog Rock and came across any of them I would have given up and run away.
But then I would have missed out on Porcupine Tree, Jethro Tull, Caravan, IQ, the list goes on and on.
Same with Hard Rock. How can Bon Jovi (who I don’t like in the slightest) be lumped in with Black Sabbath? But they are.
Folk music? I love Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span – can’t stand The Dubliners or The Gypsy Kings.
All I am saying is, the genre idea is too wide ranging. Amazon’s idea ‘customers who bought this also bought this’ is quite good. Something similar could be applied.
Having said all this, I’m not writing it off as the Hound (has he gone walkies too?) appears to be. I will certainly go back often when I have time to kill and lack inspiration.
Also tried out the link Mr D has put on here ’5 Great Ways to Find Music That Suits Your Mood’ and tried out stereomood.com. I was pleasantly surprised. Could be I have found another source of new music. Try it sometime.
That kind of makes sense spacey except for the “would have given up and run away” bit – I think I have a higher “wasting time” threshold than you!
You’ve just reminded me to dig out some Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span cds, haven’t listened to them in years so I’m in for a treat this weekend I think.
Oh and glad you’re enjoying Stereomood – I’ll go and check that out this w/end too.
Hey Mrs LZ – great discussion. I find new music through the web, by surfing sites especially the sites of bands I like I reckon that these sites are getting better and sometimes have free d/loads and loads of samples.
Plus of course mftm – but we need less long songs and more 3 minute of madness like this
Like this.…..(the link didnt work)
Hi Sinny – maybe you’re right especially when the 2 minutes 16 seconds are as good as this
Oh Sinny, I absolutely LUUUUURVE Teenage Kicks! Wasn’t it one of (much missed) John Peel’s favourites too? I think it will be loved by generations to come too. Brilliant track.
Great song Sinny, but I disagree with the 3 minute madness bit. What we need is much more 10 + minutes of insanity.
With you there Spacepig.As long as it’s good music,the longer the better, IMO.
I just began a ‘Best of Bandcamp‘ blog, enjoy it.
Hi Hewy and welcome to musicforthemonth.com
Great site thanks for sharing – I like it as it very simple, very user friendly and saves me time, nice one.
Will add to my blog roll.
What made you set this site up?
Well hewhocutsdown (just how on earth are our new people thinking up these crazy names?), your site seems to work anyway, I just found The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, try them out sometime guys. Just awesome weird stuff, perfect for a lazy Sunday morning.
How do you work out what’s best though? I am sure that you don’t listen to everything on there. Do you go by what other people ask for? Do you have plans to split your recommendations into genres, or maybe provide a comment or two about each one so we know what we are letting ourselves in for?
The idea is good though, very good, only thing is, it is possible that smaller unknown bands will still get lost even if they are really good, just becomes no one knows them.
Hello everybody well i have to say that the best site for finding new music is MFTM , but i also use last.fm a great site for finding music i came across this site while living in spain , it is a great site and directs you to amazon or itunes or 7 digital to buy the music there are alot of unknown bands that use last.fm and i have found some gems there