Where do you find good new music?

[Tobin S.]

I gave up my satellite radio. I used to drive all day long for my job and it was nice to have then. I've got a new job and I'm not going to be able to make use of the radio now. I also will only have a five minute drive to work, so there's no need for it in the car. My wife has a 30 minute drive to work so I gave the radio to her.

I suppose I can just listen to Sirius online for my new music fix, but I am interested in hearing about what else is out there. I'm mainly into new alt rock and metal, but I'll also listen to new rock and classic hard rock.

[Lizzie Poppet]

1. Perhaps surprisingly...

Last edited Mon Apr 18, 2016, 09:05 PM - Edit history (1)

...I have a lot of luck checking out some of the right-column "suggestions" on YouTube. There's a lot of chaff to wade through...but that's the music scene for you.

It sounds like we may have similar tastes (although with metal, you can never tell...I despise some subgenres!), so I'll point out a couple-three Japanese "all-girl" bands I've come to love...and that I'd never have heard of w/o those suggestions.

First, this gem of a hard alterna-rock song by Band-Maid. Don't be fooled by their gimmick (maid cafe fad look) and take in the terrific songwriting (and superb musicianship):

Okay, now for some metal! This Bridear song isn't the cleanest, best-recorded example of their superb old-school powermetal because it's recorded live in a small club. But that's okay...because IT WAS RECORDED LIVE IN A SMALL CLUB! The chorus gets messy...but I think this brings across their attitude (and Mitsuru, the tiny lead player, is godlike even though this is just a glimpse into what she can do...). The song after this on "Up Next" is a genius-tier powermetal anthem, too.

&nohtml5=False

And last, the incomparable Doll$Boxx. This album and tour were a one-off (probably) collab between Gacharic Spin and Fuyuki Tenge, the singer from Light Bringer (who are also amazing). Ridiculous musicianship...and there's actually a lot of powerful social commentary going on with them (parodying the "idol" thing). Hint: turn up the bass.

[Iggo]

11. ^^^ This right here.

Also, when I'm on iTunes and the like, I pay attention to the "People who bought this song also bought this song" feature.

Even just a few clicks from where you started, you can find new stuff that you might never've found otherwise.

[OriginalGeek]

2. I follow a lot of different metal groups on Facebook

they are always posting new (and old) metal and that's where I discover stuff I like a lot of times. They have groups as generic as "hard rock/metal" and as specific as "Old-school Death Metal" or "Brutal technical Death Metal" and all things in between. There's a LOT of cross-over between different sub-genres so there's always a good introduction to a new style that fits in with what you already know.

I also like to go to festivals that have multiple bands and I force myself to go listen to bands I never heard of. Live shows are a great test of a metal band's mettle. That's where I found Portal. (Maryland Death Fest)

I am also facebook friends with and/or following individual bands/performers that I know and love as they often promote their new stuff and bands they like. I bet I hear at least 1 new band every day and usually several.

If you don't do FB try Last.fm and search on the terms you are interested in and they also suggest similar artists. I leave my playlist on my music server running 24/7 and I've scrobbled over a million plays.

[KamaAina]

3. On the way back from Berkeley last month

I found a ride (hurray! ) and she slipped in a CD. Contents included Kimya Dawson (how can you not love someone who titles one of her albums "Thunder Thighs"? ) and Danielle Ate The Sandwich (not a band but a singer-songwriter!).

[hibbing]

4. College radio

I have found some cool stuff listening to the local college station. There is an android app that you can listen to them from all over, of course you can do that on a pooter too.

Peace

[MowCowWhoHow III]

5. Spotify playlists/youtube recommendations/people

An example of option 3 (good is subjective, ymmv) which segues into option 2 (if you click through to youtube)

The key is to find at least one new 'seed' piece of music you like, then algorithmically explore similar.

[Initech]

6. Believe it or not, iTunes.

What I like about iTunes is that they have clips of all the albums they have, and if you like it you can get it, if you don't like it you can always find something else. And for bands I love, I always check out the "listeners also bought" column as well.

[Codeine]

7. I was going to suggest Sirius

because that's where I discover all my new alt-rock and metal, but since you've ditched that I think you may want to look at Pitchfork.com. They cover lots of new shit in every genre.

[kentauros]

8. soma fm

soma fm

It's out of San Francisco. Some new cuts, some not, all mixed together, and in 25+ channels. Should be enough variety there to help you find what you like

My favorite channels are Groove Salad, Lush, Illinois Street Lounge, and Secret Agent

[Jamaal510]

9. Music choice,

Pandora, and checking either for new music or suggested songs on itunes.

[Major Nikon]

10. Spotify

[laundry_queen]

12. My kids

LOL. It helps to have teenagers do some of the legwork for you.

Also, I follow a few of my favorite bands on facebook and they'll post a new band they are involved with or are fans of, and I'll listen and like it (fell in love with a new band yesterday because of a post from a favorite band).

Browse iTunes. Randomly click on shit. Sometimes the "people who bought this also bought" is helpful.

CBC news here in Canada plays small snippets of new music on the weekends. Or I'll watch MuchMusic (Canadian music video channel), especially the countdown.

I watch The Voice and sometimes they'll have a song on there I hadn't heard before and I'll download the original (not The Voice version, although sometimes I do that too if it's better)

I'll look over playlists on some of the streaming apps.

I listen to local radio - I think I heard the city I live in has the most radio stations per capita in Canada so there are plenty of good stations to choose from.

I think that's all I can think of for now.

[mackerel]

13. I go to radio.com

Click on Listen Live and then I choose the alternative category under music. There are quite a few to choose from but lately I've been liking the sounds out of Boston.

[worstexever]

14. SNL

And then I find the artist on Spotify.

Also music festivals.

[astral]

15. I just killed my Sirius subscription yesterday.

Ive had it for six years, over time I wasnt using it much anymore and finally I moved a short distance and no longer have reception.

I use Slacker paid version so I can have offline song lists, and I love browsing their stations artists and 'related' lists suggesting artists to hear, and you can search, and read about artists and their history / career. they have several levels of pay and also a free version. I can save for offline listening my own created and growing song pick lists, my stations, their stations, even albums. you get your moneys' worth especially if you dont have unlimited data or wifi.

I love love love Radio.net and Rad.io and have just discovered Jango, also an amazing place to find music, all of this is free, and there's lots more, just listing my current favorites.

Pandora used to be a favorite but that subscription wont get renewed, their quality has not kept up with the competition even tho I pay. Its just that their variety has dropped and I hear the same artists and tired old 70s AM radio songs on all the stations now, not like it used to be, they are still good just not the only game in town anymore.

Sirius online might be worth keeping for you if you still have a subscription anyway. it is only like $4 more per month to add internet access to an existing radio subscription.