How do you discover new stuff?
Been thinking about this ever since responding to the 'radio' blog. And the thought is...if less of us are listening to music radio these days, where do we hear (or hear about) the new stuff? Or do we just listen to the same old, same old?
Back in the day, there were probably three things that encouraged me to buy stuff by 'new' artists:
- by hearing something round at my mates.
- by watching Top of the Pops.
- by hearing it on Radio - One, primarily, or maybe Luxembourg.
In other words, I never bought anything without hearing it first.
Nowadays, I'm introduced to new stuff pretty much as follows:
- reading about it in Word (or Mojo, or Uncut. Rarely Q.)
- reading about it on blogs like this one.
- taking a complete flyer on something in the shop.
- downloading something that catches my eye (often on eMusic).
- my son telling me I might like something.
- seeing a band live (as support, or at a festival).
Only one of these typically involves me hearing the actual music before parting with the readies.
Strangely, I'm probably more open to new stuff now than I ever was, although admittedly I have a few more bob to spare, so I can risk taking a flyer on new stuff.
And maybe stranger still, I'm rarely disappointed with my investigations of the new/unheard.
Yet I do find this vaguely troubling. Ultimately music should be listened to, not read about.
Is this typical? Is it, indeed, right and proper?
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You have stumbled upon something here, Paul
I can't add to your list, they all ring true, especially the son recommendations, often, ironically,of musics older than the two of us. But, in defence, how different is this from book buying: hardly ever is there knowledge of the actual content, beyond familiarity of the author, a review or recommendation, or, of course, the cover. Or wine, even, except to those of us who only ever stick to one brand, be it Blue Nun or Buckfast.
I guess in our youth we only imbibe, all senses speaking, what we know, experience being the key to confidence in trying the unknown.
I suppose a pre-listen can be guaged from file sharing or from visits to record libraries, but how many then legitimise the free feel?
I think that's why...
MySpace became so popular. It meant that people could sample new stuff without the worry that they might be wasting their money.
Personally, I use last.fm a lot as well and get recommendations there from other members, and look at other similar-minded people and what they listen to.
Also have a few mates who like similar stuff to me.
Personally, though, if I didn't have Word magazine, I don't know how I'd discover most of the new music I listen to.
Having said that, I reckon that, as you get older, 'new' music becomes far less exciting, because you've heard it all before. It takes something very special to get the juices flowing, as it were.
It's a worry
...that constantly preoccupies me - the fear that my musical tastes might stagnate, and I'll end up listening to the same old same old. Or, just as bad, that there might be endless excellent bands from days of Yore that I've inadvertently overlooked, and will never rectify these omissions. I get inspiration for new directions from the few remaining music-oriented shows on 6Music (Lamacq, Riley and Maconie), Radio 3's jazz programming, plus Late Junction, occasionally remembering to subscribe to the Unknown Public series of CDs, looking for related bands on All Music Guide, randomly sampling 30-second soundbites on eMusic, various podcasts (such as In The Groove, Homegrown, Bending Corners and No Idle Frets), and the regular Word coverdisc. Even Later With Jools Holland has put me on to the likes of Battles and LCD Soundsystem. Still, I'm a worrier by nature, so I should just be thankful there's still so much out there for me to discover!
Something worth
purchasing appearing on radio one or TOTP was not a common experience for me, although not entirely unknown, but mainly there wasn't that much good to hear there I found. As now there were a few exceptional shows that offered something different. Plus there was OGWT of course.
Seems to me though, if anything, there are more of these kind of shows on radio now than there used to be, even if not on radio one but on radio 2 sometimes and elsewhere. And there is Jools Holland nowadays, as mentioned above, festival coverage on TV, cds on magazines, websites to listen to samples on, TV documentaries, music video shows like MTV2 - to me it seems there are probably more opportunities than ever to hear stuff old and new if you want to take advantage of them - or you may choose not to and miss out. Not saying this just to be contrary. I understand how you can come to a point in life of not hearing much music though, but it does not have to be this way!
Went to see Editors in Birmingham recently(wife's choice! - they were OK, very professional performance, but their songs are a bit samey and they do Coldplay style slow ones, lead singer is similar in mannerisms to Chris Martin too). Anyway saw Sons and Daughters and a band called Mobius Band - both were pretty good I thought, so concert was worthwhile for me. I would consider purchasing their CDs. Maybe having to put up with Editors is too much a price to pay for some - I didn't think so though.
Sven, you have to bear in mind...
...that when I say 'back in the day', I'm talking about 1971/72-ish, when the likes of Bowie, Bolan, Slade, Free, Roxy, even groups like Golden Earring, Alice Cooper etc etc were appearing on TOTP. And when you are 12/13, this is as good as it can possibly get.
Ditto Radios One and Luxembourg - without Luxy, I'd never have heard Creedence Clearwater Revival or Three Dog Night, who never seemed to be off there.
I don't doubt that there are a million more places for me to hear new stuff that there was thirty-odd years ago, my point is that it isn't what I do any more. I read about new music and explore from there, I just don't seem to hear it.
Fair enough
but I wonder if that great music really was on TOTP as often as you remember.
SxSW
In the past, I have recommended here the collection of MP3s provided by the South by Southwest festival. This year they are only available individually from the website. However, someone has kindly bundled them up together for us.
It's a 3.5GB download, but it has over 750 songs in it. On past form, I will like 10% of them at best. But (despite Mark Ellen's protestations) it is free and not worthless. Well, only 90% worthless.
Lets rap this up...
Everything is discovered on the Internet nowdays'.
What's the point in any other media outlets (bar 'Word')?
Growing up...
is the biggest barrier to discovering new music. For me, it got to a point where, after leaving university, I must have gone six or seven years without discovering anything worthwhile. Looking back, I think it's a natural consequence of finding a proper daily routine in work and 'real life'. I stopped listening to John Peel, talking to friends who shared the same passion and taste as me into the small hours, and going to as many gigs. Then one day it hit me what had happened, and I returned to Peel and realised that I finally had enough money to go to all those gigs which I couldn't afford to years ago.
These days, the internet helps a lot but it isn't the be all and end all. Dandelion Radio and Tom Ravenscroft's 4 Radio download have helped plug a small part of the gap left by Peel. Occassionally something crops up on 6music. I often take a punt on something I read about in Word. Nothing, however, can beat the feeling of discovering something new for yourself by getting out there and taking a chance on a band you've never heard of before at a gig... Just wish I had more time, and more venues near me!)...
http://www.dandelionradio.com/
http://www.channel4.com/music/newmusicdownload/