Musical Atrophy

[enochs_fable]

How do you go about finding new music to listen to? Since I commute, and can't really listen to the radio at work, I have to work at seeking out new artists to listen to. I keep meaning to try out pandora.com for that music-matching thing.

One of my latest favorite podcasts is the classical Concert at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum. I'm

Comments

[grapefruiteater]

My response was going to be, "Have georgy make you a mix." Not to volunteer Georgy's services without asking, but you know.

Which classical composers do you like? I might be able to help in that department.

[libation]

Ditto. georgy is pretty much my source for new music.

[jiggliusceasar]

I third georgy. Though I'd be willing to recommend Alicia Keys and (of course) Billy Joel based on your list.

[enochs_fable]

Which composers? Um, I'm not really sure. I'd have to go back and listen, knowing that such and such was Mozart or Bach, and then tell you.

I'm not a big fan of whiny strings. Violins can be cool, just not when they're screechy.

[verin_the_brown]

I kept reading your post, wondering when you were going to say something about muscle atrophy. :)

How do you go about finding new music to listen to? Since I commute, and can't really listen to the radio at work, I have to work at seeking out new artists to listen to. I keep meaning to try out pandora.com for that music-matching thing.

One of my latest favorite podcasts is the classical Concert at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum. I'm pretty ignorant of most classical music beyond the famous ones, and I've discovered that classical is wonderful music to cook by, or to just sit with a drink on a quiet snowy day, and should start figuring out which composers I prefer.

No help from me, but I will be watching this space, because what you wrote describes me and my relationship precisely.

[echoweaver]

I get most of my new music from the Insomnia Radio podcast. It's a fairly eclectic collection of independent modern music.

For mainstream pop, I've gotten into Rob Thomas/Matchbox 20. I has a lot of jazz influence.

[enochs_fable]

Heh. I've had some of that from all the non-working out over the holidays. But I'm back in the groove.

[casey98]

Josh listens to a music podcast from CBC, I think. I'll ask him to post here what it is. That's where it seems like he finds some of his new people.

Also, I may be able to ping my father-in-law, who is a huge music buff, if you'd like.

[jcb9]

It's a set of podcasts, really - if you search for CBC Radio 3 on iTunes, you'll find 'em. NPR also has a great music podcast, All Songs Considered, with an accompanying podcast of live concerts. Additionally, there are song of the day podcasts from KCRW, KEXP, MPR, and NPR.

I'd also recommend a show called Sound Opinions, which is produced by Chicago Public Radio. It's distributed to a few other public radio stations, and also available as a podcast - it's sort of a pop music version of Siskel & Ebert, featuring the music critics of the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times. It has album reviews, interviews (they just had a really interesting interview with Tori Amos, since you mention her), and various other features - it's the sort of thing where you're likely to often disagree with their opinions but still find a lot of interesting stuff to check out.

[casey98]

Thanks for the tips!

[alicat78]

That would be the CBC Radio 3 podcast, available on their website. It is indeed awesome.

[libation]

Besides Georgy, I occasionally flip through Rolling Stone here at work and find something that catches my eye. Imho written reviews of CDs are usually pretty pointless, however.

[piperjoy]

i'm enjoying pandora.com. i've found some new stuff there that i'm enjoying.

i listen to NPR most of the time that I'm listening to the radio, so i'm also sort of short on new music input. but i do enjoy their reviews.

artist suggestions: Regina Specktor, the Dresden Dolls, Kimya Dawson, Girlyman, Eisley, Feist, Reindeer Section, Aimee Mann, Arcade Fire, Rilo Kiley, Jill Sobule, Tegan and Sara, Yeah Yeah Yeahs... These are mainly folksy and/or quirky rock.

[alicat78]

I'm so making you a mix this week. It will give me something to do while we don't have a car and can't go anywhere in the evenings.

I f you like pianos, I think you'd love Emm Gryner, as well as David Gray (see my LJ). For alt-folk, try Kathleen Edwards, Jim Bryson, Josh Ritter. Luke Doucet does awesome things with guitars and lyrics. For super happy pop, the New Pornographers are a great one (start with "Use It" and see if you can make yourself stop chair dancing).

This should be fun.

[piperjoy]

i hate to/have to ask: are you making a mix for me or Enoch? or maybe both?

[alicat78]

Ack, sorry - replied to your comment instead of his! But if you'd like a mix of eclectic mostly Canadian pop music, do let me know and I'll be happy to send him an extra copy for you!