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Apple Pro Underwear · Oct 5, 2005, 09:40 PM

One of the things about indie music is that while there are some great bands out there that most people agree make good records (like the New Pornographers), more often than not, the process of finding new bands you really like are sometimes a crap shoot. My current way of discovering new artists is internet radio stations, ptichforkmedia.com and recommendations from various sources (if you like XYZ, you might like ZXY).

I think there is a better way to do this because:
• Internet Radio: You listen to one song. I need to listen to an album to see if they have any real skillz.
• indie music web sites: I don't like relying on someone else to tell me what's good. I read it to get info but in the end, i get no music to sample.
• Reccomendations: in the end you get no music to sample for yourself

This can actually get costly and it's a waste of time to devote so much energy to find good music.

My idea is basically this: Start a "music club" where we share a CD we like alot. We host it for each other and we listen to it. We comment on it and then the cycle continues. If there are 4 people interested in this, we can share a new CD once a week and that means sharing 1 CD a month individually and receiving 3. Bottom line, discovering new music is fun. This makes it efficent for all parties involved.

This idea may be stupid, but post if you have any interest.

[DISCLAIMER: I FULLY REALIZE SOME OF YOU MIGHT CLAIM THIS IS PIRATING. I think the rules are different for non-mainstream artists. These guys are fighting for people to just sample their music. Hence they give out free sample discs outside shows, they have free music downloads on their sites. I also think in this circle, you'd support the bands you like in the future. So it's a win-win for everybody involved]

[DISCLAIMER 2: We can do this via email as not to get MacNN all pissy]

Cubeoid · Oct 6, 2005, 12:52 AM

This is going down rather well..

screamingFit · Oct 6, 2005, 05:08 AM

Good idea and I'd be game - but don't have any place to "share" music for others to grab.

And it depends on the genre you're looking for, too. My music taste is more alt.country and emo. Though I like hearing different artists, I wouldn't be very fond of listening to indie metal or hip-hop type stuff.

Cubeoid · Oct 6, 2005, 05:12 AM

Originally Posted by screamingFit

I wouldn't be very fond of listening to indie metal or hip-hop type stuff.

Give it a chance and have some patience and you never know what can win your heart over.

MOTHERWELL · Oct 6, 2005, 05:18 AM

I have been doing something like this for about a year via email. I send an email out every few weeks with a few bands, information on them, and a link to either amazon or iTunes.

I listen to a lot of new music, and I started sending the emails to friends who were interested in hearing new bands...it has since grown from there.

Nivag · Oct 6, 2005, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by MOTHERWELL

I have been doing something like this for about a year via email. I send an email out every few weeks with a few bands, information on them, and a link to either amazon or iTunes.

I listen to a lot of new music, and I started sending the emails to friends who were interested in hearing new bands...it has since grown from there.

i like the sound of that! i'll PM you my email

Originally Posted by screamingFit

Good idea and I'd be game - but don't have any place to "share" music for others to grab....

if you need somewhere to store your music this place is good, http://www.streamload.com

if anyone sets up a freeloader account PM me your username and i'll send some tunes to you

Apple Pro Underwear · Oct 6, 2005, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

This is going down rather well..

I know this is not exactly the highpoint of music history but I actually support the scene, I buy 2-3 CDs a month. I try to attend shows of my fav bands. ATLEAST I am not just pirating anything and everything.

But I stand by my original comments. Why does it have to be so difficult?

Nivag · Oct 6, 2005, 07:11 AM

i'm up for this, it could be good! we could use the .Mac groups thing to share the our choices

pathogen · Oct 6, 2005, 07:14 AM

Doesn't sound difficult to me. Count me in! But, ah, I'm like 2 years behind in everything new... I think it's cause I've gotten older.

Apple Pro Underwear · Oct 6, 2005, 11:15 AM

Cool, there does seem to be mild interest...

We should have minimal requirements:
• Ability to contribute 1 complete CD a month ( a CD of your choice but something you immensely enjoyed)
• Ability to either host or send a zipped/stuffed file ( or to me via email so I can host it for you)

shoot me an email if you want in

jacktse [insert @ symbol here] myway.com

Salty · Oct 6, 2005, 11:24 AM

Most of the music I listen to is Indie because most of the Christian labels are independent. And even if they aren't they get to operate largely separate from their larger RIAA owners. For example Tooth and Nail is owned 51% by Brendan Eble and 49% by EMI. So EMI does distribution but that's about it. Goti is I think mainly owned by Toby Mac, and Flicker is owned by one of the guys from Audio Adrenaline. As well you have smaller labels like flood gate, and anything that gets distributed by WORD.
In the end I end up with better music often because most of the artists I listen to don't have massive delusions of being the next big thing. They just wanna play shows, make music and have fun at it.

screamingFit · Oct 6, 2005, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

Give it a chance and have some patience and you never know what can win your heart over.

Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Sorry

My ears are very sensitive to these types of music. Think "bleeding eardrums".

macaddict0001 · Oct 6, 2005, 01:27 PM

I like indie music also, there is a good podcast called insomnia radio they have good stuff.

Millennium · Oct 6, 2005, 01:29 PM

http://www.questionablecontent.net

OK, so it's a Webcomic rather than a radio station, but indie-music fans should give it a look.

Apple Pro Underwear · Oct 6, 2005, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

OK, so it's a Webcomic rather than a radio station, but indie-music fans should give it a look.

I used to dig this guy's comic but he made some comments that were quite inflamatory towards anime and manga. I felt he was getting a little too conceited with his "success" and I stopped reading his webcomic because of that attitude.

By the way:

I have several people lined up, so send me an email if you want to be a part of this revolutionary Indie music swapping extravaganza.

jacktse [insert @ symbol here] myway.com

Millennium · Oct 6, 2005, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear

I used to dig this guy's comic but he made some comments that were quite inflamatory towards anime and manga. I felt he was getting a little too conceited with his "success" and I stopped reading his webcomic because of that attitude.

Huh? I must have missed the anime/manga comments; when was this?

GSixZero · Oct 6, 2005, 05:35 PM

Just listen to http://www.kexp.org/, and/or read http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/

It's the best way to find good indy music, IMO

screamingFit · Oct 7, 2005, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by GSixZero

Just listen to http://www.kexp.org/, and/or read http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/

It's the best way to find good indy music, IMO

Don't forget Paste magazine!!

Apple Pro Underwear · Oct 7, 2005, 08:21 AM

Like I said in the original post, internet radio is cool, radio is cool, websites and magazines are cool — but it's still a pain becuase you can't judge an artist by just a single and getting an album is still a chore because you have to cross-check info. and I know I don't want to always take so many chances with my hard earned $$$.

I have 4 people currently and I think that is enough to start, so I will just start up the process today after work. (around 5 or 6)[

I want to keep this whole process simple, so I will try to make the rules and all the info really simple and straight forward. I will also make sure, the email sending is to a minimum as to not clog anybody's inboxes with this nonsense. I will also make a makeshift schedule, so we all "share/swap" on a regular basis.

So any stragglers who are interested can email:

jacktse [insert @ symbol here] myway.com

Steve · Oct 7, 2005, 04:41 PM

I'm totally down.

E-mail sent.

Apple Pro Underwear · Oct 10, 2005, 12:44 PM

So the first week went out on Sat...

You guys get the email and downloaded OK?

You guys OK with the format and rules?

Nivag · Oct 10, 2005, 01:04 PM

actually just finsihed listening to it, mucho like!! cheers.

format and rules are fine by me.

screamingFit · Oct 10, 2005, 02:32 PM

Listened to it a couple of times since Saturday. I was happily suprised! Have to say that track 6, The Jessica Numbers was my fav. Can't get that hook out of my head!

Good job, APU!