Music Online (Review Part 2 - lastfm)

Yesterday was day 2 of online music findings. Pandora was a let down, so I was hoping Lastfm would be better.

1. you must sign up for an account, again similar to the Hypemachine and Pandora, but this sign up took significally longer than Pandora's and required lots more info.

2. After the lengthy 'interview' process of the sign up. I was redirected to my profile's page, and given many options. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I was ready for my streaming music, and it was not easy to start and / or find.

3. There was an option on the main page to import your itunes library into lastfm! which, I didn't have any of my music here (the dilemma that started this search for the best streaming site). But something I have to give props to lastfm for.

4. I then chose a multi artist radio station and entered the same artists as before (on Pandora) - Radiohead, Pixies, Santigold. *gotta keep the same rules to run a legit study / review* Quickly to learn that lastfm only allows for a 3 artist entry... lame.

5. Off the bat Lastfm nailed me. Playing hits by the editors, the strokes, lykke li, vampire weekend, oasis, phoenix, florence and the machine, and of course the 3 artists I initially typed in.

6. But what about when I'm not into that particular song? well I have as many 'skips' as I want. and the same 'heart' option when I love a song, and the more I heart things the more tailored the radio station became. I also have the option to ban a song, thus not having to listen to it then or again.

7. Lastfm also shows similar artist at the bottom of the page which you are able to then go to their page and listen to those hits.

8. But my biggest complaint is the lack of a pause button. I often need to pause (since I'm at work I have work things to do) and then want to resume that song, but Lastfm instead stops the whole radio station and brings you back to your profile page. Lame! then once you find your custom multi artist station again (difficult to re find) it chooses a new song! so unnecessary.

I did overall enjoy the choices of songs, and the controls on Lastfm. Its allot more in depth than Pandora. But maybe not a complete replacement for Hypem or my itunes library. Overall Lastfm I give you an 85% (out of 100%)...

Music Online (review part 1 - Pandora)

Recently, due to the 'crazys' going on at work, I moved all my music on my work computer (about 10gb) to my external. The only problem: I often take my external home and leave it. This is my predicament this week. I am without music. Now I am a HUGE fan of the HypeMachine, but it has its fault (which I think I will review last), so yesterday I decide to try out Pandora Radio. Many friends and coworkers rave about, and from what I can tell it is the most commonly used / talked about streaming radio station online, atleast in my circle. So let's begin.

1. you must sign up for an account - which is cool, I believe all streaming radios now require this.

2. you type in an artist. because of the unseasonably coolness of the recent weather and overcast I am in a Radiohead mood. So first song, Fake Plastic Trees - a little over played for Radiohead, but a classic. I then decide I'm feeling like a little Pixies and The Like Young, sorta chill indie playlist.

3. But quickly Pandora decides I am a fan of Nirvana (I'm not), Red Hot Chilli Peppers(nope), and Smashing Pumpkins (alright). So I skip these songs, learning that I am only allowed like 6 skips for the day. WHAT?!? if I don't like this song I am now forced to listen to it. well F this!?! In my entire day (about 4 hours) of streaming Pandora it offered me 2 Radiohead songs, and 12 Smashing Pumpkins songs (someone I didn't not thumbs up / or down), along with 1 Pixies song, and no song by the Like Young.

4. But there is the thumbs up / thumbs down option, which is nice. It will remember what I liked and didn't like, but I am still stuck to endure this song... lame.... But what happens if I don't like the song today, but I do next week. I am known to let songs grow on me. I don't think I cared much for Animal Collective at first (reminded me too much of Caribou). So there is a "Don't Play this for 1 Month" option, but a month?!? why a month?

5. I then find myself alternating between songs I have hearted (at Hypem) and Pandora Radio, whenever a song I disapprove of has come up. but another problem? I can mute a song. When I mute it and switch to the Hypem, Pandora then assumes I want to pause the song and return to it. I obviously muted it to listen to something else. I think I got the tab thing going on and can remember what I have muted and didn't mute.

It then is easy to assume Pandora Radio is for those not so 'Technology Savvy', and for those wanting more mainstream music. Overall Pandora, I have to thumbs down your whole application. Oh! and just incase I did love Pandora, they are getting ready to impose a 40 hour listening maximum for users.
So yeah, I give you a 40% (out of 100%)...