# How do you find out about current music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067 "2013-04-18T21:05:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/1 "2013-04-18T21:05:35Z")
I used to listen to college radio but that was often intolerable even though one station, WPRB is pretty good as college stations go. Then for a while there was alternative station that listened to all of the time, but they died long ago. I eventually settled on Last.fm as my go to place, and I still like them since they do a good job of sticking to the genres I select, but I often find a band that I like no longer exists or at least hasn’t produced anything in years. That’s fine, but can be a little disheartening if it’s someone you really like. But if I want to listen mainly to current artists and releases, where do I go? edit: in terms of genres, I’m talking about things that would have been considered “alternative” - not hip-hop, rap, etc. but broad spectrum is ok too. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/2 "2013-04-18T21:10:33Z")
I’ve got a Rhapsody account that lets me listen to all I want to as well as a subscription to [AllMusic.com](http://AllMusic.com)’s new release newsletter (email). I listen to pretty much new stuff when it comes out. Sometimes it’s just a couple songs and then I either pass or add it to my library. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/3 "2013-04-18T21:13:03Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > I’ve got a Rhapsody account that lets me listen to all I want to as well as a subscription to [AllMusic.com](http://AllMusic.com)’s new release newsletter (email). I listen to pretty much new stuff when it comes out. Sometimes it’s just a couple songs and then I either pass or add it to my library. Isn’t that overwhelming? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/4 "2013-04-18T21:16:39Z")
Dude. It’s a rare station that doesn’t offer internet streaming. I’d go crazy without my [Current](http://www.thecurrent.org/listen). If that doesn’t float your boat, search the internet for a radio station that does. (Part of why I like the current so much is no commercials!) ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/5 "2013-04-18T21:17:43Z")
I listen to the stream at www.thecurrent.org quite a bit. [The Chart Show](http://www.thecurrent.org/programs/chart-show/2013/04/11) is pretty good for new stuff. If I hear a song I like, I add it to my “Smorgasbord” playlist on [Spotify](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify). I also keep [Shazam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shazam_%28service%29) handy on my phone if I hear something I like when I’m out and about. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/6 "2013-04-18T21:23:20Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Dude. It’s a rare station that doesn’t offer internet streaming. I’d go crazy without my [Current](http://www.thecurrent.org/listen). If that doesn’t float your boat, search the internet for a radio station that does. (Part of why I like the current so much is no commercials!) I really hate commercials and there are so many thousands of internet radio stations I just get lost. However I guess I could just try to record the stream and then fast forward like I used to with regular radio. There is a station in NYC that plays the sort of stuff I like with the focus on new music but I avoid them because I can’t stand the commercials and I stopped recording radio long ago. Now I just have to dig up a proggie to record streaming media. :smack: Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/7 "2013-04-18T21:31:18Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > I really hate commercials and there are so many thousands of internet radio stations I just get lost. > > However I guess I could just try to record the stream and then fast forward like I used to with regular radio. There is a station in NYC that plays the sort of stuff I like with the focus on new music but I avoid them because I can’t stand the commercials and I stopped recording radio long ago. Now I just have to dig up a proggie to record streaming media. :smack: Thanks. The Current is station of Minnesota Public Radio, so like **Inner Stickler** said - no commercials. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/8 "2013-04-18T21:46:44Z")
I use Rdio. The New Releases list shows their latest additions. And Heavy Rotation shows stuff my friends are listening to often, which tends to be newer music. To be fair though, most music made in the last 15 years is new to me. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/9 "2013-04-18T22:01:18Z")
[QUOTE=deltasigma] Isn’t that overwhelming? [/QUOTE] Not really, here’s the list from Apr 16th’s email. Some I know I’ll want to listen to and others, I can tell by the genre that they probably won’t be my cup of tea (like Prog rock or House music, so I’ll skip those unless they’re highlighted). Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito Indie Rock The Flaming Lips The Terror Lovely Sorts of Death Records / Warner Bros. Alternative/Indie Rock Fall Out Boy Save Rock and Roll Mercury Emo-Pop Major Lazer Free the Universe Because Club/Dance Kid Cudi Indicud Universal Republic Rap Iron & Wine Ghost on Ghost Nonesuch Alternative Singer/Songwriter Adrian Younge Twelve Reasons to Die Relativity / Soul Temple East Coast Rap Houses A Quiet Darkness Downtown Indie Electronic Steve Earle The Low Highway New West Roots Rock Willie Nelson Let’s Face the Music and… Legacy / Sony Legacy Progressive Country Charli XCX True Romance Asylum Pop Anika Anika Stones Throw Alternative/Indie Rock Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Indie Rock The Shouting Matches Grownass Man BDC / Middle West Roots Rock Andrew Wyatt Descender Downtown Indie Folk Carla Bruni Little French Songs Verve French Ghost B.C. Infestissumam Island / Republic Doom Metal Letherette Letherette Ninja Tune House JJ Grey & Mofro This River Alligator Records Contemporary Blues Sarah Brightman Dreamchaser Simha Classical Crossover Allison Miller No Morphine No Lilies Foxhaven Records / Royal Potato Family Records Progressive Jazz Jane Monheit The Heart of the Matter Decca / Emarcy Vocal Jazz Life Coach Alphawaves Thrill Jockey Art Rock Locust You’ll Be Safe Forever Editions Mego Ambient Techno The Thermals Desperate Ground Saddle Creek Records Indie Rock Born Ruffians Birthmarks Yep Roc Indie Rock Meat Puppets Rat Farm Megaforce Alternative/Indie Rock André Previn Change of Heart: The Songs… Telarc Piano Jazz Art Brut Top of the Pops The End Alternative/Indie Rock Alexander O’Neal Alexander O’Neal Tabu Contemporary R&B Kim Richey Thorn in My Heart Yep Roc Contemporary Country Futurebirds Baba Yaga 4L / Fat Possum / Turnstile / VL Alternative Country-Rock Barn Owl V Thrill Jockey Alternative/Indie Rock David Grubbs The Plain Where the Palace… Drag City Alternative/Indie Rock Rainbow Arabia F.M. Sushi Time No Place Alternative/Indie Rock Greyboy Allstars Inland Emperor Knowledge Room Recordings Acid Jazz Cyanide Pills Still Bored Damaged Goods Alternative/Indie Rock Styles P Float High Times Records East Coast Rap Tera Melos X’ed Out Sargent House Experimental Rock John Coltrane Sun Ship: The Complete… Verve Avant-Garde Jazz Shuggie Otis Inspiration Information/Wings… Epic/Legacy Funk Zomes Time Was Thrill Jockey Alternative/Indie Rock Dead Confederate In the Marrow Spiderbomb Alternative/Indie Rock Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Electro Acoustic Ensemble The Space Between Delmark Jazz Dump I Can Hear Music Morr Alternative/Indie Rock Dead Can Dance In Concert PIAS Adult Alternative Pop/Rock Pharaohs Replicant Moods 100% Silk Alternative Dance Vicky Cryer The Synthetic Love of… Fancy Animal Records Alternative/Indie Rock Pacifica Quartet The Soviet Experience,… Cedille Records Chamber Music Daniel Hope Spheres DG Deutsche Grammophon Concerto Simian Mobile Disco Live Delicacies House Main Ablation Editions Mego Alternative/Indie Rock Various Artists Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013 Arts & Crafts Indie Rock The Summer Set Legendary Fearless Records Alternative/Indie Rock Christina Pluhar Mediterraneo Virgin Classics Vocal Music Clavecin en Concert Couperin: Concerts Royaux Analekta Keyboard Andreas Haefliger Schubert: Winterreise Capriccio Records Vocal Music Andrew Nethsingha Ascribe unto the Lord:… Chandos Choral ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/10 "2013-04-18T22:25:23Z")
OK, I’m subscribed to allmusic and current is on the todo list. I don’t think I would use Rdio enough for it to be worthwhile and I know after awhile I’d probably end up calling my credit card company and bitch about this $4.99 charge that’s showing up every month that I never made. :smack: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/11 "2013-04-18T22:35:08Z")
I trust to Spotify. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/12 "2013-04-19T01:00:38Z")
allmusic and Metal Hammer magazine. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/13 "2013-04-19T03:38:52Z")
Cool. Thanks for the heads up about Current guys. For a good internet radio station (no commercials) that has a really good mix of new songs/artists + other stuff I recommend [Radio Paradise.](http://www.radioparadise.com/rp_2.php?#) I’ve found a lot of new bands listening to it, and it’s become the default channel in my office at work, satisfying all of my coworkers. It’s not exactly what you asked for, but the Current suggestion made me decide to bring it up. To find new stuff I check out [Pitchfork](http://pitchfork.com/best/), [Rolling Stone](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews), and [KEXP’s ‘Best of’ lists.](http://kexp.org/programming/countdowns/topAlbumsof2012.aspx) [KEXP also has the best archive of in-studio performances I’ve ever seen.](http://kexp.org/live/default.aspx) Seriously good stuff in there. I also check Spotify’s “What’s new” section regularly. Pandora has a “College Indie” channel I listen to sometimes as well. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/14 "2013-04-19T12:06:54Z")
If your taste is truly eccentric, you might like [The Watt From Pedro Show](http://twfps.com/). It’s Mike Watt’s weekly podcast. Four hours of what Watt wants to play every week, usually split with his brother. There’s an archive back to 2001, with playlists. Any description I can give wouldn’t do it justice, and it’s turned me on to old and new acts that I’ve never heard of. My only warning is that he sometimes has more of an appetite for recordings using non-traditional definitions of music than even I do, and I can listen to a lot of noise rock. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/15 "2013-04-19T14:41:45Z")
I like [NPR.org](http://NPR.org). They have a feature called “first listen”. You can hear the complete album of new releases. You can add them to your playlist. ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-find-out-about-current-music/656067/16 "2013-04-19T17:52:35Z")
You can try [kexp.org](http://kexp.org) out of Seattle - the two weekday morning shows (John Richards and Cheryl Waters) are good for indie rock and some electronic music. They have an [archive of shows up to 2 weeks old that you can stream for free](http://kexp.org/archive), in addition to the live streaming, current broadcast.