[LUconn]

A lot of people on this board seem to have pretty strong tastes in music. I was just wondering how everybody gets into, or discovers new groups that they like the sound of, or maybe even gets into new genres. Aside from hearing a band for the first time at a concert used to just hear what friends are listening to. The dorm was a great place to broaden your musical catalog, but now that I'm out of school and I really don't go to concerts, it's difficult to find new things. Especially since the radio stations around here leave a lot to be desired and for that matter, same with MTV. I'll hear something new on 90.9 every once in a while, but I'll have to hear it at least 10 times on that station until somebody finally says who it is (I normally have to write down a few lyrics and google it). 89.9 is a great way to pick up some stuff if you're into their type of music. And they always say what they play after 3 or 4 songs. I also have recently starting watching a show called Steven's Untitled Rock Show (on fuse if anybody gets that channel), and he seems to know my exact musical taste. Every once in a while I'll find something new that I like from there.

[SuperJon]

Steven's Untitled is a good show for picking up new music. Steven bugs me but they normally have some good guests and music. If you ever see "Power Fuse" or "Warped Weekend" or something on there, go ahead and watch that because it's the same as Steven's show except they don't do the interviews.

There are a few other ways I find new bands. I go to Purevolume and check out their top 10 occasionally, along with checking the top 10 in different genres. It normally lets you find some up and coming bands.

Another way is listening to compilations. I got the Warped Tour comp and the Punk Goes Acoustic 2 comp and found a few bands off of each of those that I really like.

[RubberMallet]

pandora.

thats about the only time i have to find new music...i turn on pandora and write it down....

smashing pumpkins, dl'ed it this weeke---urrrrrrrrr buying it tomorrow

[mrmacphisto]

I've been finding out about new bands and releases through etceteraforums.com, although it's been down lately. People post links to full-album downloads. It's not the most legal place in the world, which is probably why it's down occasionally.

[El Scorcho]

I listen to the previews of new releases in iTunes every week and gamble once in a while. Past that, I usually check to see who's playing at the small clubs I like (Cat's Cradle, 9:30 Club, etc.) that I've never heard of. I give 'em a sample and if I like, I buy.

I never turn on the radio except for talk or WNRN, and listening to WNRN sounds almost exactly like listening to my iPod during some parts of the day.

[ALUmnus]

another good bet is to read about the bands that you already like, and see who they're listening to and who influences them, both past and present. you're list of bands to check out will never stop growing.

[bbrothers224]

May I suggest PASTE Magazine http://www.pastemagazine.com/ and their web store, PASTE Music http://www.pastestore.com/ ?
You get a compilation CD with each issue. I subscribed to it during its first two years...but I had to let it end (I'll still buy an issue every now and then), because I was already subscribing to 4 other magazines.

[PAmedic]

very easy solution here: not much done after the hair band period of the mid to late 80's is any good.

so I don't bother. (unless its a group/artist that was around THRU that genre and is STILL recording)

like.... Ozzy

who says I'm stuck in a rut? pfffffff

[mrmacphisto]

very easy solution here: not much done after the hair band period of the mid to late 80's is any good.

so I don't bother.

It's hard to say with much authority that "not much" since the hair band period has been any good if you "don't bother."

You might like Dragonforce, Medic.

[RubberMallet]

medic is right....after dio did holy diver there was nothing left for anyone in music to accomplish...

[bbrothers224]

very easy solution here: not much done after the hair band period of the mid to late 80's is any good.

so I don't bother. (unless its a group/artist that was around THRU that genre and is STILL recording)

like.... Ozzy

who says I'm stuck in a rut? pfffffff

Sounds like a Stryper fan to me. A very young girl that I work with (22), thinks that Poison is one of the best bands ever. We talked about this during lunch one day, and I asked what it was that makes them the best band ever. Her reply? "They have very cool tight outfits and their hair is better than mine".
Strange...not one word about their musical abilities.

[Sly Fox]

Arena rock gets an unfair bad rap IMHO. Every time I stray by the '80s station down here I remember how cool it was to have legitimate guitar solos with harmonized vocals. I guess I'm just getting old but what passes for quality music today seems so boring.

[mrmacphisto]

Arena rock gets an unfair bad rap IMHO. Every time I stray by the '80s station down here I remember how cool it was to have legitimate guitar solos with harmonized vocals. I guess I'm just getting old but what passes for quality music today seems so boring.

I agree that Arena Rock has its place. You still have some bands today that incorporate legitimate guitar solos (e.g., Dinosaur Jr and Dragonforce) and hamonies (e.g., Fiction Plane and The Bravery), but it is difficult sometimes to find them both at the same time, if that's what you're looking for.

[El Scorcho]

"Legitimate guitar solos" became annoying to my generation when every rock song had to have one. I mean, if it fits, or if you're named Slash, it's cool. Putting one in every song just to have one is stupid though. That's why the whole "anti-solo" thing started happening in rock for a while. It was that kind of guitar-based ego tripping that helped bring alt-rock to the forefront for a period. Hair-rock reached levels of cheesiness that real rock should never see.

Sly: What "quality" music do you find boring? Examples, please. There's plenty of good stuff out there now. You just have to look a little harder than you used to.

[Sly Fox]

I've listened to some of the stuff that's been mentioned on the board and it seems OK. It unfortunately just doesn't do much for me.

[mrmacphisto]

"Legitimate guitar solos" became annoying to my generation when every rock song had to have one. I mean, if it fits, or if you're named Slash, it's cool. Putting one in every song just to have one is stupid though.

Wholeheartedly agreed.

[PAmedic]

medic is right....after dio did holy diver there was nothing left for anyone in music to accomplish...

WINNER

next time you need a place to crash in SE PA call me.