Aug 19, 2010

Pandora

I rediscovered Pandora, an internet radio site, yesterday. And I couldn't be more thrilled.

Back when I first heard about it a year ago or so, I dabbled a bit. The idea is that you plug in an artist you like, and you can create a channel that plays similar music or music from similar artists. Hard to tell the difference sometimes. I didn't really go any further though, because I generally don't like to keep music playing on my laptop while I'm doing other things. I can have music on in the background on an iPod or stereo or TV, but having it on in the background on the computer itself bothers me a bit. Maybe because the speakers on my laptop aren't that great to begin with.

Anywho.

Yesterday I found that Pandora was offered as a channel on our Roku player, a wireless device hooked up to our television - mostly used to play Netflix Instant streaming titles. It's a free service and the setup was no hassle at all. After setting up a new "channel" on the Pandora site with artists like The Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Loudon Wainwright III and Bruce Springsteen (for Gia), I was off and running.

I listened to it in the background most of the day while I was working and I was really impressed with the artists and songs that the site picked for us. Some of them were very well-known while others were obscure as all hell. Citizen Cope, Todd Snider, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, John Prine, etc..

I think I've finally found "it" after all these years. A place, gasp, where I can listen to new* music. Amazing!

Do you do Pandora? Maybe you should.

*new to me, at least

UPDATE: I just found out that Pandora is only free for the first 40 hours of use each month.  After that it's $0.99 for unlimited play for the rest of the month.  Still a pretty good deal. - Earl
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Note: Remember to play the Badgerdaddy Trivia Challenge every day. Bring on the new stuff!

14 comments:

Heff said...

The only "Pandora" Heff is familiar with is "Pandora Peaks", and I'm pretty thrilled with her too, lol !

RW said...

I think I started in with that a few years back & wasn't impressed. Maybe they got the kinks out.

Of course if they don't have the Kinks I may not be interested...

Verdant Earl said...

Heff - I'm not familiar with her "work", so I may have to do a little research...

RW - I think the same thing happened to me. Yesterday, I was really impressed. We'll see what today brings.

Slyde said...

Fess up, how long did it take you to set up your very own "Right Said Fred" channel?

Verdant Earl said...

Slyde - C'mon...you have one of those mesh tank tops in your dresser somewhere. Admit it.

sybil law said...

Hahahah - You and Slyde. You two make me laugh.
I loves me some Pandora. Or, I did. I'll actually check it out today - haven't in ages!

Verdant Earl said...

Sybil - Really? Because we disgust me. ;)

Heff said...

Ok, I checked out Pandora. Pretty cool, I must admit. Picked some choices I thought were cool, but wasn't expecting !

Kevin Spencer said...

I've always been a bit partial to last.fm for internet music streaming. I've heard of, but never used Pandora.

Verdant Earl said...

Heff - kewl!

Kevin - I think I've tried last.fm as well. Don't recall if I liked it more or less than Pandora, but since I can access Pandora on my Roku player, that's what I'm using.

savannah said...

i JUST looked at the roku player for netflix streaming! i/we've been hooking up the laptop to the tv, but it's a hassle. thanks for the tip. re pandora, same here. checked it out when it first happened, then forgot about it and just re-discovered it. nice idea, but i like working in silence. xoxoxox

Verdant Earl said...

Savannah - Netflix streams on a whole bunch of things. Blu-ray players, XBox360, Wii, etc...

Lifeofkaylen said...

I have loved Pandora for years, but feel betrayed by this 40 hour maximum listening time!! I need way more than that!!!

Verdant Earl said...

Kaylen - Pandora isn't counting the time I've been listening on my Roku player. Shhh! ;)