Pandora

So I've been using Pandora and I have mixed feelings. As a pop music nerd and veteran mixed tape maker, I remain sceptical that any software or algorithm can create the same feeling or make the intuitive connection between songs that sound good played near each other that a good DJ can.

I started by inputting The Clash, creating The Clash Radio. Pandora responded by playing a song by The Clash. Fair enough. This was followed by The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. Color me unimpressed. These are the two most obvious "listen-alikes" it could have possibly found. This was followed by a song from . . . The Clash! Not exactly brilliant deduction going on here.

I decided to create a new station with a bunch of disparate bands I enjoy. Most of the connections still seemed to be based on era and genre. By entering Spearhead, I got alternative and "positive" hip-hop and rap. Jane's Addiction appeared to get me bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam and other obvious "alternative" early-90s acts.

The Music Genome can't seem to handle the connections between the music of a band like Jane's Addiction and maybe X or The Doors or Gang of Four or The White Stripes. Or between The Clash and perhaps some second or third wave ska acts, early rockabilly, or even reggae or dub.

To be fair, there were a few artists that I noted down because I hadn't heard them before. And as free radio it's far better than the commercial options out there. I'm intrigued by the idea of the service being mobile.

And I'd be lying if I didn't admit it was fun to try and figure out the connections the program was trying to make, even if just to complain about it! (As I'm sure this long post testifies to.)

As a whole, internet radio and streaming music is a blast. I enjoy Garage Band a lot.