killthestrobelights:

Whether you’re a casual or avid listener, or even an unknown artist, there’s no denying last.fm is a useful tool.

As a listener, all one must do is simply install the software compatible with their favorite media player and…well, listen. The software “scrobbles,” or records, your listening habits. From there, the website offers you recommendations based on bands you may or may not heard of. If you don’t like it, you can dismiss it. It’s that simple. I rarely have a recommendation I don’t like. Last.fm also recommends shows in your area, videos you might be interested in, and even free downloads.

On top of that, there are dozens of hundreds of thousands of streaming radio stations. Or you can just stream a single track. Right there, on demand. Instant gratification.There’s a radio station specifically for your recommendations, if you’re in the mood. If not, you can stream your own library. You can stream your friends’ libraries. That’s a lot of music waiting to be streamed and discovered and I haven’t even mentioned tags yet.

Really like a track? Last.fm lets you “love” tracks. However, I’m just starting to find the tag feature very useful. Tag bands, albums, songs, whatever under genres or anything you want to remember. Seen a band live? Tag them with “seen live.” Own a CD? Tag it with “own on CD” or something similar. You can then stream the tag radio to suit your mood. Ta-da!

The best part about streaming from last.fm is the unlimited skips, unlike Pandora. I’m sorry, but I hate Pandora. It rarely gives me anything I like, regardless of how many bands or songs I say I really like and when I want to skip, I’m only allotted so many. And like any other radio station, Pandora replays songs ad nauseum. I’ll pass. Back to last.fm, there are no ads, aside from the sometimes flashing ones on the sides of the pages.

Then there’s a social networking aspect to it. Albeit fickle, it is interesting. You have your “neighbourhood,” which is a group of listeners with similar tastes to yours. It’s kind of neat. I like to see that there are people who exist with similar listening habits. You can also stream your neighbourhood station. I did a few times back in 2007 and it played a lot of weird stuff, though. I haven’t bothered with it since. Last.fm also compares your taste to other users’, giving you a compatibility rating from very low all the way to super, and listing bands you both listen to.

I haven’t really had much contact from strangers outside of, “Wow, super compatibility! You have great taste!” I have made some pretty interesting friends via last.fm, but as far as social networking goes, it’s pretty boring and superficial outside of seeing what other people like.

If you make music, you can upload songs to stream or download for free. It’s an easy way to make your music accessible.

In short, if you don’t have a last.fm account, get one now.

Written on the other blag, where my friend, David, and I write stuff that doesn’t really fit in on our own sites.