The Critical Asshole: Listening to...

If you are one of the three people that read this blog, you may have noticed something different about the sidebar. Indeed, we here at CriticalAsshole.com are all about transparency, and to that effect, the genius folks at last.fm have created a widget by which you may publish what you are listening to. Brilliant, I say.

Last.fm is a great service. Back in the day when the predictive music services started popping up, it used to be known as “scrobble.com” (I think). Now the term “scrobble” is used as a verb to describe what happens when you install a plugin that publishes your listening history to the last.fm website. The company seems to be doing well as they apparently have taken over music.download.com. This was a hit to me, as that site was also a great resource for free music. Alas, times change, Dot-coms get bought out. It’s America.

The only major gripe I have with the service is the reliance on artist-based programming for the “radio stations” they offer (You like X, so you probably like Y, or X’s second album). This is pretty simplistic, and I’d like to think that the listening public is more curious than that.

HOWEVER…

Last.fm, along with Pandora is very popular (Pandora has a better interface overall, but’s it’s the same kind of simplistic programming). People seem to respond positively and from what I hear from my “Listening” friends, both sites have been good resources in the ever-elusive hunt to find good, new music. Bravo, guys. You’re doing well.

In a future post, I’d like to discuss Lala.com. Now THIS is the bee’s knees when it comes to music discovery and collection—but more on that later.

Enjoy. Be critical. Keep listening.

For your linkage pleasure:

Last.fm
Pandora Internet Radio
Lala - Where music plays