Ah social media – always providing the work-shy muso types, with a penchant for new stuff, with the opportunity to spend hours messing about with new platforms, and declaring themselves firmly in electronic love. We all set up our MySpace pages in starry eyed wonder a few years ago, soon declaring them shit when we moved to facebook – and lo – you aint no thing these days unless you’re twittering like an angry widow at the supermarket, flickring like a candle in the breeze and scrobbling like a unnecessarily obscure term.
Well – the latest one to dazzle all at team Alcopop, and ensure time set aside for mail orders, to do lists and general record label tasks has been superseded by listening to Longpigs, Blur, Dylan, Bluetones, Pixies and Trail of Dead albums I haven’t heard for ages – is Spotify! And I love it…
It’s like having iTunes, but already packed with a magnificent catalogue of music (you can learn more about the ins and outs of it from this potting shed) – and although it’s fairly short of a lot of my favourite indie labels (although I’d rather buy those records than listen to them free anyway), it’s a great way to listen to old favourites, take a lot of new albums in – and keep the stream of new music to your ears fresh.
Whether it’s going to be another shot to the kneecaps of the majors (and I rather think it’s not going to help them keep on top of the casual consumer) – there are a few people who are worrying for the future of commercial radio. I’m not so sure that’s going to be a massive problem though in truth, ‘cos you just can’t beat that ‘human element’ of tuning in can you? We’ll see – only know that you keep your eye on the music coming through the underground.
What I would suggest though, is that you give Spotify a bash – and I guarantee that with a little thought you’ll soon discover a forgotten classic or 7, and no doubt discover a new album that you love heartily. At the moment it’s beta invitation only (unless you pay), but if you want an invitation I got a few left so just email us at info@ilovealcopop.co.uk, or leave a comment below and I’ll send you one… Marvellous!
courtesy of rajeshvj om flickr.com
