A Journeyman’s Guide to Discovering New Music in the Digital Age

Yes, I'm back at BlogCritics. For, reasons. There are a few things I want to do that necessitate my return. And that'll do for an explanation for now.

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A Journeyman’s Guide to Discovering New Music in the Digital Age

“Ways Internet users discover new music online” — Flickr user Ryan Van Etten

My love of music started as a wee lad in 1984. I was already listening to the radio at 8–9 years old. Thought there was some cool stuff out there then, sure. But, to quote John Wilkes Booth from the Broadway show Assassins, the thing that summed it all up and blew it all wide open was Prince’s (RIP) “Let’s Go Crazy.” From there, I heard a cassette of Purple Rain, front to back. And I didn’t look back.

My father (also RIP) also had a large hand in my music fandom. I spent many summers in Baltimore with my dad — and he worked full-time, leaving me home alone as a teenager during the day. When I wasn’t out walking around and exploring the nearby Belair district, I was poring through his record collection discovering all kinds of stuff. The Who. Pink Floyd. Parliament-Funkadelic. Led Zeppelin. Janis Joplin. Just me, his collection, a turntable, and all the time in the world to listen and study.

Taking all of that through the digital age and working my way up to writing for several websites and publications, I’ve interviewed countless artists and musicians at just about every level. All because that passion for music has never left. Which is why, with that introduction out of the way, I decided to share how I come across new music in the digital age.

Now, to be clear. By no means am I promoting my own method as the be-all-end-all process for music discovery. So, none of this “10 Tips YOU NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW!” business. I’m an individual. So are you. You could very well find another process that suits and works better for you. My goal here is simply to share my knowledge of over 32 years of fandom and 22 years of music journalism and to provide some suggestions in helping to find new music by sharing how I go about it.

It starts with keeping my eyes and ears open. I have satellite radio with presets for all types of genres. Hip-hop, rock, indie, even show tunes — you name it. The benefits of having a radio service should be fairly obvious. Terrestrial radio serves the same purpose, if that’s your thing. On occasion (read: when I’m in my wife’s car), I also exploit that.

Outside of radio, there are plenty of TV commercials and trailers that can be mined as well. For example, the first trailer for DC’s upcoming movie Suicide Squad featured an indelible version of the Bee Gees’ “I Started a Joke.” I knew of the song, but it was the singer I was most interested in. I found out who it was (for the record, ConfidentialMX feat. Becky Hanson) and now I have two artists I’m interested in hearing more from.

Twelve Foot Ninja: One of my many discoveries

No matter what source I may hear something from, the key is jotting down an artist or song name right quick. Notes apps are plentiful and can be very useful on mobile phones and tablets. (Just ask Taylor Swift.) Mobile keyboards have a microphone input so I can say it and save it. Works for not having to type and drive, for sure.

I also use the Shazam app for remembering something later. In fact, that’s really the sole purpose I use Shazam for — tagging something I hear that I like and want to go back for. This is how I discovered both Phoenix and Twelve Foot Ninja. Whether on OneNote or Shazam, I tend to keep a list of these discoveries for when I can get around to using them. More on that later, I promise.

Aside from paying attention to what’s going on around me, I also try to set aside time to listen to shows or peruse YouTube for videos. With cable television, I had two go-to sources for unearthing new acts to follow. One was mtvU — one of the few MTV channels that actually plays music. Go Figure! Another was Palladia MTV Live — in particular, the show Later… With Jools Holland. For the uninitiated, Later… With Jools Holland is a British music show with several (like, damn-near double digits) acts on each episode. More often than not, I was bound to find someone I’d never heard of. When I heard someone I liked, they went on The List.

What’s above would probably be enough to get a good influx of new music coming in and stopping there. The list is used for purchasing new music once I’ve tried it out, of course. But stopping there would omit what’s probably my favorite step of the process. Besides, I promised, remember?

Pandora: My buddy, my pal for discovering new music

I use a couple music apps when I’m on the go. Spotify is more for going back to stuff I love. Pandora is the one I use for new stuff. (I also use it to substitute for conventional radio, but that’s another how-to post for another how-to time.) In fact, I have a specific station for it. I make liberal use of the “Add Variety” function to the station and plug in the names of artists and songs I’ve gathered up along the way. Once they’re added, I simply hit play and let the algorithm do the rest of the work. Someone comes up I dig on? Cool! Hit the “Thumbs Up” on the song and jot them down in The List to listen to more from and possibly purchase later. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

I hope sharing this helps you find some ways to find stuff you love. Music is more than a disposable background for me. I’m probably not alone in having life’s moments, trials, and tribulations defined by this form of art and recognizing how important it has been to me. Sharing how others might find that new musical love of their life is just a small way of giving back.


Originally published on BlogCritics.org

Thank You.

You'll have to bear with me. This may be a bit rambling but not like that shouldn't be expected.

I'm watching CBS News Live coverage (on Roku) of the passing of Prince. They just finished playing an older interview/profile from 2004. The reporter was jamming on stage. During his Musicology tour. Which was the one and only time I got to see him in person.

April 27, 2004. About 12 years ago. Stephanie (one of my best friends and another diehard Prince fan) made the drive for three-plus hours of that man running through most of hits. Impossible to do them all, because there were so damn many. But my God, what a show. The "Purple Rain" solo that night brought me to tears. Because I was so happy I was there.

To see the man who made fandom of music happen. I was listening to the radio at 8-9 years old. Thought there was some cool stuff. But, to quote John Wilkes Booth from the Broadway show "Assassins," the thing that summed it all up and blew it all wide open was "Let's Go Crazy." From there, I heard a cassette of "Purple Rain," front to back. And didn't look back.

The genius was already there. The fearlessness of what he would be willing to do - redefine an art form by curbstomping preconceptions and boundaries - was evident. He was a force of nature, recording and playing like it would all end tomorrow. It didn't for a long time. But it finally has.

The tears hearing "Purple Rain" solo in Jacksonville were from experiencing the culmination of my love of music in one spot, in one moment. All of the emotions he had brought in me throughout so many years and so many albums coming out at once.

Having my jaw drop hearing the "Purple Rain" record. Grooving along to "Raspberry Beret" and feeling the pure joy of "Paisley Park." The whimsical sexiness of "Kiss." The spirituality, razor-sharp funk, and maturity of "Sign O' The Times" - then the ultimate statement of love-as-spirituality of "Lovesexy" (a philosophy I carry into my current marriage with the love of my life). Worlds colliding when Prince took on the soundtrack for "Batman." Making another statement and showing he just didn't give a damn about anything other than enlightenment with a daring sequel, "Graffiti Bridge." Pumping out "Diamonds and Pearls" to show he could still run with the radio crowd in his sleep. "The Opera" - his symbol-titled album - that not only dripped with sex and an undercurrent of menace, but also produced his "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the form of "3 Chains O' Gold." "Papa," a strong statement about recovering from an abusive childhood. The celebration of his marriage and realizing his dream of love during his (and my) first marriage with "Emancipation" (if both of us had only known better). Hearing history and alternate realities on "Crystal Ball." Hearing him finally come together with another icon - Chuck D - on "Undisputed." Getting back to basics on "Musicology" and then making the mainstream realize he wasn't going anywhere with "3121." Letting us all hear what a guitar really sounds like when it Gently Weeps at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Leaving no doubt to his genius or power at the Super Bowl.

So many feelings he's brought about for decades, but the prevailing one being of hope. Of redemption. That love is alive with the right outlook. That rock and roll will always be alive and it came from Minneapolis.

I'll never be able to thank Prince enough. For my love of music that he helped birth. For friendships that will last forever because of his music. For the love of my life that he helps me feel stronger about each day and reminding me that "She Gave Her Angels."

Your music will live on, at least with me. Because so much of it has defined me and made me who I am.

Home Away From Home

I was born and raised in (and very near) Daytona Beach, FL. For good or ill, I consider Florida home (although I'll be the first to admit that Fark.com has a specific "Florida" section for a very good reason).

As I talked about recently, the last couple weeks have been the roughest of my life having to bury Dad. But there were some positives to the fateful trip north. Getting to see family I hadn't seen in a long time. And getting the opportunity to finally show my wife and kids my home away from home... Baltimore, MD.

I hadn't been there in a couple decades so I was afraid I wouldn't recognize the place. There were certainty some changes, but recognizable enough to bring back the kind of memories I had with my Dad - that I was finally able to pass along to my own family.

Harborplace had apparently been overrun by big corporations since the last time I had been there. Specifically the Light Street Pavillion, which was taken up mostly by a Hooters, Bubba Gump, and Ripley's Believe It or Not. Pratt Street Pavillion still had a lot of little shops and was laid out a lot more like what I remembered. We also finally got to see the Gallery at Harborplace - a five-story mall tucked inside a hotel lobby.

As an added bonus, there was snow! Being a Florida kid, this marked the third time I'd ever seen snow in my life. It wasn't of blizzard proportions or anything, but it was freely coming down. We all got a kick out of that as well.

I don't have to recap the whole day or anything, but suffice to say it was a joy I won't forget. It's not easy for a big family to just up and take a trip several hundred miles north, so I had to take advantage of the opportunity while I could. I'd like to think we all got a little closer, and I know I was able to get closer to Dad, even though he may have been watching from afar.

LIstening to: Prince - "3 Chains O' Gold"

Chris Brown: Work or Shoot?

A note before going on: After a well-deserved facepalm, I should probably apologize. About a week ago, I set the ‘ground rules’ for this blog. After seeing the last few (non-Examiner-related) posts, a statement I made jumps out at me:

Oh, and I’m not the type to post a lot of pictures for the attention-span deficient. Sorry, but you’re going to actually have to read.

So, what do I go and do? I put up several posts that are almost all pictures. Good job, genius.

I can excuse two of them. In fact, I’ve gone back and renamed them to do just that. I figured out how to update this thing directly from my phone. And yes, I’ll be using that quite a bit. The other was more of a gag than an actual post for the wrestling-savvy among you.

But still, I went back on something I said and I don’t like that. And an apology is in order for such, so I apologize. When I’m writing, I try to refrain from dumbing it down, and, to me, that’s what a gaggle of pictures do. I don’t like feeling I’m catering to the ADHD, blink-and-you-miss-it-because-it’s-so-much-easier-than-thinking crowd, but sometimes a picture says a lot. So, I should rephrase that to read:

If you’re lucky, I’ll throw in some pretty pitchers once in a while, but for the most part, you’re going to have to read.

There, now I feel better. Now, with that off my chest, it’s time to dig in to a perfect example of where this Blog got its name...


I was all set to look at the Chris Brown Incident objectively. In fact, I even kept the original title to this post based upon simply seeing the video of--

Aw, son of a...Viacom already got to it. Great, now I have to use the *official* video for--

Whoa. It’s not even on BET’s site? Something strange is going on here...

...and now that I’ve had a chance to look in to this a bit, it doesn’t surprise me in the least. See, when this all blew up, reaction was split 50/50 between, “You know, Chris has been through a lot, he’s paying tribute to his idol, it all just got to him, he’s human just like everyone else, maybe it’s time to forgive and forget,” and “Are you bloody kidding me? This has ‘PR masterstroke written all over it, this isn’t even genuine, he’s only trying to save his career.”

Looking at most places online - even among ”reputable sources” - everyone is split as to whether this was a Work or Shoot. One thing was for sure, over a returning Kanye West (who did a LOT less and still hasn’t been forgiven), Prince being handed a (LONG overdue) Lifetime Achievement Award, and the return of (wait for it...) El Debarge (and the idiot that called him a legend has a little something coming his way in a day or 2), what everyone was talking about is Chris Brown. And, for once, his name isn’t proceeded by, “the clown that made his MMA debut against his girlfriend in a moving Porsche.”

Whether this was real or staged, the performance had already done its job. Chris Brown is back on everyone’s lips, and this time it’s in a positive light. And, of course, many are either too willing to see a happy ending to think they’ve seen a miracle or dumb enough to believe that they’re not being played to play right in to what they’ve been fed.

Me, I almost bought it for a second. Without being able to see the video very clearly, I couldn’t tell one way or the other. I was honestly torn on whether we had witnessed a sincere music moment or not--

--until I saw this. “This night saved my life, and my career”? Does that not sound a tetch too calculated?

If you’re the type that think Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag (Lord and Lady Douche) are actually splitting up and that Lindsay Lohan has any desire to go clean, then it probably doesn’t. A lot of the reason the pop culture now kowtows to the lowest common denominator is, simply, because it can. Why try to reach out to and enlighten an audience when you don’t have to? Hell, why not completely hoodwink them with a “performance” that features a singer “spontaneously” breaking down, snotting and bawling so badly that he can’t even finish the performance while the camera knows exactly where he will be and when so it can follow his every “emotional” move?

Sorry, I’m a little smarter than that. I’ve seen from the inside the miracles that PR people can construct and calculate. And America just fell for another one. It never gets old, especially if your prey is still so gullible.

Chris, I’m not falling for this one. What you did to Rihanna aside, I can’t stand some fool putting on an obvious show and trying to tell me his emotion was real when it’s not. The first thing on your mind is saving your career - and the pathetic thing is, you probably succeeded because the fans you wanted to like you again have a reason to. And they’re too stupid to see that you played them like so many of the girls you sing about.

So, to quote the late Ric Flair--wait, he's still alive? Oh, hold on, then...to quote "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "Tell your story walkin'."

Oh, yeah - if I have to spell it out for you, the answer is “Work.” Totally. I just hope that enough people think the same thing to give this jackass a one-way ticket to Celebrity Rehab in about 5-7 years.