[itsborken]

Best way is to ask a few local guitarist/drummers who they are listening to at the time. If not, Internet radio, PBS, and sometimes stumble across a decent performer in a club.

 

[65535]

This should be a multi choice poll.

 

[velogreg]

1) XM radio
2) Real Audio- I look up an artist that I currently own then listen to a clip of a similar artist they recommend on their website.
3) This forum

 

[sebascrub]

I usually discover bands through similar artists. I like looking up influences and "genre-expanders" as well.

 

[Digitalbath3737]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65535 /img/forum/go_quote.gif This should be a multi choice poll.

Not really because i asked about the primary way.

 

[Ryzalis]

Last.fm, rateyourmusic.com, and recommendations from others through forums (such as this one).

 

[islewind]

The itunes store - even though I don't buy much there, there are lots of imixes, celeb playists, and features that often have good stuff.

...And radioparadise

 

[atsang]

another vote for last.fm

its so easy and accurate (to your taste)

 

[nelamvr6]

Internet radio, especially Radio Paradise, the best station on the planet!

 

[trains are bad]

I pick up used vinyl. I have stacks of it unlisted to already. I sometimes pick up stuff that has good reccomendations on here, too. Of course, listening to thrift store vinyl leaves me listening to a lot of 70s music, but I'm down with that.

 

[Lord Chaos]

I've had the greatest success at Amazon. Why? Because I can read multiple reviews and integrate a meta-review of my own that indicates how much I might like the record. It takes time to develop this.

The question is... how do I find out which CDs to research? Any source I run into: co-workers (Norah Jones); friends (Ellis Paul); Head-fi (Sparklehorse); movies and shows, etc. I don't listen to the radio. Then I can use Amazon to explore parallels and options. For instance, Ellis Paul led to Richard Shindell and David Wilcox.

The problem is that I like some small subset of many genres. How to find that subset is where the integration of reviews comes in.

An interesting sidelight: my opinion of the song "American Pie" was based on hearing the song over and over. I hated it. Then one night I heard the real song at a party, the original played by McLean. What a difference between that and the covers. I thanked my friend who played it and bought the album. So, you just never know.

 

[augustwest]

Radio & reading reviews.

- augustwest