Friday, November 11, 2005

Pandora v2 - Music Genome Project

Pandora v2 - Music Genome Project

Ok, Pandora (version 2) is probably the coolest musical artificial intelligence I've ever seen. How does it work? Just enter your favorite band and it creates a playlist that is musically similar to what you entered. This looks like a great way to learn about new music. The streaming audio is pretty high quality. The service links to iTunes and Amazon and is also ad-supported. You can also subscribe if you want to get rid of ads. Seems to me this may rival Amazon's recommendation system because of the immediacy of its audio interface (screenshot above). No, I have no affiliation with Pandora, I just think it's really neat!

Here are my trial runs:
(Note: Rationale varies slightly for each recommended artist.)

I entered: Deerhoof
It recommended: Deerhoof (of course) The Living Blue, Scout Niblett, High Water Marks, Blonde Redhead, The Organ, Scarling, The Whole Fantastic World, Diamond Nights, etc. (No, I haven't heard of all these bands).
Rationale: Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features mild rhythmic syncopation, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation and many other similarities identified in the music genome project.
I entered: Ladytron
It recommended: Ladytron, Home Video, Depeche Mode, Freezepop, Add N to X, Brazilian Girls, etc.
Rationale: Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features electronica influences, mild rhythmic syncopation, a subtle use of vocal harmony, minor key tonality and synthetic sonority. (Um, ok).
I entered: The New Pornographers
It recommended: The New Pornographers, Benjamin Diamond, AMFM, Evan and Jaron, Collective Soul (oops), Head of Femur, Manda and the Marbles, The Faraway Places, etc.
Rationale: Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features mild rhythmic syncopation, a vocal-centric aesthetic, major key tonality, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation and many other similarities identified in the music genome project.
Pandora did not do so hot with Kate Bush. Probably because no one sounds like her. (I got stuff like The Carpenters and The Osmonds. Yikes.)
Warning: after listening for a little bit, it will ask you to register. Also, it does not allow you to skip too many songs because of its music license, thus forcing you to listen to that song or close the window. (Sounds like an ass-backwards license term to me).

DJMonsterMo | 9:29 AM |

Comments:

I entered: Deerhoof
It recommended: Deerhoof (of course) The Living Blue, Scout Niblett, High Water Marks, Blonde Redhead, The Organ, Scarling, The Whole Fantastic World, Diamond Nights, etc. (No, I haven't heard of all these bands).
Rationale: Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features mild rhythmic syncopation, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation and many other similarities identified in the music genome project.
I entered: Ladytron
It recommended: Ladytron, Home Video, Depeche Mode, Freezepop, Add N to X, Brazilian Girls, etc.
Rationale: Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features electronica influences, mild rhythmic syncopation, a subtle use of vocal harmony, minor key tonality and synthetic sonority. (Um, ok).
I entered: The New Pornographers
It recommended: The New Pornographers, Benjamin Diamond, AMFM, Evan and Jaron, Collective Soul (oops), Head of Femur, Manda and the Marbles, The Faraway Places, etc.
Rationale: Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features mild rhythmic syncopation, a vocal-centric aesthetic, major key tonality, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation and many other similarities identified in the music genome project.
Pandora did not do so hot with Kate Bush. Probably because no one sounds like her. (I got stuff like The Carpenters and The Osmonds. Yikes.)
Warning: after listening for a little bit, it will ask you to register. Also, it does not allow you to skip too many songs because of its music license, thus forcing you to listen to that song or close the window. (Sounds like an ass-backwards license term to me).