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In the immortal words of Julie Andrews the beginning is ‘a very good place to start’ and there can be few people who would dispute that the logical starting place for internet music is iTunes. Obviously I’m not going to go on about this cos we’re all pretty familiar with how it works, but still it’s definitely worth checking out the free download Single of the Week. Not to mention the music podcasts, which offer to broaden your musical horizons should you so desire (although none quite up to the standard of The Yorker’s very own artscast).
One of my personal favourite online music resources, repositories if you will, is the BBC’s listen again service. From the Radio 1 (or any other BBC radio station) home page; open the radio player via the ‘listen live’ option and all the listen again possibilities are laid out for your auditory delight. I don’t know many people who have the stamina/commitment to stay up for Giles Peterson till 2am, but if he’s there on demand you might just make it through the last 1,000 words of that essay without losing your mind. And if you’ve ever been midly curious as to what Craig Charles has been up to since Red Dwarf and Robot Wars then check out his funk and soul show on 6 Music.
If you’re in the market for some new music but you’re a bit too lazy to trawl through lots of indie websites, which are obviously far cooler than you are, then why not branch out into the mainstream and get yourself Last fm. From their homepage you can download a free programme on your computer that will play you your very own personal radio station based on whichever band or artist you tell it. Clearly this will bring up some old favourites, but in between you might just pick up a new favourite – surely the perfect way to listen to music?
Don’t think we’re neglecting your inner indie Cindy though. Rough Trade's website more than caters for all your alternative needs through the player embedded into their MP3 download site. It stops every 30 seconds, presumably so you can’t steal the tracks, but I’m totally won over by the magical mystery ‘lucky dip’ box on the right. More jangly guitars and heartfelt choruses than you could shake a stick at
plus you might just stumble across the next big thing; let’s face it you’ve got considerably more chance of finding it here than on X factor.More jangly guitars and heartfelt choruses than you could shake a stick at
If you like your music a little more visual then head on over to Channel 4's new (not sure how new but I’ve only just found it) music video site. They’re so nice that they’ll let you watch 20,000 music videos for free with helpful charts and leagues if you think you haven’t got time for that many.
After all that good free stuff a final word of caution about illegal downloading sites: not only could you be arrested and sued by "the man" but possibly worse you could experience the ordeal of an acquaintance of mine who, after downloading Leona Lewis’ latest single from one such site, couldn’t get it to stop playing even after shutting every programme on her laptop. In my opinion karmic payback for choosing to listen to Leona but still, I’m not sure I’d be prepared to risk a similar fate.
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