Can I Sample That Platter?

I'm trying to buy music for my music library. Many blogs ago, I mentioned that it was time to 'get with it' and find some new artists and titles. Well, this weekend I finally gave it a try.

The question was how to find artists and songs I like. I'm pretty picky. These days you don't have to buy the whole album. One buys individual tunes, and one buys these tunes online. That's great for a picky person. I went to the Internet to find some new songs. But... I couldn't find any.

It isn't that there is no music to be found on the Internet. It's the opposite. There's far, far too much. This analogy will help you see what I mean:

Imagine you want a small snack to tide you over until supper. It's a good chance to try something different than the usual fare, to see if you like it.

The only source of snacks is a mega-mart with food stacked 2 stories high. No box of food is the same as any other. Nothing is labeled. It could be yummy. It could be lizard dung. Samples are sometimes available but you can't try anything unless you have a special plate. To get that plate, you have to give a stranger your personal information. (Hope he doesn't have a virus!)

You finally find a plate-person you trust. You try samples. One of them is tasty... not at all like lizard dung. You head to the check-out counter, but they don't accept cash or credit cards. You have to open an account. You ask if this account lets you buy anything in the store from now on. It won't. You may need to open many accounts. It depends on what snack you buy.

By now you've lost your appetite, and you're worried that the tiny sample might taste better than the rest of the snack. You decide to head back to your own pantry for food you know you like.

That's how I felt on the Internet, looking for my musical 'snack.' It's overwhelming. Some artists have labels, some are independent (they're called 'indie,' Mom). There are just too many places to look.

Back in the day it would have been so simple. I could have listened to the radio. There were stations for every genre. The DJ had a new menu every week. You sampled the whole song. If you heard one you liked, you could buy it. You knew exactly what you were getting.  But alas! There aren't enough radio stations, and the ones that are still around might not be English-speaking. They might not even play music.

So it's back to the Internet for me, to keep looking for a few good bands. Maybe I'll find one called 'Lizard Dung.'