I'll second Limewire. Works perfectly and has 99.9% of what I look up. I strongly recommend paying the $20 or whatever to get the non-spyware loaded version.

I say preview before you buy. (And yes, buying is a good thing if you like it.) Screw dropping $12 to $15 for something I've only read about on the internet. And yes, the 30 second samples are worthless. Try listening to 30 second clips from Loveless on Amazon and see if you would buy it.

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:
Screw dropping $12 to $15 for something I've only read about on the internet. And yes, the 30 second samples are worthless. Try listening to 30 second clips from Loveless on Amazon and see if you would buy it.

Which is why eMsuic makes me so happy

Soulseek: virus free???

I'm finally breaking down and downloading Soulseek, because there are a few albums right now I want but can't find anywhere.. I hope it's awesome.

Somebody say something about Soulseek.
how is it on a Mac, how do i use it... I'm confused
on my mac would i be better off with a dfferent program?

quote:

Originally posted by joji:
Somebody say something about Soulseek.
how is it on a Mac, how do i use it... I'm confused
on my mac would i be better off with a dfferent program?

I've never used Soulseek. I didn't know they had a Mac version. I use Acquisition which is pretty self-explanatory. The main annoyance is the frequent nags to register it.

for macs there is a soulseek "Client" called "soulseex" (google that). works like a champ 99% of the time. i almost get everything i want there, including pre-releases (like, recently, thom yorke, sufjan, phoenix, joan of arc, maritime, xiu xiu, etc). plenty of experimental, ambient, noise, avant-garde jazz/rock/etc fans use slsk/slsx so there's always something interesting to be found. it has an instant messaging system incorporated in the program, which is a nice feature. there's no reason to NOT be on soulseek/soulseex...if you don't mind being a pirate, that is.

I got ssX.
it is magical!

I would just like to say that I'm fairly sure I've bought much more music with illegal downloading than if I hadn't had a chance to hear the bands for free in the first place. I understand that bands need to sell records in order to keep making music, but a hell of a lot of the stuff that is released today wouldn't get a red cent in my ideal world because it's complete CRAP. Additionally, I'm pretty sure that especially in the major labels, a much greater percentage of my $15 or so goes to marketing and PR people and other such bullshit than goes to the actual musician. This way I get to make sure that I cast my vote of dollars and cents towards the people that really deserve it, in my view (and towards the people who are making the good stuff possible). In the past couple of years, I haven't wasted any significant amount of money on scam artists who aren't making music because they like to make music. And that is why I'm thankful for the downloading era.

quote:

Originally posted by vitunkrapula:
Additionally, I'm pretty sure that especially in the major labels, a much greater percentage of my $15 or so goes to marketing and PR people and other such bullshit than goes to the actual musician. This way I get to make sure that I cast my vote of dollars and cents towards the people that really deserve it, in my view (and towards the people who are making the good stuff possible).

I've been making this specific point for a while now. Glad to see someone else who understands.

yeah for sure. for the uninitiated on how much major label's screw their bands over, try searching around www.downhillbattle.org they have some interesting stats, and a i think they have a great piece by steve albini about how much everyone around a younger major label band gets paid and how effing broke the band is. interesting stuff.

Frederick Dannen's excellent Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business is essential reading for anybody who wants to claim an understanding of how the record business works and how it got this way. I believe it's out of print, but used copies are readily available. Fifteen years down the road, one might think it's not as current as it once was, but I fear that it is.

Now Playing: The Daily Source Code

Thanks for the suggestions on reading. It's about time I did less generalized griping and mroe research.