3 posts tagged “last.fm”

Note: This is the third in a series of posts looking back at 2007, in some key areas of my life that were important to me.

I listened this year.

The Verve - Lucky Man

One of the biggest trends for me again this year was that music used in TV or Movie scenes resonates that most for me.  When I have a visual connection, it really hits me more, I guess.  I finally purchased a few tracks from old shows, like Beth Orton's She Cries Your Name because I was so sad that it wasn't on my DVD of Roswell during a key scene.   I was excited to get the songs that they play regularly on General Hospital when those were released on iTunes (Jayson Belt, Rie Sinclair, etc), because again, they have that visual for me.   One of my favorite songs at the end of the year was Lucky Man by The Verve, and I only found it because it was played on an episode of Journeyman. (The long version of the Journeyman theme song is another I purchased, continuing my long-time-love of tv themes).

All the Right Reasons

I also finished purchasing tracks from some CDs that I'd only bought part previously because of iTunes promotion (Kelly Clarkson and Nickelback and Rob Thomas come to mind), and I think this actually made me more willing to buy individual tracks to try out an artist, rather than waiting to see if I wanted to commit to it.

Rhianna's Umbrella was stuck in my head for much of the summer (along with a lot of America) which is the first time in a while I've been enjoying a mainstream song at the same time as everyone else.  Since I don't listen to the radio very much, I tend to hit the trends later.  This was kinda fun.

The only album I have from this last year which I own in a physical CD is my new-at-Christmas Radio Sunnydale.  Everything else, I bought on iTunes as individual tracks or albums.  We already have shelves and shelves of CDs, and an old pile of cassette tapes, too, so we didn't need the physical clutter.  I'll still purchase the albums for the very favorite artists (like Vanessa Carlton from my wish list).

Much of the time when I'm listening to music, it's a big uber Smart Playlist made up of other smart playlists, with my Pop, Rock, Top rated Electronica and Alternative music.  I randomize that (737 songs) and it gives me a great fun listen most of the time.  When I'm feeling like I need more calm in my life, I go for my Christian top list, which is all of my Christian genre that are highly rated (117 songs).  And last years purchase of some more country has me picking that play list periodically (including Dixie Chicks and the Wreckers most prominently).  I really enjoy using iTunes for my music playing.

Stash and Burn

http://www.stasha...

"podcasting about all things knitting and life under the weight of the stash"

Along with music, I found podcasts this year for the first time.  Everything I listened to consistently were knitting-related, but it was another way for me to appreciate something in the background while I work on a project.  I listened to Stash and Burn (which I found through Harold) for most of the year, and then found Kelly Petkun's podcast from KnitPicks (a local company) part way through the year.  Just recently I added LionBrand's YarnCraft and Vickie Howell's CRL.

According to iTunes, out of the music I added this year, Nickelback's Rockstar and Jem's Come on Closer had the top tracks I listened to.  My top rated artists continue to be the same ones I've listened to for years or at least the last couple of years: Sarah McLachlan, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch (and the Wreckers), Natalie Imbruglia, Dido, Garbage, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, Barenaked Ladies, tATu.  Steven Curtis Chapman, Jennifer Knapp, and Michael W. Smith are prominent in my Christian genre. The more recent additions of Aimee Mann, Anna Nalick, Nickelback, Rob Thomas, P!nk, Jem, and Kelly Clarkson round things out nicely in my collection, along with plenty of one-hit wonders and other people I enjoy just a few tracks more than their whole collection.

I do use last.fm to track all my music tastes, sending my tracks played when sitting in front of iTunes (vs. on my iPod) to their system to add to my profile.  Although I don't use the features as much as I could, it's fun to see periodically.

What are your top 10 most-played songs currently?

I have last.fm hooked into iTunes, and so it does a really nice job of summarizing for me.  Here's the 3-month rolling most popular track list.

1. Jem - Falling for you
2. Eagle-eye Cherry - Crashing down
3. Nickleback - Rockstar
4. Gary Jules - Mad World (Alternate Version)
5. Mat Kearney - All I need
6. Thisway - Crawl
7. Anna Nalick - Catalyst
8. Jewel - Good Day
9. Aimee Mann - Pavlov's Bell
10. Jem - They

Some of these are new in the last few months and some are old.  Interestingly enough, none of them are a particularly high count, and so I must be doing a good job of varying my music listening moreso than in the past!

And then this is my top overall tracks since I've been tracking on last.fm (and a good reason to use an embed!)

:)  Fun with music is always fun.  I'm looking forward to grabbing a few more tracks from iTunes before I go on a trip for this weekend, because it's always nice to have a few new things for a long drive!

What's your musical horoscope?  (Put your player on shuffle and write down the first 10 songs that come up.)
Inspired by Stephanie.  

Kdlb_lastfm_lasttracks