Earlier this year, I thought I’d try out Last.FM, which claims to learn what you like by tracking your listening preferences (in iTunes) and uses that information to provide a list of recommended artists. So I downloaded the iTunes plug-in – called the “iScrobbler” – and cued up my “Best of 02-06” playlist (as I was mainly interested in finding new new music).
After a night of recording my tastes, Last.FM provided a series of recommendations, from “popular” to “obscure.” Two of the top recommendations – Belle & Sebastian and the Kooks – jumped out at me, so I gave B&S’ The Life Pursuit and the Kooks’ Inside In/Inside Out a few listens. The result? Both albums are on my Top 10 list for 2006.
Damn computers.
