One way to find good new music. (aka the Bandcamp tutorial)

[inv4der]

To some people this is going to be very very obvious, but I figured I'd help out those who don't know about the site on how to do this.

One site I've been really happy about learning about (a year or so ago) is Bandcamp. This is the sort of site that shows there is some hope for the music industry. It's not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than a lot of major labels' distribution mentality.

Anyway, this site allows artists and labels to upload music for sale (with a no minimum option) or totally for free. (Free downloads of either type are limited per album but that's not important on the consumption end, it doesn't effect your ability to download things.)

What this means for you is that there's a potential for good free, and above all LEGAL music to be downloaded. (And even more if you're okay with paying, and lots of bands have links to buy physical copies in both CD and Vinyl.) Obviously Sturgeon's Law is in effect, although usually the popularity filter is enough to weed out the horrible stuff.

So here's what you want to do. Right here is a page containing all the tags. (Click view all so view all. Yes, that's very obvious. I know.)

So what you want to do is click a genre you're interested in, say "metal" or "rock". Once you're there, just look for things that seem interesting, and if they're no minimum/free, give them a shot. (Or you can listen from the site and decide, it's up to you!) For albums with a minimum, you'd want to listen from the site to decide if it's worth it to you.

Obviously "metal" or "rock" are very broad so you may wish to be more precise.

Overall I find this is a very easy way to find good music, as long as you're okay being "that guy" who listens to bands no one else has heard of. (If it's good it doesn't really matter, honestly.)

This would also be a great place to share your favorite finds, I'd just like to request that you be sure to summarize the music and include price. (Free, No Minimum and Paid. Paid should include the minimum price.) Try not to post too many.

One example:

Capture The Sun: Instrumental progressive metal in the vein of Between the Buried and Me. No Minimum.
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[inv4der]

To some people this is going to be very very obvious, but I figured I'd help out those who don't know about the site on how to do this.

One site I've been really happy about learning about (a year or so ago) is Bandcamp. This is the sort of site that shows there is some hope for the music industry. It's not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than a lot of major labels' distribution mentality.

Anyway, this site allows artists and labels to upload music for sale (with a no minimum option) or totally for free. (Free downloads of either type are limited per album but that's not important on the consumption end, it doesn't effect your ability to download things.)

What this means for you is that there's a potential for good free, and above all LEGAL music to be downloaded. (And even more if you're okay with paying, and lots of bands have links to buy physical copies in both CD and Vinyl.) Obviously Sturgeon's Law is in effect, although usually the popularity filter is enough to weed out the horrible stuff.

So here's what you want to do. Right here is a page containing all the tags. (Click view all so view all. Yes, that's very obvious. I know.)

So what you want to do is click a genre you're interested in, say "metal" or "rock". Once you're there, just look for things that seem interesting, and if they're no minimum/free, give them a shot. (Or you can listen from the site and decide, it's up to you!) For albums with a minimum, you'd want to listen from the site to decide if it's worth it to you.

Obviously "metal" or "rock" are very broad so you may wish to be more precise.

Overall I find this is a very easy way to find good music, as long as you're okay being "that guy" who listens to bands no one else has heard of. (If it's good it doesn't really matter, honestly.)

This would also be a great place to share your favorite finds, I'd just like to request that you be sure to summarize the music and include price. (Free, No Minimum and Paid. Paid should include the minimum price.) Try not to post too many.

One example:

Capture The Sun: Instrumental progressive metal in the vein of Between the Buried and Me. No Minimum.
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[thecaptainof]

If you're anything like me, you'll end up with several dozen band pages in your bookmarks because you can't possibly check them all out at once, then end up deleting them all and starting again every couple of months or so. It's a fun game.

But yup: shitfuckloads of chiptune awesomeness. Starting with this and thiiiiiis. Usually I prefer my electronic music without vocals but that second one there is ace.
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yksi-kaksi-kolme wrote:

Wow Mr. Mad, who fucked your buffalo?

[thecaptainof]

If you're anything like me, you'll end up with several dozen band pages in your bookmarks because you can't possibly check them all out at once, then end up deleting them all and starting again every couple of months or so. It's a fun game.

But yup: shitfuckloads of chiptune awesomeness. Starting with this and thiiiiiis. Usually I prefer my electronic music without vocals but that second one there is ace.
_________________

yksi-kaksi-kolme wrote:

Wow Mr. Mad, who fucked your buffalo?

[inv4der]

So here's some recommendations for me. Not posting this in the OP since that's an abuse of power.

If people want, I can add popular favorites to the OP as starting points. We'll see how the thread goes before that.

Capture The Sun: Instrumental progressive metal in the vein of Between the Buried and Me. No Minimum.

Cormorant: In the band's own words: "Cormorant play a unique form of progressive black metal, rooted in folk music and 70s hard rock." "Metazoa [as well as the EP The Last Tree] is available for whatever price you like, even FREE! Enjoy." (No Minimum, save for Dwellings.)

El Scar: Single man ambidjent based on the Evangelion anime. Normally instrumental, but an album and a single do have guest vocals. Despite the djenre there's little Meshuggah to it. (Don't let the djent or the anime stop you from grabbing this, it's good.) No Minimum for everything.

Disasterpeace: Chiptune, not all that much to say other than it's really good. Be sure to check out the linked album. No Minimum mostly.

Mizuki's Last Chance: Chipstep, the one form of dubstep that I can listen to and this guy does it really well. I'm not in any way a dubstep fan so hopefully it means something when I say both his EPs are really good. I think the chiptune sound helps it out a lot. No Minimum.

Surprise, You're Pregnant!: Experimental music from your very own infidels in #bannerhero. (I had to plug it, obviously.) Free.
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[inv4der]

So here's some recommendations for me. Not posting this in the OP since that's an abuse of power.

If people want, I can add popular favorites to the OP as starting points. We'll see how the thread goes before that.

Capture The Sun: Instrumental progressive metal in the vein of Between the Buried and Me. No Minimum.

Cormorant: In the band's own words: "Cormorant play a unique form of progressive black metal, rooted in folk music and 70s hard rock." "Metazoa [as well as the EP The Last Tree] is available for whatever price you like, even FREE! Enjoy." (No Minimum, save for Dwellings.)

El Scar: Single man ambidjent based on the Evangelion anime. Normally instrumental, but an album and a single do have guest vocals. Despite the djenre there's little Meshuggah to it. (Don't let the djent or the anime stop you from grabbing this, it's good.) No Minimum for everything.

Disasterpeace: Chiptune, not all that much to say other than it's really good. Be sure to check out the linked album. No Minimum mostly.

Mizuki's Last Chance: Chipstep, the one form of dubstep that I can listen to and this guy does it really well. I'm not in any way a dubstep fan so hopefully it means something when I say both his EPs are really good. I think the chiptune sound helps it out a lot. No Minimum.

Surprise, You're Pregnant!: Experimental music from your very own infidels in #bannerhero. (I had to plug it, obviously.) Free.
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[JTHomeslice]

[JTHomeslice]

[GregoryZero]

[GregoryZero]

[bclare]

[bclare]

[GregoryZero]

Main reason why I mentioned them. Not only is their music great, but their songs are also fun to play!
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[GregoryZero]

Main reason why I mentioned them. Not only is their music great, but their songs are also fun to play!
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[BeachBum187]

[BeachBum187]