Well now, this was a very stupid idea. It used to be that when you went onto Spotify you got “Spotify” recommends and then scroll past Apps and there was new releases. It wasn’t a last word in New Release but it was an OK guideline, pointing out anything you missed. Perhaps helpful, something in amazingly short supply on Spotify, is the correct word.
It isn’t any more.
The problem with Spotify is civilians don’t know what they want to listen to unless they listen to rock nyc and let us tell them, which they don’t do in their millions upon millions. So, they listen to radio and if they listen to radio, well then an algorithm checks out what they’ve listened to and tells them what they might like. And now, Spotify have taken it one step further and instead of shutting the fuck up and telling me what is out there, they blabber on and on about stuff they can’t help me with. It is really simple: LIST NEW RELEASES BY ARTIST. Imbeciles.
Worse still is their concerts nearby you listings. One Direction at Jones Beach? They want to suggest One Direction at Jones Beach… sold out the moment it went on sale of course, ducats are trading for $300 a pop.
Here are some of their latest suggestions that smack me in the eye when I log on to Spotify, first name is what I am listening to, second name is their recommendation, the grade is based on the aptness of the suggestion:
Kate And Anna McGarrigle – Why Pete Seger, why not Arlo Guthrie? – Pete Seger – C-
Moby Grape – The db’s – Makes no sense to me at all, I mean why not Blues Project or something? – F
Kanye West – Ice Cube – Completely random, why because they are both rappers? Cmon – C-
The Replacements – Dinosaur Jn – OK, I’ll give them that one – B
The Byrds – Elvis Costello – Or why not “You Bowed Down” and get both? – C
Bob Dylan – Otis Redding – Because of the 60’s? – F
Screaming Females – Sebadoh – Not a bad idea – B+
Garbage – Hole – Lessee: 1990s, chick lead singer, Butch Vig? – B
Kathleen Edwards – April Maze – Yes!!!! I hadn’t heard of April before but she is apt and sounds pretty – A