exploremusic

Here’s the Deal with Bing

Here’s what I’ve discovered today.

There’s a new way to search for music online.  Bing, Microsoft’s search engine answer to Google, has some new features including streaming of full tracks when you look for music online.

It’s officially called “Bing Entertainment” and digs through the five million songs available through whatever Microsoft has available for the Zune.  Find a song and you can hear the full things once.  After that, you’re cut back to the customary 30-second clip.

Google, of course, has their own music service called OneBox in the works.  We should see that later in the year.

Here’s the Deal with the Library of Congress

What’s the biggest record library on the planet?  It’s the Library of Congress in Washington DC.  Every year they make a big deal about which recordings get inducted into something called the National Recording Registry.  To qualify, the recording must be at least ten years old and be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

So who made it this year?  “Horses,” the title track of Patti Smith’s 1975 pre-punk album; “Radio Free Europe” from REM and their 1983 debut album Murmur;  and here’s my favourite:  “Dear Mama” from Tupac and his 1995 record Me Against the World.  These songs (and 22 others) will now be preserved or all time in Washington.

Here’s the Deal with Pearl Jam

It looks like Pearl Jam is gearing up for…something. A  few weeks ago, a quiet song called “Better Days” started floating around after a breach of a secure website.  This is apparently and Eddie Vedder solo track that will end up on the soundtrack of an upcoming Julia Roberts movie called Eat, Pray, Love. 

Then earlier this week, the band played another new song called “Of the Earth”—and it rocks pretty good.  This is a fairly old song, originating sometime during the sessions for the band’s 2006 self-titled record. Then it was supposed to be on Backspacer, but didn’t make the cut. Check it out here.

Here’s the Deal with Bush

Here’s another reunion story:  Bush—the faux-grunge English band is back in its original form after being apart for about nine years.  I guess Gavin Rossdale is tired of being the house husband and Mr. Gwen Stefani—and the solo gig, the band called Institute and the acting opportunities—haven’t quite panned out, so it’s back to Bush.

Touring will start in September with an album entitled Everything Always Now in October—which, by the way, was produced by Bob Rock at his studio in Maui.  A song called “Afterlife” is making the rounds as sort of a warm-up to the reunion.  Listen here, if you want.

ExploreMusic Playlist: The songs featured on the radio show today were:

“Do Her Wrong” by Atom Smash
“Afterlife” by Bush
“Newchain” by The Vicious Guns
“Way Down” by Taylor Hawkins and The Coattail Riders