I want to be in Pandora's box

Sorry about the title. I don't even know what that's supposed to mean. But it sounded dirty, and we all know how I feel about dirty jokes.

But anyway, on with the blog!

I know I'm really late to jump on the Pandora.com bandwagon, like months and months late. But as of today I am a huge fan. After my friend's computer crashed, I've been terrified to use limewire. So what's a girl to do who won't pay for music? Settle for my same tired tunes? Eh, I've been jonesing for new music so that's not really a solution. Myspace music? No. Just no. But FM radio makes me insane. I mean I love Britney but there's only so many times I can listen to "Womanizer" in an hour. So I finally decided to listen to the countless people who told me to try Pandora.com. I'm a little ashamed to say it was my 60 year old aunt who first told me about Pandora, but can we just pretend I am trendier and savvier than Aunt Pat? OK, good, thanks for that. I feel like maybe I can redeem my street cred by spreading the good word of this musical prodigy.

I have to say, I am really stupid for not taking this advice sooner. I don't even want to count how many times I have listened to 99 luft balloons on my iTunes, when I could have been exploring the deepest nooks of the internet for new music in a single click of the touchpad. When I typed in "Vampire Weekend" (if you haven't heard of this band, I highly recommend that you do) I welcomed one of the best play lists I have ever heard. Well, I guess its not a play list as much as radio station but lets not get technical here. As long as its a radio station without the commercials and DJs and repetitive brainwashing, its fine with me.

So far, I've found a ton of new bands I like. And if Pandora plays something I don't like, I give it a thumbs down and it stops playing and disappears forever. The first time that happened Pandora sent a little pop up apologizing profusely. I actually felt a little guilty... It was like an abused housewife who made her husband turkey pot pie instead of meatloaf. The pop up said something like "I'm so sorry that will never happen again, please don't hit me". But I like pot pie, so all is right with the world.

When I give a song a thumbs up, Pandora adds similar bands and songs to the station. I haven't really played with any other features because I really just wanted to listen to some new music while I caught up with my gossip sites, but it looks like you can send Pandora to your phone or even check out a friend's personal station. Thumbs up Pandora, thumbs up.