Today I received an email from the folks at Pandora, one of several find-new-music services. I wrote about them a while back, and wondered if their service was worth $3 a month to me. Apparently now they’re offering a free, ad-supported version:
In addition to many new features (bookmarking, station editing, playlist improvements, etc.), Pandora v2.0 includes a free, ad-supported version. Listeners have the choice to subscribe and stay clear of ads, or use the free service, which will gradually incorporate advertising. What does this mean for you? You can now come back and listen to Pandora as much as you’d like for free–and all the stations you’ve created remain intact.
I haven’t heard or seen an ad yet, and I’ve probably listened to 15 songs. While listening to artists associated with Natalie Merchant (I know, my musical taste is dubious), I discovered a band called Snow Machine. They’re apparently the new solo project of Katherine McElroy, who’s also a member of a band called Nineteen Forty-Five.
Amazon associates them with the Decemberists and Johnathan Rice, while iTunes says Iron & Wine (among others). I’d go with a more-melodic Julianna Hatfield meets Frente and Teenage Fanclub for brunch. You can hear a couple of songs: Birmingham and Camel Lights.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
wow! i got a google alert for this for “snow machine.” yah! i am glad to see that they are gaining more fans. “birmingham” is one of the best songs out there, period. if you like katherine mcelroy, be sure to check out three finger cowboy ( http://www.daemonrecords.com/3fc/index.htm ), katherine’s (and hunter’s) pre-nineteen forty-five band. i’m also excited that you found the wikipedia for nineteen forty-five. i wrote it. 🙂
Another great example of the tell-us-a-band-you-like-and-we’ll-play-you-more-bands-like-them service is last.fm. They’re free, and with no ads.
Last night when listening to artists like Harold Budd, last.fm served me up a song by Vancouver-based electronica artist Loscil, which promptly went into my iTunes wishlist.
Such an improvement over the old days of calling the university radio station to beg for the name of an artist or song, and then trying to remember it next time at the record store. . . .
i’ve totaly fallen in love with this band i’ve only heard two songs. i need to buy there album right now.