Like many music lovers out there, I've gone completely digital.
This statement really carries a lot of weight to it. I remember lugging around my Sony Walkman cassette (yikes) player when I was a kid. I thought it was so cool to listen to that Astralwerks sampler tape on my cheesy little headphones in the back of my parents' minivan. Go-go ancient techno!
Ah yes, those were the days, but alas, they are to be no more. The last CD I bought was Coheed & Cambria's "No World For Tomorrow," and only because it was under ten bucks at the time. I can't remember the last CD I bought before that. I think it was maybe a year prior, but I'm not sure.
So this brings me to the topic at hand: downloading music. For a while, I gave some other download service a whirl. Never before had I been made to feel like a criminal for buying something, but my poor experience changed all that. Jumping through hoops of fire just to play my own music, even after I paid almost "full price," just burned my chubby little biscuits. I then embarked on the quest to find my digital music mecca, and quickly found it.
Enter eMusic: the solution to my digital music woes. I actually smile in glee every time my monthly subscription renews, and I'd love to tell you why.
#5 - The Eclectic, Expansive Selection
Most people would call the music I listen to... well, wierd. Not that I don't like mainstream music, because I do, but my favorite tunes gravitate a little off the beaten path. I happen to love experimental electronica, deep house, stanky nu-funk, math rock, intelligent rap, and other less-traveled musical genres.
If you consider yourself on the bleeding edge of music, eMusic is the place. You'll find everything from perfectly normal to downright messed up. Just the way I like it. And there's a ton of it.
#4 - Feature Filled, Easy to Use Interface
While the eMusic online store isn't perfect, it certainly works well, and quickly too.
In each track listing, you'll find a play button, a download link, and the details for each track - allowing you to get a quick 30 second preview of each song as you wish, or preview the entire album.
Each album display allows you to save the item for later in your profile, add the album to a playlist, or link to labels, genres, and more.
There are also a number of features that link you to related music and other members of the eMusic community, to help you find more of what you like. This is how I discovered 98% of what I've found on the site, and one of the best features of the eMusic interface.
#3 - The eMusic Community
Very much unlike the sophomoric, vulgar, inane, middle-school ramblings that you'll find in comments on many other sites, the reviews posted by eMusic users tend to be mostly valuable and intelligent, from what I've seen. Even the short blips are at least somewhat constructive and tolerable. You can also hook up with other users' playlists, and discover new music that way, too.
#2 - It's Really Cheap
$14.99 per month for 50 songs is a bargain in my book. This month, I snagged 5 albums, minus the little 45 second songs they sometimes throw in there. That equals out to about 3 bucks per album. I can justify the cost of eMusic over buying a CD any day of the week.
And the moment you've all been waiting for...
#1 - Feel Like A Customer, Not A Criminal
By a huge, monumental long shot, the best part about eMusic is that you actually have the freedom to use the music you purchased how you want to use it.
First, you can download any of the music you've purchased, anytime you want, as many times as you want, anytime you log into your account. Awesome.
Second, eMusic has gone on record stating that NO identifying information is embedded within their downloads. Bonus.
Third... NO DRM! Woohoo! Yes, folks, this means that you can put your music on any one of your MP3 players, your iPod, burn onto CD's, share on your home network, anything... without any hassle.
Wow, I can actually listen to the music I paid for? Thanks, eMusic!
The Moral Of The Story Is...
You need to give eMusic a shot! You can:
- Liberate yourself from ordinary, ho-hum pop music,
- Revel in the slick interface,
- Network with the community,
- Save some cash,
- and most of all... Free your music from DRM!
