Online Radio Stations

I finally finished listening to the 41 disk book "Storm of Swords" by George R. R. Martin. I hope his next one isn't quite so long, but each book in the series is longer than the last.

Anyway, while I listened to the book, I couldn't listen to my Launchcast radio, which is what I usually do while poking about on my computer. I actually pay for this radio station, but for all the enjoyment I get from it, it is well worth the $40 a year. I get to rate each song that plays, also the artist and the album. I can mark a song to say I never want to hear it again. But the real joy has been discovering new artists, or hearing songs from so long ago that I'd forgotten I ever knew them.

The first time I realized that this radio was a find, I heard the song "All My Trials". I knew it was by covered by Peter, Paul and Mary a long time ago, because my sister had the songbook for it. But the music was keyed very high, and it was so difficult to sing if you weren't soprano. So I was surprised to hear the PP&M version sung in a low key. I'd strained my voice on that song for so long, and could have spared myself if I'd just tracked down the record when I was young. (Yes, I listened to real vinyl records - 45's, 78's and LP's or 33's.) It was one of mom's favorite songs, and we 3 girls had to sing it whenever we were all there together.

I've also heard music from Broadway plays I didn't even know existed (not living near NYC). Like "Assassins", which is about Presidential assassins. Neil Patrick Harris sings about John Wilkes Booth. Who knew Doogie Howser could sing? But it's a great song.

Anyway, I love listening to all kinds of music, and this radio station is great, because it customizes to what you want to hear. I tried AOL's station, but it isn't nearly as much fun, since you have to pick a genre station.