Pandoric
The problem with Pandora is that you give it an artist, and it gives you a song by that artist. This makes you happy. Then, it suggests a near-ideal song (like, mine just went from Elliott Smith to Jack Johnson).
You’re pumped up that a database could produce such an artful juxtaposition. You’re calling your friends, waving your hands, swearing it’s the future of music.
Then, while you’re hanging up from your third enthusiastic phone call, the pied piper plays you a song that can only be deemed “anonymously indie” with virtually no relationship to your original guidance.
Now, it returns me to “The Song that Jane Likes” by the very early, creatively-healthy Dave Matthews Band. I like the song, too, but it’s not exactly screaming Elliott Smith. It screams it a little more than “Megamachine,” by Fingers Cut, but, still.
Maybe I should just pick up the Good Will Hunting soundtrack.