www.garageband.com - Battle of the bands! (OBSELETE opinions in general)

Member Name: zusy

Product:	OBSELETE opinions in general
Date:	06/02/01 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A huge selection of new bands, some great tracks, the chance to win a recording contract (if you're in a band) or HMV vouchers (if you're just listening)

Disadvantages: Sometimes slow music downloads (to realplayer), some 'stinkers' of bands...but on the whole, I like most of the ones I've listened to so far!

I am addicted to this site, I love everything about it! What happens is this:

You register at the site and are asked to choose your favourite genre of music - this is everything from Blues, Punk, R&B, Pop, Rock, Rap, Electronic, Funk, Dance, Folk, Jazz, Alternative and so on and on...

You then get to listen to two tracks from your chosen genre. These tracks have been submitted by up-and-coming bands desperate to make the Big Time, or just to vary their audience and make some new fans.

You aren't told the name of the band or the song at this point, but after listening to the track, you can review it by checking boxes as to the high and low points, and writing a little about what you thought of it.

At this point you can see the title of the tracks and links to further information about the bands you've just reviewed. If you really liked their stuff, you have the option to download MP3 tracks, or save them on your personal online playlist.

After you've reviewed two bands, you are given a virtual 'stamp'...you can earn five of these a day. Once you have earned 20 stamps (you're given a month to do this, you don't have to earn your stamps every day) you are entitled to a $25 HMV voucher to thank you for your reviews!

Although the voucher is for HMV.com in Canada, they ship worldwide, so if you're in the UK you can still make use of it.

Even if you didn't earn vouchers, I would still use this site. Okay, some of the bands are awful, but I have found the vast majority range from the promising to the brilliant!

You can listen to as many bands/tracks a day as you like, but, as I explained, you only get 5 stamps towards your voucher in a 24 hour period.

New bands are encouraged to upload their tracks for review, and the two bands who get the highest ratings each year are offered a $250,000 recording contract....ooooh, if only I could sing, play a musical instr
ument or had any kind of musical ability whatsoever!

Bands can also enter bonus contests, such as the chance to appear in gig spots on Limp Bizkit's summer tour. Getsigned.com also have a page offering advice on...well, how to get signed...

There are so many other features to this site, I hardly know where to start:

Go Backstage
- Message boards where bands can find new members, communicate with their new found fans, describe their 'Gigs from Hell' or tell juicy tales of Life on the Road... Listeners can recommend their favourites, ask questions or simply chat, gossip and make new friends.

True Stories
- Find out which bands have been signed, how they're performing under pressure and what happened next...

In the Studio With
- Every day one of garageband.com 's professional team of producers pick a track that a band has submitted. They listen to it and offer advice on how they would make it more successful, give praise and so on. A *very* useful feature if you're a struggling band who have nobody to turn to for unbiased advice and tips.

Charts
- See which bands are riding high on their critical success and are nearing the number one spot in each genre...

Each band has a webpage dedicated to information about them. They have lyrics to their songs, explanations as to what the songs are about, links to their own website, pictures of band members and so on. You can also read other members' reviews and see if they agreed with yours!

Review & Win
- This is the section where you can earn your stamps for reviewing tracks. Sometimes you can earn points towards T-shirts and other garageband.com merchandise.

My Account
- See who you've reviewed so far, and if those reviews have been approved by the musicians. Listen to your personal favourites in your 'playlist', send messages to bands and other members and read those sent to you (
this way nobody gets to see the email address you registered with...)

The site is fun, easy to use and very professional looking. You may come across some stinkers, but equally, you could find yourself a whole new set of obsessions. I like this uncertainty, it adds a real freshness to listening to music and gives all the bands an equal chance.

Most of the reviews are very short - sometimes simply a line or two - but the best ones describe how the track could be better (politely!) or say what particular elements they liked. You don't have to write an essay, but the bands appreciate it if you take some time to give useful feedback.

I found this really cute band yesterday - The Mallrats (awww, bless!) They are obviously heavily influenced by The Ramones (this is a good thing in my opinion!) and listening to their tracks reminded me of my cousin's band when he was about 15 (I don't think they're all that much older...) Bouncy, fast-paced guitars and sweetly simple lyrics...ahhh, the memories :-)

Aw go on, go and give them a listen and a bit of encouragement. I have absolutely nothing to do with them, I just quite like them and think they deserve a chance. You don't have to agree, but if you have the time and decide to register at this site, you could give them a listen if you're not sure what else to start with...

As I said at the start of this review, I am addicted to this site now. I love the experience of listening to music I would otherwise have little chance of coming across, and giving struggling bands a helping hand on the way.

The only downside I can think of is that the realplayer pop-up sometimes registers the most annoying words I can think of on the Internet: 'Net congestion. Buffering...' Arrrgh! I hate it when that happens! I haven't had too many problems so far, though.

This site is truly interactive...give it a go and you could be The Next Big Thing, or m
aybe just hear some new music on the way ;-)

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