Yeah, I know we have a thread for compos, and also MB's Most Wanted, but this is a different idea.
Basically it's aimed at people who want to get into certain bands via a few tracks. It's very easy to misunderstand an artiste by choosing the wrong album, track(s) or era of their music. I personally like Kamelot, but their first two albums are pretty bad, and had I started with those I might not have got to the better stuff. Similarly, everyone keeps telling me Pain of Salvation are great, but I was totally underwhelmed by "One hour by the concrete lake": I'm told that was a bad starting point.
Now, of course I could listen to albums recommended, but I've already got thousands backed up, so my idea would be to select a few artistes (no real limit, but remember people will be giving up both their valuable time and perhaps more valuable expertise to try to help you, so cut them some slack) and have those who know these artistes compile a few tracks (2 or 3, maybe more, totally up to the person compiling) that they can put on a link for the person to download. Then they can listen to these, the tracks considered the best or most representative of the artiste(s) and decide if they want to go further on their own, or if this artiste really isn't for them.
I would prefer downloadable files instead of links to YouTubes personally, as I would like to listen to the music away from my computer, while out, and so on, and YT restricts you to the PC of course; also the best tracks from certain artistes may not be on YT. There's also nothing wrong with two or more people collaborating on or contributing to a comp: say one person knows a lot about, oh let's say Opeth, while another is very familiar with Public Enemy. Both are requested by the one poster. These people can each contribute to the comp, if they want.
Of course, if one person has all the music and knowledge required for the comp, then there's no reason why they can't do it themselves. Limits can be set, dictated, changed or agreed on by one or both parties (requester and provider) but the final decision should lie with the latter, as they're the one who's going to be putting in the time.
This all relies on people being good enough to give their time, being knowledgeable enough about the artistes to provide a proper "sampler", and most importantly, the understanding on the part of the requester that they don't have exclusive call on that person's time, and will have to wait until they complete the request.
I'm happy to be the first to offer my services, if anyone wants anything I have (most of my musical taste can be discerned by reading through my journal, but in general it's rock, prog rock, metal, prog metal, some pop and a little country, classical and instrumental; though of course that's only really scratching the surface). Requests can be made in the thread, and anyone who wants to take on the job just respond, preferably in the main thread to prevent two people ending up fulfilling the same request.
Anyone fancy this?
Personally, I'd be interested in hearing some
Tool, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Camel and maybe Dream Theater? Oh yeah, and some Pain of Salvation: go on, you know you want to get me into them!
