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Not too long ago, there were limited options in finding new music. You would have probably made your way to your neighborhood record shop or Entertainment MegaStore to find some new tunes, or listened to your local radio station to figure out what's next on the horizon.
Now, things are a little different. While music stores haven't become archaic, the advent of digital music has definitely added a quaint, retro feel to them and you don't necessarily need to ask for a recommendation from the aloof, tattooed clerk with the ironic slogan T-shirt. Although there are still local radio stations, you aren't limited to them; you can now listen to a radio station from the other side of the world if you want.
Thanks to advances in technology and the increasing simplicity of sharing with people you don't really know, its easier than ever to augment a stagnant music collection. There are plenty of resources to help you expand your rhythmic horizons; whether you are a fan of Prince or The Artist Formerly Known as Cat Stevens, Aerosmith or Elliott Smith, Green Day or Morris Day, Billy Idol or Billie Holliday you get the idea.
The problem, so often, is that you only know what you know, and the prospect of searching can be daunting. The sheer volume of music out there can seem overwhelming, and the mind-numbing ubiquity of James Blunt may put you off of music altogether. When you actually have the time or inclination to listen to new songs, it can take a long time to separate the wheat from the proverbial chaff, and the chaff from the colossal compendia of pure crap out there.
You don't need to play the Garden State soundtrack on shuffle again just to keep things interesting. Try these outlets:
Get yourself a social music network.
One of the easiest and best ways to find out about new music is through your friends. You probably know a few people whose tastes in music you share ask them who they've been listening to lately. Or better yet, set up a routine where you burn a new disc for each other once a month. It sounds simple enough, but you might even pick up on a band you've never heard of that you suddenly cant live without.
