Last.FM may not be your last radio station, but this Internet radio station and social music website is pretty close to it. Featuring a multitude of artists and songs, and the ability to learn what you like and create a custom radio station just for you, Last.FM may monopolize most of your radio time. In fact, after registering with Last.FM, you might find that you only listen to commercial radio when you can't get connected to the Internet.
Pros
- An excellent music selection
- Discover new music through your neighbors
- Create a custom radio station by typing in a band name or type of music
Cons
- Cannot browse site in same page as the web-based player and keep the music flowing
- A little light on the social networking features
Features
- Tracks what you listen to even when not connected to the site via a downloaded application
- Creates a custom radio station tailored to what music you listen to
- Finds neighbors with similar interests in music
Last.FM - Whats To Like
Worried about a limited selection of music? Don't. The music selection on Last.FM is quite extensive, and you will not be able to tell the difference between the playlists on this Internet radio station and the playlist of your favorite commercial radio station.
Discover new music through your neighbors. Once you've listened to enough music, Last.Fm sets up your 'neighbors' who are members that share similar tastes in music. You can use your neighbors to discover new artists.
The ability to type in the name of an artist and listen to similar music. It's essentially your own custom radio station that you can fit to your mood. Feeling sad and melancholy? Try typing in Enya. Want to go retro? Type in The Beatles. You can even type in a tag like 'hard rock' or 'piano' and listen to songs with that tag.
Last.FM - What's Not To Like
When using the web-based player to listen to Last.FM, you will need an extra browser window or tab if you want to explore the website. It would be nice to see an AJAX makeover that kept the player present at all times.
For a social music site, the social networking features are actually very light. The profile should allow more music-related information to be put into it -- favorite band, favorite type of music, etc. -- and these items could then be used to find friends.
Last.FM - The Bottom Line
If you spend significant time at or near your computer, Last.FM is a great choice for Internet radio. Since it customizes itself to your musical likes and dislikes, it has distinct advantages over non-social Internet radio stations. And the ability to find your musical neighbors allows you to explore new music you may not have discovered otherwise.
