I just installed the new iTunes 8.0 and quickly discovered the newest and greatest feature ever… Genius!!!.

Essentially what Genius does is automatically create playlists based on the scanned libraries and listening habits of other iTunes users with your mp3 collection.

For example, if Im feeling a little chillaxed and want to listen to some soothing electornic/ambient music, I go through my music library and select a song I want to listen to (e.g. The Cinematic Orchestra - Build a Home), then I click on the new icon that looks like an atom symbol in the bottom right of my iTunes window and within seconds, iTunes has created an amazing selection of music that matches the style, sounds and genre of the song I chose.

Here is the selection it made from my one song choice:

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home
Burial - Archangel
Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe (ft. Simon Lord Simian)
Portishead - Machine Gun
Justice - Genesis
Télépopmusik - Dont Look Back
The Cinematic Orchestra - Channel 1 Suite
Zero 7 - Destiny
Röyksopp - What Else Is There?
Hot Chip - My Piano (Dj-Kicks)
UNKLEReign (ft Ian Brown and Mani)
M.I.A. - Boyz
Morcheeba - Enjoy The Ride (Feat. Judy Tzuke)
Massive Attack - Teardrop
Roisin Murphy - Ramalama
Royksopp - So Easy
Air - All I Need
The Cinematic Orchestra - Music Box
UNKLE - Burn My Shadow (feat. Ian Astbury)
Simian Mobile Disco - Its The Beat (ft. Ninja Go! Team)
Hot Chip - the warning
The Postal Service - Nothing Better
Moby - Natural Blues
Lamb - Gabriel
Morcheeba - The Sea

Now looking at this list, Ive got to say, Genius has done a bloody brilliant job at creating a playlist that suits my mood. The only really odd song within that list would have to be MI.A - Boys, but seeing shes such a cool artist, ill let that one slide.

Now to be fair, Ive only tested this new feature twice, but both times, it has been pretty much on the money in choosing the right songs.

Other cool features of Genius include:

• the Genius sidebar which is situated on the right hand side of the iTunes window (this can be toggled to be shown or hidden) has 4 great ways to discover new music, including:
  1. Top albums which highlights the current played track and its artists most popular albums.
  2. Top Songs You Are Missing which suggests songs by that artist which you may not have in your collection (this one is dependent on the spelling/naming of your tracks)
  3. iTunes Essentials which seems to offer other albums which are relative to the song playing that you might be interested in downloading/purchasing
  4. Recommendations which suggests other tracks you may be interested to download from the iTunes store or use to find out more information.
• creating playlists of between 25-100 tracks. Perfect for just a couple of hours of listening or enough to satisfy a nights worth of partying. Its like having your own personal DJ and is soooooo much better than the crappy Party Shuffle feature.
• saving the playlist that Genius created with your other man-made playlists for future usage
• refresh the playlist that Genious generates if it doesnt suit your criteria

Well done Jobs, this ones a real winner.

Well, it’s no secret. Radiohead is my favourite band of all time, in fact I think I’m almost at a point where I may be completely and utterly obsessed with anything and everything that Thom and the lads are associated with. I think the absolute world of their music, and it always gives me great pleasure to here other artists interpretations of Radiohead’s music.

So when I stumbled across the website Radiohead Remix, I was pretty bloody happy to see there was a massive selection of remixes of the new single ‘Nude’ to listen to.

Here is just one of the many remixes available on the site to listen to and vote on: 

I thought I’d spread the word on this gem of an album.

Being a fan of Morcheeba for some time, I was a little disappointed in their last album - The Antidote - I think the departure of Skye Edwards as the lead vocalist had a lot to do with the album not ‘doing it’ for me. So when I found out that Morcheeba had a new album out, I was a little hesitant. Luckily the amazing album artwork sucked me in, and thank dog for that!

If you are into chill out albums or something nice to wake up to on a Sunday morning after a massive night, then Dive Deep is what you need. 

1. “Enjoy the Ride“ (feat. Judie Tzuke) – 4:04
2. “Riverbed” (feat. Thomas Dybdahl) – 5:24
3. “Thumbnails” – 2:35
4. “Run Honey Run” (feat. Bradley) – 3:44
5. “Gained the World” (feat. Manda) – 2:56
6. “One Love Karma” (feat. Cool Calm Pete) – 3:32
7. “Au-Dela” (feat. Manda) – 2:15
8. “Blue Chair” (feat. Judie Tzuke) – 4:07
9. “Sleep on It” (feat. Thomas Dybdahl) – 5:34
10. “The Ledge Beyond the Edge” – 2:03
11. “Washed Away” (feat. Thomas Dybdahl) – 4:23

 Whilst I’m on the roll, I figure I would inform you all that Portishead’s ’so-anticipated-we-almost-forgot’ new album has been leaked!  (more…)