Sykonee Survey's Spotify's (Not So) Senseless Suggestions: Round 5

Welp, time to retire this feature. It was fun while it lasted, but a few factors have contributed to it no longer having much use going forward.

1. Spotify’s senseless suggestions just aren’t senseless anymore. While that’s all well and good in discovering new music that interests me, it defeats the point of having a feature with ‘Senseless Suggestions’ right in the title. I could modify it some more so it serves as a spotlight on cool new discoveries through the streaming service, but in its current incarnation, I feel it's best lay it to rest. Besides...

2. I won't have many new rounds for the next few months. As mentioned, I intended to only update these surveys at mid' or end points of my alphabetical batches. The letters coming up contain some of the biggest bundles of albums out of my entire music collection. This would lead to infrequent updates, not to mention a huge backlog of suggestions from Spotify. That is, if I'd still got emails from them, which leads me to factor number...

3. Spotify's stopped sending me suggestions, senseless or otherwise. I'm not sure why this is. Was it only a short-term service, a means of enticing me to use Spotify after registering? Are the playlists I've been compiling confounding its algorithms to the point it simply 'noped' me? True, the website itself has a suggestion feature available, but man, those email lists were so handy.

Anyhow, let's get into the final batch of musics Spotify decided was ideal for my listening pleasure.

Zombie Nation - Absorber
Since this is the last Survey, I’m breaking a rule and checking out albums suggested based on previous artists played. In this particular case, Spotify figures I’ll enjoy Zombie Nation’s sophomore album because I listened to The Prodigy. I don’t hear the correlation. Super mega ultra popular hit Kernkraft 400 notwithstanding, the Florian Senfter alias has leaned more techno and EBM with his output, and this LP’s no exception - it’s New Order fed through the industrial grinder. Liam Howlett did try getting himself some of that trashy electro action too, but he never sounded like this. Nay, I’m only getting this suggestion because they both had big anthems on the UK charts, and even then at totally different times in clubbing culture’s history. Silly suggestion, but at least it wasn’t the obvious one.

Recommendation Rating: 2/5

Basement Jaxx - Summer Daze EP
Yeah, Spotify’s been on my ass about checking this single out for almost as long as it’s been sending me suggestions. Erm, when it finally clued into my fondness for electronic music at least. First it tied it to Faithless, and here it’s based on The Prodigy. I get it, Spotify, Basement Jaxx are huge on the UK charts. But I’m Canadian, dammit, and my interest in them has been passive at best. That said, why on Earth do you keep recommending this early single? To show me Felix, Nathan, and Simon are more than big dumb club anthems? Yes, I know they have a feel for the Latin sound side of house music, it’s right there on their albums alongside the stupid-fun shit too. And here you’re suggesting it because I played Their Law and Poison? The mind boggles.

Recommendation Rating: 3 shots of Malibu rum.

Hybrid - Forumla Of Fear
This was the lead single to the album Disappear Here. I already covered Can You Hear Me, the second single from that LP. Geez, just recommend me that album-proper already, why don’t ya’? There are fourteen versions available of this song, half of which are redundant – the Überzone mix alone comes in Vocal, Dub, and Radio Edit versions. Grafiti does a dull minimal-tech plod rub (and a dub version!), Steam Punk does a standard electro-trash mix, Longrange goes funkier with the electro in his go, and Glenn Morrison does a weak breaks version. Oh, and Hybrid remixes too, includes an Instrumental Mix, and an Acapella. Now I’m burnt the fuck out on this track, which was only a decent ‘rocktronica’ tune in the first place.

Recommendation Rating: Still sticking with Wider Angle: Live Disc.

Dan McKie vs Orbital - Halycyon (Again)
Just what the world needed, a classic Orbital anthem, now with plodding electro farts! I don’t know much about Mr. McKie, who runs 1980 Recordings, but this ‘remix’ of his isn’t inspiring me to check out anything further from him. Steve Haines remix is better, feeding off the good side of throwback electro house (funk!), while Licious K’s remix goes bump-tech micro-plonk. Guess this single has every trendy house genre of 2008 covered then.

Recommendation Rating: 2 Ons out of 4.

Funk D’Void - Volume Freak
Mr. Sandberg’s third and seemingly final album under the Funk D’Void name. Damn, I’m stunned to discover this. He was one of the rising stars of house music’s new and daring innovations at the turn of the century, finding ways of melding techno and funk into a sound wholly his own. He did continue releasing singles, but it seems his focus has gone towards building a sustainable DJ career. Guess it’s working out for him since he got his hands into the reputable Balance series. This album’s fine, though not terribly surprising as house music goes.

Recommendation Rating: pi tilde omega

Gudrun Gut - Members Of The Ocean Club
There had to be something totally unexpected in this batch of suggestions. There’s always that one, quirky outlier that makes not a lick of sense in contrast to the artists, yet is totally wicked coolio neato! Gudrun Gut’s been around since the early ‘80s, getting her start in influential industrial and new wave bands like Malaria! and Einstürzende Neubauten. In the ‘90s, she started making music on her own as well, though often as duets with various other artists. This album’s quite a mish-mash of ‘90s genres too: trip-hop, EBM, trance, dark ambient, and a second CD features remixes from Paul van Dyk, Klaus Schulze, Ian Pooley, Ellen Allien, and Thomas Fehlmann. It’s a German love-in! Probably best enjoyed in a Berlin S&M dungeon.

Recommendation Rating: Sixty-six spankings out of sixty-nine.

The Grid - Floatation
I already have this song in my library. Negative fifty points for you, Spotify. Oh, wait, this is the 2010 re-re-issue-mix. There’s a Prins Thomas Mix, which doesn’t sound all that dissimilar to the original, beyond a weaker rhythm. Round Table Knights goes full-on Balearic house mode with their rub, and Slof Man does… oh dear. Brostep? Really!? That is so utterly, horribly wrong for a track like this. God damn trendwhoring bastards.

Recommendation Rating: Off the deep end wearing concrete sandals.

And the final tally for Round Five is some arbitrary numerical affixation for my particular listening whims. I really don’t know in this case. How about Moe? Yeah, I’ll rate this Moe. Not a terribly adventurous wade into the Spotify waters this time out, but that’s all on the streaming service’s digital head. It’s abandoned me, no longer leading my hand and foot, leaving to my own whims wherever I may venture. Perhaps I’ll tell you about my Spotify expeditions some time in the future, but for now, I bid adieu to this Senseless Surveys.

Sykonee Surveys Spotify's Senseless Suggestions, Round 4

Spotify’s still sending me suggestions based on my Faithless dalliance, but now The Prodigy too. Hilariously, it’s mostly the same releases as my last round, which only confirms my suspicion that Spotify is sending these recommendations based on U.K. chart dominance. Dammit, Britain, there’s more to music than just your corner of the globe! For the purpose of completion though, here’s the few additional albums listed that aren’t Basement Jaxx and Armand van Helden again:

The Micronauts - Damaging Consent & A Remixes Retrospective
Underworld - Dark & Long
Zombie Nation - Absorber

Again, some good music there, but not in line with the point of my surveys of Spotify’s services. Fortunately, it seems Spotify’s also clued in that I’m not following their BIG UK CHART MUSICS suggestions either, and have mostly tapered them off. So let’s see what sort of general recommendations I’ve been sent this time around. Remember, scores are relative to how obvious a suggestion the album is, with 5/5 being something I’d never have thought existed and 1/5 being what every music rag shoves down my earholes.

James Holden - One For You
Wait, you’re recommending a single to start things off? Well, okay then, I don’t mind hearing some old-school Holden for a start. One For You is McProg long before McProg was even considered a thing (re: Schulz adopted the style for his use/abuse). It’s got a grumbly bassline, spritely bleepy hooks, and floaty vocals …all the tropes that defined the genre in the mid-‘00s, but here in 2001. Damn, was Holden ever ahead of the progressive game, eh? Brancaccio & Aisher provides a tougher ‘dark prog’ remix, for all your John Digweed needs.

Recommendation Rating: 3/5

Chris Zippel - Genuine Horizon Remixes
I follow the link, and Spotify says the album’s not found. How is the first track, Blade (Namito Remix), playing then? I know the player will sometimes stream directly from one’s own library, but I sure don’t have this track. I’m not even familiar with Chris Zippel, though Lord Discogs tells me he’s been around for a while. The music on here does shows some promise in further exploration though, mostly dubby dark prog from a year that would have called this dark tech-house or something stupid (yeah, because my description is equally naff!).

Recommendation Rating: 4/5

System 7 - Classics
Ah dear, another case of being forced to give a low score not based on quality of music, but obviousness of suggestion. System 7 is quite ubiquitous in the world of ethno-fusion, which any algorithm having seen copious amounts of Banco de Gaia should realize I’d have interest of. Matters aren’t helped by going with a ‘classics’ collection, though to be fair, this is a gathering of remixes from Hillage and Giraudy’s ‘90s heyday. Bonus points for that.

Recommendation Rating: 2/5

Khan featuring Julee Cruise - Say Goodbye Remixes
If the name Julee Cruise seems familiar to you, it’s because she’s most famous for providing vocals to Falling; aka: the Twin Peaks theme song. She’s also sung on a couple Hybrid tracks, which is about the only reason I can think of Spotify recommending this to me. Or maybe it just figures I’d be down for the Losoul “She’s Homeless” Mix’s down and deep house vibe, because Lord knows the original is one odd tune. Evil electro bossa-nova, maybe? Whatever it is, I know my life’s one step closer to completion having heard it!

Recommendation Rating: 4/5

Slacker - Start A New Life
Oh hey, I remember Slacker. He had quite a few awesome progressive trance tunes back in the day. Didn’t know he was still producing music. Hm, this is from only a few years ago too. Better check the o’ Lord what else he’s released since- oh. Dear. Geez, that puts the title of this album into an unfortunate dark slant. The music itself is also something of a surprise, with liberal amounts of funk and jazz fusion among hip-hop beats, smooth breakbeats, and indie rock psychedelia. Reminds me of what The Future Sound Of London have been up to in recent years.

Recommendation Rating: 4/5

Hardfloor - The Art Of Acid
I’m pretty certain I’ve played some acid techno at some point in all my Spotify sessions, so that I’d get a suggestion of Hardfloor’s latest album is no surprise at all. I’m honestly more surprised that Hardfloor had another LP out this year, since I didn’t hear much buzz for it (what else is new?). As for this album, it’s Hardfloor doing what they’ve always done: acid techno, sometime funky, sometimes spacey, sometimes peaktime, always tweaking. Don’t ever change, boys.

Recommendation Rating: 2/5

Wally Callerio feat. Delmos Wade - The Love Story EP
Strictly West Coast jazzy deep house, this. Except the second track, I’m In - that one’s got more of an electro funk thing going for it. This is a genre you can cast the tiniest net and trawl up something gold, but it’s always nice when you get something you’ve never heard of before. The only link I can think of Spotify suggesting Wally Callerio is this single’s from Guesthouse Music, who has released music from DJ Sneak and Gene Farris. Not that I recall Spotifying them recently, but maybe I have. Whatever. Good tunes, good find, now stop nitpicking, me.

Recommendation Rating: 4/5

Underground Resisance - Electronic Warfare 2.0 – The Other Side Of Bling
Another album missing from the main Spotify library. Come to think of it, even finding UR on the streaming service seems counter to the aggressive Detroit techno outfit’s manifesto. I guess the gritty underground’s gotta’ get paid somehow, even if it’s in fractions of pennies. While the music is as you’d expect from no-holds barred ghetto funk techno, I’m at a loss as to why this particular release came recommended over all the other UR singles out there. Maybe it really is the only one available on Spotify? I’m too lazy to confirm it right now.

Recommendation Rating: 5/5

überLAB - überwunder
Ah, here we go. Something I’ve heard absolutely nothing about, by an artist even Lord Discogs has scant information about, in a style of music that doesn’t get much attention because of its mish-mashy nature. Is it ambient techno? Glitch? J-Pop? Ah, just call it IDM, works for everyone else. It’s fun, charming, whimsical, super-nice, and all that good stuff. Rare too, I suppose, but only because of those darned limited CD runs. So it goes.

Recommendation Rating: 5/5

Kraftwerk - Aerodynamik
Oh, these guys. Yeah, if you’re listening to electronic music, gotta’ get in the most influential German act to come out of, erm, Germany. This was the lead single to Tour De France, their first new music in twenty-five years, and a pretty big deal at the time. The two remixes here go for the tougher electro techno touch and a prog-tech rub(!?), because why not. It’s a solid enough tune for Kraftwerk, but hardly as definitive as their early stuff. What is, though?

Recommendation Rating: 3/5

Lamb - Butterfly Effect
After helping define trip-hop in the ‘90s, Lamb went silent for a while, following their muses elsewhere. Then the allure of reunion festival tours was too tempting to resist, thus Andrew Barlow and Louise Rhodes joined forces again. This was one of the lead singles from their comeback album 5. The track itself is Lamb being as Lamb as they usually are, but the remixes are clearly on the pulse of the new London urban scene (future garage, dubstep …indie rock?). Frankly, I’ve had difficulty getting my vibe on to Lamb’s brand of music, and this is no different.

Recommendation Rating: 3/5

Whew, there’s more, but I think eleven suggestions are enough for now. Out of all these musics, we come to a finally tally of 39/55, the best score yet! Even with such a small sample size to work with, I’d say Spotify’s getting better at its recommendations. I may have to change the process (not to mention the title) yet again when I do another round, keep challenging whatever AI is driving this improving algorithm, but for now I’d say whatever it’s doing is working.

Sykonee Surveys Spotify's Senseless Suggestions, Round 3

The good news is Spotify’s senseless suggestions aren’t quite so senseless anymore. The recommendation algorithm has apparently given up trying to push seemingly random, popular artists down my ears and actually pay attention to what I’ve been listening to. And while there was some hilarity in seeing just how off Spotify could get, I prefer some progress being made by the music service helping to discover acts I easily overlook.

The bad news is it’s also changed the way Spotify does its recommendations, more often suggesting specific releases rather than acts. It also seems to have clued into the fact I prefer electronic music of a less poppy sort over other forms, nary a rap, rock, or country artist appearing since those first two rounds. Since odds are high I’ll give this music a chance regardless of style, I’ll be ranking these by how obvious a recommendation a particular release is instead. These will also remain scored out of five, with 1/5 being Too Obvious, and 5/5 being Unexpected Gold. After all, what point is there digging through lists if it’s all material I’d have sought out regardless? Give me the obscure, surprising stuff, mate!

As an aside, because I listened to Faithless’ No Roots, Spotify won’t stop recommending releases they figure I’ll enjoy because of that. Though there’s some interesting music here, I’m not including them in these surveys, as I feel it narrows my focus too much into UK chart-friendly dance music. I prefer seeing diversity in these lists, and according to Spotify, Faithless’ peers occupy a very specific niche. To sate your curiosity though, here’s what I did get suggested:

Fluke - Atom Bomb
Renaissance Worldwide: Singapore – Mixed By David Morales, Dave Seaman, & BT
Armand van Helden - Old School Junkies: The Album
Superchumbo - Star 69 Presents: Let’s Go Chumbo!
Sander Kleinenberg - This Is Everybody Too
Basement Jaxx - Summer Daze EP
Orbital - Don’t Stop Me / The Gun Is Good
All Saints - Chick Fit
Fluke - Slid
Armand van Helden - Ghettoblaster
UNKLE & The Heritage Orchestra - ’Variation On A Theme’ Live At The Union Chapel
Kosheen - Spies (Remixes)

I honestly have no idea what Armand van Helden and Faithless have in common, other than being significant chart toppers. Maybe Armand remixed a bunch of Rollo tracks? Also, utter shock at the lack of affiliated Faithless projects like Dusted and Sister Bliss’ solo material. Okay, enough analysis of that list. Here’s what Spotify’s recommending me without that set parameter.

Swayzak - Loops From The Bergerie
Ooh, now this is interesting. I’ve long enjoyed Swayzak’s material, but haven’t checked many of their albums out. Part of that is the unfortunate weak reputation their LPs have, but also neglectful oversight on my end. I’m not sure why Spotify is suggesting this album though, the closest thing to their style of music I’ve played on Spotify perhaps a few fabric mixes. This particular album sounds like the duo’s trying to get their Underworld on while retaining their chill, dubby tech-house stylee. Not an outstanding album, but I’m not ranking these based on music quality, only diversity.

Recommendation Ranking: 4/5

Various - Highway & Landscape
Originally released as a 2CD set in 1997, the sub-line reads “Chill-Out Classics & Ethereal Anthems”. And holy cow, is this ever a find! Chill-out compilations with Balearic and psychedelic tunes weren’t doing much business at that time, so finding a collection with names like Sun Electric, Gas, Rabbit In The Moon, and Slam on it is cool enough, the sort of release you might luck out with in a used shop. There’s also tons of names here I’m not familiar with: Valleyman, Sie, T Tauri… half of ‘em, if I’m honest. I won’t deny some of the tracks are obvious choices, but that’s a pointless quibble with many more I’ve yet to hear. Well played, Spotify.

Recommendation Ranking: 5/5

Gus Gus - David
I kind of remember this track, though it wasn’t a huge hit in my crook of the world. David threads the line between funky house and a then-emergent electro house style, a fun bit of summer anthem bounce, but mostly forgotten these days. I’m guessing this comes recommended because of the King Britt remix? Not a surprising one, then, but certainly odd.

Recommendation Ranking: 3/5

Vitalic - Poney
Oh dear. I hate to do this. I mean, I love this single, absolutely adore it. Unfortunately for this survey, I’ve already playlisted all these tracks. It ain’t no sweat of Spotify’s shoulders to recommend music it should have a record of me playing, even if it’s not from this specific release. Yeah, it’s all because two-thirds of Poney are on OK Cowboy, isn’t it.

Recommendation Ranking: 1/5

16B - Escape (Driving To Heaven)
Oh man. Oh man oh man oh man! You know how you totally recognize a song, you even know you have it lurking somewhere in your library, but its location utterly escapes (heh) you? I’m getting a harsh case of that feeling with this song. Help me, o’ Lord Discogs! *checks* Ah, it’s on that Red Jerry Late Night Drive Mix. Okay, crisis of faith averted. I also figure this comes recommended due to the Topaz progressive trance CDs I’ve playlisted. Not a huge leap then, but certainly an unexpected choice of an artist and single.

Recommendation Ranking : 3/5

Plastikman - EX (Performed Live At The Guggenheim NYC)
Yeah, I’ve had a few minimal tracks playlisted. And who’s one of the biggest minimal guys around than Mr. Minimalisious himself, Richie Hawtin. Why look at that, he’s got a brand, spankin’ new album out this year too. You do want to hear it, right? Geez, the only thing more obvious would have been Spastik.

Recommendation Ranking: 1/5

Sasha - The emFire Collection
I know this is lurking somewhere in my library, but mislabeled, hence why it never showed when I reviewed all my albums titled with “E”s – probably down in the “S”s. Again, not terribly shocking having Mr. Coe as a recommendation after playlisting music he’s associated with, but quite odd seeing this particular one come up. Are the Involvers not on Spotify? Qat Collection, even?

Recommendation Ranking: 3/5

Hybrid - Can You Hear Me
Whoa, Hybrid are still around? Well, at least up to 2010, when this single was released. Heh, I’m just joshing, of course a duo with as grandiose musical aspirations as these two wouldn’t up and quit because everyone keeps expecting them to make Unfinished Symphony forever after. Still, I think only their most ardent fans would care for this overstuffed ‘rocktronica-orchestra-breaks’ track (Kill City Sounds Mix 02 is dope though). Spotify gets some props for suggesting a forgotten cut of theirs – heck, Hybrid at all, since I can’t think of a prior precedent to do so.

Recommendation Rating: 3/5

Gus Gus - Polyesterday
It’s that Sasha vs The Light rub of Purple on here, isn’t it. I’m starting to think, even though Northern Exposure wasn’t on Spotify, it figures I like all the associative music on those CDs. How can it figure that out just from search queries? David was a bit out there as a suggestion, but not so much this single.

Recommendation Rating: 2/5

Mystic - Mutations
Lord Discogs draws completely blank on this guy; same with the label Dalibor Brkic. The music on this album is… neo-trance? It’s got that minimalist melodic techno vibe going for it, and… oh wow, this is awesome! Reminds me of Peter Dundov, but with a house groove. How did Spotify ever worm this one into its suggestion list? Since I have no idea what Mystic’s background is, I’m assuming he’s new (Mutations is from 2011, so sayeth The Spotify). I gotta’ check out more from him (Mystic’s a ‘he’, right?).

Recommendation Rating: 5/5

Ulrich Schnauss & ASC - 77 EP
Surprisingly, I don’t have any Schnauss in my library – guess that’s another added to my never-ending list of ‘must gets’. ASC I do have though, and honestly, given my ultra-Ultimae whoring, it’s no surprise ol’ Ulrich would come highly recommended from Spotify. And hey, I playlisted ASC too, so here’s a collaborative single from both of them! Fair enough, but no bonus points for the low-hanging fruit, pal.

Recommendation Rating: 2/5


And our final tally of Survey 3 is 32/55. Hurray, Spotify finally got a score over fifty percent! Still not terribly high though. Yeah, yeah, the rules of the game have changed, but I feel this is a fair gauge of how effective the music service is at helping listeners discover new material. Now that it knows what sort of music I like, it’s at least making some improvement in specifics. Baby steps, baby steps.

Sykonee Surveys Spotify's Senseless Suggestions: Round 2

Spotify sure likes sending me suggestions more often than I anticipated. I think its best that I save my surveys until I clear batches of my review backlog, lest they impede my regular progress. I already make enough tangents these days, and I’ve some large bulks to plow through. Just look how many ‘O’s I reviewed, and that’s traditionally one of the ‘lesser’ letters to name your album with!

So last round’s recommendations leaned way heavy on the rock side of things, and not even rock I care much for. I’m giving Spotify the benefit of the doubt on its erroneous assumptions of my musical tastes, what with having so little time to get acquainted an all. It’ll have to butter me up better if it wants me to take its suggestions seriously going forward though. Let’s find out what Round 2 offers.

Kenny Chesney - 1. American Kids / 2. Somewhere With You

Oh for… Spotify, you couldn’t be more off if you tried. This is full-on modern country, which I absolutely, positively never-in-a-zillion years go out of my way to listen to. I don’t hate the stuff, but I’ve no reason to bother with that field of music in my life either. Chesney’s apparently one of the bigger names to emerge from country’s renewed dominance with youthful, tailgating demographics, and I’m quite thankful these two tracks don’t tread anywhere near the Georgia Straight Line dirt road of ‘bro-country’ (yes, this is a thing, and yes, it’s as awful as you’re imagining), but… yeah. This is just one big “NOPE” from me.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 0/5

Radiohead - 3. Karma Police / 4. Paranoid Android

Come on, are you even trying, Spotify? You suggested these guys in the last email. Is Radiohead just a generic, go-to band to name drop? Are you trolling Thom Yorke’s anti-Spotify stance? Also, I’m somewhat disappointed that the next two tracks in this list are more from OK Computer. It’s clear the Top 5 has nothing to do with actual plays, as No Suprises from the last round lags well behind Karma Police by some seven million hits. If this is the case, why not feature more songs from their other albums, mix things up for the newbie Radiohead listener? Ah well, despite Spotify’s insistence at gumming the stats, my Odds score stands with this band.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

Wu-Tang Clan - 1. C.R.E.A.M. / 2. Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit

I take it all back. Spotify, you totally get me. How’d you know I’d absolutely be down for some Wu-Tang Clan? Sure, I’ve Playlisted Raekwon, U-God, Masta Killa, and Ghostface Killah, but you figured out I might like the Clan having not played anything from RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty BZA, Method MZA, or Inspectah DZA (yet). Seriously, this couldn’t have been a more obvious recommendation than suggesting N.W.A. because I played some Dr. Dre or Ice Cube. Yeah, I’m gonna’ listen to the Wu again – they’ll be eventually in an ACE TRACKS Playlist after all – but it would have been nice for Spotify to show a little more intuition than this.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 5/5

Mayday Parade - 3. Oh Well, Oh Well / 4. You’re Dead Wrong

I wasn’t terribly enthused by all the rock recommendations in Round 1, but I at least enjoyed the process of discovering a few new bands, some of which I’ll likely dabble in later on. Mayday Parade was not one of them, got’dang it. Seriously, I gave them an Odds score of 1/5 - I can’t even remember what I wrote about them, so off base with my tastes they were. These two songs are more of the same ‘arena-emo-rock-punk’ style I heard from the their first two, so it’s safe to say that’s the Mayday Parade stylee. No more for me, thanks.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 0/5

Kid Cudi - 1. Pursuit Of Happiness (Extended Steve Aoki Remix) / 2. Just What I Am

I’m assuming I’m getting a Cudi suggestion for the prior hip-hop I’ve listened to, and not because Spotify thinks I’d be down for an Aoki remix or that I might like MGMT (because Radiohead, obviously). I’m honestly surprised to see that track as the first one, as it’s little more than your standard modern-day anthem house rub – there’s thousands of tracks like this one out the. The second track has some cool ambient-electro vibe going for it, but the lyrics are just wack ‘get-wrecked’ party-hop nonsense. He doesn’t even sound that sincere, simply catering to the festival kids. Or maybe that Aoki impression’s still lingering. Will have to hear more of his material for a better idea, and I suspect Spotify will force upon me at that.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 2/5

Weezer - 1. Island In The Sun / 2. Say It Ain’t So

Well sure, may as well get these guys in there at some point. Like many of my teenaged era, I enjoyed their Blue Album, then promptly stopped giving a shit. Okay, that’s not entirely accurate – the ongoing drama of Weezer’s rise-fall-rise-fall-rise-fall in the world of pop is its own unique brand of fascinating for any music enthusiast. The last song I heard from them was the “we’re all on drugs” one, whatever it was called, and I can’t say I’m in a hurry to check out their back catalog. Although, hearing these two songs, especially Say It Ain’t So again, sure does tug at my nostalgic centre. Maybe I ought to finally check out that Pinkerton LP…

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

Pye Corner Audio - 1. Perfect Secrecy Forever / 2. Sleep Games

Ah, finally something that looks new and interesting. I’ve never heard of this guy before (Martin Jenkins), but he’s been quite busy on the digital release realm, putting out quite a few Black Mill Tapes between albums – he even offered them in tape formats! I should also mention these two tracks aren’t the first pair of suggestions at Spotify, but since the proper first two are both on the John Talbot DJ-Kicks mix, I figured these are more representative of what Pye’s all about. Perfect Secrecy Forever, which came out this year, has a chill-trance New Beat thing going for it, which has been seeing something of a minor bump in interest of late. Sleep Games, the older cut, has a similar sluggish rhythm, though has more of a classic EBM menace about it. I like it. The world could use more New Beat.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 4/5

Grateful Dead - 3. Touch Of Grey / 4. Truckin’

Another repeat. But wait, this Grateful Dead has a different picture. Maybe it’s a different Grateful Dead, one that- (*clicks link*) Nope, still the same ol’ Dead. What’s funny is Touch Of Grey is about the only Dead song I know off hand, and only because it was so ubiquitous on classic rock stations. I also didn’t know it was a Dead song because it sounds so bloody ‘80s, and that’s the last era of music I’d associate with the band, despite their activity lasting well into that decade. Truckin’ is more what you’d expect from a ‘60s hippie jam band. Nothing else to say here that I didn’t say in Round 1.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

will.i.am - 1. Scream & Shout / 2. Feelin’ Myself



Odds I’ll Listen Again: 0/5

Hybrid Minds - 3. Fade / 4. Trauma

Finally… finally, a repeat I was looking forward to. Only took you four tries to get that right, Spotify. These songs are also from two more different singles, so mixing things up too. I just might not give up on you after all, Spotify Suggestions. Fade and Trauma stick to the same smooth, jazzy liquid-funk vibe that’s given Hybrid Minds props within the jungle scene. Getting more of their tunes just became higher.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 4/5


This Survey was even more erratic than the last one, yet somehow comes away with a near-identical final tally of 24/50. If this feature’s supposed to improve with the more data it gathers on my listening habits, this is actually a worse result than before. I can’t imagine the Artist Suggestions getting any lower than will.i.am though. It just can’t…

Sykonee Surveys Spotify's Senseless Suggestions: Round 1

You’re always getting recommendations from them – Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Songza (really…?) – but how often do they align with your actual tastes? Does it depend on how effective their data algorithms are, or how large a pool of information they have to work with? Simple shameless marketing? Not that I ever bothered following their suggestions, as I beat to my own drum, seeking out the music I want to hear, not what some other thinks is best for me. Hmph. *adjusts monocle*

So when Spotify sends me an email of their suggestions (geez, already, guys?), I’m ready to automatically send it to the Trash. “But wait,” says the little spider in my head, “why not turn this into an opportunity?” “How do you mean, little spider coiled around my cerebellum?” “Reviewing the music from your personal collection’s fine and all, but why not spice things up a little? Listen to the recommendations Spotify sends you, maybe discover some new acts while giving a chance to those you’ve casually dismissed in the past.”

The Spotify Spider makes a point. I really ought to mix my content up some, lest I burn myself out on standard reviews all too quickly again. Plus, I’m curious to see whether Spotify’s suggestions might improve, narrow in on my tastes as I sample their catalog more and more.

Here’s how this’ll work. Spotify sends me ten suggestions with each email (I don’t know how frequent these will be yet). I will sample the first two songs of that artist/band/act I see on Spotify and give a quick summation of what I hear, plus a ‘rating’ based on how close Spotify got it to my interest. Sounds good? Alright, no sense wasting time, let’s get onto the first round!


Cake - 1. The Distance / 2. Short Skirt/Long Jacket

Okay, this is unexpected. I think I’ve heard of Cake, a rock/funk/hop/etc. fusion band that’s been around since the early ‘90s. The second tune sounds like something that would have come about in the late ‘90s ska era (those trumpets…), which isn’t surprising as it came out in 2001. The Distance sound more punk-grungey, again unsurprising as it’s a mid-‘90s song. I’ve a feeling their discography’s far more eclectic than this though. It’s funky enough to pique my interest. Will check some later.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

Jungle - 1. Time / 2. The Heat

Hey, I like me some jungle! Amazing Spotify would recommend a whole genre though. Oh, wait, the band’s name is Jungle. And they’re… another fusion band, though the electro/synth-pop/glam-funk vein. Jungle’s very new too, both these tracks coming from their self-titled debut album released this year; also signed to XL Recordings, which is why Spotify suggested them to me? Both tracks are rather similar, The Heat a tad slower and groovier. They’ve definitely got a nice sound, but come off a bit too fluff and hipster-bait. Not that it’s a bad thing, as Hercules & Love Affair proved.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

Katy Perry - 1. This Is How We Do / 2. Dark Horse

Oh dear. This is going to mess up future suggestions, isn’t it. What else is there to say about Katy Perry? She’s hot, she got an annoying high pitch, and is somehow a pop music juggernaut, currently towering over every other female in the business. She seems like a nice enough lady, even if she’s constantly presenting herself as a total ditz. I don’t need to hear anything more from her on Spotify because every pop radio station won’t stop playing her songs. Ugh. Dark Horse, her weak jump on bass music, you’ve almost certainly been forced to hear at some point this year. Not sure why This Is How We Do was the first song though, as it’s a fairly generic dance tune, even by Perry standards.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 0/5, at least on Spotify; there’s no escaping her radio presence.

Hybrid Minds - 1. Meant To Be / 2. Lost

Ah, here’s the jungle. Liquid funk to be exact, but these two tunes blend the blissy vibes of atmospheric jungle too. Hybrid Minds are another newish act, though the members have been players in the D’n’B scene for a while. Even with the standard, brisk 2-step in action, these are some lovely chill-out soul tunes. I can honestly say I haven’t heard much like it before, and I’m apparently not the only one, a quick scan of their PR praising them for an innovative direction in the liquid funk scene. Lord knows it could use it. Mmm, that Mountains album looks tantalizing…

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 4/5

Radiohead - 1. Creep / 2. No Surprises

Wait, I thought Radiohead wasn’t on Spotify! Ah, it’s just Thom Yorke that pulled his own material. Everything Radiohead released with the EMI group is here. Go figure. Also, I can’t say I’m eager to hear much more Radiohead. Creep I’ve heard plenty of times, especially at karaoke nights. I’m sated, thank you. OK Computer’s an album I’ve kinda-sorta thought about getting some day, but I’m in no rush. I totally forgot about No Surprises, those charming bells reminding me of Brian Wilson down in the mopes. I like that era of Radiohead better than their early work anyway. *gasp*

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

Angels & Airwaves - 1. Paralyzed / 2. The Adventure

Apparently a rock supergroup, comprised of members of bands that I’ve kinda liked (NIN, The Offspring), not at all liked (Blink-182), or never heard before (*shrug*). Paralyzed is their most recent single, sounding like a heavier arena rock anthem, but is over before it ever gets warmed up. Damn radio versions. The Adventure, on the other hand, instantly reminds me of jangly ‘80s U2, but with shouty vocals rather than Bono’s operatic bellow. I can see this being a favorite of folks growing too ‘mature’ for outright angst rock, but totally not for me, thanks.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 1/5

Mayday Parade - 1. Stay / 2. Terrible Things

Another ‘punk-opera’ band? Why is Spotify recommending this to me? It says because its “popular in [my] area”, which may be true, but I haven’t a clue about that. This is a scene I don’t follow at all. A few of my old high-school friends living nearby might like it though. Actually, these two songs remind me more of emo’s more twee moments, especially so with Terrible Things, a simple piano ballad that erupts into an overblown arena-rock cry for emotion. Perfect for a teen drama. Pass.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 1/5

Grateful Dead - 1. Friend Of The Devil / 2. Casey Jones

The Grateful Dead are a very important hippie jam band in the world of hippie jam bands. I remember seeing a cool video of theirs where the band members became skeleton puppets, but they’re not a group I’ve cared to dig into much. Not from a lack of interest, oh no! There’s just so damn much of it out there, and most claim their live material’s better than studio recordings anyway. I had no idea they had a blues-rock number named after a Ninja Turtles character (hur hur!). A Dead Dive could happen some day, if I’m in the mood for ‘70s folk rock again.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5

Snow Patrol - 1. Chasing Cars / 2. You Could Be Happy

Yay, another ‘inspired by Radiohead’ shoegazey rock band. I know I’ve seen Snow Patrol name-dropped before, almost certainly on indie sites eager for the next Radiohead to emerge. I feel like I’ve heard both these songs before too, though maybe the ‘gentle twee beginning into widescreen wall-of-rock’ song writing became so prevalent in the mid-‘00s, it all mushed together from my perspective. They probably have different songs, but I’m already bored by these Radiohead clones. Moving on.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 2/5

The Strokes - 1. Reptilia / 2. Someday

Alright, real rock! Or revivalist garage rock - something with teeth at least. I still remember when The Strokes were being counted upon to save rock music from its current doldrums like it was a decade ago. Most had written them off when they went on a half-decade hiatus, but they’re back, making their same brand of unapologetically simplistic rock ‘n’ roll. I assume anyway, since these two songs are from their breakout years. Now I’m curious whether they have evolved as a band or not. Not dying to hear, mind you, but one of these days, perhaps.

Odds I’ll Listen Again: 3/5


And the final tally for this round of Spotify Suggests is 23/50. Oh dear, that’s not good at all. Then again, it is early in this experiment. We’ll see how things improve whenever I get another email.