Column: Weekly Web Watch; Tuning in to online audio best defense against Logan cold
I love Logan. Sure it’s so cold you can unplug your fridge all winter without the fear of rotting meat and there are days you can literally chew the air, but it has its pluses as well.
For me, one of these advantages is – ironically – the fact I can’t find any radio stations I like.
This is a good thing because it has forced me to find other sources of audio entertainment.
Shoutcast.com offers thousands of radio stations from just about every genre you could ever want. Everything from Cajun bluegrass to acid jazz to pop music from Asia. It’s all right there at the click of a button.
All the stations stream to your computer so, while you can’t skip songs you don’t like, RealPlayer or Winamp (the programs I’ve had the most luck with on this site) will store the last half hour or so of music so you can go back and listen to a song you like better.
Online radio is well and good for listening to while I’m doing homework, but sometimes I just really want to hear a heart filled love song exploring the complex relationships between an evil genius and the woman he’s kidnapped.
You just can’t find songs like that on any radio station, even on Shoutcast (at least I haven’t yet, if you find one, let me know). Fortunately for these situation’s, there’s Jonathan Coulton.
Coulton is singer/songwriter whose work includes novelty songs dedicated to a vast variety of topics including monkeys, money and Masons.
Coulton’s songs are a great break to traditional radio fare and can be found at www.jonathancoulton.com. From there click on “songs” and enjoy. I recommend “Skullcrusher Mountain” and “Screwed.”
Like many online musicians and artist, Coulton offers his work to the public for free. Any program that can play MP3’s will work just fine. If you decide to support him financially, you can purchase the songs through iTunes or buy a whole CD.
Steve Shinney is a junior majoring in computer science. Comments can be sent to him at
steveshinney@cc.usu.edu.