Getting into Pandora's Box (of Music)

You might have a wide variety of music on your computer or in the sleeves of your CD holder, but imagine having someone play online DJ for you, knowing just what kind of music you like. Providing that service is the idea of Pandora, a free online service that plays songs on a “station” that you create by simply indicating a song or artist that you like. You hear musicians you knew about already, but they mingle with artists and songs new to you. A recent experience: I created a station (you can have many) based on the music of The Ditty Bops (in the photo), and here are the artists who followed: The Ditty Bops, Tiffany Anders*, Erin McKoewn*, AMFM*, The Beautiful South*, Maplewood*, New Grass Revival, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Adrienne Young*, and Greencard*. All the ones marked (*) were new to me, but all were in keeping with the musical style of The Ditty Bops. It’s something you can get into, but be careful; you know what happened when the other Pandora's box was opened.