When I was up until 2 in the morning reading The Last Colony, I wanted a little music to fill up the rest of the room. My friend Andrew (yes, that Andrew, who edits all my books. Say thank you to Andrew if you liked Happiest Days) turned me on to Magnatune dot Com a couple of years ago, and since I hadn’t been there in several months, I decided to check out their ambient music. As it turns out, ambient music is perfect for filling up a dark and quiet room while you read an awesome science fiction novel.
If you don’t know what Magnatune is, I’d like to do you a solid and spread the virus: Magnatune is not evil. It’s an online record label, owned by awesome people, who sell all kinds of music without any DRM at all. You can buy digital versions, or you can have them mail you a CD. Their artists don’t give up any of their publishing rights, and they get 50% of every sale. Did I mention that buyers get to choose how much they pay for something? Yeah, how awesome is that? You can pay as little as $5, or as much as $18. If you really like what you’ve bought, you can give it to three friends for free. Yes, for free, as in beer.
Everything in their catalog is Creative Commons, and non-commercial podcasters can license all of their music for free. This makes me happy because I’ve always thought it was profoundly stupid of the music industry to force podcasters — who could be providing their artists with thousands of dollars or more of free publicity — to pay idiotic licensing fees. They have an enormous range of artists from Classical to Jazz to Rock to all forms of Electronica. I don’t like everything in the catalog, but there’s so much in there, it wasn’t hard at all to find a lot of stuff I do like.
Examples: When I was reading The Last Colony, I listened to Trances-Drones by Robert Rich, because I freaking love dark ambient. In fact, back in the early 90s, my friend Dave and I DJ’d several dark ambient chillout rooms at after hours clubs. We were called feck. I was Frank Booth and he was Silent Bob. It was awesome.
Today, while I’ve been Propelling and breaking this story that I’m really excited to write, I’ve been listening to Knives to the Treble, by Burning Babylon, which is the fattest, smoothest, heaviest dub I’ve heard this side of King Tubby and Scientist. I liked it so much, I bought it for $10. Before the day is over, I’m likely to buy Stereo Mashup, because I lub me some dub style onna record, so pushit ovah now ya roughneck. Wheel i’ tup!
Uh. Sorry about that. It sounded boss in my head. (Boss? What the hell is wrong with me today?)
I agree with pretty much all of the philosophies behind the founding of Magnatune, both as a creator and as a publisher. I hope that WWdN readers will check out their artists, and share them with friends and family. You can preview every single song in their catalog, and even stream entire albums for free. If you’re looking for a place to start, check out the Magnatune Compliations. The 2006 SXSW compilation, the 2005 Red Hat Summit compilation, and the Electronica Compilation are all great starting points.
Wil forgot to mention that they also have dozens of podcasts in iTunes, also free for the sampling. They run right about an hour, unless they get crazy and throw a two-hour one up there, and they include detailed notes with timecodes so you can figure out exactly which artist did that track you liked so much — and on which album, and which track it IS on that album.
Magnatune is da bomb, yo.
Wil saying (ok, writing) ‘boss’ immediately made my brain go here:
Bob Cormier: Hey! From the racks and stacks, it’s the best on wax! How ’bout another double-golden-oldie-twin-spin-sound-sandwich from K-L-A-M in Portland? Iiiiiiit’s…
Pie-Eat Audience: [finishing sentence] Boss!
I love the wikis. 🙂
Listening to the Ambient list now. ‘Tis rad. It’s good for working to as well. Thanks for the tip Wil!
Thank you Andrew!
I’ll have to check out Magnatune. I’m an Enya fan so I love ambient music.
BTW, this is OT, but did you watch Frontline last night on PBS? It was really good. This one is Bush’s War. Tonight is part 2.
Wil (and anyone reading this) If’n you’re checking out Magnatune, make sure to give the band ‘Falling You’ a listen. Especially the song ‘The Canoe and the Waterfall’. They’re sweeeeet. And for good old fashion, twangy, fun as hell, Munsters-theme sounding punk, ‘The Jackalopes’. Magnatune has ruled for several years now.
Dude, The Jackalopes are made of win.
Haven’t listened to Falling You, yet, because I’m getting my old school Voodoo Glow Skulls punk on. Thanks for the recommend, cayenne.
This is completely OT, but I was just perusing my Amazon recommendations list, and they seem to think that I would enjoy the “Dremel MultiPro Cordless 7700-02 20,000 RPM Two-Speed 7.2V Rotary Tool System w/50 Accessories” based on the fact that I own a copy of ‘Just A Geek.’ Wil, do you have any idea what this connection would be? Are you secretly endorsing Dremel tools? hehe
Once again, Wil Wheaton, you have rocked my world.
Ummm…I didn’t mean that as obscene as that sounded. Really.
I’m thumbing this on my iPhone so sorry if it turns out funny.
Basically I just wanted to say that I’ve been using Magnatune’s music in my podcast since ’05. My theme music for the WRITERS’ STRIKE CHRONICLES podcast was selected by going through their moods library.
KNIVES TO THE TREBEL is awesome. Check out HANDS UPON THE BLACK EARTH. I also liked CALABASH MOON.
Wil, just read your WFS story – wanted you to know I found your blog by WFS’s twitter page. He is only following a handful of people and you my friend are one of them. LOL guess you rank pretty high with the man.
Be well
Islanddoc
Shit, man! Awesome stuff! Burning Babylon is amazing! I’m jealous now. I miss being able to stay up late (late nowadays is 12AM. Woo, I’m old) and listen to music. I used to do all nighters listening to Electronic Eye while playing Marathon.
Bud is the ultimate expression of the infinite and of God.
Dude, you like the Voodoo Glow Skulls? That’s just a reaffirmation that we have exactly the same taste in music. Who else do I know who likes the VGS? No one, that’s who.
Haven’t been able to get into Wilco yet, but I haven’t given up trying yet, either…
I have been a fan of electronica from the first time I downloaded those great 3D, techno, demo files from years ago. It was all about getting the most of of your i286 and i386 computers. None of my friends shared the same interest in music or 3D. I would sit in my living room reading Harry Harrison or Michael Moorcock or a dozen other sci-fi or fantasy authors with the music in the background.
Great site, I am listening now. Hmm, where did I put my dog-eared copy of The Stainless Steel Rat…?
Thanks Wil, you made my day.
– John Buckman (I’m Magnatune)
Thank you, Wil, Magnatune is awesome and has found a place in my bookmarks already.
Nice one Will!
Also, as I recall you being a fan of the Amarok music player, it comes with full Magnatune integration right out of the box ( listen for free, and buy downloads right from within Amarok )
– Nikolaj
Sounds like another way for me to get my music out there. It’s a tough sell. Modern day madrigals. But this sounds like it could work for me. Thank you! I came for a fun read, and got something out of it.
Hey Wil, if you enjoy ambient music, I VERY highly recommend you check out Bluemars.org
It’s a site with three different free internet radio stations. CryoSleep is what we tend to play while going to sleep. My ladyfriend listens to the BlueMars feed while reading comics or trades.
Definitely check it out, it’s FANTASTIC stuff. The CryoSleep channel plays only no-beat ambient 🙂
Cool! My band is a Magnatune artist:
http://magnatune.com/artists/drop_trio
(I’m the bearded guy in the middle.) Magnatune has always been super awesome to us – they really are not evil. Thanks for supporting them.
Sorry, forgot to add this.
I know that this kind of thing is usually frowned upon, but I’m really trying to get some more eyeballs to my website. I think the type of folks that read this blog and you yourself Wil would enjoy it.
http://www.livingwithanerd.com
Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to upload a new story in about a month and a half, but the blogs are updated on a fairly regular basis (3-5 times a week). Please check it out, post in the forums, and comment on the blogs. That is all.
PS. I just bought your first two books off Amazon…I can’t wait to read them!
Ian: Drop Trio is on the list of bands I’m going to throw money at as soon as I have some again. Heard a couple of tracks on the jazz podcast and they clicked immediately. (Then my iTunes drive crapped out. Sad story. Let’s not go there.)
Wil, very, very cool music. I have always loved ambient music and this stuff is great – Thank you man – have a great day!!!
Uh. Sorry about that. It sounded boss in my head. (Boss? What the hell is wrong with me today?)
You’re having an 80’s flashback, it happens to a lot of us who used to be exposed. Just sit back, put a cold compress on your head, and think deeply about Britney and Obama, it will pass.
Excellent bookmark recommendation. Made my morning.
Totally agree that ambient is great when reading that kind of book. Similarly, it’s a great background to a game like EVE. As is regular chillout (Buddha Bar, Classical, etc).
Wil – are you reading this far back? It seems my RSS feed stopped updating for some reason. Anyway, Magnatune is great. If you’re in the mood for electronic rock, Brad Sucks is awesome as is c.layne, both on Magnatune. I know these guys from Songfight.org. I also like previously mentioned Drop Trio and Falling You.
-bill
In Love With Magnatunes Ambient Music
Wil Wheaton talks about his love for reading whilst using ambient music as background ambience in this article. And why not I say!
Read the article here.
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