My Recent Music Discoveries...Thanks To Pandora Radio

I find Pandora Radio to be an excellent way to explore various artists, both new and old. I can often find myself in music ruts, so I am thankful that Pandora keeps my playlist hopping with noteworthy artists. I've been mostly listening to instrumental music lately, and here's why:

If you are a fan of piano solos, Ludovico Einaudi should find its way to your search engine. This Italian pianist has an incredible ability to write enchanted, somber piano solos that could ease any troubled soul. After hearing every track on the Le Onde album, I felt a longing to play the piano that I had recently abandoned. The accompanying sheet music book does not disappoint, and I am consistently attempting to replicate the Einaudi's seamless playing style. I have a far way to go. Although I have been stuck on Le Onde, I am very eager to branch out and explore his other albums. Le Onde does not utilize any synthesizers and is solely piano, which is one of the reasons I am so enamored. I am hoping his other albums follow suit.

Next to piano, the strings are my other musical infatuation. One day, cellist James Todd popped up on my Pandora and I quickly scrambled to open up the entire album on iTunes. The album Quiet Beauty is a one-stop shop for symphonic music that highlights both the cello and piano throughout. James Todd truly exemplifies his forte in each song's driven melodies. So far, the song "Quasi-Modal" is my favorite. Check it out; you won't be dissatisfied.

The television show "Friday Night Lights" has popularized the instrumental music of Explosions in the Sky, who performs the show's theme song. Pandora was the first to introduce me to this band's creative mix of restrained, haunting sequences intertwined with striking percussion interruptions. After listening to the entirety of The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place, I understand how the band's musical style connects to their unique name. I find myself sinking deep into the peaceful melodies when, BANG! A cymbal crashes and it as if an explosion really does interfere with the song's original intent. This music is perfect background music and I can't wait to purchase Explosion's other albums.

These are only a few of my discoveries through Pandora. This radio station not only accompanies me throughout my daily tedious work, but also presents me with inspiring new music. I can't wait for what's next!