'I like b-sides' recommends music you're ignoring

I like b-sides is a new service from the maker of the now-defunct DiggSuggest. The idea is simple: you go to the Web site and upload the metadata from your iTunes library (in an XML file), and the site tells you songs that you might like, based on the bands it knows you do.

I tried this out with a small library of about 4GB and it gave me a good sampling of tracks. All of them come from Amazon's MP3 store, and can be previewed in a small player that sits on the side. There are also links that will take you to each song's download page, giving i like b-sides affiliate credit in the process.

The tool's secret sauce is in a small feature off to the side that calls out "cool tracks you have and are probably ignoring." These are tracks deemed popular that simply have low play counts. This same section also tells you how much of your library has independent artists, and how many songs you've bothered to rate. I'd love to see both of these go a little deeper.

While there's no built-in social element with friends or following, you can share the tool's recommendations with others. Each library gets a permalink to do this, and you or your friends can come back and "shuffle" to bring in new results (you can try this here). The bigger library you have, the more diverse of a selection you'll get, so revisiting the site as you acquire new music will get you even more recommendations.

Related: Mufin lets you discover new music with science

Once you've uploaded your iTunes library information, the tool will sort through it and give you recommendations of less popular tracks it thinks you might dig.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

[ddhboy]

Not a fan so far, Last.FM seems to get my musical preferences better. I'm not sure what it is in my library that's throwing them off (This collections been building since like 2003) but I'm getting all kinds of soft christian rock.

[john55440]

I buy CD albums from Amazon.com, rather than digital downloads. One benefit is that you get lesser known gems as part of the album. Other benefits are superior sound quality, and the fact that your music collection doesn't disappear if your hard disk crashes. (grin)

[UITD]

Superior to downloads, yes but not to vinyl. :-)

[thejokker]

i'd like to see something like this but only giving you a playlist for your library instead of more to buy. I've got almost 100 GB of songs and i'd like to get some good playlists of stuff besides stuff i hear all the time. I play around with the smart filters in itunes, but i don't need to buy new music right now.

[stormshaker]

Try the iTunes Genius feature...