Downside to the iPod

I got my first iPod in 2005. More than two years and one video iPod upgrade later, it’s still my favorite toy. But I’ve recently become aware of a downside. Because the iPod has almost completely displaced the radio in my car (why listen to someone else’s lousy mix plus advertisements, when you can listen to the best mix ever without advertisements?), I’ve been exposed to a dearth of new music since 2005. I have found some new (or new-to-me) bands I like by using Pandora.com (Fischerspooner, Brad Sucks) and watching Grey’s Anatomy (Gomez, the Fray). Nevertheless, a recent car trip to the beach – with a couple of friends with more up-to-date musical taste – made me realize I’m in serious danger of becoming one of those old fogies who listen almost exclusively to oldies (much as it pains me to think of music from the late 90s as “old”).

So I’m hoping my readers will help to rescue me from old-fartdom. In the comments, tell me what I’m (probably) missing: the best new artists and songs of the last two or three years. I’m not biased against music just because it’s popular – in fact, I think obscure artists are often obscure for good reason – so feel free to suggest mainstream artists as well as your peculiar favorites. Genre is open, though I should warn you that I dislike most modern R&B (R. Kelly does nothing for me). Rap and hip-hop are fine.