we have had an iPod for some time now but I have only just started to investigate the more advanced features. One of them is 'Genius Mix' in which it will pick a playlist from 'songs which are similar'. Not tried it yet but I am quite intrigued as to how the software does this. I would assume by some sort of rating system in the meta-code of the music file but it did set me thinking. Could an electronic analyser do better than a music critic?

A lot of arguments, especialy on here, are to do with taste. Musical tastes are very subjective but a virtual critic could do away with all preconceptions and analyse the music objectively. Is the music of a similar nature? Is the tempo the same? The key? The timbre of the voice? So on and so forth. OK, I know we could end up with recommendations for the latest X-Factor winner when we really like The Acid Mothers Temple but, what the heck, if the music is similar surely we should give it a try?

No-one really takes much notice of critics anyway. Well, maybe that is unfair. I don't take any notice whatsoever of critics. Maybe some people do. Perhaps if we were to include the objective 'This is similar to x, y and z' rather than the subjective 'This is crap' then those who presume to tell us what is good and bad would carry more authority?

Anyone of you software whizzes up for it? :-)

Cheers

DtG