[Maki]

Up until recently I have always used Amazon.com to sample soundbites of music, to see if I like the album before I buy. However, it seems they no longer havae the option to do this, on all but a few albums.
Where else can I go to listen to extracts of albums etc?

[eviljohn2]

Youtube?

[quarry2006]

Years ago - not that long ago, in fact - you could listen to an album in a sound-proof booth in the shop before you bought it.

I'm not interested in hearing before I buy. That's a bit like tearing a bit of the wrapper off your Christmas pressies for a sneak-peek.

[Shockabuku]

I use www.allmusic.com. Typically poor quality & short samples, but it gives you a good idea of whether you'll like the music or not.

[krish]

double-clicking on the tracks at the iTunes store (if the album/tracks are available there and you're not an iTunesophobe ) usually gives you a 15 second excerpt

Originally Posted by quarry2006

I'm not interested in hearing before I buy. That's a bit like tearing a bit of the wrapper off your Christmas pressies for a sneak-peek.

but this a self-bought present?
- I do yearn for the element of surprise though ... like the old days when I'd go to my usual record shop in town and buy my favourite bands' new LPs on the (Mon)day of release, copy it to tape at home, and listen to it all night until I fell asleep

[Toasty]

If you don't mind a wee bit of googling you'll be able to listen to album tracks from the bands official site and / or their myspace page (myspace probably a better option)

Keywords

"<band name> myspace"
"<band name> official site"

youtube may also work, but I find the above better

[Steven]

I use http://www.last.fm/

You don't even need to sign up as you can still stream songs Essentially it is a community site. If you do sign up, you download a plugin for your music player software of choice. It tracks what you play on your PC which then gets reflected on your profile online. Based off of that you can see people with similar tastes and artists are suggested to you

However you can also just search for songs/artists and find something specific. Better quality than YouTube, and most of the time you'll get full tracks from albums rather than rubbish 30 second excerpts

[Toasty]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I use http://www.last.fm/

Good Call, I use Jango too, however, you can't always find what you want, well for me anyway.

[karkus30]

Youtube mainly.

[Maki]

Thanks for the replys. I remember listening in shops...Happy days! I do use You Tube from time to time, although this does not give the best choice. I wil ltry some of you suggestions.

Thank you all again

[Whiting]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I use http://www.last.fm/

Another recommendation for LastFM here. Fantastic site...

[overkill]

Youtube, or increasingly the bands own sites.

[sunnydos]

youtube online or hmv in person

[krish]

Originally Posted by shdwarrior187

defore? please learn to spell first.

After you learn some manners and how a sentence should begin with a capital letter.

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by shdwarrior187

defore? please learn to spell first.

Only 9 posts and you offer such a constructive post - I too would suggest that you learn some manners defore posting your words of wisdom.

[ell-ess-dee]

Always download entire album first, if i like it i will buy it.. Been sick to death in the old days of paying £15 an album and finding only a couple of decent tracks on it.

[sways81]

thesixtyone

[Crocodile]

www.tower.com

[Timmy C]

I don't know if this is any reflection of the type of music I listen to but I've only once not be able to find a band I wanted to hear on myspace.