I want to continue a recurring theme here on Postcards From Page Side, where in past columns I’ve discussed some of the recent technological advances that impact music fans. Each day, there are tons of new Apps created and released for mobile devices and operating systems aimed for those of us who spend a good deal of time listening to music. This morning we’ll look at one such App, iAlbums, which is currently available for iPhone and iPod Touch App with iPad and Android versions in the works.
Released less than a month ago, the creators of iAlbums have come up with an inventive way to enhance the music listening experience on a mobile device. In a world where the wonder of flipping through albums, diving into that album’s insert, reading the liner notes and finding additional info about that artist have in large part vanished thanks to the all-electronic format, iAlbums brings these elements back to life for nearly every album in your mobile device’s music catalog.
There are many reasons iAlbums is an attractive App for music junkies such as myself. First, it’s free to download. Second, as soon as the App is downloaded and opened, it automatically scans your device’s music library and matches the albums you have with the proper album artwork and shows them in an organized, alphabetical, “bookshelf” sort of view. This feature has an immediate impact on the user, and brings you back to a view of your old vinyl and CD covers, albeit it in an electronic way. The App will even scour its database to add missing album artwork that you don’t have in your library.
But the real crux of iAlbums comes through once you hit the “Play” button on an album or song as once you press “Play,” the information starts flowing. Drawing from over 20 sources, this App allows the listener to read bios or news articles about each artist. Recently, I found out how many Grateful Dead songs a local chef can turn into restaurants and read a long-lost interview with Jerry Garcia from 1989 while listening to a heart-wrenching Sugaree from a Dick’s Pick’s from ’77. The back stories about many of your favorite songs are suddenly brought to life at your fingertips through the vast, ever-changing database of knowledge that iAlbums presents. I’ve found many interesting tidbits about songs and groups I have known for years thanks to this App. Those are just a few of the cool features in the just-released Alpha version of iAlbums, with the final product due this June.
Another intriguing aspect of iAlbums is the single pen/feather-like icon that allows a listener to learn the lyrics to nearly any song in the device’s music library. So, have no shame belting out those words now that you know you don’t have to mumble a few words at key moments of tunes. This, I feel, while a simple aspect, is at the heart of iAlbums. The words, along with the cover art, allows the listener to grasp the mystic of an album the way the artist meant it to be felt, through the packaging, artwork, lyrics and liner notes — albeit it in an entirely electronic, easy to follow format.
iAlbums also has a similar capability to Pandora radio in that it recommends music you might like based on the artist you’re currently playing. And, should you find an artist you like and download their music, iAlbums keeps you in the loop with Facebook and Twitter updates from artists, while pulling information from sources such as Google News, Wikipedia and Wikiquote. This feature allows you to continuously have your finger on the pulse of your favorite artists and new bands you discover. Staying connected at all times to a plethora of information is becoming a norm in today’s day and age and iAlbums brings that connection into the listening realm in a way the Apple music player doesn’t.
All in all, I definitely recommend this App. By putting together an ever-changing catalog of valuable tidbits, information and artwork in a smart and easy to use way, iAlbums has brought back the personal touch to the music listening and discovery experience.
Download it for free now at iTunes’ App Store.
