Recommendation Programs/Sites

[godofallu]

So there are a lot of threads that pop up based around people who are asking for recommendations based around certain things they enjoy. For example I like this and that anime, what are some other anime shows that are similar?

Or I like this band and that band, what are some similar bands I should check out?

So the point of this thread is what large websites offer networks like this that allow people to explore recommendations? I know I found a lot of my favorite bands thanks to LastFM and exploring the similar bands tabs.

Where could someone go for anime shows, or favorite movies, or books? What sites do you guys use for things like this? I want to check out new TV shows and watch movies I have never heard of and listen to bands LastFM doesn't know about. Where should I go to find new ideas?

 

[sextus the crazy]

If I want an anime, I usually head on over to the Anime News Network and check out the Top 10/50/500 etc. rated anime/manga and just pick something from there. Otherwise I look for recommendations from the former D2 (Desudes) brigade- GRArkada and JesuOtaku, specifically.

For music (I'm a heavy metal guy), I generally head down to Metalstorm, as they have a top 100 list. They tend to favor progressive and European stuff, (although there is plenty of US/CAN stuff too). Otherwise, I usually head to metalsucks, as it's a great snarky music news/ reviews site.

 

[Albino Boo]

Do what we did before the internet, walk into a shop and browse. Its the most effective way of seeing things that you haven't heard of before.

 

[Chromatic Aberration]

For animes I usually go with anisearch.de [http://anisearch.de/index.php?page=portal] which is a huge German database for pretty much all things anime. It features a very exhaustive toplist that has never let me down in finding something new and interesting to watch. Is at this point already half-way translated into english and so the top-list or the database might be of some use. Most of it is still in German, though. Also, I second sextus recommendation of JesuOtaku. She is a very good reviewer and has already led me to some very interesting animes. Her new homepage can be found here [http://www.jesuotaku.com/].

In terms of music, that's more of a mixed bag. I usually tend to not actively seek out recommendations but instead just take shots in the dark by going on the recommendations around here (see every [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.397995.16263386] other [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.319255.13024183] music [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.381976.15059505] thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.353532.14031059] that pops up or work your way through the "Rate That Song Above You"-Thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/362.317170.12908543] in FG) - that usually works well enough if you are out to find something stylistically new that one might enjoy. In terms of certain Genres I tend to use the lists on Wikipedia, compare what ex-members of bands I like do or just look at certain databases and try my luck. The one's I usually frequent are the Metal Archives [http://www.metal-archives.com/] and recently also the Prog Archives [http://www.progarchives.com/] and the Gibraltar Encyclopedia Of Progressive Rock [http://www.gepr.net/].

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Do what we did before the internet, walk into a shop and browse. Its the most effective way of seeing things that you haven't heard of before.

There is a reason why the internet has replaced doing what you suggest there.

 

[godofallu]

Yeah i'm looking for sites that use large pools of data in order to find patterns. Like if you like X then you will probably like Y.

For Anime for example I dislike children/highschoolers and mechs. I don't want to see an 8 year old girl beat up and throw around giant dudes. So if I try and view top anime shows I get piles and piles of stuff that I would never want to watch. Yet Cowboy Bebop and Berserk are two of my favorite shows I have ever seen, and my avatar is from Venture Brothers which is also an animated show. So clearly i'm not against anime, I just need a specific type.

For music I use LastFM as I have said, but I know there has got to be other similar sites. Which might have other suggestions for me.