Epitonic's original site is back temporarily — with all the mp3s in place!
  • don't know if any of you folks were as obsessed with epitonic as i was back in the day, but the original site is back up and running for an undisclosed amount of time. and all of the mp3s are there for the perusing, too.

    i can't even begin to think about how many awesome bands i found out about because of epitonic back in the day. when the site changed hands and basically stopped working circa 2003-2004 or so, it was like a part of me died. but now that part of me is alive again...for a little while, anyway.
  • wow, i definitely was. looted lots of mp3s from them in my beginning stages of finding music - one of the very first places i went for good music.

    i feel the exact same way you do. this is fantastic, thank you, Sean.
  • It was a drug in college, turned me (and you, and you) onto so much solid music. Was a simpler time, when free meant a little more, I guess.

    Why's it back up now?
  • i wish i knew why it was back up. my guess is just to have something up until audiotube makes http://beta.epitonic.com/ the default and launches the full functionality. it'll suck, but at least they changed the actual site from the version 2.0 that stopped working back to the original.

    i just don't know why they changed it right now. the beta has been up for a while, so it obviously doesn't have anything to do with that. but you won't hear me complaining. at least not until they shut this down again...
  • maybe worth dropping someone an email... daily buzz might be in the know, will be interesting to hear what comes of this in the next few days.
  • Epitonic is still  what my idea of a perfect music portal site looks like. (sorry pfork, but design clutter kill, despite pretty good news/reportage/little bit of media) Had epitonic stick around a little longer, they could have been a gazillionaire by now.



    Whew, if they can combine some of last fm. with epitonic. you'll have the most important music site ever conceived online bar none.  What's not on it isn't worth listening kind of situation. iTune begone.



    Anyway, what happen with epitonic now? What happen to betterpropaganda? are the old crew getting back together?

    also, the beta.epitonic looks like accident waiting to happen. It's myspace level of ugliness.





    are they still owned by palmrecord or what not?

    A lot of indie band from early 00's are going to be hot again because of epitonic. that's for sure.
  • ah yeah... memories....





    "

    A Site for Sore Ears

    Epitonic.com is a site for sore ears. We are a campaign - a group of individuals who share a zealous lust for music - music that invades our thoughts, music that propels our bodies - music that allows us to revel in passion and pleasure. We refuse to dilute the energy that constitutes our lives - this seamless integration with the pulsing of sounds and shrill notes sailing wildly through nightclubs and concert halls across the globe. Instead we've elected to thrust ourselves into this sea of binary manna - information which helps us sustain our ravenous appetite for music - the Internet.



    We want to bring the scenes of music we hold dear to the Internet and subsequently to the world after having our own ears inundated by a glut of mediocre music. We want to create a site that leverages technology to do what we demand that it does - bring us closer to things we crave.



    Epitonic.com has the intent of bringing recognition to those who quietly craft in their corners of the world new species of voices that multiply rapidly and deliver music feverishly. With the speed of wires and light, we seek to worldcast this music that is being assembled and sculpted as we speak. A democratized system of patronage, the Internet and endeavors such as this allow people searching for like-minds, strange beings, or just hypersonic rhythms, a meeting place on the cobblestone streets of that elusive global village.



    Our goal is to exalt the unexalted, to bring you goth, noise, electronica, techno, punk, indie rock, darkwave, no wave, jungle, hardcore, world music, and things we would dare never even classify. Utilizing the liberated mp3 format, Epitonic.com aspires to live up to our neologistic moniker, the center from which waves of disruptive purity emit. "



    ----



    btw, the only section I thought need little work on quality is the 20th century/experimental. But considering it was early 00. with almost no mp3 releases.... wow, I could stop blogging and help them fill up the gap ..  their selection is so well crafted...
  • scott bilby, one of epitonic's founders, gave us some insight into what happened to epitonic a little while back: http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2009/remember-when-epitonic-was-good/#comment-405204

    it's funny that you mention last.fm, too, since some of epitonic's original team are working there.
  • Wow. Amazing!

    Epitonic was *the site* that let me see why the internet (not just Napster) was going to change music consumption. Way ahead of its time.

    (and yeah the beta looks awful)
  • I feel like I just wandered through a time portal. I used to love Epitonic. Not sure how they would function nowadays, though. Also weird that the same music reviews are up that were there last time I visited 7 years ago, reinforcing the idea that I have indeed wandered into the past. Better be careful or else I might become my own grandpa.
  • Wow guys this is awesome to see. I know some of the guys who are putting Epitonic back together. I can't say exactly what will happen--but there will be a lot to come. It's funny, because next to all of you, I'm very new to this--and was too young when Epitonic was making waves--so when my friend told me he bought back the rights to Epitonic I was clueless. This thread is exciting for me to see.

    *edit "can't"
  • @squashed

    Betterpropaganda is still in existence and active. I'm one of their senior writers now. A lot of the original crew is still involved while also working on other projects (i.e. Epitonic and Yourstru.ly). Epitonic, as I'm aware, was stashed away for a little when some of the original members were bought out. Now, some of the guys I work with at Betterpropaganda, and others--are back putting together the new version of Epitonic.

    We never left--we just took a break--as some bands might say.
  • i'd shit my pants and eat it to be part of epitonic...if it was as good as the old one, anyway...
  • whoa that's so cool
  • screw beta... stick with the old html site. be all retro and shit.
  • I take back what I said before about the beta then if some of the old team are back involved. I withhold judgement and really really hope it's awesome.
  • I'll keep you guys updated when there are further developments.
  • i'm assuming the beta that exists now (which has been up for a while) is probably not the one that the new team will be launching. i just assumed it was still a go before i found out old staffers are back on the scene.
  • This is good news, but it's caused a severe case of nostalgia for 2003...
  • http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20100816/bs_prweb/prweb4389724_2

    Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 16, 2010 -- Epitonic.com, one of the Web’s first and most beloved editorial music sites, is excited to announce that it is relaunching with the original founders back at the helm.

    yada yada yada

    To get the ball rolling, there’s a temporary Epitonic site, a Kickstarter fundraising campaign, and an Epitonic Twitter feed. The original Epitonic site has also been reposted for fans’ nostalgic enjoyment. The new site will go live at http://www.epitonic.com in the next few months.
  • talking to justin tomorrow about it. pretty exicted to see what else he has to say about it.
  • If people were curious - Epitonic are looking to raise 4,650 by October 1st to help with the relaunch.
    Donate at their Kickstarter page @ http://kck.st/dnPak5
  • i put down $25 for it as soon as i saw that. i'd like to do more, but that was probably $15 more than was adviseable. but oh well, it's EPITONIC!!!
  • Yeah, as soon as I'm gainfully employed again I'll hit them up with a tenner... they defined online music for so long.
  • i'm definitely curious to see if anyone would venture the highest donation to become an editor for a year.

    and i'm very curious to see what they have planned.
  • eh guys... epitonic?



    you really need a "blog" or a page that says you guys exist and alive. (simply saying, we are here, every other week will suffice) it's a way  to keep your fan happy/ holding initial core fan together. It will also boost the fund raising.



    also need a link from that kickstart on the official page  (just to make sure you guys are back for real, and not a front of russian mob out for another viagra scam. :P )



    need to turn on that blog whoring skillz guys... It's 2010! A lot has changed. Little bit of this and that will go a long way. mabee internet wide campaign? Definitely need to up that google rating.



    k. gonna make little plug post for epitonic now. maybe I can convince several of my reader to cough some dough.
  • all for this too, will def donate to the cause.  sounds very promising especially knowing original founders at helm.  a tad discouraged though by the looks of that beta site.  wouldn't it be rad if they stayed with the retro 2004 style/design?  i'd like that.  new epitonic, possibly shake-up Pitchfork a little in the indie Music World?  i'd like that too.
  • I hadn't checked this forum for a while, nice to see so many other Epitonic fans here. I found out about Epitonic's resurrection when they added me on Twitter. Epitonic was a huge influence and my biggest source of finding new music when I started the original Muruch site 10 years ago, so to say I'm excited would be a huge understatement. :)


  • uhm...guys....I thought the fund drive would have been over by now. need to spread the word.



    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1096570561/epitoniccom-relaunch-by-the-original-founders
  • mdm has a nice note on things as well - http://www.moteldemoka.com/2010/09/24/fund-drive-for-epitoniccom/ - good people... squashed included.

    sidenote: what is the lesson to be learned from paste's campaign drive? these scenarios might apples and oranges, but the question still pops into my head.
  • A fundraiser? I'm not trying to be a devil's advocate, I'm genuinely curious... why do they need almost 5Gs?
  •  coke and hookers stash. It's down economy. lol.



    Hey, epitonic, are you guys going to blow all the money in wild drunken orgy? Can you at least post pictures if you do?



    On serious note, probably should ask if they need a second hand server instead of buying new one. I bet there are lots of those from business went bust.
  • Hell, for that money, you can get all the bandwidth you could want for the next 10 years on hostgator.
  • Well... Epitonic has re-joined the 4 billion other music bloggers out there and uploaded a mp3. If my calculations are correct, at this alarming rate, by year's end, we'll all be obsolete! The end is nigh!
  • at the rate they are going, I figure, they can at least cover 5 songs a year. heh...



    come on epitonic. any time now, before we all getting old.
  • The old Epitonic was the best indie music resource around, back in the day. Really looking forward to the new site. Just a little concerned on how it will look and work. I love the retro feel of the old site. Was wishing they just picked up back with that format. But will be interesting to see the new site.


    @Tsuru - Can Epitonic really be classified as a music blog?

  • @merz... sure/why not/who cares?
  • @Tsuru - Guess I was assuming you cared based on your original comment. ;-)


    In the past, I viewed Epitonic as different than a traditional music blog, more a music website. That's why I asked the question since I'm curious and open to other's interpretations and why. Just a curiousity more than a debate.


    Anyways, looking forward to see what the new site is and has to offer.

  • Would love this to start giving a Pitchfork a run for it's money, if only to challenge the slightly hideous hipster dictatorship it leads.
  • That was such a hipster comment.
  • What's pitchfork?
  • I believe im refering to "a Pitchfork"

    I find the most original and real music taste these days comes from the rudimentary tools of an angry mob.
  • I didn't consider the old Epitonic to be a music blog since they only posted the artist's bio and brief (but extremely accurate) genre descriptions with the mp3s. Back in the olden days, most music blogs included some kind of personal content. How the times have changed. Whatever Epitonic was, though, it was awesome. My favorite aspect of the site was the links to other artists in the same sub-genre (similar to what CDBaby does now), which is how I discovered everyone from Kath Bloom to Hannah Fury.
  • Meh, talks about bands, shares an mp3, updated contented & articles... fine, it's in a database format, kinda, but really two eggs of one equal half a dozen of two others. Call it whatever you like, *shrug*

    I am curious how they hope to be resurrected and what that resurrection will look like. P4K, Stereogum, et al blog? Indie-wiki-allmusic? The next my_____?
  • It seems I'm a little too young for epitonic to have played a big role in my music discovery - I was still changing over from being a classical music geek to having my emo/metal phase and trolling Purevolume during its hayday. That said, I spent a few hours on the old site the other day and wish I had become a little more learned a little earlier. Definitely excited to see what they can do with the revival.
  • Epitonic is great because their editorial was so tight, it gives a very coherent snapshot of a period of time. And more importantly, it's still accessible anytime on the net.  So instead of following pop culture in radio and tv to catch up on rock one can  read and surf the pages, in my opinion epitonic was the very first to do that very well. (way before last.fm)

  • Hey it's back on.
    But there is no "text" database. It's just a gigantic song storage without context....

    come on people. If all I want are bunch of song, I would just google. We need the old famous epitonic "text"

    http://epitonic.com/
  • Interesting. Not sure I "get" it yet, but for a daily mixtape, nice!
  • If you click on "Features," they have a few short articles including some brief song descriptions. Judging from the "Resurrecting the Center" article, they were rushing to get the basic site back up for its 12th anniversary. Hopefully they'll add more written content in the future.

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