Spotify's new road trip playlist generator is pretty neat!

I am a begrudging fan of algorithmic playlists. I miss putting together my own "new favorite songs" lists and assembling the perfect order of tunes for a burned CD. But damn if Spotify's Discover Weekly and Your Daily Mix playlists aren't convenient, and generally, really good.

Spotify flexed its algorithmic playlist-making muscles again Friday when it released a new tool meant to provide the perfect soundtrack for an upcoming road trip: "Soundtrack your ride." It's a partially human, partially computer-directed playlist generator assembled to fit the length of your road trip. 

A portal takes you through a series of questions about your upcoming road trip as well as your music taste. Ostensibly combined with what it knows about your music listening habits (you agree to let the portal look at your Spotify history when you begin), the answers help to generate a playlist that is on theme for where you are going, who you're with, and what your vibe is. Read more...