Shazam App Review
Platform: Android

RATING:
2 out of 5

PRICE:
FREE

TASTY:
Use your phone to identify any song being played around you! Then buy the track, get tour info, lyrics, search for YouTube videos, and more.

BUMMER:
Free version offers only a 7-day trial of all features with unlimited tagging. Once your trial ends, the app goes overboard seeking payment to unlock all tools. Annoying.

COOL:
Makes it super-easy to discover new artists, read album reviews, tap into complete discographies, and even snag ringtones.

REVIEW:
Thanks to the Internet, it seems we have thousands of ways to discover new music, bands, and performers. Shazam is a welcome newcomer to the space, turning your DROID into a tool for capturing the new beats, melodies, and lyrics that surround us, and then connecting us to information about the song.

Grab the free trial version, then prepare to go on a musical journey. (I knew all that “Rattle & Hum” viewing would pay off someday. Thanks Bono and crew!)

When you hear a song you can’t identify during your favorite TV shows, webcasts, or radio, click the Shazam logo and feed it 30 seconds of the track. The sample is uploaded to their servers, and a few seconds later a positive ID is presented. You’ve just tagged yourself a new song, and the name of the artists and the track are saved in your My Tags folder.

Every tagged track offers you the chance to buy an MP3 via Amazon, watch a YouTube video of the song, get tour information, view similar recommendations, and read the lyrics. Plus, links to Facebook and Twitter are included, along with biographical data, album reviews, the ability to share the track via SMS or email, and ringtones.

That said, the Shazam free version offers a 7-day trial (too short) with all features turned on and unlimited tagging. Once your trial ends, the app goes overboard seeking payment to unlock all tools. Annoying.