iPad ($4.99) has officially blown my mind. Where Shazam had seemed like a minor miracle, Soundhound is a revelation. Need to know the name of a song that’s playing? Tap the “What’s that Song?” button on Soundhound and you’ll not only get the name of the song, but the lyrics, a slew of videos (for Wilco’s “Casino Queen,” Soundhound provided me with a batch of clips from live shows), a link to open a Pandora station based upon the song, the ability to share the song via email, Twitter, or Facebook, as well as a link to the iTunes store to purchase the song.
And Soundhound can also tell you what song you’re singing or humming. Really.
Soundhound links to your iPad music library, allows you to view your search history, and even allows for voice search — tap, speak, and get a list of results categorized by songs or artist.
Soundhound’s “What’s Hot” page lists the week’s most popular songs with an icon showing if they’re rising or falling in popularity. To help find new music, Soundhound also includes an “Underplayed” list—songs that are being “grabbed” via the app more than they’re being played on the radio.
Soundhound is far more than a way to find the name of a groovy new tune you’re hearing on the radio. It’s an interactive encyclopedia of popular music.
