MusicSmart - Liner Notes 4+

Well done app

This app fills a giant hole that I'd have expected more music organizing apps to do - have fun and interesting information about songs and artists. The seach process is quick and easy. One piece of information missing that I'd have liked to see is the album(s) the track appears on, but this is minor. The only thing I hoped this app would be able to do is integrate with the Music app to automatically display info for the song that's playing. Maybe that's too much to ask, but it still enhances and makes the music streaming experience more enjoyable.

Developer Response ,

Thanks for the review!

The Mac doesn't have the same APIs available on iOS/iPadOS for third-party developers to access the user music library. That's why MusicSmart on the Mac only allows users to search for a specific song manually.

To make it easier to see liner notes of a song from the Music app without manually searching, I created this shortcut that you can use from the Services menu. Please check out this thread to download it and to see how it works:

https://twitter.com/mactanaka/status/1515355083264995337

A helpful utility, with two caveats

I’ve only occasionally dipped into this app for detailed information regarding my music, so I haven’t fully explored all the nooks and crannies.

At this point, I can recommend the app, but I have to mention two frustrations. #1 may be outside the developer’s control, but it’s still annoying: Not all albums featuring MusicSmart data include the same categories of data or even much data at all; some feature extensive lists of performers/producers/engineers, etc., while others simply present songwriter credits. I’m sure this is based on what’s available, but I’d like to see both greater detail and greater consistency.

#2 is more frustrating for me: Before you can read liner notes or view MusicSmart data for an album, that album must be in your library. I realize it doesn’t require much effort to add a title via Apple Music, but it’s a hurdle that feels unnecessary. If I’m shopping for physical music, I’d be able to read the liner notes on the back of an LP or, perhaps, maybe even on a CD; why can’t I access information regardless of whether a title is in my personal library or not? That information could help me decide whether to stream, add in Apple Music, or purchase new music.

Developer Response ,

Thanks for the review! Regarding #1, you're right, the amount of details depends on the third-party data sources MusicSmart uses, so it may vary depending on the album or song.

And regarding #2, it is possible to see liner notes without adding the album to your lbrary. To do this, open MusicSmart and tap the Search button in the top-right of the navigation bar. Then, type the name of the album or artist to search for liner notes.

LINER NOTES? WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING LINE NOTES!

Yes we do! That’s what I thought I was getting. The words “Liner Notes” are below the name of this app. To me, Liner Notes are what is inside the record jacket, on the record sleeve or on the back of the record jacket. Sometimes there wasn’t much but sometimes there were comments by the artists, types of instruments used including amps, pedals, strings, cymbals and even golf clubs. Sometimes there was funny stuff, jabs at other musicians or even song lyrics. There was front cover art. There was back cover art and if you were lucky enough to get a double album there was double notes and art work. I checked before I wrote this and there are no real liner notes here. No inside art, no back cover art, No notes, The explanations included are just there to take up space. Example; Songwriter. A person who writes the song. I’ll keep hoping for change but I wish I had just tried the 1 Month trial before going all in.