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I have been using Last.fm for a few years now, and it’s been one of those services that keeps getting better the longer you stick with it. In case you’re not familiar, it’s an online social network that creates a profile based on the music you listen to you. From there, it can recommend new music, as well as show how musically “compatible” you are with your friends.

One of the most useful features is the free streaming radio. Last.fm creates dynamic stations with music from your musical profile, music similar to a particular artist, or from a tag. There are many options for listening to these streaming stations on Ubuntu, and I’d like to compare each of them.

Last.fm Official Client
Last.fm has released their own client for listening tostreaming content from the desktop. It’s a pretty full-featured interface, as far as you can go with a streaming radio client. Also, it has access to much of the content that you would find on the website.
Pros

• Full-featured desktop client
• Artist bios and profiles
• Access to your Last.fm profile

Cons

• A little bulky
• Closed source

Installation

sudo aptitude install lastfm

Last-Exit
Last-Exit is a lightweight alternative to the official client. It offers all of the basic functionality, and cuts down on all the frill. It’s a good substitute if you are having trouble with the official client.
Pros

• Lightweight
• Open-source
• Integrates well with the GNOME desktop

Cons

• No album art or advanced functionality

Installation

sudo aptitude install last-exit

Rhythmbox Last.fm Plugin
If you are already using Rhythmbox for the rest of your music needs, then the Rhythmbox plugin is a great option. It offers all of the Last.fm stations, through the Rhythmbox interface. It doesn’t have the artist biographies that the official client does, although it does integrate album art.
Pros

• Rhythmbox integration
• Already installed with Rhythmbox

Cons

• Bulky if only used for Last.fm

Installation

Already installed, enable it in the Rhythmbox Plugins dialog.

Last.fm Website
If you prefer not to install a desktop client, you can always stream radio through your web browser. All it requires is a flash plugin and a Last.fm username.
Pros

• No need to install a client
• Well-integrated with the rest of the Last.fm website

Cons

• Requires leaving your browser open

Installation

None

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