I’ve been trying out an online service called Lala.com.  It allows you to listen to every song in its entirety for free one time.  It also offers the chance to purchase the song for a discounted cost (under a $1).  I think this is one of the best business models for music online.  I would love to listen to an entire album before I purchase it, but it never seems possible.  Most websites might let you sample one song or a part of a song, but this is the first real attempt to let you listen to the entire album straight through.  I think this might enable me to identify new groups, singers, and songs that appeal to me.  It’s like those kiosks in Borders where you can listen to the album, but who ever wants to listen to more than a couple songs?  I see so many shots in the dark in terms of online services, but this one has rised to the top of my list for usefulness and practicality.