Failed comeback

One of my favourite websites when I started to explore the internet was epitonic.com, a huge resource of free and legal MP3s from the best labels and artists around. Back then I discovered many bands through Epitonic. Just recently I found a 6 year-old backup CD with MP3s I’ve downloaded (with a 56k modem and a lot of patience) from this site: songs from the first Death Cab For Cutie album, Black Heart Procession, June of 44, Drive Like Jehu, Rye Coalition, Pinback, Braid, Rainer Maria and many, many more.
Unfortunately Epitonic went out of business before all the hype about MP3, iTMS and the iPod started.

Today I was looking for some artists and when google send me epitonic.com I had to check the URL twice to believe what I’ve saw: Epitonic is back!

Unfortunately my delight didn’t last long. The new epitonic.com is poor in every aspect. The website looks like an MTV homepage (or any other hip portal site) from 2001 and the usability is beneath contempt.

What a missed opportunity! I am sure that even after all those years, Epitonic is a strong brand among internet-savvy music afficiandos and they could revive this website and make it profitable. With the relaunch as it is now, this won’t happen.