A quick glance at a candidate's iPod doesn't mean anything. First, it's scrubbed of controversial content before the media gets a look. Second, the media rarely so much gets a look as it does some names of top artists. Knowing that Obama likes Springsteen and Rolling Stone and Earth, Wind, and Fire and Charlie Parker tells me nothing. An iPod isn't a six disc changer -- scarcity isn't really an issue, so a couple well-known names doesn't say anything much about taste. What matters aren't the 14 most popular artists, but the 15 least known, who tell you something about the candidate's idiosyncratic tastes (you'll learn something about me if you find out I have every Spearhead album ever made, not to mention Franti's Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy Project. You'll learn nothing about me if you find out I own the Beatle's White Album.). Moreover, Alex Pappademas is right: What we really need access to is the candidate's most-listened playlist. That's where the real answers lie.
