Here's Entertainment Weekly's assessment of eMusic:
This underappreciated, expertly curated MP3 store is the music geek's alternative to iTunes. It's packed with fantastic choices, and at $9.99 a month for 40 downloads, it's a great deal. Emusic sells tunes only from independent labels, which means you won't find most current pop hits here. But spend some time sifting through its 1.2 million tracks — including new stuff from Neko Case and Spoon and classics by Johnny Cash and Otis Redding — and you won't care. Best of all, the site's sharp editorial team steers you toward the good stuff with articles on the best Parisian jazz or the latest Brazilian pop. And their "Dozens" lists are essential 12-album starting points in categories like "boomer-friendly rock," or "English folk," or "old-school punk." GREAT FIND Art Brut's Bang Bang Rock & Roll