OnlineRock Blog

Free Music Friday - March 30, 2012

2012-03-30T13:06:00.002-07:00

Here's this month's selections of Free Music Friday musical picks!

1. Autechre - Tri Repetae

(free download from Noise Trade)

For this week's free music selection, I've found something from last century to tickle your ears. Autechre has made their third album, 1995's Tri Repetae, available for free via NoiseTrade. The album is, overall, a rather mellow affair that finds ambient synths propelled along by whirrs, clicks, pops and bleeps. With the ubiquitous influence of dubstep on the modern techno scene, a long dose of mid-90s IDM is a refreshing change of pace.

-Andrew McNair

2. Such Hounds - Self-titled EP

(free download from Bandcamp)

Need some solid, steady indie rock? New York's Such Hounds are here to help. With thick guitars, they lay down three solid songs on their new EP that give you indie powerpop with a rootsy undercurrent. Such Hounds is offering their self-titled EP for absolutely free on Bandcamp (you don't even need to give them an email address to be subjected to occasional emails -- this is as free as free gets).

-Andrew McNair

3. Niteflights - I'm Glad You're Here

(free download from Soundcloud)

In the mood for something a bit lighter and synthier? Niteflights can fulfill your yearning for retro-sounding synthesizers and drum machines with an EP full of plucky synthpop love songs. The EP sounds so good that you'd never guess it was done from a home studio. I'm Glad You're Here is available for free from the link above.

-Andrew McNair

4. Retribution Gospel Choir - The Revolution

(free download from artist website)

Alan Sparhawk, best known for his band Low, has put out a new EP for his side project, Retribution Gospel Choir. The Revolution showcases Sparhawk's poppier sensibilities (which don't get much airtime in Low's slower, heavier music) with a set of four driving, catchy and straightforward indie rock songs. There's even—heavens!—cowbell. Download the entire thing for free from the RGC website.

-Andrew McNair

5. East of Underground - "Hell Below"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

The always reliable Now-Again Records brings us this awesome, skittering Curtis Mayfield cover from a group of Vietnam vets in the early 1970s known as East of Underground. Apparently, some of their songs were used in U.S. Military recruitment centers as an example of the diversity and "coolness" of the soldiers overseas. "Hell Below" was probably left out of such demonstrations, considering its challenging lyrical content, which addresses racial and political issues. Filled to the brim with nervous energy, it's driven by a funky bassline, an infectiously propulsive drumbeat and soulful falsetto vocal stylings. A compilation of East of Underground and two other Vietnam soldier bands is available here. Check out the original Curtis Mayfield version below!

-Tomi Mendel

Public Image Ltd. Returns This Recrod Store Day

2012-03-01T16:35:00.001-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

Pioneering post-punk band Public Image Ltd. has announced they will release a new E.P. and album, their first new music since 1992. April 21, this year’s Record Store Day, will see the release of the four-song One Drop E.P., with the new record This is PiL following on May 28. Frontman John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, claims he funded the recordings out of pocket with money earned from working on an advertising campaign for Country Life butter in the U.K. In early February, the group premiered the title song, from the new E.P. on BBC radio, bringing their trademark dark, warbling, post-punk to a new generation.

http://soundcloud.com/slicingupeyeballs/public-image-ltd-one-drop
“One Drop,” recorded from the BBC 6 radio premiere on Feb. 13, 2012.

Unfortunately, Public Image Ltd. has long lived in the pop culture shadow of Lydon’s other band, The Sex Pistols. While the Pistols may be the quintessential punk rock band, PiL was, musically speaking, a great deal more innovative and perhaps more influential, as well. They were one of the first bands of the punk era to start playing around with strange sounds and experimental ideas, paving the way for countless groups that followed and helping to lay the foundation for what would become alternative music and indie rock. Their unique combination of krautrock, punk, dub reggae, and art rock, proved to have quite a far reach. From an ideological perspective, their proclaimed rejection of rock ‘n’ roll was a powerful message, as well, and the symbolic significance of the ex-Johnny Rotten denouncing the music he had just created with the Sex Pistols cannot be overlooked.

Some confused dancers listening to “Poptones” and “Careering.”

One downside to the Public Image Ltd. reunion is that most of the original members are not returning, having already left the band well before 1992’s That What Is Not. In particular, bassist Jah Wobble and guitarist Keith Levene are missed, crucial as they were to the band’s sound on their first, most influential albums. In those early days for the group, they were just about unclassifiable, and clearly no one knew quite what to make of them. How else can we explain them earning a surprise disco hit with the pounding “Fodderstompf” and even making an appearance (possibly the weirdest one ever) on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1980. An album like Metal Box is definitely some of the most experimental music ever released on a major label, and Wobble and Levene were major elements of that. For his part, Keith Levene’s characteristic guitar work on songs like “Public Image” clearly laid the groundwork for acts like U2. Meanwhile, Wobble’s unmistakable bass lines have made him a hot commodity in the post-PiL years, including collaborations with Bjork, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, and Brian Eno.

Sounds a lot like U2’s the Edge playing guitar on this song, don’t ya think?

Although PiL’s later albums were not nearly as groundbreaking, Lydon and his assorted band-mates still managed a number of winning songs. “This Is Not A Love Song” is a brilliantly postmodern tune from 1984’s This is What You Want...This is What You Get that received a recent coffee-house update by French group Nouvelle Vague. 1986’s Album featured surprising appearances by Steve Vai, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Ginger Baker, leading to catchy songs like “Rise.” John Lydon also managed to stay on the cutting edge with some strong solo collaborations, including an early rap-rock song with Afrika Bambaata and a characteristically warbly lead vocal on U.K. electronica act Leftfield’s “Open Up.” Even though Public Image Ltd. petered off in their last few years, the new song, “One Drop” is decent and should give hope to fans. With any luck, the glut of recent indie and electronic acts that owe a debt to PiL’s music will inspire the group to do some good work. If not, we’ll all just have to give Metal Box or The Flowers of Romance another spin.

Leftfield & Lydon - Open Up by enkil_

John Lydon singing with Leftfield in 1993.

Free Music Friday - February 24, 2012

2012-02-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome, lovely children of the world, to a nice warm bath of soothing music with a little rock and roll thrown into the middle. This first artist Baobab combines elements of world music with familiar folk melodies to the delight of all; 50 Foot Wave has been doused with the spirit of generosity and is giving away their entire discography of rough/math rock for free; and you can sample the beautifully concise notes of the piano from Perfume Genius.

1. Baobab - Baobab

(free download from Bandcamp)

Baobab is giving their (well, his, since, apart from some backing vocals on one track, the effort is solely that of one Phil Torres) self-titled album away for free, and it's well worth the download. The music is a blend of modern folk and African musical idea. Gentle and pulsing, the songs are a mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation and the album finds itself at the intersection of Devendra Banhart, Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend.

-Andrew McNair

2. 50 Foot Wave - 50 Foot Wave, Golden Ocean, Free Music (Entire Discography)

(free download from artist website)

Aside from Throwing Muses (whose demos for their upcoming album Film may be downloaded for free here: http://throwingmuses.cashmusic.org/ -- their first album of new material since their self-titled 2003 release), Kristin Hersh also records music with her band 50 Foot Wave (who've been a bit more active in the past 9 years). A bit rougher around the edges than the poppier Throwing Muses, 50 Foot Wave is straightforward rock with a slight math-rock tendency. And you can now download their entire discography for free (in both MP3 and FLAC) from their website.

-Andrew McNair

3. Perfume Genius - "Hood"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

From LP: Put Your Back N 2 It

From his new album Put Your Back N 2 It, Seattle-based Perfume Genius gives us "Hood," an enthralling, but frustratingly short, piano ballad. Driven by tender, reverb-laden vocals, the song builds from a sparse, vulnerable sound to a brief climax of epic power. The song is little more than piano and vocals, but it's refreshing in its simplicity and leaves you wanting more. Find out all about Perfume Genius here!

-Tomi Mendel

Free Music Friday - February 17, 2012

2012-02-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

Hello Valentines, hope you had a candy-coated Tuesday. And back to the real world, we know offer a double double of great tunes. This first one is a perfect mellow number to soothe that aching heart, and the second brings you back into the daylight with a pumped up jam full of good old rock and roll.

1. Eric Chenaux - "Amazing Backgrounds"

(free download from Soundcloud)

LP: Guitar and Voice

Eric Chenaux is a Canadian dude who does some pretty neat things with just singing and a guitar. His upcoming album, aptly named Guitar & Voice, features "Amazing Backgrounds," a plaintive ballad stripped down to its core. Chenaux's guitar is extremely atmospheric, ranging from quiet plucking to fuzzed-out soloing. With its tenderly sung, gentle lyrics and warmly meandering melody, "Amazing Backgrounds" makes for a highly gripping listen. Learn more about Guitar & Voice, out March 6, here!

-Tomi Mendel

2. The Black Box Revelation - "High on a Wire"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

LP: My Perception

Tight pants, motorcycle boots, and leather jackets are not things I usually associate with Belgium but this duo from Brussels has just changed all that. These 20-something years olds have already released three albums of gritty, fuzzy, and awesome rock'n'roll tunes. So, everybody dust off those distortion pedals from your high-school garage band days and jam along to the some good ol' rock. For more on The Black Box Revelation check out their webpage.

-Ana Diaz

Where Would We Be Without Alan Lomax? Opening The Vaults

2012-02-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

On Monday, January 30, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress announced that the entire, enormous archive of music, film and photographs compiled by the late folklorist/archivist Alan Lomax will be made freely available online by the end of February. This exciting project is the spiritual completion of Lomax’s vision for a “global jukebox” of all his field recordings, an idea which he promoted until his death in 2002. Now, for the first time, his archive, which includes a whopping 17,000 music tracks, will be easily accessible for music and history fans everywhere.

I hope Lomax’s record collection is better organized than mine.

Alan Lomax is unquestionably one of the most important figures in 20th century music. It certainly is not difficult to find effusive praise of the man. Brian Eno said that without Lomax, “It’s possible that there would have been no blues explosion, no R&B movement, no Beatles and no Stones and no Velvet Underground.” According to Studs Terkel, “What Caruso was to singing, Alan Lomax is to musicology.”

Lomax is also a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, as well as a National Book Critics Circle Award, for The Land Where the Blues Began, an account of his experiences recording in the Mississipi Delta in the 1930s and 1940s. Beginning as an assistant to his father John Lomax in the ‘30s, Alan helped record music performed by the forgotten members of society: prisoners, cowboys, fishermen and many others. In doing so, he brought to light a rich history of traditional music and culture, often hiding in plain sight right here in the United States. Notable artists first recorded by Lomax include Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie, two giants of the music world with legacies of incalculable influence.

Lomax was a musical performer, as well.

These efforts to give voice to the marginalized were no easy task. With the horrible, ugly race relations of the era, the white Lomax would sometimes get his (often black) artists and himself in trouble for their social interactions. In The Land Where the Blues Began he tells of the need to converse with performers’ in the dark and hidden from view, for fear of being seen “fraternizing” or even shaking hands. Later, he recalls getting himself in hot water with a local sheriff by respectfully addressing blues legend Son House as “Mister.” Luckily, both the performers and Lomax were able to overcome these difficulties and create a vast treasure trove of traditional music not only in the United States, but in the Caribbean and Europe.

The Land Where the Blues Began, Lomax’s award-winning book.

It should be noted that Lomax was not entirely a heroic, benevolent figure, controversial in some circles where people feel that he exploited performers for his own gain. Still, wherever you stand on the question of Lomax’s ethics, one cannot deny that his archive of recordings helped provide the spark for the American and British folk revivals, as well as the world music craze, leading to artists like Bob Dylan, clearly one of the most influential figures in popular music history.

In England, the new-found national obsession with classic American folk songs led to the creation of Skiffle, a pre-rock genre where artists like Jimmy Page, Roger Daltrey, and John Lennon got their starts. Obviously, Lomax was not the only field recorder and archivist working in those times, but he was certainly a significant and, more importantly, prolific figure. Much more than a mere recording technician, Alan also contributed to public knowledge of these works with his writings, as well as a series of radio shows and television programs throughout his lifetime.

Lonnie Donegan, Skiffle’s biggest star, covering a Woodie Guthrie song in awesome fashion. Check the drum solo.

These types of folk recordings have been a major influence on music artists for generations. Their visceral rawness and authenticity leaves an unshakable mark on any listener. Traditional music has touched not only Americana artists like the Grateful Dead or Bruce Springsteen, but also rootsy indie folksters like Bonnie “Prince” Billy. In addition, the efforts of Lomax and others to preserve and distribute folk songs from outside of the U.S. and Europe touched artists ranging from Van Dyke Parks to Paul Simon to Talking Heads. Covers of songs recorded by Lomax and his father show up in truly unexpected places, like Ram Jam’s goofy rock anthem “Black Betty,” or Moby’s dance hit “Honey.”

Blam-a-lam! James “Iron Head” Baker with the original recording of Black Betty. You can find Lomax himself performing it on Spotify.

While the musical artists deserve the greatest credit for actually performing the songs, Lomax and his archivist peers provided an endlessly important service in preserving them and making them available for public education and enjoyment. Despite the mass of immeasurable lasting influence on modern artists, Lomax’s greater achievement is physical rather than abstract: the actual archive of music, films and photographs that preserve forever the unique voices of our world. To record is the quintessential act of modern existence, and there are few recordings more significant than those which illuminate the rich history and incredible talent of marginalized or forgotten cultures and traditions. In short, the approaching availability of Lomax’s entire archive of recorded material is an occasion worth celebrating whole-heartedly.

Bessie Jones’ “Sometimes,” recorded by Lomax in 1960, is the basis of Moby’s “Honey.”

When Beloved Musicians Die Too Soon... Some May Rise?

2012-02-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

In what must be one of the strangest music-related stories in a long time, a South-African man is claiming to be Khulekani Mgqumeni "Kwakhe" Khumalo, a popular singer who died in late 2009. Bizarrely, he says he did not die at all, but is actually a victim of witchcraft, held captive by zombies for two years. This mystery man boasts some pretty legitimate corroborating sources, including Khumalo’s daughter, two common-law wives and his grandmother, who claims, “It really is him.” Thousands of people have flocked to Khumalo’s hometown in response, with local police even needing to resort to riot control tactics to keep the crowds contained. Authorities are continuing to investigate the situation, although they say the man’s fingerprints do not match Khumalo’s and he lacks the late singer’s identifying facial scars.

Khulekani Mgqumeni "Kwakhe" Khumalo while he was still alive.

Khumalo, also known as “Mgqumeni,” was a well-loved performer of Maskandi, a traditional folk music of the region. He was thought to have died back in 2009 at the young age of twenty-seven, after allegedly consuming a poisonous concoction given to him by a traditional healer. Since this odd resurrection controversy began, his music, unsurprisingly, has been selling extremely well, along with a pirated DVD copy of footage from his funeral. While the particulars of this episode might seem quite out of the ordinary to our Western ears, it’s important to take a look in the mirror before we judge too harshly.

Incredible crowd scenes from South Africa.

Musicians seem to have a peculiar habit of rising from the dead all over the world, and in America as often as anywhere else. Post-mortem “sightings” of Elvis Presley, who died in 1977, are an especially prevalent cultural phenomenon, providing material for movies like Bubba Ho-Tep and Mystery Train. In the age of the Internet, there are countless websites claiming to have proof that Mr. Presley is still alive. One theory got some major news coverage ten years ago, when a Kansas City doctor, Donald Hinton, claimed to be treating Elvis, now living under the name of Jesse (taken from Presley’s still-born twin brother) after having faked his own death. Supporters of this theory claim that Jesse has taken DNA tests which connect him to both sides of Presley’s family, proving that he is in fact the real Elvis.

A 2002 news report about Dr. Hinton and Jesse.

Another similar conspiracy concerns rapper Tupac Shakur, with TMZ getting in on the fun as recently as 2009, when they released a series of photographs showing a man bearing a strong resemblance to the late hip-hop icon. Just last year, a group of comedic hackers added fuel to the fire when they broke into the PBS website and posted a story about Tupac being found alive and well, living in New Zealand. The legitimacy of the news source led to quite the uproar- at least for a few hours. Michael Jackson, another worldwide icon, is the latest superstar whose sudden and mysterious death have contributed to the belief that he might still be alive. Even before the Internet, in the mid 1960s, an equal-but-opposite conspiracy arose, which claimed that Paul McCartney had died in a car crash and been replaced by a lookalike. There are still many fans today who could present an incredibly thorough, detailed case for this belief based on photographic comparison and other clues.

“Paul Is Dead” conspirators believe McCartney’s appearance suspiciously changed considerably over time.

Of course, we would all like to believe that our favorite musicians are still with us. Each one of these instances is a testament to the powerful ability of music to touch listeners on a personal level. Lyrics sung by someone you have never met can often feel like they were written just for you. We develop a relationship with our favorite artists, our lives rising and falling with each new song or album. We read the books they reference, style our hair like them and sometimes even try to adopt their worldview. In short, we treat them like they’re our friends. Especially when such an icon is taken from the world at a young age, as in all of these examples, that personal connection is an extremely difficult one to let go. It means we can never meet them, never laugh with them and learn from them. For anyone who saw their words and songs as a guiding light, the glow is extinguished suddenly and without explanation.

Elvis Lives Lane in Ottawa, Canada, home of the Elvis Sightings Society.

It is no coincidence that most of these cases revolve around supposed clues left behind for fans, like the word “ALIVE” allegedly inscribed on Michael Jackson’s lower lip on the cover of Michael, or the muffled lyrics “I buried Paul” many claim to hear during the fadeout of “Strawberry Fields Forever.” As fans, we want to believe that these artists left behind clues that only the truly dedicated would be able to uncover. Within these intensely personal experiences, we see the best and worst of music fandom. Ultimately, whether this South African man’s seemingly false identity claims prove to be just that, I think we can all understand the desire for our most beloved musical icons to rise from the grave. If by some improbable miracle, his story turns out to be true, at least it will bring solace to thousands of fans who were robbed of Khumalo’s talents far too soon.

Free Music Friday - February 10, 2012

2012-02-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Three hell-raisingly stupendous artists for you on this beautiful Friday:

1. Diehard - Old Habits EP

(free download from Bandcamp)

This week, I've found Old Habits, an EP full of covers by Diehard. Taking a cue from Yo La Tengo's perennial covers-for-pledges marathons on WFMU, Diehard recorded covers requested by those fans of theirs who donated at a high enough level on their Kickstarter campaign (for their album The Times We Didn't Have Fun, available on a pay-what-you'd-like basis here). The covers are home-recorded fun, and Diehard tackle Fugazi, The Promise Ring and The New Pornographers with ease. The highlight, though -- what really grabbed my attention -- was a hybrid of The Beatles and Pavement: Penny/Shady Lane. The promise of that combination alone should be enough to get you to click the link above.

-Andrew McNair

2. Butterknife - Do The Needful EP

(free download from Bandcamp)

This week, I've also found a new EP by Boston band Butterknife. This is simply five tracks of straightforward powerpop that does everything that powerpop should: snappy songs with catchy guitar riffs, punchy drums and good vocal harmonies. Highlights are the final two tracks: "Restless" and the epic "This Was a Romance."

-Andrew McNair

3. East of Underground - "Hell Below (cover)"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

-Tomi Mendel

Free Music Friday - February 2, 2012

2012-02-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

Thank Greatmusic It's Friday! Enclosed below are 5 handpicked free downloads of some of the most interesting new music hitting digital libraries everywhere. With such a diverse array of awe and wonder, you're sure to find something good. All you need to do is dive in.

The first three songs exist on the fringes of electronic experimental pop: Antn Hrkwk produces as unpronounceable but as intriguing tunes as his name, Absofacto debuts a new little heartfelt synth number and Zambri pumps up the energy with some ethereal girl zinging. Moving in a different direction to seamlessly crafted melodic rock, Onward, Soldiers gives us a lovely hammock-ready ditty, and finally, R&B/dance pop/indie genre-crosser Leonard Friend (of The XYZ Affair) showers us with 7 songs from his first solo EP.

-Your Loving Editor, Nancy Woo
Twitter: @woobuggy

1. Antn Hrkwk - "It's So Not Like That"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

LP: Mutually Assured

Woven together from a series of unrecognizably short samples of existing songs, Antn Hrkwk's "It's So Not Like That" is a quite unusual tune. Hrkwk is a musician who specializes in these re-assembled tracks, which he allegedly creates using film editing software Final Cut Pro. "It's So Not Like That" comes from his 2008 album Mutually Assured, which is available for free in its entirety via Recycling Records. In this song, Hrkwk builds abstract vocalizations and a jaunty acoustic guitar vamp into a slowly churning melody that is rather catchy in a weird, hypnotizing kind of way. No lyrics or deeper meaning here, just a loopy little lollipop that you're bound to either find grating or entrancing. If you like it, check out Antn Hrkwk's new album Thoroughbred, available here.

-Tomi Mendel

2. Absofacto - "Lies"

(name your price from Bandcamp)

EP: [Loners]

I've been quietly obsessed with Absofacto since I first heard his music in early 2011. He just released a new single so I figured I the timing was right for sharing. Absofacto is the side project of Jonathan Visger, a member of the band Mason Proper. Through Absofacto, Visger releases, as he puts it, "experimental pop music." After relishing in the little synth number that is "Lies," make you check out the rest of his music at music.absofacto.com.

-Ana Diaz

3. Zambri - "ICBYS" (Pronounced Ick-Bees)

(free download from Stereogum)

LP: House of Bassa

The uncanny musical magic that sometimes erupts from siblings (whether because of shared genes, shared tastes, similar vocal cords, or growing up together) has manifested in the duo of sisters, Zambri. They went from sharing toys and dreams as children to sharing ethereal electronic pop as adults, and this song, "ICBYS" is the first official release from their soon-to-be-released debut LP, House of Bassa. I imagine neon hair and geometrically patterned dresses from this punchy, girl rock song. If you dig it, watch for their upcoming album, out April 10th, from their Facebook page or website.

-Nancy Woo

4. Onward, Soldiers - "Telling Nobody"

(free download from Soundcloud)

LP: Monsters

Veering away now from the electronic music, I'd like to share a lovely little melodic pop gem by a group you'll love if you're a fan of Dr. Dog, Wilco or Built To Spill. Strummed and sung as if lazing on a hammock in the early afternoon, the song is crafted with precision and mastery. The piano melody introduces you immediately to the easy tempo, gliding smoothly into the subdued drums and bass keeping a lolling rhythm, with the seamless overlapping of harmonizing vocals and a relaxing guitar shining at the right times. If, like me, you're instantly impressed by the pleasant and unfolding songwriting from these North Carolina bandmates, you're going to want to seek out their upcoming album Monsters, available February 21st off of Winoca Records. In the meantime, listen to some previously released tracks from their website.

-Nancy Woo

5. Leonard Friend - Lynyrd Frynd EP

(free download emailed from Bandcamp)

7-song EP: Lynyrd Frynd

Lana Del Ray isn't the only one with a confusing stage name/album title. Leonard Friend (born Alex Feder), who used to be in the indie band The XYZ Affair, is now issuing solo releases as Leonard Friend, with his first EP titled Lynyrd Frynd. It may not be as controversial as Lizzy Grant's release of Lana Del Ray (which was retracted after she became Lana Del Ray herself), but still worth doing a double take. And once you listen to the music, you might want to do a double listen.

Existing somewhere between R&B, dance pop and electronic indie, there's a smooth and savvy soul vibe running through the sometimes flashy dance-floor tunes. With bedroom lines referring to the 1990s in the same breath as something like "it was a thrift store party," Leonard Friend gracefully merges multiple trendy worlds - it's nearly a half hour of good and surprising stuff. Get a hold on this before the clubs (or vinyl producers) do. And Facebook him up here.

-Nancy Woo

Etta James Album Sales Off The Charts Since Her Passing

2012-01-29T12:16:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

According to Billboard, sales of Etta James’ music have increased by 378% since the singer’s recent death on January 20th. Her greatest hits compilation The Best of Etta James - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection has just become her highest charting album ever, rising to number forty-six. Meanwhile, her download numbers received an even greater boost, as fans purchased 118,000 songs for an astounding 1,091% increase from the previous week’s sales. This is not the first time a musician has found success after their passing. In fact, it seems to be almost a tradition for music buyers to honor fallen heroes in this manner, especially in our social-media driven music world, when having music at our fingertips means we are ready to start downloading whenever there is a scandal, death, or other breaking news. It’s the same reason Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” had a huge week in downloads after a video of President Obama’s performing it at a fundraiser went viral.

Etta James is finding success in the afterlife.

Actually, this kind of trend occurred before the download era as well. When former Beatle George Harrison passed away in 2002, his solo hit “My Sweet Lord” topped the U.K. charts and re-entered the Hot 100 here in the U.S at number ninety-four. Interestingly, a re-recording of the same song was released just one year prior to commemorate the reissue of Harrison’s solo debut All Things Must Pass. That year, however, the song failed to chart. Unfortunately, it seems that it sometimes takes a death to make people interested, and it’s sad that fans were not able to show their appreciation for Harrison while he was still alive.

George was the first ex-Beatle to have a solo chart-topper.

The phenomenon is especially strong for those artists who have died tragically and suddenly while they were still in their prime. Another ex-Beatle, John Lennon, had his biggest American solo hit with “(Just Like) Starting Over” in late 1980, immediately following his horrific murder in December of that year. What had been a middling single prior to his death flew to the top of the charts as the world mourned, followed by “Woman” and, in the U.K., a re-release of “Imagine.” Otis Redding was the first artist to have a posthumous number one in the U.S., earning his only career chart-topper with “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay” in 1968, only a month after the soul singer tragically lost his life in a plane crash. Other artists who saw a big sales bump after their deaths were Jim Croce, Johnny Cash, Tupac Shakur, and recently, Amy Winehouse.

Otis’s final televized performance before his death.

Michael Jackson’s death in 2009 led to a sales increase so strong that it forced Billboard to make a change to the rules of their album charts. After his passing, in the first month alone, Jackson sold close to ten million albums worldwide. By year’s end, he was by far the top selling artist of the year both worldwide and domestically. Jackson’s greatest hits compilation, Number Ones, was the biggest seller for him that year. However, because it had been originally released in 2003, Billboard rules deemed it a “catalog album,” and as a result, it did not appear on the regular Billboard 200 album chart. Due to the incredible posthumous sales of Number Ones and other albums, Billboard announced that they were amending their rules to include both current and catalog albums on their weekly top 200 chart.

Number Ones sold big in 2009.

Clearly, the posthumous sales bump remains a significant force in popular music. In many ways, it’s a bit nonsensical. It may indicate that a song’s ability to “stand the test of time” has less to do with musical quality and more to do with pop culture relevance. While the state of affairs seems to reflect poorly on music fans, all too eager to throw an artist to the trash heap before suddenly relenting upon his or her death, it probably has more to do with the human instinct we all share to honor the dead. Sometimes a death or scandal, just like a song being featured in an advertisement or movie, can serve as a reminder of a tune or an artist many people had loved but forgotten. Still, it is always better to try and appreciate an artist to the fullest while they are still alive.

Free Music Friday - January 28, 2012

2012-01-27T16:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Free Music Friday, in which The Darcys tackle the gorgeous album by Steely Dan, Aja, adding enough of their own modern buzz to make it their own while respecting the original masterpiece. Check out two more that we've got for you, a Halloween-y fun one by Naked on the Vague and a classic songwriting gem by Diego Clare.

1. The Darcys - Aja (Steely Dan cover album)

(free download with e-mail)

There was no way I couldn't post this album this week:

1) The Darcys are one of my new favorite bands out of Canada
2) Steely Dan are one of my favorite bands
3) Aja is one of my favorite albums.

So when The Darcys record a cover of Steely Dan's Aja, and give it away for free? It's like I don't even have a choice.

This album does what I like in my favorite covers: it reveals new aspects of previously familiar songs. While it doesn't go as far as, say, Sun Kil Moon's Tiny Cities, where the songs are completely re-imagined, The Darcys' version of Aja is very much their own. None of the songs are the same tempo or length as the versions on the album and the instrumentation is much more droney and nowhere near as precise as Steely Dan's honed session musicians. I imagine that this is what Aja would sound like if Becker and Fagen had brought in Sonic Youth and Mogwai as session musicians. The end result is a completely different take on Aja that repeatedly touches on the original in small ways, while never giving into the temptation to merely recreate the original.

The standout track for me is "Peg," which I was anxious to hear to see what they did about the layers of Michael McDonald in the chorus. While they change the tempo and feel of the song (from a bouncy horn number in the original, they derive an indie rock anthem), they left in the focus on the layered vocals, to wonderful effect.

-By Andrew McNair

2. Naked on the Vague - "Clock of 12's"

(free download from Soundcloud)

EP: Twelve Dark Noons

Naked on the Vague is an intriguing Australian group with no-wave roots. "Clock of 12's" is a song from their Twelve Dark Noons E.P., a collection of songs composed as a companion piece to an experimental film of the same name by a director named Jacqueline Castel. It's a totally crazy song that sounds like something you might hear out of a girl group starring in a 1970s exploitation horror movie. A cluttered, noisy affair with Halloween-y guitars and indecipherable lyrics, "Clock of 12's" is a tune full of vitality and raw energy. Like the sound of a room collapsing, it assaults your ears and never lets up. Definitely worth a listen. Learn more about Naked on the Vague here.

-Tomi Mendel

3. Diego Clare - "Claim Your Prize"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

LP: Even Now (Part Two)

Los Angeles native Diego Clare's sound is a throwback to the classic singer/songwriter spirit commonly associated with greats such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. While most 20 year olds are slaving away at college, Clare is devoting his sleepless nights to making highly appealing music with an air of sophistication. "Claim Your Prize" is off his sophomore effort, Even Now (Part Two). Check him out at diegoclare.net/.

-Ana Diaz

Can the Looming Threat of Anti-Piracy Bills Alter the Internet’s Role in the Entertainment Industry?

2012-01-26T23:38:00.000-08:00

By Ana Diaz

Last Wednesday, January 18^th, was a day that will live in infamy as the day the internet went on strike in protest of the controversial SOPA/PIPA bills. Popular sites, such as Wikipedia and Wordpress, either completely blacked out their pages or had very noticeable alterations informing visitors of the two bills’ dangers. Though these bills aim to protect entertainment industries by punishing copyright violators, can they really alter our current system of consumption?

The 24 hour blackout: a story we will tell our grandkids.

The main issue giving rise to these bills is, of course, piracy. With the Internet becoming an intangible network of unlimited information an anonymity, illegall activities have become a regular part of the world wide web. Downloading and sharing is all but common among today’s Internet users. Some sources claim that one out of every four Internet users visit sites that illegally contain copyrighted materials. Considering these statistics, the SOPA/PIPA bills seek to cut down on illegal activity through some arguably drastic measures. Under these bills, websites could be held responsible for their users' content. Facebook and Youtube could be faced with the impossible task of policing user content to ensure legitimacy.

Under these bills, Justin Bieber’s adorable rise to fame via Youtube may have been a criminal act.

For the most part, the entertainment industry backs such bills because of their belief that piracy is a problem associated with billing and payment, rather than a problem with the product itself. Yet it seems as if the problem is something more akin to that of a distribution issue.

Drake does not seem to be having a “billing and payment” issue.

Today, a computer can connect anyone to everything. Despite having the world literally at their fingertips, the entertainment industry is fighting to keep an increasingly archaic distribution method afloat. For instance, despite the obvious preference for digital files, a consumer must purchase an album at a brick and mortar store to avoid a slew of cumbersome DRM restrictions commonly associated with the format of choice.

Even after this physical and legitimate purchase, a consumer does not necessarily own the content. For the RIAA, the Recording Industry Association of America, a CD purchase only means the consumer can use the product rather than granting ownership. The same applies for software. Instead of exchanging money for goods, a consumer is exchanging money for a service that can be retracted or altered at anytime. Illegal downloading, on the other hand, is a very convenient method of acquisition that grants unlimited ownership. It bypasses all the middle men. Many claim to pirate music because of these technicalities.

Pictured: something you spent tons of money on but don’t own.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, digital sales have surpassed physical sales. The Internet has turned the digital into something as commonplace as water. Therefore, it is unlikely that altering the convenience of the Internet will lead to substantial retroactive change. Digital files are not assets but commodities, in a sense. Piracy is likely rampant not because consumers stubbornly refuse to pay but because the legal means of acquisition are becoming increasingly inconvenient. Proper compensation is obviously of upmost importance but ignoring the constantly changing means of dispersal or distribution is an unrealistic approach in a progressively intangible world.

Can Musicians Be Politicians? Youssou N'Dour Is Willing to Try

2012-01-22T16:02:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

Internationally renowned singer and musician Youssou N’Dour is ready to take a step away from music and enter the world of politics. He has recently announced his candidacy for the office of president in his native country of Senegal. The 52-year-old, extremely popular throughout the African continent, is quite confident that he can succeed, saying in a BBC interview, "I'm going to win this election in the first round. Definitely. No question." Unfortunately for N’Dour, there is a fairly mixed track record for musicians entering into politics, especially when compared with their acting brethren. Thespians like Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger famously had a lot of success in government here in the United States, rising to offices of considerable power. Meanwhile, overseas, actors Joseph Estrada (Phillippines) and Lech & Jaroslaw Kaczynski (Poland) earned governing positions in their own nations.

Mid-’90s hit for Presidential Candidate Youssou N’Dour

As far as musicians go, however, Congressman Sonny Bono is probably the only notable example in the United States. Although Dead Kennedy’s frontman Jello Biafra ran for Mayor of San Francisco in 1979 (coming in fourth) and was second place to Ralph Nader in the 2000 race for Presidential Candidate of the Green Party, his valiant efforts have never resulted in any sort of position of power. Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean’s unsuccessful 2010 bid for the Presidency in Haiti is another discouraging example for Youssou.

Jello Biafra: Leader of the Free World?

On the other hand, history is not completely unkind to politically ambitious musicians. Tropicalia pioneer Gilberto Gil, for instance, has had a fairly successful career outside of music. From the extremely low point of political exile from his native Brazil in the late 1960s due to the content of his music, Gil climbed all the way back to achieve the office of Minister of Culture in his homeland, a post which he held for five years. He has continued to release new music throughout his political career. Peter Garrett, former vocalist for Midnight Oil, is a similar example, currently the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth in Australia.

He’s gotta be the coolest of all politicians.

Strangely, politicians may in fact have had more success as musicians than the other way around. One of former-President Bill Clinton’s most memorable moments was his sunglasses-clad saxophone performance on The Arsenio Hall Show, and former Secretary of State Condolezza Rice was actually a standout pianist as a teenager, even later showcasing her skills in a performance for Queen Elizabeth II. Another U.S. President, Richard Nixon, was also a highly accomplished musician from a very young age, and a little digging on Youtube reveals a performance of an original piano concerto on The Jack Paar Show. He also made a special appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville only months before resigning from office in 1974.

A thoroughly fascinating video.

Perhaps the oddest story of musical success for a politician comes from Charles Dawes, who, before serving as Vice President under Calvin Coolidge, had a minor hit with a composition entitled “Melody in A Major.” Unfortunately, Dawes, who died in 1951, did not survive to see his tune transformed into a major pop hit, with a version by Tommy Edwards (featuring lyrics by Carl Sigman) known as “It’s All in the Game” hitting number one on U.S. and U.K. charts in 1958. Dawes’ many other accomplishments include a Nobel Peace Prize and a tour of duty as a Brigadier General during World War I.

Isaac Hayes brings us the sexiest - and definitely the least Vice-Presidential - rendition of “It’s All In The Game”

Overall, there is not a great precedent for musicians like Youssou N’Dour when it comes to gaining political office. At the same time, no one with this strong of a local fan base has ever really given it a try. It is unclear whether his fame can translate to votes, but if examples like that of President Reagan are any indication, it certainly won’t hurt. Current President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, is in hot water after attempting to modify electoral laws in his favor, so there might be room for an unexpected candidate to triumph. For a country that has remained relatively stable amid many troubled neighbors, these elections are a big deal, and the voting, which takes place in February, should prove quite interesting. Perhaps we’ll get to see, for the first time ever, a musician rise to an extremely powerful governing role.

Lana Del Rey Keeps Critics Buzzing with TV Debut

2012-01-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

By Ana Diaz

Last weekend Lana Del Rey, the blogosphere’s current topic of choice, made her American television debut on Saturday Night Live with a performance of “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans.” Blame it on the bright lights or the live TV jitters but the performances were admittedly less than stellar as Del Rey struggled to recreate the atmosphere of her studio recordings.

SNL perfomance of “Video Games”

For those unfamiliar with Del Rey, she is one of 2011’s most talked about new comers (though, after Saturday’s performance those numbers are fast decreasing). She made a noticeable stir in the indie music scene towards the end of 2011 when the release of her now highly popular single “Video Games” created a polarized buzz online.

SNL Performance of “Blue Jeans”

Del Rey originally entered the music scene in 2008 with the release of an EP titled Kill Kill under her previous moniker of Lizzy Grant. In 2010 she released another EP titled Lana Del Rey under that same stage name. These two initial releases introduced Del Rey with a classic lounge sound that, although enjoyable in their own respect, lack the sultry sex appeal that captivated fans in 2011. Unfortunately, the album was only available for purchase for a short time before it was pulled, most likely by her management to avoid confusion as they revamped and renamed her to the artist we now know as Lana Del Rey.

So why exactly is there so much buzz about Lana Del Rey? It obviously goes beyond the simple fact that she performed less than favorably on live TV. Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine is often viewed as a hugely talented singer and even she had an off day on SNL. Let’s not forget Ashlee Simpson’s mishap. At least Del Rey was singing in her performance.

The Hipster Runoff’s current banner.

The Internet literally cannot get enough of LDR.

It seems as if her transformation from Lizzy Grant to LDR is what’s bothering her critics the most while simultaneously inspiring her fans. Many see this as a tangible example of how she is supposedly manufactured and artificial. The idea of reinvention is incredibly frightening and alluring in the world of modern independent music. There exists a deep fissure in the music community when it comes to this topic. A makeover is potentially the best way to capture a new audience but it’s also the easiest way to get accused of selling out. Despite Bob Dylan’s current stance as a music legend, his switch from a folk protest singer to an electric guitar wielding rock star was also met with loud criticism and heavy accusations of selling out.

Regardless of whether Lana Del Rey’s reemergence as a “gangster Nancy Sinatra” is an act or not, it has achieved its purpose. People are talking about her, but more importantly they are listening to her music. Chances are this botched live performance will incite more people to listen to, if not buy, her upcoming album, even if it’s just to criticize.

Born to Die will be released at the end of this month.

Editor's Note: The ironic thing is that LDR would not be nearly as popular without her critics, who contribute to her buzz as they rip her apart for being unbuzzworthy. In fact, her critics and detractors probably contribute more to her popularity than her fans, bringing attention to her for the very things they say shouldn't be a part of an "authentic indie equation" - her style, sex appeal, marketing and media presence (all the while strengthening all of these things).

If nothing else, Lana Del Ray is an icon of the times, a case study in the unfolding properties of independent music making, mainstream marketing strategies and the immense power of the Internet to popularize -and capitalize- on trends. More importantly, no matter what anyone thinks of her or her music, she has undoubtedly transcended her own art to become a blurry battlefield of ideologies for the people who have an opinion on her - Lana Del Rey reveals more about our society by the heated reactions to her than through her actual music.

And her story begs the question -not a new question, but asked in a new context- where is the line drawn between authenticity and plasticity? It's hard to say with Lana Del Rey, but nevertheless, she has become a symbol that we each internally measure our values against. In that sense, there's no reason not to at least appreciate, it not hail, Lana Del Rey as the accidental torchbearer of our current confusion, drawn out by so many different voices in an increasingly digitalized world, who are able to express themselves through more platforms than ever before.

Free Music Friday - January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

Okay peepers, because we are about to expedite ourselves to the hustling and bustling of NAMM, National Association of Music Merchandisers, convention in Anaheim, CA this weekend, we are sharing 4 rather than 5 picks with you this week. But in all fairness, two of those picks have a plethora of songs to fill a whole other blog post if we wanted to. One of them is a free long-awaited double album and another is a fantastic compilation of various artists from Paper Bag Records. In between, we see a return of the indie sensation Cloud Control and a stirring cover of one of Arthur Russell's best.

We can't wait to see what NAMM has to offer in the way of new music gear (some of which we hope to share with our music-playing audience in the form of monthly giveaways). So stay tuned for some great stuff coming in the next few weeks. And enjoy.

1. Joseph Arthur - Redemption City

(free album download from artist)

Double album: Redemption City

Joseph Arthur is giving away his new double album, Redemption City, for free on his website. He's been working on it since 2009 and even built a studio for the express purpose of recording this album. Playing every instrument on the album himself, he gives each song a rich, multi-layered soundscape, often centered around a simple strummed guitar, with synthesizers, drum machines and other electronica swirling out around it, enveloping the guitar in pulsing and driving rhythms and accompanying vocals that skirt the boundary between talking and singing.

-Andrew McNair

2. Cloud Control – Meditation Song #2 (Why, Oh Why)

(click to stream or right click to save as)

LP: Bliss Release

Cloud Control is already a musical staple in their home county of Australia but are quickly on their way to achieving the same fame here in America. They blend the catchiness of pop with the lush auras of folk and psychedelic sounds. Their latest endeavor, Bliss Release, is out now.

-Ana Diaz

3. Arthur's Landing - "Don't Forget About Me (cover)"

(free download from Soundcloud)

Nirosta Steel, performer of "Don't Forget About Me," is the alias of Steven Hall, a member of a group known as Arthur's Landing. This band, which specializes in covers of late disco/experimental/classical genius Arthur Russell, consists entirely of musicians who were friends with Russell during his lifetime. "Don't Forget About Me" is another cover, and it's a beautiful rendition that embodies the elusive, touching nature of Russell's body of work perhaps even better than the country-leaning original version did (check it out below). Despite the stripped-down, bedroom recording feel, the tune is instantly gripping with Hall's fragile vocals doing justice to the delicately probing melody. Awash in atmospheric bass and slippery guitar licks, his harmonies bring to the fore the longing and naivete of the lyrics. Arthur's Landing's debut album came out earlier this week. Learn more here!

-Tomi Mendel

4. Various Artists - The Paper Bag Sessions Vol. 1

(free compilation download with email)

Once in a while, a record label or other music producing parent company releases a compilation of their best and brightest artists that they don't want the world to miss. Paper Bag Records, a label carrying some fantastic new artists, has done just that and the compilation is up for free. One of their artists, Austra, is one of my new personal favorites, and the two songs on this record are urgent renditions of a beautiful operatic female voice carried over precise piano. I seriously lose it over "Lose It." This group's other songs grow to include electronic beats and synth machines, and I might characterize them as dark electronic opera. Katie Stelmanis's voice is seriously out of this world.

After that, the whole album is a mellow compilation of some folk, some bluegrass-y and some pure feelings of longing expressed through guitar, harmonica and tambourine. PS I Love You delivers painfully plaintive vocals and The Rural Alberta Advantage produces no less than a modern regret ballad, and a song slightly reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel but with their own powerful lyrical spin.

The full track listing is as follows:

Under The Knife – The Rural Alberta Advantage
Lose It – Austra
Lindsay – Elliott BROOD
Facelove – PS I Love You
Standing On The Edge – Cuff The Duke
Tornado ’87 – The Rural Alberta Advantage
Believe Me – Austra
If I Get Old – Elliott BROOD
Butterflies and Boners – PS I Love You
Letting Go – Cuff The Duke

-Nancy Woo

Win Some AKG Headphones & Your Ears Will Love You

2012-01-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

By Nancy Woo

It's January. The beginning of the year. A time to regroup, recap and resolute. If improving your music listening experience is one of those things on your resolutions list, Online Rock may be able to help you actualize this one. (Unfortunately, we can't do anything about helping you lose that holiday weight...)

This month, we are giving away a rocking pair of AKG headphones. AKG is a renowned personal audio company that produces top of the line headphones, microphones and wireless equipment. This pair of M80 MKII semi-open studio headphones will make you feel like you're listening to music as it's being played just for your ears. With comfy leatherette ear pads and breezy straps, it will be more like wearing pillows that play music than agonizing over awkward earbuds.

Check out the Musician's Friend product page or AKG website for more information.

Features

Semi-open circum-aural design
1.57” driver
Adjustable headband
Leatherette earpads
Single-sided cable

There's no time to waste on bad audio quality, so just post a comment on our Facebook wall for your chance to win a pair of these puppies. You could be the next lucky duck.

Jack White Invites Tom Jones to Record on Third Man Records

2012-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

Music fans need to brace themselves for the March 5th arrival of a rather unusual collaboration. As a part of its so-called “Blue Series,” Jack White’s Third Man Records plans to release a new single featuring the former White Stripes frontman and famed “What’s New Pussycat?” crooner Tom Jones. While probably no one would describe this pairing as “long-awaited,” it’s an interesting, surprising collaboration that is almost certain to be a treat.

Yep, that’s right.

Jack White is no stranger to unusual musical partners. According to the Third Man website, the concept of his “Blue Series” recordings is to invite musicians who pass through to “stop by and record a song or two.” These guest musicians have included acts as diverse as Wanda Jackson, Insane Clown Posse, Jeff The Brotherhood and actors John C. Reilly and Stephen Colbert. Their recordings, produced by White, are all released as 7” singles on vinyl, as well as made available digitally on iTunes. In this case, Jones and White have recorded a cover of “Evil” by blues legend Howlin’ Wolf, backed by a new version of “Jezebel,” a song from Jones’ 2002 album, Mr. Jones.

Colbert’s contribution to the Blue Series.

The series’ numerous eclectic collaborations have tended toward many similarly hip blues, country and garage covers, helping Jack White continue to stake out his territory as the “go-to guy” for reviving all manner of rootsy, raw music from the past. To his credit, he has not been averse to tackling material that is often maligned in rock circles, including notable covers of “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

Jack White takes on Paul McCartney.

For his part, despite being generally associated with giddy old ladies and Vegas-style, powerhouse crooning, Tom Jones is, in fact, sneakily cooler than you thought he was. The seventy-one year old Welsh singer got his start in the mid-1960s, making some early recordings with legendary, innovative producer Joe Meek. It was the beginning of a career full of fascinating genre-bending and unique collaborations.

“Little Lonely One,” an early singles with Joe Meek.

He went from topping the country charts in 1976 with “Say You’ll Stay Until Tomorrow” to later working with electronic music pioneers the Art of Noise on an unusual cover of Prince’s “Kiss.” Other surprising covers Jones has undertaken include “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” by Arctic Monkeys and “Burning Down The House” by Talking Heads. Outside of music, Jones managed to make self-mocking appearances on The Simpsons and in the movie Mars Attacks! His long, successful career has proven that there will always be a place for someone with a great sense of humor and a knockout singing voice.

Jones singing the heck out of Orbison’s “In Dreams,” pre-Blue Velvet. Impressively, there’s no falsetto involved.

Interestingly, there were already some connections between Jack White and Tom Jones before this new collaboration. Coincidentally, two of Jones’ biggest hits involved some of White’s aforementioned reclamation projects, namely Bacharach/David (on “What’s New Pussycat”) and Dolly Parton (his U.K. chart-topping cover of “Islands in the Stream”). In addition, Jones has shown a predilection for the same kind of traditional blues music that White admires, covering blues standard “Motherless Child” with Portishead, for instance. Regarding the upcoming recordings, Jack White said that Jones “impressed the shit out of everybody.” Perhaps with a closer look at Jones’ long career, White might not have been quite so surprised.

Free Music Friday the 13th - January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

Do you feel the winds a-blowin' in a witchy way? Welcome to our Friday the 13th Free Music Friday special. We won't say these tunes are necessarily lucky, but hey, they certainly ain't unlucky! The goodies we've got lined up include a folk-tronic duo that combines elements of poetry and dance; a dreamy synth reverie; some upbeat summer tunes to get us in the mood for sunshine; a hook-filled poppy EP; and whimsical folk singer Kate Tucker's latest EP. Who are they, you say? Well, read on to find out, and good luck.

-Nancy Woo, editor

*Featured*

1. yOya - "Fireworks"

(free streaming from website, free download with email)

LP: Nothing to Die

Combining the soft, lyrically powerful nature of folk music and the jumpy, upbeat strain of modern electronic dance music, yOya gives "folk-tronica" a great name. Though no band is ever beholden to their genre, the already genre-busting nature of folk-tronica seems to fit them perfectly. There's poetry in their lyrics, sung articulately so that you can hear them, most notably in a spine-tingling falsetto, yet there's also a steady beat from a drum machine and a healthy dose of synth-driven experimentalism that makes the music undeniably fun. It manages to be dreamy, catchy, poetic and dancey all at once.

I saw this duo perform last week at the Satellite in L.A., one on acoustic guitar and one on keyboards, and was astounded by an amazing set. This song, "Fireworks," definitely has a melody worth loving, sung in perfect harmony, with a catchy chorus whose build up and breakdown may move you. Check out their website and treat yourself to some lovely tunes.

-Nancy Woo

Bonus: Signing up for the mailing list also gets you a free download of their mash-ups and covers. When I saw them perform, they did an impeccable and truly cool mash-up of Radiohead's "High and Dry," with Gary Jule's version of "Mad World," so there are sure to be some gems in that bunch.

2. Porcelain Raft - "Put Me to Sleep"

(click to stream or right click to save as)

LP: Strange Weekend

Mauro Remiddi, also known as Porcelain Raft, is an Italian-born musician with an engaging modern sound. "Put Me To Sleep," from his debut Strange Weekend, is a great example of his modern-tuned ear, with its epic, open atmosphere and propulsive electronic drumbeat. Remiddi's laid-back, whispery vocals are reminiscent of acts like Destroyer, and they are supported strongly by the loopy, shimmering music that unfolds underneath. Mixing loops and synths with choir-like background singers and shoegazey guitars, "Put Me To Sleep" is a promising and addictive single from Porcelain Raft. Find out more from his website!

-Tomi Mendel

3. The Denzels - Easy Tiger

(free download from Bandcamp)

2-song EP: Easy Tiger

The Denzels are giving away their Easy Tiger EP, two songs that sit comfortably between garage and noise pop. Both songs are bright in a way that feels like they anticipate summer.

-Andrew McNair

4. Free Swim - Dennis

(free download from Bandcamp)

4-song EP: Dennis

Free Swim is releasing their Dennis EP for free, as well. The artist seems to be more of a "he" than a "they," though, as the entire album is credited solely to Paul Coltofeneau. The music is smart and hook-filled and the vocals are reminiscent of John Wesley Harding, both in the timbre of Coltofeneau's voice as well as his wordplay in the lyrics.

-Andrew McNair

5. Kate Tucker - Ghost of Something New

(free streaming from NoiseTrade, and free download with email)

5-song EP: Ghost of Something New

Kate Tucker is releasing five tracks from her upcoming EP, Ghost of Something New for free. An alt-country chanteuse, she sings like a young Dolly Parton over songs with the fierceness and immediacy of Neko Case. The full EP will be released in March.

-Andrew McNair

At the Drive-In Reunites and Joins Coachella Lineup

2012-01-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

By Ana Diaz

After a decade-long hiatus, the members of American post-hardcore band At the Drive-In will again take the stage together. On Monday afternoon, the band’s sparse Twitter account and webpage displayed an unexpected message: “¡ ATTENTION ! To whom it may concern: AT THE DRIVE-IN will be breaking their 11 year silence... THIS STATION IS …NOW…OPERATIONAL,” cryptically indicating that the band, with all five of its original members, has at last reunited.

This station is now operational!

Though At the Drive-In began to peak in the early 2000s, their journey began way back in 1993 as the post-hardcore genre began to fully unfurl. The band spent the next few years playing to empty clubs, but slowly, ATDI began to create place for itself by combining Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s strange lyrics with incredibly explosive and energetic live performances. This energy and tenacity paid off because by the first year of the new millennium, ATDI was embarking on a world wide tour and even gaining air time on MTV.

ATDI performing "One Armed Scissor" on Later... with Jools Holland in late 2000.

At the Drive-in initially broke up in early 2001 following the release and success of their critically acclaimed third album, Relationship of Command. Lead singer and lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala claimed responsibility for the 2001 breakup as he became more vocal of his belief that ATDI was hindering his creativity. Despite the loss of a band at the height of its popularity, the initial breakup spawned multiple equally talented musical endeavors. Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López went on to form the Grammy award-winning progressive rock band The Mars Volta. The remaining members continued with their rock influence and formed the band Sparta. Alongside these two main branches, some members also pursued other solo projects such as my personal ATDI branch-off favorite, Jim Ward’s country inspired Sleepercar.

The aftermath of a breakup: Sparta and The Mars Volta.

Signs that the members of At the Drive-In had made amends became apparent in 2009 when, in an interview, former front-man Bixler-Zavala stated he had apologized to his former band-mates and that the group was possibly considering becoming a collaborative whole again. So, bands that have broken up due to creative differences, take note because apologies and reconciliations do work. I’m specifically looking at you Morrissey and Johnny Marr.

One day……sigh.

Alongside the reunion notification, the band announced that they would also play at the Coachella Valley Arts and Music festival this year on April 15th and April 22nd. They are slated to be one of the closing acts on both of the festival’s Sunday nights. No formal announcements or indications of new material have been made yet.

Vinyl Record Sales Continue Upward Trend as Digital Format Polarize Music Consumers

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

The numbers are in on music sales for 2011, and they show that music fans may be more polarized than ever when it comes to how they make purchases. Vinyl records, once thought to be a totally obsolete, dead in the water format, are continuing their astounding recent revival, totaling 3,900,000 in units sold. This represents an eye-popping improvement of thirty-six percent over 2010’s tally. Additionally, it marks the sixth consecutive year of rising vinyl sales. Amazingly, for the fourth year in a row, this old-school record format has sold more than at any time since at least 1991, when Nielsen Soundscan started keeping track of music sales. In other words, the last time anyone was buying this much vinyl was very likely the 1980s, when it was still a fairly viable format.

Break out your (parents’) record collection!

Before vinyl fans get too excited, it is important to note that these numbers represent less than two percent of total album sales, obviously an incredibly small number. However, the sales are improving significantly every year, with fans of both old and new music giving vinyl albums another chance. Current indie artists like Fleet Foxes and the Black Keys stand side by side with the Beatles, whose Abbey Road album leads all vinyl sales (for the third year in a row) with 41,000 units moved. Fascinatingly, Abbey Road also accounted for an astounding ninety-five percent of total Beatles vinyl sold, leading one to wonder what happened to all their other records. Not recorded in any of these totals is the vibrant market for used vinyl. Considering the nostalgia associated with the medium, purchases of older LPs likely account for a big chunk of the total vinyl sales in a given year. If these statistics were added to the current Nielsen numbers, the sales spike would be even more significant.

No love for Magical Mystery Tour?

This rise of vinyl LPs is another symptom of today’s retro culture, a society that seems somewhat obsessed with its own past. Along with the vinyl revival, cassette-tape record labels are coming into vogue, and the reach of pervasive nostalgia stretches to endless movie and television show remakes, the pop-history-mining of meme culture and the vast archives on sites like Youtube, Netflix or Spotify. With the world moving so fast ahead, many long for the ways of the past, and a dusty, imperfect vinyl record serves as a wonderful reminder of the physicality and humanity of the analog life we are leaving behind. Boasting high-quality audio mixed with a clunky-yet-dignified inconvenience that breeds personal emotional attachment, vinyl albums are perhaps are the purest representation of musical fandom.

The next big thing.

On the other hand, not everyone is on board with reviving bygone music formats. In fact, 2011 also happened to be the first year ever in which digital music downloads surpassed physical sales. So, while vinyl might be on the rise, MP3s are as well, and in much greater numbers. Though confusing at first glance, it is a trend that makes sense upon reflection, giving an indication of the extremes brought on by changing technology. A consistent rise in digital sales is no surprise, but the vinyl numbers seems to indicate a growing backlash. After all is said and done, it will surely be CDs that suffer the most, lacking either the convenience of MP3s or the nostalgic allure of vinyl LPs.

Could old-school records potentially outstrip compact disc sales in the foreseeable future? Unfortunately for vinyl enthusiasts, CDs accounted for 223,500,000 in sales in 2011, still miles ahead. However, the format is trending down, ending the year at close to six percent behind 2010’s pace. Still, although vinyl remains a niche market at the moment, the striking upward trend in sales cannot be ignored. As long as the world continues to move further and further down the digital tunnel, there will be an ever-stronger longing for a connection to music’s past. It must be an enormous surprise for anyone who was around in the music industry fifteen years ago, but the vinyl LP market looks sure to grow and thrive for years to come, representing the clear antithesis to the MP3.

Free Music Friday - January 6, 2012

2012-01-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, baby, watch out, we're entering 2012 full steam ahead - or, rather, in these technologically advanced days, with all gigabytes aimed forward. Welcome to the new year, and the first day of the rest of your life. I am jittering with excitement about these 5 artists below, all with a distinctive take on how music should be made.

If this is the end, let's go out in style!

From the world of electronic pop stardom, we proudly present Grimes, a siren-like synth-driven singer who sounds like she could be from another world. And to boomerang completely around to her musical foil, we also present Kae Sun, with traditional African folk tunes that aim to reconnect people with their earthy beginnings. Also throwing some interesting curveballs into the mix, we've got a 1970s reissue of a spectacular psychedelic tune from WITCH, a full-length album from Deek Hoi, an artist who combines homey folk with futuristic synth (seeing any themes here?), and finally, a truly wonderful and slightly sinister song from Mr Fogg that is currently trying to crawl out of the underground - in more ways than one. So let's get started.

-Nancy Woo

*Featured*

1. Grimes - "Genesis"

(free download from Gorilla vs. Bear)

LP: Visions

If Canadian-born electronic cutie Grimes hasn't blown your way yet, be prepared to sit down and let her wispy, tendril-like vocals whip across your too-clean face, as a full-blown electric whirlwind slowly cascades into the foreground behind her. She's like a one-woman siren, singing, echoing, layering and mixing, and there's something definitely special about her vaguely 80s but decidedly modern style, characterized by her uniquely alluring yet childlike, high-as-the-clouds vocals and a rich electronic pop soundscape that twirls and writhes like a dragon on ecstasy behind her, perfectly in sync with her singing and never ceasing. If you haven't already, definitely take this opportunity to grab her latest, "Genesis," which is forthcoming off her new album, Visions, set to be released in February via 4AD.

Bonus: Also download "Oblivion" from the same page. It's a twofer!

-Nancy Woo

2. Kae Sun - "Weh Weh"

(click to stream or right click to download)

EP: Outside the Barcode

If you could think of any artist pretty much doing the exact opposite of Grimes (using advanced technology to create music), it would be this artist here. Kae Sun is a Ghannian-born acoustic musician who, after living in Canada for nearly a decade, returned to his home country, reacquainting himself with the raw, un-commodotized experiences of the native farmland that informed his artistic sensibility. In these unadulterated African folk tunes, he hearkens back to the simple act of sharing music in a small community setting, using a guitar, his voice and communal chanting and clapping. Both relevant in different ways, Kae Sun and Grimes remind us of where we came from and where we are going. Following an EP from 2007 and a full-length from 2009, Kae Sun offers his latest EP, Outside the Barcode, from his website.

Bonus: Download the entire EP for free, in exchange for an email, from that link above.

-Nancy Woo

3. WITCH - "Strange Dream"

(click to stream or right click to download)

LP Reissue: Lazy Bones !!

All the way from Zambia in the 1970s comes "Strange Dream," a wonderfully off-kilter tune by the group WITCH. Members of the so-called "Zamrock" scene, WITCH has received the reissue treatment courtesy of Now-Again Records, who deserve a lot of thanks for bringing songs like this to light. It's a psychedelic folk ditty driven by bright, funky guitar plucks. Ramshackle and sincere, it strikes an emotional chord with deeply earnest vocals and a touch of real sadness despite the overall jaunty mood. Absolutely don't miss it! Learn more here.

-Tomi Mendel

4. Deek Hoi - The Golden Country

(full album download from Bandcamp)

LP: The Golden Country

Although Deek Hoi's The Golden Country was released five years ago, there is no reason to let its age make it less noteworthy. Tennessee-based Deek Hoi, the main musical endeavor of musician Daniel Coy, is one of those bands that can blend the new, old, traditional, and weird. Typical folk and bluegrass riffs and tinkling vintage synths stand side by side in this release. So, grab your nearest flannel shirt and take a small trip back to the simpler time that was 2007.

-Ana Diaz

5. Mr Fogg - "Stay Out of the Sun"

(free download with email)

Single: "Stay Out of the Sun"

Oooh yes. I'm loving this one SO HARD right now. Click this link to listen to the song on Soundcloud before you download it, if you so desire, and open yourself up to a world of dark synth that waits until you're complacent to explode with alarming fuzz right in your ear. With nonchalant, almost sinister vocals, this song paints the picture of a cloaked crusader dragging bags of bones down to a dungeon, the anxious heartbeat in the background pulsing the song forward. "I've got the key if you want it/ I've got your throat in my hands" - delicious. You'll want to listen again, and check out this artist for more. Following his debut release, Moving Parts, this is a special pre-release of this single, not set to officially clasp hands with the world until February 28th. So get it before it's on your grandmother's radar!

-Nancy Woo

Madonna Cracks Down on Music Piracy

2011-12-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

For multi-platinum pop idol Madonna, music piracy is no laughing matter. Back in November, a song called “Gimme All Your Love” was leaked on the Internet, several months before its intended official release on Madonna’s latest album. In response, her manager Guy Oseary took to social media, tweeting, “madonna told me this morning 'my true fans wouldn't do this'... whoever is responsible for this leak, we ask that you please stop!" However, anyone who thought Madonna would stop at twitter was sorely mistaken. She and her team of lawyers launched an investigation known as “Operation Madonnaleaks,” which eventually resulted in the December 21 arrest of a thirty-one year old man living in Zaragoza, Spain. This self-proclaimed “big Madonna fan” was charged for the illegal Internet distribution of the song, copies of which the local police found among his belongings.

Madonna: not a fan of your illegal behavior.

While the act of piracy is, of course, illegal, the punishment seems extreme because of how frequently albums and songs leak to the Web before their official release date. Rarely do artists pursue the culprits with such vigor. In addition, tech-savvy music fans have been spoiled in recent years by a fair number of reasonably sympathetic artists. For instance, dubstep producer Skrillex recently tweeted to his followers, regarding his latest E.P., “"just like i always say, go pirate it if you don't have the money... i just want you to have it...or you can buy it here..either way i’ll love you.”

He sees you downloading and he approves.

There have long been artists on both side of this issue. A decade ago, in the heyday of Napster, heavy metal legends Metallica famously sued after discovering their entire catalogue available for free via the peer-to-peer file sharing service. They became the most famous and vocal opponents of the revolutionary music technology, recruiting many other artists and all the major record labels to their side. Some artists, like Prince, have been even more extreme. The visionary musician elected to release his 2010 album 20Ten via newspaper after bluntly declaring the Internet to be “completely over.” Furthermore, in recent years he has ruthlessly cracked down on any and all non-official sources of his music, including, infamously, attempting to remove a thirty-second Youtube video of a toddler dancing to “Let’s Go Crazy.”

Holden Lenz drew the wrath of Prince and Universal Music Group with this cute video.

However, not every musician was on board with this type of message. Around the same time as the Metallica controversy, the Dave Matthews Band boldly uploaded their single “I Did It” on Napster in advance of a traditional CD release. "I don't see the sense in fighting something that is the future,” said Matthews at the time, “I don't feel that I'm in the position to say I'm being ripped off by Napster in any way." Other artists such as Chuck D of Public Enemy also spoke in favor of the service. Ultimately the support made little difference for Napster and the big-name services which followed, most of which eventually shut down due to government pressure or became legal pay-based websites. On the other hand, one could easily say they won the war in this case, as torrenting and file-sharing remains a huge problem for the music industry.

Metallica’s song “I Disappear” suspiciously started getting radio play before they released it.

Even if other artists choose to follow Madonna’s lead and put money and authority behind uncovering those men and women behind these illegal leaks, it’s hard to say if there will be any change in the situation. As Dave Matthews astutely observed back in 2001, it is rather difficult to stop the future from arriving. At the moment, even though some have paid exorbitant fines for uploading or downloading music, punishment overall is capricious, inconsistent, and difficult to enforce. Few people live in fear of being caught for these acts. However, if musicians somehow start to more consistently and harshly prosecute song pirates in this fashion, it could likely prove effective in scaring off at least some of the unwanted file sharing activity. Meanwhile, artists like Madonna will have to try and shake the image of being serious downloading buzz-kills, even if they do have the law on their side.

Free Music Friday - December 30, 2011

2011-12-30T00:36:00.000-08:00

What better way to close out the old year and bring in the new than with Lykke Li, The xx, Big Troubles and Lowry? Naught that I can think of. Except maybe getting blasted with confetti and dancing the night away. But hey, maybe these tunes will help kick you into the mood to ring in the new year right. See you in 2012!

-Nancy Woo

1. Lykke Li - The Lost Sessions Vol. 1

(click to download)

Special 3-Song Collection

Swedish pop singer Lykke Li has rapidly risen to indie pop stardom this past year with her sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, which was released in March. And as catchy as her songs are, if you've been listening to them for the past nine months, chances are that maybe you'd welcome a different take on them. On Lykke Li's website, you can download a free copy of The Lost Sessions Vol. 1, featuring alternate takes for Wounded Rhymes.

The first volume of The Lost Sessions includes "I Follow Rivers," "Jerome," and "Youth Knows No Pain." On her site, Lykke writes by way of introduction, "I'd thought I'd give you this to put in your little players, either stick it in your ears or play it loud when the lights are low, mind weary and days rainy." These takes are definitely more subdued than the versions that ended up on the album, slowed down and stripped down for a more lo-fi, acoustic sound. If you like this version of Lykke, she invites you to "maybe send it like a little gift or a kindly flu filled kiss." Because her music is infectious? Clever.

2. The xx - "Open Eyes (Demo)"

(free download from artist website)

Special Demo

Way back when in 2010, I played The xx's debut album so much that I had to put away the album for fear of melting the CD. Thankfully, for fans as zealous as myself, a new xx album is just around the corner. "Open Eyes" is our first taste of what will be the band's sophomore effort. This new demo is extremely minimal and bare but just as intimate as their previous work. The xx's untitled second album is slated to be released sometime in 2012.

3. Big Troubles - "She Smiles for Pictures"

(free download from Soundcloud)

LP: Romantic Comedy

Alex Craig and Ian Drennan make up Big Troubles, the duo who have concocted the messy fun of "She Smiles for Pictures." Their garage-y power-pop blended with breathy, harmonized vocals takes you back to the excitement of the mid-1990s alternative scene. At moments they sound like poppy Olivia Tremor Control or a more energetic Elliott Smith, bright enough to be radio-ready but also intricate enough for the more dedicated music lovers. "She Smiles for Pictures" is the second single from their album Romantic Comedy. Learn more here!

4. Lowry - Emporia

(free download from artist website with email)

LP: Emporia

Lowry's new album Emporia is available for free on their website. This is their first since 2008's Love Is Dead. In those three years, their sound has become more mature and they've produced a stronger album. Radiohead-like arrangements are met with rootsy instrumentation in songs that remind me a little of The Long Winters and The Arcade Fire, but mostly Lowry. They're coming into their own on this album and it's all yours for a mere email address.

The xx Release New Demo From Forthcoming Album

2011-12-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

By Ana Diaz

The xx, a London based minimalist indie rock band, have released a demo of a new track from their upcoming album. “Open Eyes” was posted on the band’s blog this past Christmas Day. Listen to the band’s holiday gift to fans below.

"Open Eyes," a demo from their upcoming album.

“Open Eyes” is the first new work from the band since they released their highly acclaimed 2009 debut, xx. Their debut album was characterized by minimal layers and has evidence of R&B and electronic influences. Another mainstay of the band are the singer’s, Oliver Sim and Romy Crofts, crooning vocals. Since there are two main vocalists, many of the tracks in their debut album have back-and-forth approach to the lyrics' delivery, almost like listening to a conversation. It creates a private atmosphere within the songs and the listener almost feels like a voyeur. Regardless, the intimacy created, which is amplified by the minimalist music, makes The xx one of those bands that just draws you in. They’ve drawn in so many fans that in 2010, they went on to win a highly coveted British music award, The Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

“Crystalized” was easily the biggest hit off their debut album.

Since the release of xx, The xx haven’t released any new material and mainly focused their collaborative efforts on touring. Producer Jamie Smith, more popularly known as Jaime xx, did have a slew of remix hits during the band’s down time. He even remixed the late Gil Scott-Heron final album into a creative piece that eloquently rearranged Heron’s narratives to coincide with electronic and dubstep textures.

We’re New Here, Jamie xx and Gil Scott-Heron’s remix album.

“Open Eyes” keeps true to the bands minimalist yet visceral sound created in the previous album. Romy Croft’s smoky voice envelopes the song and a simple guitar line gently moves it along. It’s a very bare and vulnerable sound. Noticeably absent from this endeavor are Oliver Sim’s husky voice and hollow bass as well as Jamie xx’s meticulous beats. For those fans out there that are thinking that this song is almost too minimal, don’t worry! It’s only a demo. According to Jamie xx, the band’s beat maker and producer, the new album will be influenced by club music. Although club music is far more energetic than anything The xx have done as a band thus far, their debut album and subsequent remixes have shown that these three young musicians are more than capable of the hard work and talent required to create a catchy yet alluring work.

The xx, dressed in black as usual.

Captain Beefheart's "Bat Chain Puller" To Be Officially Released After 35 Years

2011-12-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

By Tomi Mendel

Frank Zappa’s estate has announced the forthcoming release of Bat Chain Puller, a 1976 work by Captain Beefheart. The long-awaited album has been frequently bootlegged throughout the last thirty-five years, remaining unreleased as a result of an alleged dispute between producer Frank Zappa and his former manager, Herb Cohen. Zappa Records has decided to release the album on January 15th, despite the fact that Captain Beefheart, who passed away in December of 2010, had been reluctant to make it available during his lifetime. As with the Beach Boys’ SMiLE, which received a special release last month, many songs from the Bat Chain Puller sessions showed up in re-recorded versions on later Beefheart albums, including Doc at the Radar Station and Shiny Beast. However, fans will be excited to finally hear an official version of the record from the legendary avant-garde rocker.

Captain Beefheart (left), hanging with his frenemy Frank Zappa.

Beefheart, also known as Don Van Vliet, was a true original, best known for Trout Mask Replica, a sprawling 1969 album that stands as one of the most thoroughly unique and challenging works in recorded music history. Gaining notoriety as one of Frank Zappa’s cohorts in the late 1960s (they were high school friends), Beefheart quickly made a name for himself with his innovative style. His gruff singing voice mixed with an off-kilter combination of blues, rock and free jazz, made for a wacky, often totally noncommercial type of music that had an immeasurable influence on avant-garde and underground artists. “Sugar 'n Spikes” from Trout Mask Replica is a good example of his weirdness - a rollicking drumbeat loosely meets a jagged guitar while Beefheart barks abstract lyrics on top. What sounds like an improvised jam was actually carefully composed, just like the rest of the tunes on the album, which is a testament to Captain Beefheart’s untrained, idiosyncratic musical genius. Music critic Piero Scaruffi said of Trout Mask Replica, “The work is so innovative and complex as to be nearly indecipherable. The rhythm section sounds so polyrhythmic that all rhythm is lost. The singing, vaguely interested in music, travels within alien universes...The album is by all accounts an anthology of chaos in all its musical forms.”

Probably one of the more accessible songs on the album!

While he took an ill-advised stab at commercial success in the mid-1970s with albums like Unconditionally Guaranteed, Van Vliet could never entirely suppress his eccentricity, which especially shines through in his distinctive singing. Luckily for his cult fan base, Beefheart’s final three albums marked a return to form, and built upon the promise of the early records. This creative renaissance, which ended in 1982 with Ice Cream for Crow, his final album, all began with the Bat Chain Puller recordings. This certainly explains the excitement of fans when it comes to the unreleased work. Unfortunately, this second golden period screeched to a halt when Mr. Van Vliet decided to quit the music business in the early 1980s, opting to pursue his equally-acclaimed career in painting. Sadly, he stuck to this decision, and recorded no new music in the twenty-eight years between Ice Cream for Crow and his death due to multiple sclerosis at the age of sixty-nine. In doing so, he denied countless adventurous music fans of a one-of-a-kind hero. As a result, any new material is highly welcome, and despite Beefheart’s own misgivings about putting the album out, this new release of Bat Chain Puller should be a wonderful treat that provides a look at the creative re-ignition of a true musical maverick.

A live performance of “Bat Chain Puller” from 1980.

Free Music Friday - December 23, 2011

2011-12-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

Happy ho-ho-holidays, music lovers. Looks like you've been good this year because the Free Music Friday Santa has dropped by with some special presents for you, five in fact, of some seriously awesome indie bands. Cold War Kids have prepared a holiday special, along with a really well done cover from The Twilight Sad. Real Estate is one of those top bands of 2011 and they've got a free sampler for you here, plus a favorite of ours, Miracles of Modern Science, who rock out on the violin. And finally, a band to obsess over, Caveman. All five of these unique, interesting bands have been Santa approved for all, and you don't even have to leave out any cookies.

Whatever holidays you celebrate, here's a bountiful gift from Online Rock to you!

-Nancy Woo

1. Cold War Kids - "Where Would We Be Without Christmas?"

(free download from artist website)

Special Single

Long Beach natives Cold War Kids are gifting this holiday song to all their listeners. Combining just enough twinkly traditional Christmas synth with the now renowned sound of the Cold War Kids, featuring nostalgic and slightly controversial lyrics, that unique crooning voice and the indie-pop instrumentation of singing keyboards and slight drums, it's a great modern take on an old theme. How nice of them to give it out for free, no email even required.

-Nancy Woo

2. The Twilight Sad - "Never Tear Us Apart (INX cover)"
(free download with email)

Special Single

This week, Scotland-based shoegaze band The Twilight Sad are celebrating the holidays with a free music download! Their Free Christmas Single is actually a cover of an 80s classic, INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart." While the original is very 80s, complete with swelling synths, and strings, and a saxophone solo (gotta love that decade!), The Twilight Sad's version is a lot more toned-down, and they've added the requisite amount of drone and fuzz. Also, The Twilight Sad's singer, James Graham, has a thick Scottish accent that really comes out on certain parts of the song. It's an odd choice of song to cover for a Christmas single since "Never Tear Us Apart" is hardly a seasonal favorite, but you'll be able to listen to this one all year round.

(Note: It's not actually necessary to enter any friends' email addresses if you don't want to send the card to anyone and you just want to download it yourself)

-Elaine Mao

3. Real Estate - "Green Aisles"

(free download from Soundcloud)

LP: Days

From Real Estate's Days, a highly acclaimed album this year, comes the irresistible jangle-pop of "Green Aisles." Propelled by a sluggish rhythm and laid-back vocals, this is a song that really takes its time - in a good way. The multiple lilting, intertwining guitar lines are truly beautiful and put the listener in a reflective mood. It's airy like a wisp of a cloud floating by, but with enough melody to leave a serious mark. Learn more about Real Estate here!

-Tomi Mendel

4. Miracles of Modern Science - "Eating Me Alive"

(free download from Soundcloud)

LP: Dog Year

I'm a sucker for string instruments of the violin or cello variety, so naturally I had to include Miracles of Modern Science in this week's compilation. This band manages to create a catchy rock/pop sound with an array of instruments usually reserved for symphonies and orchestras. "Eating Me Alive" is fast paced, fun, and somewhat humorous love song that will have you asking "did I just really rock out to a violin?" Their debut album, Dog Year, is out now.

-Ana Diaz

5. Caveman - "Thankful"

(free download with email)

LP: CoCo Beware

To close out the set, I'd like to share a song from a recent favorite, Caveman. I must have listened to their new album, CoCo Beware at least a dozen times already, and I'm still craving more. (Not to mention, previous albums take a stylistic turn in a drastically different direction, showing their penchant for experimentation.) This band has been getting a lot of buzz lately, and since my recent obsession started a few weeks ago, it's easy to see why. They've got the wistful indie pop recipe of swirling melodies, aching synth, down-tuned instrumentation and slightly reverbing vocals that dream up to the heavens and drop back down with sincerity, plus lyrics that wrap the song in thought - and it's a recipe they've perfected. Throwing in a pinch of layered harmonies here, tambourines there and what really sets them apart - double drums with just the right amount of tribal flair - the end result is a winning combination of elements that just impresses. Definitely a band to watch.

-Nancy Woo