December Free Downloads
Well, you can’t say I never gave you a present. Here is a sleighload of free downloads I’ve found this month. You can snag some free mp3 singles or watch videos or listen to entire streamed albums (and even download some). There is a wide mix of genres here, but they all are solid artists who deserve a listen. Check them out! And Happy Holidays!
Steep Canyon Rangers
The Steep Canyon Rangers have been touring with Steve Martin recently, appearing on late night TV and Prairie Home Companion. They have a new CD out, Deep in the Shade (Rebel Records). If you’re into original bluegrass and would like to know more about this band, check out this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdsxGKtjPRY
Rob Halford
Judas Priest’s frontman, Rob Halford has a new holiday album. The songs range from hardcore to pop with metal instrumentation. His multi-octave voice shines on traditional carols, drawing forth delicious vocals that could be destined to knock holiday pop artists like Barry Manilow and Perry Como from their garland and tinsel thrones. He’s offering a free download of “Christmas Is For Everyone,” one of the more metal tracks from that album at: http://robhalford.com/
Sting
See Sting’s video about his new holiday album, If On a Winter’s Night, which is exceptional, by the way: http://stingwintersnight.com
The Greening
Experimental psychedelic British-pop band from Northern California The Greening released their latest EP, (She’s So) Electric, this fall. The EP has four catchy tunes, one of which inspired an animated video for the single, “Sunday Afternoon,” directed by renowned local artist/animator Danny Ochoa. It’s a super fun video, made with a 21 st century wink at “Yellow Submarine.”
You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JUQEKf3yhI&feature=related
Or you can download the EP here: http://www.myspace.com/thegreening
Army of Me
“I never intended for anyone to hear this music,” says indie rock Army Of Me singer Vince Scheuerman. The recordings on Make Yourself Naked, a new EP Scheuerman just released originally were meant to be song ideas and demos for the next Army Of Me record. But what he found during his brainstorming was an intimate snapshot of an acoustic singer/songwriter that had to be shared. The songs on the 5-song EP paint a picture of vulnerability that stands in contrast to anything the band has done before.
If you want a free MP3 of “Love Song,” track 4 of Make Yourself Naked, email me at:
editor@refrainmagazine.com and I’ll email you the track.
Tim Fite
Musician, carnival barker, and fine artist Tim Fite, who Esquire Magazine called “one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most subversive renaissance men,” has been producing not only music, but books, videos, web series, and drawings. Unfortunately, this talent has been overlooked by most music fans. For a sampling of some of his work—and complete downloads of albums, books, and videos, go to http://timfite.com
The wealth of freebies there is unheard of.
Midnight Masses
Midnight Masses, a Brooklyn-based group led and formed by Autry Fulbright, released their debut album, Rapture Ready, I Gazed At The Body, this November on Collect Records. When they play live, there can be a small core group of players or an imposing 14-piece collection of string players, organists, and guests pulled from any number of Brooklyn’s finest bands. They are offering a free download of “Walk On Water” from their album. You can grab it here:
http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Midnight_Masses/track/Walk_On_Water
Brett Dennen
Singer/Songwriter Brett Dennen and New York based Brazilian ex-pats Forro in the Dark collaborated in the studio to record new Brazilian flavored versions of hit songs from Dennen’s 2007 album Hope for the Hopeless and a new track called “Joan of Arc.” These songs formed a new EP that also includes a duet by Jason Mraz and Dennen of “Long Road to Forgiveness.” Dennen currently is touring with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and will lend up at the Fox Theatre in Oakland for a special homecoming New Year’s Eve show (12/31).
Dennen is offering fans a free download of “Weed Money Man,” the hit single from Dennen’s band F.T.E. (For The Establishment). You can go here to sign up for the free download: http://www.downtownmusic.com/brettdennen/wmm
You can watch a video of that song at that site or at YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKKgeAr6Tj0
Dan Zanes and Friends
Grammy winners Dan Zanes and Friends’ new album 76 Trombones, which was released in November, introduces music from Broadway to younger folks with fresh-sounding renditions of classic musical theater pieces. It features collaborations with Carol Channing (from Hello, Dolly!), Matthew Broderick (from The Producers), Brian Stokes Mitchell (from Kiss Me, Kate), de’Adre Aziza (from Passing Strange), and Derick K. Grant (Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk) re-working songs from The Most Happy Fella, A Chorus Line, The Music Man, and Annie.
Here is a free download of the title track, “76 Trombones.”
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ncj3uc
The Six Red Carpets, a rock trio from Milan, Italy that recently expanded into a foursome, will post some unreleased songs on their FACEBOOK profile. This is a gift for all the Facebook fans of the band. Every week they will upload a track … all you have to do is to get on our Facebook space (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Six-Red-Carpets/16024128674) and become a fan! You can also download an entire album from their website: www.sixredcarpets.com
EELS
EELS are offering a FREE download of the track “Little Bird” from their eighth studio album End Times, in anticipation of the album’s release on January 19 on Vagrant Records. EELS is the ever-changing project of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett (aka E). End Times follows on the heels of EELS’ critically acclaimed 2009 release Hombre Lobo, hailed by Vanity Fair as “anti-anthems that get your dopamine pumping instead of your fist” and praised by Rolling Stone for its “muddy roadhouse rockers.” Largely self-recorded on an old four-track tape machine in the basement of Everettt’s Los Angeles home, the “end times” he writes about isn’t “Mayan calendar conspiracy theory bullshit,” says Everett, but, “the state of the desperate times we live in. The bottom line-ness of it all.”
While Hombre Lobo was written from the point of view of a fictional character (namely, the Dog Faced Boy of EELS’ 2001 album Souljacker), End Times is purely real life as Everett sees it: a “divorce album” with a modern twist. He equates his personal loss with the world he lives in losing its integrity. This isn’t Everett’s first break-up record. His 1993 solo effort, Broken Toy Shop, chronicled the broken heart of a young man in his twenties. End Times focuses on the loss of a middle-aged man growing as an artist. The loss has more weight.
You can download the rootsy track “Little Bird” here: http://eelstheband.com/eels_endtimes.php
Mary McBride
Singer-songwriter Mary McBride’s Every Day is a Holiday is the latest release since her “No One’s Gonna Love You Like Me” from her By Any Other Name album in 2004) that became part of the soundtrack for Academy-award winning film Brokeback Mountain.
Every Day is a Holiday features McBride’s soulful interpretations of traditional carols “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” as well as originals “Bring It On” and “Christmastime,” as well as versions Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” Louis Armstrong’s “Cool Yule,” Patty Griffin’s “Oh Heavenly Day,” and William Bell’s “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday.” It also includes a duet with Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Lakeview Terrace, Angels in America) on “Do You Hear What I Hear.”
McBride’s songs have been featured on episodes of The L Word and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy; and she is currently writing the score for the new musical, The Nitpicker, which will be directed by Tony-award winning director Scott Ellis.
You can stream or download “Do You Hear What I Hear” at: http://www.mediafire.com/?uzkjzjlgczc
Califone
Chicago band, Califone, has a new album, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, on Dead Oceans. The album is a companion to Califone frontman Tim Rutili’s first feature film that he wrote and directed, also called All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, starring cult indie actress Angela Bettis of Girl, Interrupted fame. The film will make the festival rounds early next year.
The music video for the track “Funeral Singers” features footage from the film. Here is a video link for your enjoyment: http://www.vimeo.com/7717625
Photo by John Anderson
Ocote Soul
Adrian Quesada and Martin Perna, respective band-leaders of famed ensembles Grupo Fantasma and Antibalas, are united under the Ocote Soul Sounds banner for their new full length album, Coconut Rock, released on ESL Music. After two stellar albums, this time around Coconut Rock (June 2009) finds the duo loosened up, slipping effortlessly into their trademark psychedelic Afro-Latin funk groove. From the Latin breakbeat rhythms of album lead-off “The Revolt of the Cockroach People” to the cumbia bounce of “Tu Fin, Mi Comienzo” to the easy guitar soundscapes of “Vendendo Saude e Fe,” featuring Brazilian songstress Tita Lima, Coconut Rock is the third album Ocote Soul Sound has recorded.
Due out December 8, Coconut Rock Deluxe, a ramped up holiday package, will include five exclusive new remixes, a full digital booklet, and a music video added to the original album. In addition to the original album music, Coconut Rock Deluxe includes a new electro funk version entitled “Electric Cockroach,” a hip-hop rhythm remix of “Vendendo Saude e Fe” by Adrian Quesada, a swinging reggae remix of “Cara de Yo No Fui” by label mates Ancient Astronauts, and other remix exclusives by DJ Obah and Grant Phabeo.
Check out some of their music at: http://www.myspace.com/ocotesoulsounds
