Category: free downloads

Free Music Monday: Mooner, Prevrat and Andy Klingensmith

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Mooner “Making Americans”
Mooner has a new single and b-side, recorded as a quick follow up to the Unpronounceable Name EP from last year. You just gotta love that opening with a multi-tracked guitar riff. Enjoy!


Prevrat “Symbols”
This a bit off the genre path; its a mix of ambient psychedelics and I like the trippy jangle rhythms of “I You Two” and the industrial-techno guitar on “Safe Distance.” The highlight for me is the mix of acoustic and electrics on “Abandoned.” The vocals kinda get drowned out and at times you’ll wanna skip a track or two, but overall a worthy freebie.

 

Andy Klingensmith “Pictures Of”
Son of Futureman Records producer Keith Klingensmith, Andy takes a lighter approach towards ambient chamber pop, with light indie harmonies in the style of The Free Design or The Sea and Cake. A very engaging debut.

 

Keith Klingensmith and the TM Collective “Volume 2”
Well let’s not forget about Keith’s own covers series with the TM Collective. Gotta love the note-by-note perfection on The Who’s “Kids are Alright” and Davies’ “Waterloo Sunset.” They also know how to rock out, hear The Soft Boys cover of “I Wanna Destroy You.” Thanks for the goodies Keith!

Summer Goodies from Shake Some Action and more!

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Shake Some Action “Wait For The Summer”
You know I almost never review singles, BUT once in a while an exception is made and this song is so good I had to spread it around to all of you.  Fresh off of  Full Fathom Five, James Hall has this kick ass single, that’s only a buck and essential summer listening!

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Jose Casas y la Pistola de Papá “Canciones de Kilómetro Cero”
For the Spanish power pop lovers, Jose Casas gives us nice little EP full of power pop covers in español. The EP begins a big way with “Cielo”, an appropriation of the “Heaven” by The Psychedelic Furs,  and continues with the awesome “No Quiero Ilusionarme, ” a bright and luminous adaptation of a song by The Red Button. La Pistola de Papa also do a tribute to Jason Falkner (The Three O’Clock and Jellyfish), transforming “Miss Understanding” into “Que Parezca un Accidente.”

Best of all, es gratis, sin dinero necesario!

The Popdogs and The Sharp Things

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The Popdogs “Cool Cats for Pop Dogs”
The Popdogs are one of the bands scheduled to play IPO Liverpool at The Cavern Club this year, and the debut LP is due out in May. From Lincoln, UK the band mines the jangly side of power pop goodness with influences clearly from REM, The Records and even The Smiths. Lead singer and songwriter James Styring and guitarist Tim McKeating are at the bands’ core and have great talent for power pop. “Kelly’s On” bounces along a hook filled chorus, leading to the angular guitar riffs of “Honest Guy.” Several songs are just classic, accessible gems like “High Time.” This is a signature tune with a repeating jangle rhythm and my favorite. Also recommended are “Ocean Blue,” and the awesome guitar riffs on “Kissin Alicia.” This is a terrific find and worth the wait.

Amazon (Pre-Order) | Kool Kat Musik (May 13) | Facebook

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The Sharp Things “Green Is Good”
The Sharp Things is a Brooklyn-based, pop and rock collective with eclectic influences including Mark Eitzel, Scott Walker, Jimmy Webb, David Bowie, Radiohead, and Joe Cocker. This album is a shout out to those who supported the “Occupy” movement out there, especially the opener “Blame The Bankers” playing out like a Bowie tune. The styles vary wildly. Some songs work, and others don’t. My faves here include “Flowers For My Girl” which sounds like a Foundations outtake, and the catchy “Goodbye To Golders Green,” with its ominous minor chords. Check it out, it’s a FREE download.

 

The Left Behind and The Taters

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The Left Behind “Volume One: We’re Already Gone” EP
From Marshalls Creek, PA comes a musician/producer named Tim O’Grady. His new project The Left Behind will appeal to fans of The Secret Powers, especially the opening track “She’s Had Enough Of Us.” The strong vocals, hand claps and dense melody of “I Don’t Want To Go Home” is another standout, along with the follow up “Is It Because?” Each song has a solid hook, even with a catchy organ bridge (similar to Smashmouth) on “I Won’t Regret A Single Thing.” I’m not sure if it was done on purpose, but the sound compression is fairly distracting – the backing vocals and rhythm often fuzzing into oblivion, especially on the last track “There You Go.” Also not sure if the music has anything to do with the popular Apocalyptic book series, but thank the Lord – this is a FREE download on Facebook!

Bandcamp | Facebook FREE download

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The Taters “Taters Party”
The Taters are an eclectic mix of roots-rock, power-pop, with country and bluegrass tendencies. The band loves the old 60’s era pop influences and decided to get together a “live” show in the spirit of The Beach Boys Party LP. The good news is the album is an enjoyable one, boasting a colorful combination of covers and originals. “Pageboy” sets the casual tone, with guitars and bongos and the cover of Ringo’s “Photograph” is also very well arranged and performed. But the highlight of the disc came next; the catchy “New Girlfriend” and jazzy bounce of “Thingamajig.” But they get too ambitious, and Squeeze’s “Goodbye Girl” is sung like a Mariachi band. Worse, “Help Me Rhonda” makes it painfully obvious they can’t sing in perfect 4-part harmonies. Thankfully, the band gets back on track with a cool mash-up “Smoke on Route 66” and closes strong with the brilliant bluegrass styled “Titanic.” Perfect fun if you like a rockin’ Prairie Home Companion.

Amazon | CD Baby

The Krayolas and Pop Interludes

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Krayolas

The Krayolas “Canicas/Marbles”
 Once again the San Antonio power pop of Hector Saldana returns, and each time the band impresses me. Canicas starts with “Tony Tormenta” a simple guitar ballad about a drug lord no one will mourn. Both “Canicas” and “Lala la Lala” boast bright hum along melodies with organ and accordion, full of childhood nostalgia followed by a great cover of  The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.” The T-Rex bass line of  “La Inundacion de Piedras Negras” creeps along making it a cool highlight. The slow “Lazy Afternoon” sounds exactly like it’s supposed to, and best of all this album is a FREE download from Amazon. If you don’t get it, you are truly loco, mi amigo.

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Pop Interludes “Manhattan Charade”
Pop Interludes is a collaboration between songwriter/musician Dino De Angelis and lyricist Peter Morley. Simple synth keyboard pop with little melodic hooks. De Angelis is a man of many talents, a biomedical researcher, culinary teacher and talented musician – but vocally he is merely passable here, doing a flat kind of speak-singing.  The bands’ sound is not unlike Jeff Boller’s project The Simple Carnival or XTC’s Colin Moulding, with its dynamic compositions. The bouncy “It’s Over” adds a guitar as harmonies overlay with the main melody. “Talkin’ About Sunshine” has a spacey echo with its sugary lyric. Morley’s narrative fits the music well, but occasionally feels forced (“This Masquerade”). Some tunes take a few verses to build, but are worth it – recommended tracks are “Addition,”  “Invisible,” and “Transforming.”

CD Baby | Amazon