Miracord "In Water" and The Hot Toddies "Get Your Heart On"

Miracord “In Water”
Psychedelic band from Oklahoma City that compares well to The Mother Hips and has a variety of sixties influences, from The Beatles to the Animals.  Miracord is lead by guitarist/vocalist Dean Avants and assisted by Dave Spindle (bass), Ryan Jones (organ and backing vocals), Rob Martin (drums) and Jeff Richardson (backing vocals).The swirling guitar riff on “New Religion” opens the album and sets the tone.  The lone guitar strum and spacious sound on “Song of a Mason” is a trippy ballad that will impress most pysche-pop fans. “In Water” was released exactly one year later on the 4th anniversary of Syd Barrett’s death, whose influence can be heard throughout the album. It really comes through on “Corporate Coward” and the power pop of “To Mary and Mandy” is a riff-filled good time in the style of The Who. Even more impressive, this album is a FREE download at CD Baby for a limited time.

Seaside Stars "Kick Out" FREE Download

Berlin based Seaside Stars are playing their first shows in the US this September, going from Chicago to the Nebraska Pop Festival. The Stars have a distinct west coast jangle to their sound, like sunshine after a rainy day. The new album is due early 2011. In the meantime, enjoy the FREE single “Summers On My Way”

R. Stevie Moore Tribute Albums, Vol. 1 and 2 Free Downloads

This is a huge amount of FREE music for your ipod. R. Stevie Moore has compiled a huge list of artists, many of them power pop favorites doing a bunch of covers. The massive project is posted on the blog Sick Of The Radio and spread out over 2 massive posts and a mind blowing 47 tracks. Many of my favorites are represented like Lane Steinberg, David Gregory (XTC), Jason Falkner, Martin Newell, Eric Matthews, and The New Pornographers. Note: The quality of the music varies from artist to artist so listen to the track before you download. ENJOY!


Vol. 1 – “Copy Me, Treat Me” by RStevieMooreTribute

Vol. 2 – “New Wave Moons” by RStevieMooreTribute

Emerging Artists: Stu Lewis and Excuse Me, Princess

FREE is good right? When it comes to “pay what you think it’s worth” music or just free, Bandcamp is a great site for artists just getting their feet wet. Here are two…

Stu Lewis “Waste Not What Not”
Stu Lewis counts The Cars and The Rentals as major influences for his synth heavy pop sound. It’s a solid 5-track EP featuring “With Authority,” “Don’t Really Matter” and “Stay Free” which have a good songwriting structure and remind me of Doug Powell or Martin Gordon with its multi-layered composition. A love letter to our first lady “Michelle” is a bit creepy, but it’s catchy all the same and the best song of the bunch here. Stu’s music is definitely worth your time.

Bandcamp 

Excuse Me, Princess “The Sun and The Moon”
Here is an arty 9-track album full of indie pop music created by Jack Campbell. Jack shares some vocal duties with Greta Konkler on a few songs like “Miss” and “Totoro.” Some ambient stuff, but plenty of spirited music – listen to the Cure-like “Fool” with it’s “do-do-do” hummable chorus and a solid guitar tune in “Stop The Flow” which has Velvet Underground and Bowie as influences here. This homemade album was made in his basement, and it’s got plenty of lo-fi charm. Give it a listen.

 My SpaceBandcamp | Itunes

Freebies for July!

Like the ice cream man passing by, I bring you these tasty musical treats to beat the heat absolutely FREE. Download to your hearts content…

Paul Rosevear “Hodge Podge Hello”
Brooklyn based Paul Rosevear is the lead singer of the band Readymade Breakeup. If you enjoyed Paul’s solo EP “Broken Nose Poetry” then he offers up a free album of odds and ends. Mostly acoustic demos and a live track or two, a nice standout is “Drag This Anchor” as well as the folky “One One Thousand.” Enjoy.
Paul’s Blog | Bandcamp

The Riffbackers “The Curtain Shop and Alterations”
I reviewed this one back in March. Now that it’s a free download, you really have no excuses. Spanish popsters Fausto Martin and Nacho Garcia, fresh off of The Winnerys breakup combine The Beatles melodies and The Bryds jangle with style and grace.
The City Streets “The Jazz Age”
Based in Montreal, a band that has The Replacements work ethic and shares a bit of their sound with the guitar riffs on “Song For Lee.” Next, “Irish Rose” has a lanky George Thorogood vibe, the songs range from bar room blues to solid rock. Fans of Guided By Voices are sure to latch onto the dark pop of  “Last Waltz Party” and “Big Love.” The band is offering it up free on their site, or you can support them by buying it.
Band Website | CD Baby