Everybody Likes Free Stuff

Now that the Semester from Hell has come to a close, culminating in a successful-feeling AP Music Theory exam this morning, I hope to be able to get back to blogging more regularly. For starters, here are some things I found on the Internet in my quest for free music, all downloadable from the artists themselves.

Gangstagrass (Various Artists): More or less what it sounds like. The brainchild of New York producer Rench, Gangstagrass is a hip-hop album using old (read "free") bluegrass tracks as its background samples. It appeals to a decidedly niche market, the strange people such as myself who profess admiration for both 1920's stringband music and underground rap. I was hooked from the intro, which samples the gorgeous and ghostly "Dark Was the Night" from 20's streetcorner evangelist and slide guitarist (and, in my opinion, co-founder of American music) Blind Willie Johnson. The two styles blend more fluidly than you might expect, though they do occasionally clash or sound strained. Highlights include "Who Ridin" (sampling a slowed-down version of Jerry Douglas' "Choctaw Hayride"!!), "Steels Gonna Be the Death of Me," and "On the Run." The track "Showin Me Love" should give you an idea of what the album sounds like.

Golden Opportunities Mixtape (Okkervil River): I've heard the name of Austin indie rock outfit Okkervil River tossed around for a while, but never taken the time to hear any of their music. Luckily, they put a freely downloadable album on their website a few months ago, consisting mostly of covers but nonetheless allowing me to get a flavor for the band. The first couple of songs I listened to were not inspiring, but after listening a bit more I have come around to liking these guys a bit more. Their instrumentation is mellow and acoustic, their lead singer's voice is very distinctive--which can be very good or very bad depending on whether or not you like his voice, with its sort of plaintive, wobbling yelp--and their songs are of the variegated and tuneful singer-songwriter type. This is a very unpolished (intentionally, let it be noted) and unusual band which will require a few more listenings to adjudge.

The Slip (Nine Inch Nails): I know little about this band other than Johnny Cash's cover of their fantastic song "Hurt" (a brilliant video which you need to watch RIGHT NOW if you haven't already) which is why I decided to look for some of their music. Imagine my amazement to discover yet more free stuff: their new downloadable album The Slip. Being by no means a connoisseur of industrial rock--in fact generally disliking the little industrial rock I have heard, considering it to be the ultimate case of noise masquerading as music--I have little to which I can compare this album. It is an odd combination of good, solid, straight-up (yet exceptionally dissonant) rock with severe distortion and deep, growling electronica. My chief complaint against much modern rock, including most industrial rock, is that it sounds too square and Wagnerian, but this album has drive and groove and rhythmic interest. NIN is worth another listen as well.

I also just got back from a road trip to my sister's graduation, during which I listened to lots and lots of music. Some fresh album reviews should be up soon.