Hi Everybody,
So, I was checking up on a release date for an album at the label’s website and I ended up discovering that a lot of labels have these free samplers up for download at Amazon.com. I suppose it’s not too shocking, but I didn’t know about them. Anyways, I grabbed the ones from Matador, Merge,Gigantic, Sub-Pop, French Kiss and this local label called Beehouse (that’s actually how I stumbled onto it) Records (great label for mellower indie rock/folky type stuff). I’m guessing that Polyvinyl has one as well, but I got their annual sampler thing-y from their site directly a while back. Anyways, tons of free music. Figured I would throw this revelation out there in case it could benefit anyone else. Some lables have them, but charge for them as well. Anyways, it may be worth your time to go and search the names of some labels you like just in case.
Am I the only person who didn’t know about this stuff?
BQ: What is your favorite label? Favorite band or two from it?
BQ2: Do you listen to podcasts? Any favorites? (I’m loving Daves of Thunder and Low Budget FM)
BQ3: Any great new discoveries?
Anyways. I hope all is well in the digisphere.
Hey Deke.
I didn’t think of that. That way would be much more efficient. That’s more or less how I ended up getting to them too, the recomendations. I got the Beehouse one and then it kept leading me to more of them.
It worked out pretty perfectly. I listened to Pavement for almost my entire workday yesterday and though I found that incredibly enjoyable I had a real urge to try out some new stuff today and the universe came through in a very big way.
Thanks Deke.
Yeah it’s got a neat selection. Have you tried the Last.fm free music section?
http://www.last.fm/music/+free-music-downloads
(if you click on a specific genre it shows more to choose from as well)
And if you have an account already, it will recommend some for you:
http://www.last.fm/home/freemp3s
I’ve found some good songs here. Also, the free-musicness stays in rotation – they don’t all stay available for free all the time, and then new ones are added.
BA2: I love Pop Trash Radio because it’s raunchy and hilarious, but they haven’t had a new episode in two years. I also like Hall of Mirrors: Tales of Horror and the Grotesque, Pseudopod, and Five Minute Fears, but those are all literature-related.
BA3: Musically? I love The Bird and The Bee and I picked up one of Inara George’s solo albums, it’s really great too.
Long time no see Prof.
I think one can search for "free sampler" within the MP3 Downloads section of Amazon, and they’ll get a ton of results. Since Amazon also uses cookies to intuitively determine what they think you’d like, you’ll get recommendations based on that, as well.
I’ve downloaded at least a dozen…but honestly, I don’t think I’ve listened to song one from any of them. I’m just now getting around to listening to some of the free downloads I snagged from Live Music Archive. But yeah, free music is free music.
References :
I didnt know about it. i love free samplers. thank you.
BQ: right now its daptone. historically, probably chess.
BQ2: i like all songs considered on npr. it can be pretty hit or miss, but its good.
BQ3: the demo tapes for chris ballew, of the presidents of the united states of america fame, that are included in the bonus material on their self titled album’s 10 year anniversary reissue.
References :
Hi Prof.!
Haven’t seen you in a while.
I don’t shop at Amazon but my local record store gives out coupons for free CD samplers to customers on their e-mail list. I’ve gotten quite a few great CD’s this way. They usually feature new music artists but the last one I got had a Black Crowes song on it too.
One of my favorite free CD samplers was of the artists appearing at Coachella 2010 which had this nice song on it by the Dillinger Escape Plan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMEYLlDThZU
What’s weird is that I don’t usually like this type of vocals but I LOVE this song, Lol.
BQ – Can’t think of one.
BQ2 – No
BQ3 – Band of Skulls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnW91MAIBhU
(from the Coachella sampler too)
Have you ever heard the Old Crow Medicine Show?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gX1EP6mG-E
How about Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb9jY8yAxgs
All those groups were on the Coachella free sampler CD and it’s one of my favorite CD"s!
References :
Yeah it’s got a neat selection. Have you tried the Last.fm free music section?
http://www.last.fm/music/+free-music-downloads
(if you click on a specific genre it shows more to choose from as well)
And if you have an account already, it will recommend some for you:
http://www.last.fm/home/freemp3s
I’ve found some good songs here. Also, the free-musicness stays in rotation – they don’t all stay available for free all the time, and then new ones are added.
BA2: I love Pop Trash Radio because it’s raunchy and hilarious, but they haven’t had a new episode in two years. I also like Hall of Mirrors: Tales of Horror and the Grotesque, Pseudopod, and Five Minute Fears, but those are all literature-related.
BA3: Musically? I love The Bird and The Bee and I picked up one of Inara George’s solo albums, it’s really great too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJzjsaguv2I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViBvWux8YtA
Long time no see Prof.
References :
are you talking about those little 30 second samplers of the songs on the album? yea i knew about those lol but i hardly buy any albums off the internet, i usually go to the record shops that are close to me..
BQ: Paw Tracks.. Animal Collective and Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
BQ2: never found myself being into podcasts much
BQ3: Renaissance
References :