Squeezing away from end of the school year capers to sneak in an entry... Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in tons of music all next week as some kind of countdown to Christmas! YES!!!! I get to do another band that rests in my top 4 favorite bands of all time and they have a free song!
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a great many things; a perennial holiday favorite, a radio mainstay during the winter, the most kick-ass rock rendition of Christmas tunes. Yeah, it fits those descriptions easily but most people don't realize that the radio-friendly instrumental tracks are only a fraction of what this band has to offer. The albums also contain some well-developed symphonic rock songs from covers of Christmas classics to beautiful originals. Each album also has its own full story to accompany the music (what?) often being great stories that the music only helps build into a greater symphony of sound. This past month, my family saw them in concert and it blew my mind. Best light show I've seen, best atmosphere, amazing narration of the story and a full replaying of the entire "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" albums (except "A Star to Follow..." Strange.)
The bigger surprise to a lot of people is that they don't always do Christmas music. The two non-Christmas albums are vastly different with their separate themes. The first is "Beethoven's Last Night" which tells the story of Beethoven's last night as he is dying and analyzing his life to see if anything was worth it. Great stuff. The newest album is simply called "Night Castle" a two disc medley of all kinds of music. There are a few Christmas songs but mostly original tracks. TSO held a official contest where people could use one of the new songs "Believe" in a created video medley of something you were passionate about. Winners would be chosen and the contest ended 6 months ago... But they still left the mp3 active! On the contest page both the original track and a separate radio edit are available for free download. The song is great but not a normal Christmas track that one would expect from TSO. Please download and enjoy!! Merry Week-Before-Christmas!!!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Arbor Records (Christmas!)
December has begun and the inevitability of Christmas music has arrived. I've heard a lot of badmouthing for Christmas music among critics and intense music fans saying that it is some kind of perversion of the talent that is present in many of artists. And to that point I say that not all christmas music is shallow and hopefully all of the posts I make this month will be quality (or at least decent) Christmas music. Some of the artists I have already covered have quality free Christmas music including Jonathan Coulton ("Podsafe Christmas Song" and "Chiron Beta Prime"), The Aquabats ("Holiday Road"), He Is We ("O Holy Night" from the purevolume link), and Los Straitjackets ("I Deck The Halls.")
Okay so maybe this first example isn't the best for "quality" Christmas music but there is a lot available. Arbor Records has been holding a Christmas show with the bands in the label for the past ten years with free recordings of each show. To make that clear, 10 FULL FREE ALBUMS of Christmas music. The music can be really rough and very hit-&-miss but considering that it was a live recording and that it's all free... Not so much of a problem really. The later albums are definitely higher quality music so I would start with Year 10 and work your way back.
I could not find a video or enough songs to make a playlist so this will have to be a step of faith. Enjoy!
Okay so maybe this first example isn't the best for "quality" Christmas music but there is a lot available. Arbor Records has been holding a Christmas show with the bands in the label for the past ten years with free recordings of each show. To make that clear, 10 FULL FREE ALBUMS of Christmas music. The music can be really rough and very hit-&-miss but considering that it was a live recording and that it's all free... Not so much of a problem really. The later albums are definitely higher quality music so I would start with Year 10 and work your way back.
I could not find a video or enough songs to make a playlist so this will have to be a step of faith. Enjoy!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
I-5: FreddeGredde
Warning: Video Overload!!
Probably the first time I've ever opened an entry with a video. If you frequent the internet, then there is a good chance that you have run into the video above ^^. Watch out for some inappropriate content though.
The artist responsible is one man from Sweden who goes under the moniker of FreddeGredde and has me hooked with his versatile guitar playing and unique voice. Every time I visit youtube, I eagerly await the newest video and the eventual free download that is usually included. The videos are well put together and often very entertaining. Most of the videos are medleys like the one above but they change topics per video. For instance, a medley of all sorts of TV Theme songs...
Or a medley of Cartoon Themes... (Including some in foreign languages!)
And a couple for video games including a multiple game medley, one specifically for Mega Man 9, and one for Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. They are all great but I chose the Zelda one for the sheer awesomeness and the use of so many instruments perfectly...
The medleys are a lot of fun (especially to try to get friends to guess the appropriate songs) but there is more. Fredde is working on a full length album currently and there are a couple of original tracks on his page as well. The Wayfarer is a short acoustic track, Vampire Bride is great (but laden with Twilight references...), and Beside Me is a truly unique rock song. These tracks do not have free mp3s but can be found on iTunes and are easily worth the 99 cents.
As I said above, most of the tracks are available for free in links in the details for the videos. Normally sites like these should be avoided but he posted them himself so no problem. There might be errors for some people but the files are there and correct, just keep trying. I-5 week has finally come to a close. What should I do next?
Probably the first time I've ever opened an entry with a video. If you frequent the internet, then there is a good chance that you have run into the video above ^^. Watch out for some inappropriate content though.
The artist responsible is one man from Sweden who goes under the moniker of FreddeGredde and has me hooked with his versatile guitar playing and unique voice. Every time I visit youtube, I eagerly await the newest video and the eventual free download that is usually included. The videos are well put together and often very entertaining. Most of the videos are medleys like the one above but they change topics per video. For instance, a medley of all sorts of TV Theme songs...
Or a medley of Cartoon Themes... (Including some in foreign languages!)
And a couple for video games including a multiple game medley, one specifically for Mega Man 9, and one for Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. They are all great but I chose the Zelda one for the sheer awesomeness and the use of so many instruments perfectly...
The medleys are a lot of fun (especially to try to get friends to guess the appropriate songs) but there is more. Fredde is working on a full length album currently and there are a couple of original tracks on his page as well. The Wayfarer is a short acoustic track, Vampire Bride is great (but laden with Twilight references...), and Beside Me is a truly unique rock song. These tracks do not have free mp3s but can be found on iTunes and are easily worth the 99 cents.
As I said above, most of the tracks are available for free in links in the details for the videos. Normally sites like these should be avoided but he posted them himself so no problem. There might be errors for some people but the files are there and correct, just keep trying. I-5 week has finally come to a close. What should I do next?
Thursday, November 25, 2010
I-5: Goot (again...)
Third Attempt... After trying (deleted), trying again (deleted), deleting tons of material off my hard-drive, installing a massive software update, and trying again.
So yeah, Goot, again. Unlike the rest of my I-5, I'm not really feeling the same level of excitement and passion for this musician right now. Maybe because all of the songs that he is covering right now are modern hip/pop radio hits. Tons of Katy Perry, Taio Cruz, Taylor Swift, Sarah Bareilles, Bruno Mars, etc... Sure, the quality of the music hasn't declined but his current trend towards this style of music has alienated me. I know plenty of people enjoy this but I'd love to see him go back to what I think was his gift - taking old pop songs that EVERYBODY knows and make them fun and relevant again. The video below is definitely my favorite out of the new bunch.
The other problem is that none of these songs are available for free, probably due to the popularity of the songs and original artists. I trust Goot enough that I will follow his work no matter what direction it turns but I'm hoping that he moves into a different direction.
Anyways, one more entry for I-5 week. and HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!! it would have been Thanksgiving if not for technical issues...
So yeah, Goot, again. Unlike the rest of my I-5, I'm not really feeling the same level of excitement and passion for this musician right now. Maybe because all of the songs that he is covering right now are modern hip/pop radio hits. Tons of Katy Perry, Taio Cruz, Taylor Swift, Sarah Bareilles, Bruno Mars, etc... Sure, the quality of the music hasn't declined but his current trend towards this style of music has alienated me. I know plenty of people enjoy this but I'd love to see him go back to what I think was his gift - taking old pop songs that EVERYBODY knows and make them fun and relevant again. The video below is definitely my favorite out of the new bunch.
The other problem is that none of these songs are available for free, probably due to the popularity of the songs and original artists. I trust Goot enough that I will follow his work no matter what direction it turns but I'm hoping that he moves into a different direction.
Anyways, one more entry for I-5 week. and HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!! it would have been Thanksgiving if not for technical issues...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I-5: (RE:) Songs To Wear Pants To
Once again another artist I have previously covered several months ago and another artist who continues to release more and more amazing material for free. There has been an unbelievable amount of new content over these past couple months. So much that I'm going to have to split this update into 4 parts.
1) I've mentioned his site Songs To Wear Pants To back in March and the site has been updating non-stop since then. If you haven't tried the site yet, it is made up of humorous song requests that can range through any genre or topic. There have been a couple real gems to come out in that time including "I Am Having Your Babies," "O Mustache," "Half a Swan," and "Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows." All of the tracks are worth trying, those just stood out more. Most of the back catalog is still available for free with some costing 99 cents. Seriously, just listen to "I Am Having Your Babies." Guaranteed laugh inducer.
2) Andrew has opened his youtube page into an accompaniment to STWPT with many amusing videos to go with songs and video blogs that are also very amusing. It was really really hard to narrow down the videos to post here but I finally chose "Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows"
and "Crunk Juice"
3) Andrew's real band Your Heart (that I have also featured back in April) is still in full swing as well. They released another free EP entitled Spring Fling that is available alongside the amazing Fall album. Spring Fling may not match the sheer awesomeness of Fall but it is still a worthwhile download for any music library.
4) Two of his songs are now available in Rock Band (did I mention I love Rock Band?) "Shoot the Zombies" and "Stevie" are both available on the Rock Band Network for the 360. I'm just waiting for the tracks to trickle over to the PS3 and will quickly become one of the requisite tracks for any party situation. There is also a good chance that "Never" will make its way to Rock Band...
Need I say more?
1) I've mentioned his site Songs To Wear Pants To back in March and the site has been updating non-stop since then. If you haven't tried the site yet, it is made up of humorous song requests that can range through any genre or topic. There have been a couple real gems to come out in that time including "I Am Having Your Babies," "O Mustache," "Half a Swan," and "Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows." All of the tracks are worth trying, those just stood out more. Most of the back catalog is still available for free with some costing 99 cents. Seriously, just listen to "I Am Having Your Babies." Guaranteed laugh inducer.
2) Andrew has opened his youtube page into an accompaniment to STWPT with many amusing videos to go with songs and video blogs that are also very amusing. It was really really hard to narrow down the videos to post here but I finally chose "Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows"
and "Crunk Juice"
3) Andrew's real band Your Heart (that I have also featured back in April) is still in full swing as well. They released another free EP entitled Spring Fling that is available alongside the amazing Fall album. Spring Fling may not match the sheer awesomeness of Fall but it is still a worthwhile download for any music library.
4) Two of his songs are now available in Rock Band (did I mention I love Rock Band?) "Shoot the Zombies" and "Stevie" are both available on the Rock Band Network for the 360. I'm just waiting for the tracks to trickle over to the PS3 and will quickly become one of the requisite tracks for any party situation. There is also a good chance that "Never" will make its way to Rock Band...
Need I say more?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
I-5: Josh Woodward (Revisited)
Once again, I'm looping back to another artist I've already recommended way back in March when I started the site. I gave him a less than stellar review and to my utter amazement, he actually replied in the comments with a thank you and counter-statement (check for yourself!) After really taking his comments to heart and letting time heal that particular wound, I am back to retract my previous statement and offer my sincerest apologies to Mr. Woodward. If you find this Josh, then I'm sorry!!! I was overly critical towards your music that has really grown on me. I was too dismissive due to my attitudes at the time in looking for some positive thinking and not finding it in your music. Consider this my real review.
For those that didn't try his music before, the material available from Josh's website is an amazing mix of well-executed acoustic tracks and softer alterna-rock of the same vein. The fact that all of his music (9+ full albums) is absolutely free only sweetens an already overwhelming deal. The music is not afraid to reach into darker subject matter while still maintaining a lighter acoustic sound that keeps some kind of awkward balance between the two. The music is all held under the Creative Commons License meaning that it is free access for anyone for personal and public use as long as they provide appropriate attributions to the source. In simpler terms, you can use the music in films and other projects without fear of copyright as long as you mention the artist's name and website in the credits. My favorite song is still Motionless Land, a track dedicated to the tragedy in Haiti as told through the perspective of a selfish man unwilling to help due to his own struggles. My initial riled reaction only proves the power of this song as an effective message. This is also the first artist that I will ever have to go through my entire music collection of material and re-rate all of the tracks due to a tragic misunderstanding. And like the other artists in my "I-5" there is a level of dependability and the constant promise of new material in the near future.
And for those of you who did try his music already, he has posted another full album "Ashes" just last week for free. In my opinion, this is easily his best material yet with the whole album repeating on my iTunes for the past week. Seriously, download this album now and listen to songs like "Let It In," "Already There," "Infinite Horizon," "Cherubs," "Pompeii," and of course "Motionless Land." Please support this amazing acoustic artist by downloading his music, sharing it with others, and buying the CDs (if you want.) Also check both videos to get a better idea of the talent at work here... Enjoy!
PS. Hey Josh... Apology accepted?
For those that didn't try his music before, the material available from Josh's website is an amazing mix of well-executed acoustic tracks and softer alterna-rock of the same vein. The fact that all of his music (9+ full albums) is absolutely free only sweetens an already overwhelming deal. The music is not afraid to reach into darker subject matter while still maintaining a lighter acoustic sound that keeps some kind of awkward balance between the two. The music is all held under the Creative Commons License meaning that it is free access for anyone for personal and public use as long as they provide appropriate attributions to the source. In simpler terms, you can use the music in films and other projects without fear of copyright as long as you mention the artist's name and website in the credits. My favorite song is still Motionless Land, a track dedicated to the tragedy in Haiti as told through the perspective of a selfish man unwilling to help due to his own struggles. My initial riled reaction only proves the power of this song as an effective message. This is also the first artist that I will ever have to go through my entire music collection of material and re-rate all of the tracks due to a tragic misunderstanding. And like the other artists in my "I-5" there is a level of dependability and the constant promise of new material in the near future.
And for those of you who did try his music already, he has posted another full album "Ashes" just last week for free. In my opinion, this is easily his best material yet with the whole album repeating on my iTunes for the past week. Seriously, download this album now and listen to songs like "Let It In," "Already There," "Infinite Horizon," "Cherubs," "Pompeii," and of course "Motionless Land." Please support this amazing acoustic artist by downloading his music, sharing it with others, and buying the CDs (if you want.) Also check both videos to get a better idea of the talent at work here... Enjoy!
PS. Hey Josh... Apology accepted?
Monday, November 22, 2010
I-5: Pogo (Revisited)
I'm loving these themes right now and I thought I'd revisit a topic that I mentioned previously about my I-5. These five artists host most of their material online and depend on their online communities to stay afloat but also continue to provide quality material time and time again. The best example of these is Pogo. I know I've already featured this artist and showered plenty of praise here, but thankfully there is new material and a wealth of tracks that I had not found before.
To start, there have been new additions to this artist since I posted in August. The new videos include a mix made from the TV show Dexter and a track made from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The track for Dexter I found to be quite dry (maybe because I don't watch the show) but the Snow White track has me once again addicted to his infectious beats. I never would have thought that Snow White's voice would make an awesome melody to a techno-like song...
The Snow White track named "Wishery" is available on his site on this page with almost of his tracks available. Two problems though: all Disney tracks have been removed (due to copyright and a mutual contract) and the files are in a weird format that will not open in iTunes. Both of these problems can be solved with a little extra work. For the missing tracks, most of them are available on his last.fm page and his tracks for "Up" and "Mary Poppins" can be found on albinoblacksheep.com. Couldn't find the Toy Story tracks though... As for the iTunes compatibility, my old Garageband trick works fine (import, trim, export, rename, resize) but it should work with nearly any audio editing software. EDIT: The tracks have changed format and now work fine with iTunes.
As with the rest of my "I-5," the well of music never seems to run dry. New music is a guarantee and new tracks for Pirates of the Caribbean, Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, and The Little Mermaid have been confirmed to be on the way. I would also like to mention that Pogo was one of the 25 selected youtube artists to be featured at the Guggenheim Museum in New York for the video "Gardyn." The presentation video is absolutely amazing, seeing his work on display with some amazing accompanying visuals. Seeing creative talent like his receive the attention it deserves literally brings me to tears.
He has also started work on a new project in which he plans to travel the world creating videos and music similar to the style of "Gardyn" but representative of each culture depicted. Each track will be individually funded based on sales with a DVD and CD to round out the collection once complete. It sounds to be a beautiful project that I cannot wait to endorse further!
To start, there have been new additions to this artist since I posted in August. The new videos include a mix made from the TV show Dexter and a track made from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The track for Dexter I found to be quite dry (maybe because I don't watch the show) but the Snow White track has me once again addicted to his infectious beats. I never would have thought that Snow White's voice would make an awesome melody to a techno-like song...
The Snow White track named "Wishery" is available on his site on this page with almost of his tracks available. Two problems though: all Disney tracks have been removed (due to copyright and a mutual contract) and the files are in a weird format that will not open in iTunes. Both of these problems can be solved with a little extra work. For the missing tracks, most of them are available on his last.fm page and his tracks for "Up" and "Mary Poppins" can be found on albinoblacksheep.com. Couldn't find the Toy Story tracks though... As for the iTunes compatibility, my old Garageband trick works fine (import, trim, export, rename, resize) but it should work with nearly any audio editing software. EDIT: The tracks have changed format and now work fine with iTunes.
As with the rest of my "I-5," the well of music never seems to run dry. New music is a guarantee and new tracks for Pirates of the Caribbean, Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, and The Little Mermaid have been confirmed to be on the way. I would also like to mention that Pogo was one of the 25 selected youtube artists to be featured at the Guggenheim Museum in New York for the video "Gardyn." The presentation video is absolutely amazing, seeing his work on display with some amazing accompanying visuals. Seeing creative talent like his receive the attention it deserves literally brings me to tears.
He has also started work on a new project in which he plans to travel the world creating videos and music similar to the style of "Gardyn" but representative of each culture depicted. Each track will be individually funded based on sales with a DVD and CD to round out the collection once complete. It sounds to be a beautiful project that I cannot wait to endorse further!
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