TSOL releases new tracks. FREE!!!

TSOL
Originally uploaded by Kevin Baldes Concert shots

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Free Downloads is the new release from old schoolers TSOL.Check it out here . These guys go back to the roots of SoCal punk, hailing from Long Beach, CA. and formed in 1979. The new material is a nice mix of styles that show you what early punk was like. Not so formulaic as it is today, there are shades of glam, metal, hardcore and the like. I even hear some early Bowie going on in there. I am an old fart by punk rock standards, so I root for the old schoolers. Download this release. You just might learn something.

Make Do and Mend: Excellent Free Album Download

Make Do and Mend  are a band from Connecticut that currently has their album up for free download on their myspace page. I have to say I like what I hear. The collection is called "Bodies of Water" and I like the fact that rather than sounding derrivative of so many other bands, they have a sound reminiscent of late 80's and early 90's hardcore bands like Die Kreuzen, Naked Raygun, Husker Du, and Pegboy. Not screamo hardcore like today, but good alternative, creative passionate music.
On tracks like Shambles, there is a nice use of dynamics that carries the song along. Others like Winter Wasteland and Father have a passion and drive to them that reminds me of a day when music was important. This is good stuff. I encourage you to download the tracks, and go see them live. It looks like they are on tour right now. If you never got to see the Huskers or Naked Raygun, you might just hear a trace of them here.

Death Wish Records Releases Fall Sampler and other Freebies

Hey. I love free samples of ANYTHING! And free music is at the top of the list. For hardcore fans, Death Wish Records has issued their fall sampler for free download at their website. There is a generous selection of 21 tracks featuring some of the best from their label. I am a geriatric (old guy) punk fan, so some of the modern hardcore (let's say post- Agnostic Front) is too hardcore. Am I getting old? I listen to it anyway, trying to keep up on the hardcore scene. I do admire the bands for rocking HARD! If you are a frequent visitor to this site, you know my tastes lean more toward tuneful SoCal punk, but I still raise my fist to these hardcore soldiers!

For indie fans, or if hardcore is too unsettling for you, the band Sleep Station has released free mp3s just for promising to vote! No you don't have to register to vote to get the tunes or anything. Just click and download. These guys are accoustic, tuneful and well-crafted songwriters definitely worth a listen. http://www.eyeballrecords.com and http://www.deathwishinc.com/files/dw2008fallsampler.zip