Sound Sunday: Free MP3 Albums - December 5th Edition
Sound Sunday: December's Musical Boost
December's Sound Sunday is here. Following Thanksgiving and preceding Christmas, now is the ideal moment to invigorate yourself, and music provides a powerful stimulus.
Incorporate a blend of genres to energize your activities. Consider rock, metal, and punk, complemented by pop, hip hop, americana, and electronic music.
Supporting the Artists
This time of year is also about generosity. Should you encounter an album that resonates with you, consider making a donation to the artists.
Your financial support, however small, is a valuable acknowledgement of the effort and dedication involved in creating and sharing their music. It is greatly appreciated!
A contribution helps ensure artists can continue producing the music you enjoy.
Brett Detar's "Bird In The Tangle"
Genre: Americana, Roots Music, Country
Brett Detar, a singer and songwriter, frequently operates under the influence of various stimulants. These include coffee, a lack of sleep, bourbon, and, notably, music itself. This state of being demonstrably enhances his creative output.
While not his native land, New York City serves as Detar's professional base.
There, he earns a living as a songwriter, producer, and lyricist contributing to both film scores and popular music.
This income directly supports his primary artistic focus: the creation of americana and roots music.
Preview and Download
A selection of three tracks from Bird In The Tangle is available for preview above.
The complete 11-track album can be downloaded directly from Brett Detar's official website.
Girl Talk - All Day
Genre: pop
The record label for Girl Talk is Illegal Art. However, the album by Gregg Michael Gillis – who performs under the pseudonym Girl Talk – is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
Album Concept & Licensing
All Day is conceived as a complete listening experience. Consequently, Illegal Art provides a single, continuous file for download.
For those who prefer individual tracks, the album is also available in a segmented format.
Availability
All Day is offered as a free download directly from Girl Talk’s label, Illegal Art.
The album’s licensing allows for non-commercial use and requires attribution.
Gregg Michael Gillis intentionally structured All Day to be enjoyed as a unified work.
This approach is reflected in the availability of a seamless audio file.
Despite this, segmented track downloads are also provided for user convenience.
The Creative Commons license ensures broad accessibility while protecting the artist’s rights.
Illegal Art facilitates the distribution of this free album, furthering Girl Talk’s reach.
The Animal Upstairs – A Question of Presence: Is Anybody Upstairs?
The musical project known as The Animal Upstairs presents Is Anybody Upstairs?, a debut release from artist Andy Mrotek. Mrotek’s journey began with a small collection of four initial compositions.
He quickly discovered a passion for independent music creation, leading to the development of this full-length album.
Mrotek articulates his artistic philosophy in his ANI-MAL-NIFESTO, asserting that authentic musical expression is rewarded by emotional impact – specifically, “goosebumps” – rather than monetary gain.
This perspective underscores his commitment to artistic integrity and the intrinsic value of music.
The album is offered freely to listeners through the Bandcamp platform.
Genre Exploration
- Experimental: The album pushes boundaries in its sonic approach.
- Rock: Core elements of rock music are present in the instrumentation.
- Acoustic: Acoustic textures contribute to the overall soundscape.
- Crunk: Influences from the crunk genre are subtly integrated.
These diverse genre influences combine to create a unique and compelling listening experience.
Cubic Zirconia - The Remixes
Genre: disco house, emotronic, tropical, hip hop
Cubic Zirconia is associated with LuckyMe, described as "an extended family of musicians and artists founded in Scotland, UK." The collective initially began "as a pipe dream to make hip hop in a place that was not on the map for hip hop."
Notably, despite the Scottish origins of LuckyMe, Cubic Zirconia originates from New York, USA.
Album Release & Remix Project
To commemorate Cubic Zirconia’s first performance in London and the forthcoming release of their album, Follow Your Heart, LuckyMe has curated a remix album.
This project features remixes both for and of the band’s material.
The remix album, titled The Remixes, is available for download as a .zip file through FactMag.
LuckyMe’s initiative highlights their support for Cubic Zirconia and their broader artistic vision.
The release provides a fresh perspective on the band’s sound through the interpretations of various artists.
Fans can access the complete collection of remixes via the provided link.
ETCETRA - Trog"¢lo"¢dyte
Genre: indie, electronic, experimental, dark gaze, hip hop
Based in Los Angeles, California, Solpics - One Of A Hundred represents a collective of emerging hip hop and rap musicians. ETCETRA is a distinct artist within this group, though each contributor maintains a unique musical identity.
Trog"¢lo"¢dyte is currently available as a complimentary download through the Bandcamp platform.
The project showcases a blend of genres, incorporating elements of indie, electronic, and experimental music alongside the core hip hop foundation.
Key Characteristics
- The sound is often described as dark gaze, suggesting an atmospheric and introspective quality.
- ETCETRA’s work distinguishes itself through its experimental approach to production.
- Listeners can expect a diverse sonic landscape, reflecting the artist’s broad influences.
This release offers a glimpse into the vibrant underground music scene of Los Angeles.
Solpics - One Of A Hundred provides a platform for artists to explore and share their creative visions.
Trog"¢lo"¢dyte is accessible to a wide audience due to its free distribution model on Bandcamp.
Rock Now! - Underground United
Genre: rock, heavy metal, thrash metal
The Brazilian-based record label, Rock Now!, has made available a compilation showcasing the talents of twelve distinct bands.
Featured Artists
The sampler includes tracks from Blackadder, Slasher, Souls For Sale, Branding, Thriven, Kamala, Kliav, Medofobia, Meant to Suffer, Prototype X, Bloodown, Los Baldes, and Renato Albanez.
This compilation can be accessed directly from the Rock Now! Homepage.
The files are distributed via Mediafire and MegaUpload platforms, ensuring easy access for listeners.
Further information regarding Rock Now! can be found on their MySpace page and official Homepage.
Discover a diverse range of sounds within the underground rock and metal scene through this curated collection.
The label continues to support emerging artists in the heavy music landscape.
Listeners can explore the individual styles of each band featured on the sampler.
This release provides a snapshot of the vibrant Brazilian rock and metal community.
Rock Now! serves as a platform for showcasing raw talent and energetic performances.
The compilation offers a convenient way to discover new music within the genre.
Fans of rock, heavy metal, and thrash metal will find something to appreciate in this diverse selection.
The availability of downloads through Mediafire and MegaUpload simplifies the listening experience.
Stay connected with Rock Now! through their online presence for updates on future releases.
BRONZE - Self-Titled Album
The musical group BRONZE operates within the indie, rock, punk rock, and post rock genres.
Following the dissolution of their former project, Detachment Kit, Charlie H. Davis III and Ian Menard, who are siblings, established BRONZE.
The Brooklyn-based quartet is further comprised of musicians Jess Birch and Ian MacDermut.
Musical Style
Their sound has been characterized as delivering "boisterous rock anthems with spot on percussion and heavy hip-shaking beats." This assessment is certainly accurate!
The band’s compositions are notable for their energetic quality and compelling rhythmic foundation.
BRONZE’s music provides a dynamic and engaging listening experience.
Album Availability
The band’s self-titled album is available for free download.
Interested listeners can obtain the album directly from the Bandcamp platform.
Severed Fifth - Nightmares By Design
Genre: heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal
As previously mentioned in a prior Sound Sunday feature, Severed Fifth has now made their second album available to the public.
This 11-track album was independently produced and released by Jono Bacon, a musician based in the Bay Area.
Creative Commons Licensing and Availability
Similar to their first release, Nightmares By Design is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license.
The album can be obtained directly from the band’s official website.
Download Options
Listeners have the flexibility to download individual tracks in either .mp3 or .ogg format.
Alternatively, the entire album is offered as a convenient .zip archive for those who prefer a complete download.
Severed Fifth provides a straightforward method for accessing their music, fostering a community-driven approach to distribution.
The release of Nightmares By Design continues the band’s commitment to freely accessible, high-quality metal music.
GARDEN - Golden Sails
Genre: indie, experimental, shoegaze
Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, GARDEN is an independent musical group specializing in the shoegaze sound. Their work is characterized by a collective approach to songwriting and performance.
A review of their album, Golden Sails, by Stephen of Indie Vision Music describes it as a narrative inspired by the biblical story of the Israelites’ exodus. The album is structured to feel like a cohesive concept piece, with songs seamlessly transitioning into one another.
Stephen highlights the exceptional skill demonstrated throughout the album, noting the quality of the solos, vocal performances, instrumentation, and lyrical depth.
For those interested in exploring experimental indie grunge and seeking a unique auditory experience, GARDEN is a band worth investigating.
Golden Sails is available for preview and download via Noise Trade, as detailed below.
- Genre: indie, experimental, shoegaze
- Origin: Dayton, Ohio
- Review Source: Indie Vision Music
The album’s lyrical content offers a fictionalized retelling of a significant historical and religious event.
Jonathan Class - Connect The Dots
Genre: electronic, instrumental
Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, the musician Jonathan Class maintains a deliberately low profile, operating without a MySpace page or personal website to publicize his work.
His Facebook profile reveals a commitment to creating music primarily for personal fulfillment, rather than commercial gain. This dedication to artistic purity is a quality the world could certainly benefit from seeing more of.
A preview and download of Connect The Dots are available via Noise Trade, as linked above.
You can find Jonathan Class on Facebook.
Previous installments of Sound Sunday can be accessed here. Suggestions, feedback, or free content submissions are welcome – please contact me at [tina at makeuseof dot com] rather than posting them in the comments section.