December's Free Music

Apparently the holidays make musicians and record labels want to share lots of music and by share I mean give it away for free. Here are some of the places I've been going to for the goodies.

Joe Purdy - Download his 12th album, This American, for free. A long time favorite singer/songwriter of mine, I really think you should check this one out. http://joepurdy.com/

Highways

Barton Carroll - Get his 2009 album, Together You and I, for free. He has a really unique voice and tells great stories through his folk-ish songs, that feel like they are from some forgotten era in the past. "Do You Want to Get Out of Here?", "Monday Night" and "Poor Boy Can't Dance" are ones you absolutely have to add to your music collection. "Poor Boy Can't Dance" is a story about crushing on a bridesmaid and using some liquid courage to get on the dance floor (and there is a clarinet). How can you not like that?

Poor Boy Can't Dance

InSound - December mixtape just the cost of an email address for an awesome mixtape with Braids, Mynabirds, Deerhoof, Tennis and lots more. Go get it, you won't regret it. 

The Line of Best Fit - Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada Deux I can't get enough of this indie christmas mixtape of 30 songs. This is the most refreshing compilation of holiday themed songs I have seen in a long time. Absolutely loving it. 

Nat Jay - Green Trees, Red Hearts

Paper Lions - Jingle Bells

Barton Carroll - Poor Boy Can't Dance

Barton Carroll is a Seattle based musician who has previously played with the band Crooked Fingers and has accompanied some other musicians along the way while working on his solo albums. His sound is very Americana but without that gravely twangy sound that one might associate with the genre. His newest album, Together You and I, is really great filled with nice mellow sounds while the lyrics linger somewhere around hope or hoplessness and have a way of grabbing your attention. I could listen to him all day. There is just something to these songs that I can't quite put my finger on, other than I want to keep listening to them. I especially love, love, love the clarinet in this song and the little story. Listen to more on his myspace and I highly suggest these songs: Together You and I, Dark Place, Lets get on with the illusion, and Those Days are gone and my heart is breaking.
"I had a girl back home she left me all alone 
said i was born with two left feet 
and thats the truth of it, you know I must admit 
i can barely walk down the street, 
well if it takes one more to send me on the floor 
well let me see what I can do, oh to spend some time with you. 
So dance with me..."