8tracks Playlist: For the Week of 3/30/09 - 4/5/09

Several months later, and I'm still mourning the digital loss of the original Muxtape site. Muxtape allowed anyone to upload songs and create a digital playlist that could be shared with friends, family, enemies, minions, etc. But alas, digital copyright laws, confusing as they are at this point in time, forced the original site to shut down. R.I.P., Muxtape.

But enough of that. 8tracks* is not my favorite thing, but it operates in the same way, though it does it legally.

So I'll be using 8tracks to share more songs both old and new, of all different genres, from artists of varying successes (and even talent, to be honest). My aim is to feature on a weekly basis a mix of songs that will make some people think, Why isn't/wasn't this a hit?

This week, there's a mix of rock (The Gaslight Anthem, Straylight Run), hip hop (Sufjan Stevens/Tor feat. Aesop Rock), indie (The Narrative), and pop (The Killers--back to their old selves!, Sam Sparro, The Ting Tings, and The White Tie Affair). I needed some variety this week. Hope you enjoy!



[*8tracks has many legal restrictions. It operates like the radio--there's a list of songs ready to be played, but they play randomly so the listener doesn't know which song plays next. For further details, check out the site's legal page.]

Let My People Hear Free Music

Here's some links to great and FREE music you can legally download:

Hip-Hop and Folk music re-made: Illinoize: The Remix Tape - Sufjan Stevens/Tor (Download this NOW. An unlikely combination that works really well, and gives new life to both genres. Look out for a longer post about this in the future because it is just too damn good!)

Infectious Pop Rock: The End Is Not the End EP - House of Heroes (For those looking for some good pop rock music, along the lines of the All-American Rejects. This band can breakout onto the mainstream someday.)

I'm all for a little variety: "Pitter Pat (Acoustic)" - Erin McCarley (If you're still praying for another Lilith Fair tour, or if you remember Anna Nalick and that song "Breathe (2 AM)," then this song is for you.)

Free Download Overhaul: Bright Light Fever (Type "absolutepunk" in the space and hit "Submit." A little band that's been out for a while, but you can catch up on their music with this link. They're a pretty good rock band; "Crowded Street in May," "Lost Las Vegas," and "Telephones" from the "Rarities" collection are excellent standouts for me. Thanks to AbsolutePunk for this, by the way.)

Some of these won't be free for long, so download them before you miss your chance!