My favourites of late - free for you

Okay folks, for your Valentine's pleasure, here's a short list of favourites's I've been listening to for the past year. Almost all of them are available for free download at Stereogum - coool, huh? Just go to their mp3 downloads page, view by artist, and scroll down to the artist you want.

Blitzen Trapper - Furr - A mix of Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and indie folk/alt country would not be the thing I would expect to love - but I do.



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Counting Crows - 1492 - I know, I know,Counting Crows! The band's been slagged beofre, especially Adam Duritz - his voice on their live album was hilarious. However, this song is not wimpy music fopr coffeeshops, but a noisy barrage of welcome oddity. Including Duritz taking a self-deprecating jab at himself: "I'm a Russian Jew American/Impersonating African Jamaican".

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Friendly Foes – Not free on Stereogum, but free on rcrdlbl.com, this noisy pop band will give you good music. All short tunes full of piss, vinegar and melody. Free. Full Moon Morning is a great tune, as is Get Yr Shit Together.

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Figurines – Hey Girl



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Islands - Creeper



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Nick Lowe – Heart of the City (Live) - Not free on Stereogum, but from the superfine reissue megaversion of Jesus of Cool.

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The Broken West – Perfect Games &
Auctioneer. I couldn't just pick one song from this band, they are my new favourites hands down.
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Old 97’s - Ride - Taken from their fine album Blame it On Gravity.

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Portastatic – Some Small History



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Quinzy – Steady Hand - Not free on Sterogum, but a power pop gem nonetheless.

The Steady Hand - Tour Diary


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Rowdymen – Rode Hard (and put away wet)- Still unreleased, this country gem sounds like Yoakam, Springsteen, and Steve Earle got drunk and then got lost and left a tune in the back of a taxi for a former rockabilly hero to resurrect. Will it come out this year? Ask Jason "Axl" Allen.

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Stills – Being Here



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Western States – The Road is Dark as the Night - Okay, this isn't officially out until sometime in the near future, but you can hear a couple of new one's from our cosmic Canadian purveyors at their MySpace page. Full review to follow nearer to release date.

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Whigs – Right Hand on Your Heart



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Wrens – Everyone Choose Sides



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Young Rival – Your Island