Punch Brothers Live Sampler on Noisetrade

If you're into all things Punch Brothers lately, you'll be pleased to know that the Chris Thile lead bluegrass/folk group has a live sampler on offer over at Noisetrade.com. It's four songs recorded at the Fillmore and obviously worth the download. Or better yet, you don't even have to leave this page to get it. Download thingy above.

In other news, the following two search terms brought people to the blog: "machine that helps stretch your face" and "James Mercer British accent." SEO FTW, as the kids say.

The Cabin Sessions : Ivan & Alyosha

                           

Consider this today's tip for living a happier life. This morning while bouncing around NoiseTrade I found this EP from Seattle band Ivan & Alyosha. My first memory of this band is hearing them on NPR's All Songs Considered, scribbling down the name and probably horribly misspelling "Alyosha." But that's neither here nor there, is it?

The Cabin Sessions is an EP featuring a handful of songs off their Aug. 7 release All the Time We Had, including acoustic versions of "Be Your Man" and "On My Way." Ivan & Alyosha has some really nice breezy harmonies. I particularly like the little shuffle thing they've got going on during "Don't Want to Die Anymore."

So yes. Damn enjoyable. Have at it courtesy of NoiseTrade. Be a sport, kick in a couple bucks and check out The Cabin Sessions.

Andrew Bird on NoiseTrade

At Grimey's in Nashville, 2008

If you're not familiar the Noisetrade.com, you should fix that. In fact, TMI can help introduce you. NoiseTrade is "Fair Trade Music." Artists can put their material on offer and you can download it for free, or you can drop a little something in the tip jar.

This week, Andrew Bird is on NoiseTrade with a few tracks from his forthcoming album, Break it Yourself.

Track Listing:

01 : Eyeone
02 : The Crown Salesman
03 : So Much Wine
04 : After Dinner Jam

Frabbit for Free

And here I was thinking I'd be left blogging about the new Coldplay video today.

Scottish band Frightened Rabbit is offering a 3-song EP, free for download on their website. The EP is simply called A Frightened Rabbit EP. It includes "Fuck this Place" featuring Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell, which TMI posted about a while back, "The Work," and "Scottish Winds."

Why should you be excited about this? Because Frabbit was giving away this very same EP during their tour with Death Cab for Cutie this fall and you were stuck in a city that loves metal and barely ever gets anyone interesting while Frabbit and DCfC traipsed through your hometown the week after you were home.

Well. Maybe.

Getting Back on Track

Alright kids, TMI's getting back on track after a few weeks of breaking news, exams and general busyness. We've got a few things in the works this season, including the annual The Musically Inclined's Top 10 Finds to 2010. Look for that in the next week or so.

For now, I wanted to bring your attention to the fact that Amazon is giving away one holiday song everyday until Christmas. The great thing is that if you miss a day, you can go back and download the tracks anyway. So far, Fleet Foxes and Mannheim Steamroller are two of the more notable giveaways, but hey, check out the twelve others and decide for yourself. Personally, I've been keeping up with them via Twitter.

More Sufjan For Less

The Age of Adz is $3.99 on Amazon. In the wise words of our bird-like buddy, Jónsi, "go do!"

I Walked : Sufjan Stevens

A quick word. Sufjan Steven's upcoming album The Age of Adz is set to be released Oct. 12 (Hey! That's tomorrow!) and I had a few fleeting moments at work today to hear it streaming on NPR. I didn't get all the way through, but I made it to "I Walked," which so far is my favorite track. Upon Googling, I realized that my alter ego-- the Hyde to my Jekyll, if you will, apparently downloaded it for free off his Band Camp site and immediately forgot. How do I put this-- song is fantastic.

It's definitely a different feel from Sufjan Stevens's other records. Stephen Thompson from NPR described the sound as being less "precious." I think that's a really good way to put it. It's more electronic-- drum machines and all that business. At the same time though, there are parts of this song that have that "precious" feel that we've come to know and love from Stevens.

While part of me is intimidated at the 25-minute track that closes out the album, I think I want to pick up The Age of Adz anyway. I'm just thinking that my collection needs these sounds in it. Guess we'll see.

Bloodbuzz Ohio : The National

Carrying on in the land of free things, The National is offering a download of "Bloodbuzz Ohio," a song from their May 11 release, High Violet. And you know what? It definitely sounds like The National. You want sonic continuity? Give it a listen.

The Web site gives you two download options, though if you want the higher quality and the artwork you have to hand over your email address.

Tricky musicians.

SXSW Sampler from NPR

It's definitely a big week for music, and The Musically Inclined..... is not in Austin right now (sorry), but that doesn't mean that there isn't a little SXSW goodness to be heard back here. Mainly I just wanted to draw to your attention the free NPR Music at SXSW sampler that's available on iTunes. The track listing is as follows:

01. Written in Reverse : Spoon
02. The High Road : Broken Bells
03. I Learned the Hard Way : Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings
04. Canadian Girl : The Walkmen
05. Girl In Love : Smith Westerns
06. Airplanes : Local Natives
07. Everywhere I Go : G-Side
08. Cleo's Song : JBM
09. Achille's Heel: IV. Shur Landing : Brooklyn Rider
10. Hannah : Freelance Whales
11. Swim : Surfer Blood

The first two tracks alone make this worth the download. In somewhat related news, I have scattered thoughts on Broken Bells and will post soon. Anyway, the sampler is again, free, so I don't really know why you're still reading this. Have at it.

Wavin' Flag : K'NAAN

Last April I had the good fortune of getting press passes to Vanderbilt University's Rites of Spring Music Festival. One of the first acts that performed on day one was K'NAAN, a former Somali refugee who currently does a breed of hip hop (sort of but not really) infused with his ethnic roots that's pretty refreshing.

By far the best song he did was an extended version of "Wavin' Flag" that recounted the murder of his best friends in Somalia and his arrival in the U.S. He captured the audience and held them. It really was a fine moment.

Paste Magazine is offering a free download of the song. Definitely give it a listen.