Free AND Legal Downloads from Great New Bands

(Free Energy)(The XX)

(The Big Pink)

Thanks to Urban Outfitters (never thought I would start a sentence like that and ACTUALLY mean it) and their LSTN series, we all have access to 25 new songs from up and coming bands absolutely free through iTunes.

Their latest compilation LSTN #7 includes some of my favorite current artists, The XX, The Big Pink, Free Energy, Washed Out and Rain Machine all of whom have been raved about in past posts on DYB. Maybe I should give Urban Outfitters more credit or myself less (I am thinking the latter). Either way I seem to share a similar music sensibility with the mass retailer's taste makers and I am going to have to just accept that (through numerous therapy sessions). I am willing to neglect my pride to introduce more of you to great music - and this compilation does have that in spades. Other interesting artists to check out on here: The Dodos and Girls. Here is the LINK. Just click in the upper right hand side on "Click Here To Download" and it should open up your itunes for the download.

LSTN #6 is also available for download in iTunes. #1-4 are available to download as zip files. #5 has expired but is still available for free streaming.

Let me know what bands you like in the comments and I will write some posts on them!

Enjoy,
MD

Introducing: Washed Out

(Ernest Greene, the man behind Washed Out)

Washed Out is a one man show out of Columbia, South Carolina playing glitchy, loopy electro pop (does it seem like I like that kind of music??) along the lines of Air France, Panda Bear, et al. For me he sounds like the missing link between Panda Bear and M83's Saturdays = Youth. The 80s is an obvious influence, but the music has a timeless quality to it - it is celestrial, breazy and incredibly versatile. I feel like I can listen to this on the beach, a long drive with the top down or getting ready to hit up the town. This versatility comes from Greene's playing with tempo and expectations - all the tracks seem to have push and pull between a dance track and an ambient one and almost all seem to end abruptly leaving you wanting more. "Feel It All Around" LINK is a perfect example of this. "New Theory" sounds like a MGMT track if they downshifted one gear. Washed Out just released their first EP Life of Leisure today and it is available for $3.99 HERE. I have already spun it through a few times - this is going to be on repeat for a while.

Enjoy,
MD