FREE: Maria Taylor (3 Tracks!)

Maria Taylor is a singer-songwriter that I discovered via the KCRW Top Tune of the Day (see previous blog entry about the Top Tune of the Day written in January) and after listening to many of those songs over and over, there is always one that just seems to stick out. For me, that song lately has been "Time Lapse Lifeline." I was very excited to find that music.download.com also had two other songs of hers on there as well. I'm going to download them now... enjoy!

Download "Time Lapse Lifeline" Here
Download "A Good Start" Here
Download "Lost Time" Here

FREE: Santogold, "L.E.S. Artistes"

Rolling Stone picked Santogold's album as the 6th best album of 2008 (Coldplay's "Viva" was 7th). Santogold combines a lot of sounds from funk, to punk, to pop to club/hip-hop. This remix is a bit more on the "club" side of things, but is very representative of her sound. Enjoy

Download Santogold's "L.E.S. Artistes (XXXChange Remix)" Here

FREE: Inara George (3 Tracks!)

So I have a friend who lives in California and he told me about this friend of his... Inara George. I think you will find her music to be very interesting. I'm not really sure how to describe it, so i thought I'd just let you do that in the comment section below. Enjoy these three tracks of hers courtesy of download.music.com:

Download "Accidental" Here
Download "Oh My Love" Here
Download "Duet" Here

Inara George Bio on AOL Music:

When she isn't exploring the intersection between jazz, tropicalia, and indie pop with the Bird and the Bee, vocalist Inara George enjoys a solo career as a talented singer/songwriter. At a young age, she was surrounded by the music of her father (Little Feat's Lowell George) and his illustrious peers -- Jackson Browne, Terry Allen, and Van Dyke Parks -- yet George never intended to follow in her late father's footsteps. Rather, theater was her forte, and George's younger years were spent performing Shakespeare in her native Topanga Canyon, a community in the Santa Monica mountains. She later relocated to Boston to study acting in the classical theater tradition.

While visiting home one summer, George and several high-school friends launched a band named Lode. To their surprise, the bandmates landed a deal with Geffen Records and released an EP, 1996's Legs & Arms. Before the decade's end, George joined Bryon Atkinson to form Merrick, an indie rock duo that released two albums before disbanding in 2002. Three years later, George struck out on her own by issuing her solo debut on Everloving Records. All Rise was produced by Michael Andrews (Donnie Darko, Freaks and Geeks) and feauterd musical contributions from Greg Kurstin, with whom George shared a mutual appreciation for old jazz standards and 1960s tropicalia tunes. The two formed the Bird and the Bee and released a self-titled album in 2006, followed by several EPs. While preparing for the duo's second full-length release, George also found time to return to her own project, teaming up with veteran producer (and family friend) Van Dyke Parks for 2008's An Invitation.

~ Andrew Leahey & MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

FREE: Cat Power, "The Greatest"

Chan Marshall, also known as Cat Power, is a smokey sounding singer songwriter that I stumbled upon several years ago. Since then, I have really grown to enjoy much of her music, especially the CD The Greatest. Her most recent album, Jukebox features some really great covers as well including my favorite track on the album "New York, New York." Check out the title track from "The Greatest" below and perhaps she will grow on you as she has me...

Download "The Greatest" Here

FREE ALBUM: Steven Delopolous, "Exlusive B-Sides"

I first got to know Steven's music when he was with a band called, "Burlap to Cashmere." Since then, Steven has continued to make some really incredible music on his own. His lyrics are superb and often take me many listens to grasp the ideas he is trying to convey. If you love Folk/Americana music then I think you will find this B-Sides Album to be a real treat. You can download this noisetrade exclusive album below!