Free Downloads for SXSW – Thank You NPR

     In some cold-weather states of the U.S., the expression is that March comes in like a lion, but goes out like a lamb. But in the Indie world, the opposite is more accurate. And the reason is SXSW (South by Southwest). Briefly, SXSW takes place in Austin, Texas and is the one time during the year when the focus is on the Indie bands. Each year, a number of bands relocate from being just on or off the music radar screen to being in a position to cast a shadow over a vast area.

     NPR (National Public Radio) has kindly allowed free downloads of 100 songs of 100 artists who will attend SXSW this year. The songs can be downloaded as a single 813 MB Zip file or as individual MP3 files. The site is: CLICK HERE FOR THE NPR DOWNLOAD SITE.

     Below is the list of 100 songs. Our recommendations are in blue, but they are far from being the only songs that are of interest. 

THE AUSTIN 100 

Air Review, "America's Son" – We particularly like the laid back banjo.

Air Traffic Controller, "You Know Me"

Alt-J, "Tessellate"

Andy Stott, "Numb"

The Away Days, "Dressing Room" – We have mentioned this band in a blog entry, and our appreciation for them has grown.

Bajofondo, "Pide Piso"

Big K.R.I.T., "Shine On (Feat. Bun B)"

Blaudzun, "Elephants"

Boy, "Little Numbers"

Bronze Radio Return, "Shake, Shake, Shake"

Brown Shoe, "Late Nights" – This is a band that desires more attention. We like other songs by them more than “Late Nights,” but that is intended as a complement to other songs by Brown Shoe.

The Calm Blue Sea, "Mary Ann Nichols"

Caveman, "In The City”

Cayucas, "High School Lover"

Cheyenne Mize, "Among The Grey"

Chic Gamine, "Days And Days"

The Coup, "Magic Clap"

Dana Falconberry, "Lake Charlevoix"

Daniel Bachman, "With Signs Following"

Dessa, "The Beekeeper" – Vocals demand your attention

DIIV, "How Long Have You Known" – Too bad they didn’t post “Doused”

Dusted, "Property Lines"

The Eastern Sea, "The Match" - If you follow this blog, you know we enjoy this Austin-based group.

Elephant Stone, "Heavy Moon"

Emma Louise, "Boy"

Empress Of, "Don't Tell Me"

Ex Cops, "James"

Field Report, "I Am Not Waiting Anymore" – If you appreciate folk, the only negative we have for this song is that “Talking Alcatraz” is even better.

Fierce Bad Rabbit, "Matter Of Time"

Foxygen, "San Francisco"

Frightened Rabbit, "State Hospital"

Gaby Moreno, "Que Voy A Hacer"

Guards, "Silver Lining"

Haley Bonar, "Bad Reputation"

Hannah Georgas, "Ode To Mom"

Hey Marseilles, "Bright Stars Burning"

Hundred Waters, "Boreal"

Hurray For The Riff Raff, "Born To Win (Part One)"

Imam Baildi, "De Thelo Pia Na Xanarthis"

Indians, "I Am Haunted"

Ivan & Alyosha, "Running For Cover" – Perhaps too much folk on the list, but it’s great folk!

Jenny Owen Youngs, "Love For Long"

Jesca Hoop, "Born To" We’ve liked this since the first time we heard it.

Joe Banfi, "Nomads" Interesting use of the background instruments! And the swells…

Jonathan Boulet, "You're A Animal" 

Josh Ritter, "Joy To You Baby" 

Josh Rouse, "Julie (Come Out Of The Rain)" 

The Joy Formidable, "This Ladder Is Ours" 

Kelly Hogan, "Plant White Roses" 

Ken Stringfellow, "You're The Gold" 

Killer Mike, "Untitled (feat. Scar)" 

Kopecky Family Band, "Heartbeat" This is the band that we will see with The Eastern Sea. Looking forward to the event!!!

La Santa Cecilia, "La Negra"

Le1f, "Coins (produced by Drippin & Souldrop)"

Lianne La Havas, "Is Your Love Big Enough?"

Line & Circle, "Roman Ruins"

The Lone Bellow, "Two Sides Of Lonely"

Lucius, "Turn It Around"

Lydia Loveless, "Can't Change Me"

Marnie Stern, "Year Of The Glad"

Metz, "Headache"

Micah P. Hinson, "Take Off That Dress For Me"

Mikal Cronin, "Shout It Out"

The Milk Carton Kids, "Snake Eyes"

Mother Falcon, "Dirty Summer" – This one is new to us.

The Mowgli's, "San Francisco (Remix)"

My Education, "Roboter Hohlenbewohner"

Night Beds, "Ramona"

NO, "What's Your Name" – Still sounds like the band National to us, but that’s a good thing.

Olafur Arnalds, "Old Skin"

ON AN ON, "Ghosts"

Parquet Courts, "Stoned And Starving"

Phosphorescent, "Song For Zula"

The Polyphonic Spree, "You Don't Know Me"

Quiet Company, "The Emasculated Man And The City That Swallowed Him"

Red Baraat, "Shruggy Ji"

Rhye, "Open"

Robert Raimon Roy, "Robert Raimon Roy"

Said The Whale, "Loveless"

Sean Rowe, "Joe's Cult"

Shout Out Louds, "Illusions"

Sinkane, "Warm Spell"

Skeletonwitch, "This Horrifying Force (The Desire To Kill)"

Skinny Lister, "Rollin' Over"

The Soil & The Sun, "I Know It (I Feel It, Too)"

Spirit Family Reunion, "I Want To Be Relieved"

The Staves, "Mexico"

Telekinesis, "Ghosts And Creatures" – Amazing how many song and band names include “Ghost(s).”

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, "Holy Roller"

The Thermals, "Born To Kill"

Thomas Dybdahl, "But We Did"

Tyagaraja, "We Will Meet Again"

The Very Best, "Yoshua Alikuti"

Waxahatchee, "Peace And Quiet"

Whirr, "Sandy"

Widowspeak, "Ballad Of The Golden Hour"

Wild Child, "Tale Of You & Me"

You Won't, "Three Car Garage"

Youth Lagoon, "Dropla"

!!!, "Slyd"