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Want to hear the new Sigur Ros album in its entirety
before it hits the record store? Want to know who made
Annie, Clap Your Hand Say Yeah and MIA such hot properties
before the media vultures propelled them to stardom? MP3
bloggers have been posting tracks by known and unknown
musicians long before MTV or the mainstream media got wind
of them. Despite crackdowns by the music industry to stop
leaking of tracks online, MP3 bloggers have posted tracks
from such artists as Bjork, the Go! Team and Sister Scissors
long before their CDs became available. If you search the
Internet for free music, you’re bound to come across music
blogs. The best part of all of these blogs is not only the
free music you can download onto your iPod, but also the raw
and unbiased reviews of current and past musical acts.
People rave and rant on these sites about bands like they
know them personally. It can be an entertaining time waster
and I’ve spent countless hours reading the ranting of
people loving or hating, say, Bloc Party.
MP3 blogs are also a great way to introduce yourself to
new sounds and artists that you may not know about. During
the past few weeks I’ve been going mental over the Long
Blondes, Ladyfuzz, the Pipettes, Rough Bunnies and
rediscovering such classic bands as the Pink Lady and ESG.
Be warned that some MP3 blog tracks are available for a
limited time and once they’ve been pulled from the site,
they’re gone. Here is a quick primer of some of the best
MP3 blogs around. Log on and enjoy.
• stereogum.com—A great place to start. Lots
of links to other music blogs.
• fluxblog.com—Witty comments on the music
posted and a keen ear for good songs.
• arjanwrites.com—Queer-slanted MP3 blog and
really obsessed with the Killers, Kylie Minogue and Sister
Scissors. Nice interviews and behind the scene posts.
• copycommaright.blogspot.com—A great site
with interesting post about artists covering other artist’s
music. Hear Paul Anka cover the Cure’s “Love Cats.”
• people.freenet.de/bootlegbrowser—One of my
secret sites. Perfect for the collector who just has to have
every live recording or bootleg of their favorite band.
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