Some Great Free Music (by legal means of course!)

Great Lake Swimmers – Live EP
Recorded in 2007 at a concert in Toronto, Live EP by the Great Lake Swimmers features Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) playing the violin and Basia Bulat singing back-up vocals. It was impressive to hear Tony Dekker and Basia Bulat singing together as Owen Pallett’s violin gently weaved through their vocals to create music that melts into the sound of rural Canada. This EP does a good job of highlighting the strengths of each musician and manages to create a musical experience where listeners feel connected to this large (and talented!) folk family. Live EP is not to be missed because how often do you get the Great Lake Swimmers sharing the stage with Final Fantasy and Basia Bulat?

Said the Whale -Let’s Have Sound EP, West Coast Christmas 2007, and West Coast Christmas 2008
One of the nicest bands in the industry, Said the Whale has put out three free EPs in two years (thanks guys, if you’re reading this!). In Let’s Have Sound, the album follows the seasons of the year as it begins with a few light winter songs and gets progressively slower and darker, just like the days in December. Like the last few songs of Let’s Have Sound, West Coast Christmas 2007 and West Coast Christmas 2008 are slow as they center on the cold Christmas season. I particularly enjoyed the first few songs of Let’s Have Sound as they are the type of song that is best enjoyed while dancing in the snow or making a snowman or snow angel. I also enjoyed listening to “Christmas Under the Clouds”, which could be considered as a modern Christmas carol. Overall, these thirteen songs demonstrate Said the Whale’s flexibility as musicians as these songs feature everything from a great beat, great vocals, and every instrument from the piano to the xylophone.

Zeus- How Does It Feel
Zeus is Arts & Crafts’ newest band and their debut, due out in the spring of 2009, is called Something Awesome. After listening to the two free songs that were offered, I know that Zeus is up to Something Awesome. How Does It Feel is one of the best debut songs that I have heard of in a while as Zeus manages to fit in group vocals, a short guitar solo, a catchy beat, and great lyrics (“friends you didn’t have because you were cruel/And because you’ve never been to school”). How Does It Feel is also my current “Song I’m Not Sick of Yet” and I can’t wait to listen to more good music from this new band.

Graham Wright – The Lakes of Alberta
I was definitely surprised when I heard this record by Graham Wright, keyboardist of Tokyo Police Club. Obviously, I expected an EP with Wright rocking out on the keyboard Tokyo Police Club style, but instead The Lakes of Alberta features slow and soft acoustics and the heartwarming story of a lovesick sick man and his married high school sweetheart who run away to Lake Louise. The story is confusing as it seems to be told in reverse order, but Wright does a good job of capturing the beauty of Alberta through his music and heartwarming lyrics. Judging by this brilliant solo effort, it will be very difficult to “pretend that nothing ever happened” as we can expect more good stuff from Graham Wright in the future.

Always,
Athena