Mongo Nation

By Jeremy Azevedo

It’s the end of the summer, the Olympics are over,  and the political media coverage bias is beginning to sound like a wall of douchebag celebrity-approved, Obama worshiping white noise. For the love of god, where can one go to drown it all out?

The answer, of course, is the September Free MP3 Roundup! Try something new for once, because the one thing that we all want is change, amirite?

Artist: Yeti
Song: Deep Creek

Yeti is keeping the torch lit for southern-style metal in the vein of Pantera and Corrosion of Conformity while at the same time injecting it with modern, Hollywood hardcore attitude. “Deep Creek” may just be the most brutal metal song you will hear all year… Yeti is definitely a band to watch out for in the coming months!

Deep Creek

Artist: Street Dogs
Song: Two Angry Kids

If the Street Dogs sound a lot like Dropkick Murphys to you, it’s probably because they share the same lead singer, Mike McColgan, who left Dropkick in ’98 to try out firefighting, but returned to performing music full time in 2002 with Street Dogs. It’s everything you’d expect from an Irish punk rock band, which is always a good time.

Two Angry Kids

Artist: Saviours
Song: Cavern Of Mind

If there were such a thing as “Desert Metal”, Saviours would be at the head of the scene. Dusty, dry and savage, they sound like the sonic equivalent of a Mad Max movie. Fans of stoner metal acts like The Sword and Early Man will love “Cavern of Mind”.

Cavern of Mind

Artist: The Mighty Underdogs
Song: The Anthem

The Mighty Underdogs are a hip-hop super-group consisting of Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Lateef the Truth Speaker (Quannum Projects) and Headnodic (Crown City Rockers). If you don’t recognize any of these names, you need to retire the Lil’ Wayne/Flip/Bow-Wow CD or whatever and get with the program, you f**kin’ slacker!

The Anthem

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Ladytron, MC Chris, The Futureheads and more!

By Jeremy Azevedo

If you can manage to stop going to see The Dark Knight over and over again, writing reviews about how great it is on your blog and constructing your homemade Batman cosplay outfit long enough to actually hear any music, this is what you should be listening to!

It’s what The Joker would have wanted.

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Artist: The Petes
Song: Edith

The Petes is the kind of band that we need more of, creating their own style while still honoring the classics that came before them. In a musical climate in which hipster assholes clamber over one another to copy each other’s foundationless style, it’s refreshing to hear a talented group of musicians actually focus on the songwriting for once.

Edith

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Artist: Ladytron
Song: Black Cat

Ladytron is one of the leaders of the current generation of dream-pop electronica. With their hard edge and gothic undertones, Ladytron will greatly appeal to fans of NIN, Joy Division, Depeche Mode and the Raveonettes.

Black Cat

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Artist: Albert Hammond, Jr.
Song: GfC

Albert Hammond Jr., for those who don’t already know, was (still is?) the guitarist for the Strokes. This makes him sorta like the George Harrison of skinny jean wearing, early 2000s indie garage rock. Even if you’re not a Strokes fan, there’s a lot to like in Albert’s solo work, as is demonstrated here on “GfC”.

GfC

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Artist: Dr. Dog
Song: The Old Days

Dr. Dog’s new album, Fate, is one of the best albums we have heard all year. There is no genre in existence that could effectively describe it. It’s like, if Modest Mouse was half as good as everyone says they are these days, they’d be Dr. Dog.

The Old Days

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Artist: Jukebox the Ghost
Song: Hold It In [Andrew Maury Remix]

Jukebox the Ghost is a quirky group of artists that look like an emo band but really sound more like Devo or something. “Hold It In” is really worth checking out for it’s unusual timing and fun, throwback production.

Hold It In [Andrew Maury Remix]

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Artist: MC Chris
Song: Nrrrd Grrrl

When MC Chris isn’t doing voices for Adult Swim shows like Sealab and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, he’s out rapping about nerd culture on Warped Tour. If you can get past the remarkably high pitch of his voice, you will find one of the most unique MCs out there. For synth-hop jams about Boba Fett and Animal Crossing, look no further than MC Chris.

Nrrrd Grrrl

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Artist: Qwel and Kip Killagain
Song: Agape Rain

Where did this guy come from? Apparently this dude has made something to the tune of 16 albums since 2000, and is notorious in the underground battle-rap scene in Chicago (there’s an underground battle rap scene in Chicago?). Anyway, all that hard work has paid off. Check out “Agape Rain”, it’s great stuff.

Agape Rain

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Artist: The Stills
Song: Being Here

The Stills are a rock band from Canada, that despite that glaring limitation, somehow manage to rock as hard as the best bands out there. Last month, they eve opened for Paul McCartney, if that tells you anything!

Being Here

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Artist: The Futureheads
Song: Broke Up the Time

The Futureheads are Post-punk band from the UK with a unique, youthful approach to New Wave music. Their new album, “This is Not the World” is about twice as fast as their last one, as is evidenced by their first single, “Broke Up the Time”.

Broke Up the Time

Santo Gold, Evidence, CSS, Living Legends and more!

By Jeremy Azevedo

Need something new to listen to at your annual July 4th barbeque and hamster rodeo? Look no further than this month’s Free MP3 Download Roundup!

This month, we’ve got everything you need to look like a musical elitist in front of your lousy freeloading friends, who won’t touch the chicken wings or hot dogs, but can’t get enough of your steak and baby back ribs!

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Artist: Santogold
Song: L.E.S. Artistes

If you haven’t heard at least a couple of Santo Gold’s songs on the radio this year already, then you probably live in the boondocks or something. Her new self-titled album has at least a half-dozen epic tracks like this one, produced by a bunch of hipster producers that critics think everybody knows but no one actually does. Santogold is often compared to M.I.A. for some reason, but in actuality her songwriting is at least 1000 times better.

L.E.S.Artistes

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Artist: Evidence
Song: All Said & Done

A member of both Dilated Peoples and The Weathermen, Evidence is indie hip-hop royalty. “All Said & Done” is a dark and brooding jam that is sure to rock heads.

All Said and Done

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Artist: CSS
Song: Rat is Dead (Rage)

São Paulo dance/pop/punk band CSS is one of the most exciting bands to bubble up to the surface this year. Equally at home at a rock show as in a dance club, CSS is definitely worth checking out. Their English isn’t great, but their music is!

Rat is Dead (Rage)

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New music from Del, Flight of the Conchords, The Teenagers, more…

By Jeremy Azevedo

The songs featured in this month’s installment of free music downloads are particularly notable for their content. Prepare to learn about Scarlett Johansson, running this city, why you are not all that (‘cause you ain’t), getting riches, the music biz, and what time it is (it’s business time, duh).

Be sure to download them all, or I will come to your house and make you watch me eat the following kittens:

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Artist: Biaje feat. E-40
Song: Damn

Biaje is an Oakland rapper that has been putting in work like a maniac for years now. Biaje’s hobbys include, rapping, pimp-slappin’ hos and also ghost riding the whip. Listen to his new album “The Reconstruction” or check him out live with fellow hyphy artists like E-40 and Too Short.

Damn

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Artist: Dear and the Headlights
Song: Run in the Front

Dear and the Headlights is an indie rock band that came right the hell out of nowhere and got themselves signed to popular independent label Equal Vision Records. Check out their professional debut, “Small Steps, Heavy Hooves”, out now.

Run in the Front

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Artist: Del The Funky Homosapien
Song: Bubble Pop

Del is one of the coolest rappers to ever come out of Oakland. Although he is related to Ice Cube, he has not adopted his cousin’s bad habit of swearing up and down that he’s a “gangsta” and then turning right around and churning out shitty Disney family films. It’s been like 1,000 years since his last solo record, but his new album, 11th Hour, is available now on Definitive Jux Records. If you’re a real hip-hop fan, you know that this means that you are in for a treat.

Bubble Pro

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Artist: Flight of the Conchords
Song: Business Time

Flight of the Conchords are New Zealand’s 4th best folk parody duo. Their song “Business Time” is a real knee-slapper, and a great example of what made them so popular to begin with.

Business Time

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Artist: Guilty Simpson
Song: Getting Riches

Detroit rapper Guilty Simpson finally gets his own solo album on Stones Throw Records after years of making appearances on records by top producers like J Dilla and Peanut Butter Wolf. When you listen to “Getting Riches”, you’ll wonder what took so goddamn long?! Also, I’d like to point out that the word “getting” is spelled correctly here in the song title. Proper spelling is the new intentional misspelling, I guess! It’s a crazy time we live in!

Getting Riches

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Artist: Jet Lag Gemini
Song: Run This City

Jet Lag Gemini are, sadly, not named after the N64 game “Jet Force Gemini”. They are, however, the best thing to come out of the Eastern Bloc since potted meat!

Run This City

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Artist: Percee P
Song: No Time for Jokes (Madlib Remix)

Percee P has gone from selling CDs on the street in NY to being signed to a record deal in L.A. (on Stones Throw) and performing with The Jurrassaic 5 on songs like “No Time For Jokes” off his new album, “Perseverance”. Don’t let this information go to your head, guy that tries to sell me CDs outside of Virgin on Hollywood, lightning doesn’t strike twice.

No Time for Jokes (Madlib Remix)

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Artist: Robots in Disguise
Song: We’re in the Music Biz

Disco rock duo “Robots in Disguise” are two of the raddest female musicians to come out of the UK in quite some time. “We’re in the Music Biz” is both painfully honest and lots of fun to listen/dance/make a macaroni picture to.

We’re in the Music Biz

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Artist: The Teenagers
Song: Starlett Johansson

Not to be confused with the 1954 doo-wop group of the same name, The Teenagers are a group of French eletro-pop hipsters that are apparently obsessed with Scarlett Johansson. At least they were before she got all “Hollywood” or whatever.

Starlett Johansson

Check back next month for more of the best FREE music on the web!

New music from The Raveonettes, Ben Lee, HDR, Approach and more

By Jeremy Azevedo

This February, CraveOnline’s got some great new songs available for download from virtually every genre you can think of. Check em’ out!

No seriously. Do it right now. Don’t you know that there are music starved people in other countries? You better download
every single song on your plate, young man/lady/manlady!

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Artist: Approach
Song: The Jar (Intro)

Approach is just about as gangster as one can be coming straight outta Kansas. On his new album, Approach works with top shelf collaborators like P.O.S. and Mac Lethal, producing hot electro-hop club bangers like “The Jar”.

The Jar (Intro)

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Artist: Custom Made
Song: 07 I See

Custom Made are a bunch of dudes with funny names. But there’s nothing funny about their music. 07 I See is reminiscent of some of that good old Mobb Deep shit, with tight flows and soulful backing jams, perfect for blasting obnoxiously loud in your car with the windows down in the summer.

07 I See

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Artist: HMD
Song: One Pursuit

HMD’s song, “One Pursuit” is an epic cut that would make Kanye jealous. With an ear for classic rock samples and high-energy performance, HMD is bound to rise above many of the more conventional indie rappers in the game today.

One Pursuit

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Artist: Kaze
Song: Dynasty

A veteran of the battle rap scene, Kaze (pronounced KAH-ZEE) has graduated from being an opening act for Common, G-Unit and Dead Prez to having his own album released on Rawkus in 2007.

Dynasty

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Artist: Ben Lee
Song: What Would Jay-Z Do?

Following in the footsteps of fellow singer songwriters in the mold of Ben Folds and John Mayer, Ben Lee is positioned to be one of your girlfriend’s favorite artists this year. But he likes Jay-Z, too, so he’s got that going for him.

What Would Jay-Z Do?

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Artist: Gwen Stacy
Song: The Path To Certainty

Hardcore thrash with a message is what screamo band Gwen Stacy brings to the table. Their name is probably a nod to deceased former Spider-Man girlfriend Gwen Stacy, something that may endear the band to all you comic book nerds out there.

The Path To Certainty

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Artist: HDR
Song: Wide Open

Grimy, whiskey slamming stoner rockers HDR don’t mess around with that pop shit. This is music to work on your motorcycle or pipe Suicide Girls to. Or both, if you’re one of those multi-tasker types.

Wide Open

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Artist: The Helio Sequence
Song: Keep Your Eyes Ahead

The Helio Sequence couldn’t be more indie if they tried. Next time someone asks you for an example of what qualifies as indie rock these days, put on “Keep Your Eyes Ahead” and call it a day.

Keep Your Eyes Ahead

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Artist: The Raveonettes
Song: Dead Sound

The Raveonettes new album, “Lust, Lust, Lust” is like a 1950s throw back, atmospheric, surf guitar meets Morrisey masterpiece. “Dead Sound” is a perfect representation of this, and definitely warrants a listen.

Dead Sound

Check back next month for more of the best free music on the web!

Check out this month’s awesome free downloads!

This month CraveOnline is featuring some of the best new tracks from hip hop to hipster rock. Have a listen for yourself and get familiarized with the new hotness!

Artist: Aceyalone
Song: Eazy

Aceyalone has always been considered one of the best MCs in the game, and his newest album, “Lightning Strikes” helps to back up his claim to the title. “Eazy”, featuring Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, is a dancehall jam that could make a quadriplegic bounce.

Aceyalone

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Artist: Mr. Metaphor
Song: Who Izz He?

Mr. Metaphor came up in the battle rap scene of Brooklyn, NY before signing to Rawkus Records in 2007. “Who Izz He?” off of his album “The Evolution of Marc Bars” is a perfect example of why Mr. Metaphor may be one of the best indie/mainstream crossover artist to come along in ages.

Mr. Metaphor

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Artist: Ying Yang Twins
Song: Wham Boom Bam

Wham Boom Bam may just get you to forgive the Yin Yang Twins for subjecting you to “The Whisper Song” every 30 seconds back in 2006.

Ying Yang Twins

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Artist: Desoto Jones
Song: Speed Bump

On their debut album, “Aurora”, freshman rockers Desoto Jones channel early alternative rock acts like Quicksand, adding their own fresh new perspective on fuzz-rock.

Desoto Jones

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Artist: HollAnd
Song: French Grass

Trevor Kampmann, singer/songwriter, producer, technician, filmmaker, pro skateboarder and child actor is a man of many talents. One of which is pumping out sweet hipster synth jams like “French Grass”! I’m willing to bet that modesty is not another one of Trev’s skills.

HollAnd

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Artist: Ken Andrews
Song: Stuck On You (live)

“Secrets of the Lost Satellite” is the first solo album under Ken Andrews’ own name, although he was at one time half of the legendary 90s alternative rock band, Failure. Andrews recently released a live version of the album, which contains some classic Failure tracks, one of which is “Stuck on You”.

Ken Andrews

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Artist: Olympia
Song title: M-80

Former members of Fairweather and Brand New Disaster have reformed into Olympia, a heavy new band on Equal Vision Records. Neither cock-rock nor emo, Olympia has stumbled upon the key to the lost art of rock.

Olympia

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Artist: Tokyo Police Club
Song: Cut Cut Paste

Nerdcore band Tokyo Police Club has more energy in their moppish hairstyles than most bands have in their entire bodies. Watch for these guys to be playing at all the hippest music festivals and shows throughout 2008.

Tokyo Police Club

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Artist: Plain White T’s
Song title: Stop

Before “Hey There Delilah” rocketed the Plain White T’s to stardom, their first single was “Stop”, recently remastered and reissued by Fearless records. Listen to the origins of one of last year’s biggest breakthrough acts.

Plain White T’s