Last Week in Free MP3s 8-13

“Round and Round” – Ariel Pink’s Haunted

If you want to keep that good mood that you’ve worked so hard for then don’t bother with this track. It spends far too long figuring out what it wants to be. If you’re going to mix genres at least have the guts to write decent lyrics and a non-schizophrenic melody. Skip it.

“5 Questions” – Alexander O’Neal

Remember Alexander O’Neal’s “Fake?” That was an anthem for every man who had to deal with a trifling woman and lived to tell the tale. Well he’s back with “5 Questions” from his new album of the same title. This “new journey” as subtitled for the album covers the standard R&B fare solid musicianship, a good voice with O’Neal expertly delivering his lines like Samuel L. Jackson. It’s nice to have him back.

“Leaving Trails” – Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band

Grunge is back? Perhaps not, but “Leaving Trails” is a solid track that draws from that genre of music. The grungy-garage sound is tinged with solid instrumentation and a solid lead singing voice. It’s that polished edge that gives Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band a song well worth listening to – even if you never liked grunge music.

“I Can’t Feel” – Mathew Dear

Have you ever wanted to be in on a free-for-all music jam? Well if you’ve never experienced it, then Mathew Dear’s “I Can’t Feel” is the next best thing. You can tell that Dear was having a good time in the studio with this one. Alongside the solid musicianship is the experiment with synthesized sound. This track may not be to your tastes on an entire album of this type of music, but that’s the beauty of the free download – being able to listen to songs you might not have before at no cost.

“Gone To Earth” – Versus

The slow languishing start to Versus’ “Gone To Earth” is not something you want to hear on a warm summer day – it’ll put you to sleep. Still it is a solid, well done track that makes for unobtrusive background noise.

“For The Summer” – Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs

Dangerously close to the melodic rhythm of James Taylor “Fire & Rain,” “For The Summer” will stir those same emotions. While it is a great song with an amazing name for a band you wonder if LaMontagne was listening to too much Taylor while making this song. Still if you love early Taylor you will also find “For The Summer” to your liking.

“Boyfriend” – Best Coast

This track needs to be completely revamped to be listenable. From the mundane lyrics to the pedestrian harmonies make this song a cacophony of noise. Don’t waste your time.