50 Awesome Bands & Musicians Giving Away Free Music Downloads VolumeONE
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“Free is the new black” as one of my favorite authors Martin Atkins says, and the best way to prove to your everyday casual music fan that your band’s music is something they could get into is to give it away for free! Assault.it has tirelessly scoured the web the past three months to find what we consider to be some of the best signed, and unsigned bands offering up their music for free to their fans, and soon-to-be-fans. Download as you see fit, and if you like what you hear, go to a show, buy a t-shirt, buy an album, or at the very least tell a friend!
1. Direct Hit!
FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED! To call these guys the Andrew WK of punk rock would be somewhat of an insult, but in the interest of appealing to everyman 1.0 that’s what these guys are. Hardcore power punk at its finest, and the best live show I’ve ever witnessed. You can check out our full review of their latest EP #4 here if you want to see why we think this band is your favorite new band.
Get Pumped! Direct Hit! MySpace | BandCamp (The free shit is here)
2. Makeshift Prodigy -- Mathematica
Makeshift Prodigy is giving away a single off their freshly-released album Mathematica! According to Third World Timmy this band is one of the best new bands in the city of Chicago, and is his pick to click to break out in the next year or two. Check out our review of Mathematica, as well as our live CD release show review, and interview with the guys.
Official Website | Download “Mathematica”
3. Empires
Select singles and entire albums from their MySpace for one of the most well known bands in Chicago with former members of The Academy Is… except these guys are way more awesomer.
4. The Delivery Boys
One of Chicago’s hidden secrets on the pop punk scene. You can check out our thoughts on the Chicago power-punkers here, or better yet, you can download their songs on their PureVolume page.
5. Trippy Wicked
“[An] epic musical journey of songs about living the good life, fire, growing beards, girls, aliens, loneliness, love, and pirates.” That basically sums up the awesomeness of this UK import. You can download their album for free on their band camp.
6. Carousel Kings
The Carousel Kings EP, Here Comes Trouble makes me feel like I’m driving 90 MPH on I-90 in towards Rockford, IL listening to Saves the Day at full blast in my ’93 Pontiac Bonneville. Fast-paced punk rock that you’re mildly embarrassed to sing along to.
MySpace | PureVolume (Free download here)
7. La Dispute
The first I’d heard of La Dispute was when I found out from R. Kelly (Ryan Kelly that is) that they’re on the same label as The Wonder Years, No Sleep Records. I was amazed to find a range of sound that starts at spoken word over what reminds me of Explosions in the Sky, and goes all the way to a highly polished screamo sound--which I’m a huge fan of.
MySpace | Thank You for Your Patience Free Downloads
8. Light In May
Metalcore from Conneticut that sound something like Poison The Well, one of Third World Timmy’s old school favorites.
MySpace | Merch Store | PureVoume Free Downloads
9. The Decay
Canadian punk rock--not the Sum41 style punk rock though. If Dillinger Four had a Canadian love child, it’d be The Decay.
MySpace | This Month’s Rent Full Album Download
10. Mansions
The Get Up Kids meets Ryan Adams meets Dinosaur Jr. Words from their own MySpace.
MySpace | Merch Store | | Doghouse Records | Get OMG for just one tweet!
11. Anchor Eighty Four Compilation
Sign up for the mailing list and you get the full album. The album includes a song from a band we interviewed a few weeks ago, Newamerica. (Formerly The Discover Radio)
Sign up to get a full compilation album
12. Thrice -- Day Trotter Live Session
At one point Thrice was Third World Timmy’s band, but they’ve transitioned into more of an experience, than a rock and roll band. Still, they’re giving away a free album that you should get.
Official Website | Download Full Live Session
13. Wipe Out Marshall
I can’t tell you much about this band because their “About Us” on their MySpace may as well have been written in alien, but the album is full of punk rock block, and totally worth checking out. EP: You Light This Match, We’ll Burn This City
14. Man the Change live in Brooklyn EP
New York based DIY punk rock band heavily influenced by one of “Third World” Timmy’s favorite punk rock groups, Hot Water Music.
15. Deadly Animals EP
Heavy metal is “Third World” Timmy’s favorite genre of music, and he’ll be the first to tell you that most of the unsigned groups offering up free music in said genre kinda suck--Deadly Animals on the other hand, do not suck. Gritty hard rock for fans of Static-X, Pantera, and Fear Factory.
16. The Friday Night Boys
One of the newest signings to Fueled By Ramen, and we can understand why. One tweet gets you a free download of one of their new songs.
17. Apocalipstick
All girl thrasher punk rock group from Irvine, CA. They’ll steal your heart then break it.
MySpace | Sign up for mail list to download
18. SHARKS -- Shallow Waters EP
British garage rock that sounds a bit like early The Strokes albums. PunkNews gave it 4.5/5
19. Campaign -- It Likes To Party EP
It’s no secret that we at Assault.it’s staff and crew like to party. This album therefore caught our attention and we believe it couldn’t be more appropriately titled. You can also get their previous EP for free in the same placed--the appropriately titled H1N1. For those of you fans of old Hot Water Music, you’re going to want to get both these albums.
MySpace | It Likes To Party EP Download | H1N1 Free Album Download
20. Dan Wythoff -- The Sunscreen EP
Great solo act that has the same amount of talent as a John Mayer and you won’t feel like a douche enabler by listening to it.
MySpace | Sign up for the newsletter for the Sunscreen EP
21. Cypress Hill -- It Ain’t Nothin’
With a new album on the way Cypress Hill has released one of their songs for free! Check it out and keep an eye out for their new album which we’ll be reviewing here on Assault.it.
Official Website | Download It Ain’t Nothin’ MP3
22-28. ReverbNation Playlist 7 (Click on Audio Library)
Every week ReverbNation posts 7 songs from different artists that are all available as a free download. The program has ended, but they still have a huge Audio Library you can get plenty of quality free music from.
More from ReverbNation | Download Playlist7 (Click on Audio Library)
29. Ship Wrecks
Acoustic rock that sounds like a more catchy version of The Swell Season (From Academy Award winning movie Once) and a little bit of Bright Eyes.
Official Website | Ship Wrecks bandcamp
30. Kismet -- Hiatus
Utrecht based indie-rock at it’s finest. Sort of sounds like a lighter version of Thursday.
Official Website | Kismet bandcamp
31. A Common Year -- Between Cities full length album
If you’ve seen Jimmy Eat World live and wish there were more bands like it it--look no more. A Common Year is a for fans of Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, Thrice, Northstar. Anberlin.
MySpace | A Common Year bandcamp
32. The Day Woke to Me Driving To You’s -- Rain, Rain, Rain EP
Sounds like Explosions in the Sky, Postal Service. Despite their complicated name, the music is quite soothing and nice.
MySpace | PureVolume | Download EP
33. He Is We -- Light A Way
Acoustic band that sounds like Paramore, VersaEmerge, Sarah Berielles. Included on the Top 20 Unsigned Bands of 2009 by PureVolume.
MySpace | PureVolume | Merch Store
34. Conditions -- Illuminati
I’ve been a fan of Conditions for awhile now. (Since I heard about them from ShredNews) For fans of anyone who likes The Ready Set, All Time Low, Set Your Goals, The Swellers. They’re offering the song “Illuminati” on their PureVolume for free.
MySpace | PureVolume Song Download
35. I Rival -- Make Me Scream
Sounds like Keeping Secrets, Our Last Night, The Word Alive, Set Your Goals, Conditions, The Used.
MySpace | Merch Store | PureVolume Song Download
36. The Bay State -- Liars
Talented female lead rock band that sounds a bit like Paramore/VersaEmerge, Be Your Own Pet.
MySpace | PureVolume Song Download
37. Picture Me Broken -- Dearest (I’m So Sorry)
Girl fronted rock band that resembles Lacuna Coil, Evanescence, Flyleaf, Arch Enemy. They made it on PureVolume’s top 20 unsigned of 2009, and deserve all the attention they get.
MySpace | PureVolume Song Download
38. Every You -- A Change of Scene
If you like The Swellers (Like we do) then you’ll love these guys--same goes for Strike Anywhere, Broadway, and any other seasoned punk rock group.
MySpace | Merch Store | PureVolume Song Download
39. My Arcadia -Lulea (City by the Sea)
Hard to classify who My Arcadia sounds like, but I would say it’s a mixture of Flyleaf, Hey Monday, Amy Lee, and the punk rock influence of one of our favorites Hayley Williams.
MySpace | Merch Store | PureVolume Song Download
40. Tonight Alive -- Wasting Away
I’ve said it 3-4 times now, but Tonight Alive sounds very much like Picture Me Broken, My Arcadia, Paramore, Flyleaf, and VersaEmerge. I can’t get enough girl-fronted rock band. Very high energy band that most bros would feel comfortable with playing loudly in their cars.
MySpace | PureVolume Song Download
41. Silversun Pickups -- Lazy Eye (Acoustic version)
Grammy nominated indie rockers the Silversun Pickups put up an acoustic version of their song, “Lazy Eye.” All you have to do is sign up for their mailing list!
Official Website | Sign up for newsletter for free song
42. Girl On Fire -- Summer Sampler EP
For fans of Alexisonfire, Taking Back Sunday, The Used, except more fast-paced, with more face-melting guitar riffs. It will make you feel like a man.
MySpace | Summer Sampler EP Download
43. Midwest Hype
I’ve never heard a jazz funk band before, but Midwest Hype is working their way into a genre that they’re dominating all their own. This entire album is on “Third World” Timmy’s island vacation mix that goes with him on all his tropical island getaways.
MySpace | ReverbNation | 3 songs: Sunrise Will End My Night Tonight, Big Poppa (cover), Runaway
44. A Hero Named Hope
One of the rising stars of the Chicago rock scene and one of the few bands that still resist the pop-punk trend and continue to play a heavier, more hardcore style of punk rock. Another live show worth seeing as they get better and better every show they do.
MySpace | 2 Songs off their debut EP
45-46. Abel & Lorien -- Tour EP
If you like Brand New, you will literally shit your pants for Abel. Lorien is a bit more like Anberlin, Deas Vail, Academy Is…, Copeland according to LFM
Abel MySpace | Lorien MySpace | Tour EP Download
47. Alkaline Trio
It’s no secret that Alkaline Trio is one of Assault’s favorites. They recently gave away two songs off their new album, This Addiction which you should get cause it is awesome.
Official Website | Free Song Download
48. Bullet For My Valentine -- Begging For Mercy
One of the best metal acts around is giving away one of their songs off their new album for free. “Third World’ Timmy will be one of the first in line to pick up this new album in which he’ll no doubt declare it the best thing ever since Avenged Sevenfold.
Merch Store | Download “Begging For Mercy”
49. I Fight Dragons
Sign up for their mailing list, and get a link to an EP mixture of live music and awesome songs made from old school Nintendo sound effects. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle then you should just quit here at #1. They just signed to Atlantic Records and are now touring with the Too Fast For Love Tour w/3OH!3, Cobra Starship, Travis McCoy
MySpace | Official Website (Sign up for the newsletter to get the free EP!)
50. Pet Lions
Indie pop rock from Chicago--sign up for their newsletter for their Soft Right EP!
MySpace | Download Soft Right EP
Sources:
Follow Legal Free Music on Tumblr
Top 20 Unsigned Bands of 2009 by PureVolume
ReverbNation
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About the Author
Tim is the co-owner of Assault, and tends to think he can party twice as hard as anyone. Follow him on twitter @assault Email this Author | All posts by tim
[...] being said, the team at Assault had good timing when putting together an ultimate list of 50 Awesome Bands/Musicians Giving Away Free Music. We’re not talking crap giveaways either, there are some gems. Think La Dispute, Thrice and [...]
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