Yeah, if you say it fast, it sounds like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the 1975 Queen record that proved that openly gay men could sell records, be flamboyant, and rock harder than Mick, Rod, Duane, or any of the other dudes around at the time.  But this ain’t rock.  It’s rap.  Specifically, it’s a free EP by Jake Lefco, Illspokin, Ryan-O’Neil, Kats & Domer, from the freeicecream.net hip hop site, featuring samples from, you guessed it, Queen.

Who are these dudes and why should you care?  Because freeicecream, like Beatgarden, consistently releases true hip hop—skilled lyricists over innovative music, all wrapped in creative projects.  On this joint, you’ve got the founders, Kats (Brooklyn underground emcee with three albums under his belt) and Domer (an electro beatmaker and Brooklyn MC), along with Jake Lefco (born in Philly, living in NYC); Ryan-O’Neil (new on the scene); and iLLspoKinN (leader of the live hip hop band, The Spokinn Movement (Rawkus Records)).

Chances are you haven’t heard of any of these people, but trust me, this is a high quality release—one of the best EPs I’ve heard this year.

Taste it: Leave You All Behind (mediafire)

Free EP Download!

BONUS FLAMING LIPS!

Bohemian Rhapsody-Flaming Lips (mediafire)

Edinburgh, Scotland’s Midas Fall are a band that seems to have two speeds: Progressive pop and shoegaze ballad.  And they’re quite good at both.   It’s hard to find much information about them, though.  Even the press material doesn’t offer a whole lot of info.  I can tell you that vocalist Elizabeth Heaton is the main reason to listen here–she’s got a terrific voice–and whichever of the three guitarists plays the bubbling leads is a strong second.  “Eleven. Return and Revert” appears to be the band’s debut album.  Give the single a try–I think you’ll dig it.

Moviescreens

Thought I’d combine the Midas Fall review, about a band that’s as musical as can be, with a rap review.  Stevie Crooks is giving away his latest, “Diamonds and Guns,” for free!  Crooks is remarkably versatile, able to spin hardcore street tales and then turn on a dime tell a vulnerable tale about this father, then do another 360 and do an I’m-better-than-you rap, all the while mixing flows influenced by everyone from the fast-and-clear Eminem to the growling of Mobb Deep to the kind of wise-ass playground taunts you’d hear from Lil’ Wayne. 

I’m not saying Crooks is necessarily as good as any of those well-established acts.  But I am saying he has the potential to be.

Stevie Crooks is a West Coaster without claiming a set, he’s tough without fake posturing, he doesn’t have ridiculous claims of having been a street Godfather, or shot twenty guys, or any kind of lame B.S. like that.  His lyrics are hot, the beats are tremendous, and almost every single song is a keeper.

Taste the song “Stop Look Listen” if you must, but really you should get the whole album for free here.

And while you’re at it, cop last year’s CSTC mixtape.  It’s fantastic, too.  Much harder, utilizing Mobb Deep beats….

I heard this mash/blend album about six months ago, but the link on producer Tom Caruana’s website went down fast and I couldn’t find another, so I figured Yoko and Richard had sicced their lawyers on it, peace and love peace and love.  But thanks to Smoking Section, I found a new link and feel comfortable sharing it with you.

I liked the Gray Album (and all the other colors), but didn’t love them.  They were the best of this type I’d ever heard, but they still didn’t work for repeated listens.

This one does.  It’s extraordinary.

Cutting It Up

Get the whole album here, from Tea Set records.  (Rapidshare link.)

As an indie-only blogger with five years of webcred, I tend to have a very full mailbag.  I also have this psychotic feeling of obligation to listen to everything I get–or at least to get through the first track.  Sixty percent don’t get me to track 2.  For another twenty percent, I can’t make it through the whole thing.  Then there’s the remaining 2 out of 10, which get reviewed.  Here’s two.

First, I don’t know why I do, but I really dig the new EP from Ela Caspian, “Stars.”  It’s upbeat pop with few surprises, but it’s played well and it’s catchy as hell.  I always look on self-released material with more mercy, particularly when it is released for free, but I’m not sure Ela Caspian even needed such special dispensation.  It’s cheerful party music, with nothing to offend, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a little fun.

Get it at the band’s myspace page.

Stars (YSI)

The second free EP on the menu today is from Jon Hardy and the Public.  Their EP, “Sugar,” is also a free D.I.Y.  And it’s terrific. I really haven’t enjoyed an EP so much in a long time.

The St. Louis band has already established itself on NPR and in No Depression, so you also pretty much know it’s Americana just from the pedigree.  It seems like this is a genre that a lot of new artists play in–maybe it’s easy or something–but that makes it even harder to distinguish a special sound.  Jon Hardy has a great voice–he’s actually a singer–and the songwriting is tight and original.  The music does have that alt-country feel, but there’s enough indie rock in here to make it cool, and there’s no twang to tie it down.  Come for the great cover of “Where Did Our Love Go,” but stay for originals like Hold Your Tongue.

Here’s some samples, but I don’t recommend them.  I recommend going to get the whole thing for free.  Get it free!

Hold Your Tongue

Where Did Our Love Go? (Supremes cover)

Hollerado come to you from Manotick, Ontario, by way of Montreal, where they made a pretty big splash back in 2007/2008.  Last year, they toured China with The Stills and released some EPs, literally, in plastic baggies. Hence, the title of their free, self-released album, “Record in a Bag.”  The irony is that it’s a download and the one thing the internet has definitely been able to do is make retail greener by eliminating bags and bag-related packaging.

What can you expect from the record?  Fun, action-packed rock and roll. Yeah, they’re Candadian, but they aren’t experimental, obtuse, or pretentious.  This is party music, boys and girls.  Enjoy.

Do the doot da doot doo

Get the whole album here!

Video for Juliet:

Go here.  Free album of bands that played at a recent Strummerville event, Joe Strummer’s charity.

Dunno much about Marv Won, other than what’s on his myspace page.  He’s a Detroit rapper with impressive skills. He mixes positivity with gangsta verses, switches up styles, and gets guest shots and production by some impressive underground folks (listed below).  I really liked this tape a lot.  Check it out.  It’s not really a mixtape–there’s no annoying DJ, no sudden drop outs . . . It’s a collection of 11 complete songs.

1. Rite Back produced by Vaughn T of the Labtechs
2. What Up produced by Mr. Porter
3. Thin Ice produced by Mr. Porter
4. Need To Know featuring Bilal produced by Mr. Porter
5. Happy Birthday produced by Quelle
6. Mill Ticket produced by Brenk
7. Get Back produced by Lord Quest
8. Alex Foley featuring Danny Brown & Chips Dinero produced by House Shoes
9. The Chase produced by D Fresh
10. The Way It Goes produced by 14KT
11. Talk About produced by Black Milk

Sendspace link

Holiday Sweaters-My First Earthquake

Silence Your Drum-Heavy Blinkers

Okay, today’s X-Mas tune has some Holiday stuff, but also other tunes as well. It’s a sampler from Vanguard Records featuring songs from Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Brandi Carlile, Joshua Radin, Josh Ritter, Needtobreathe, Greg Laswell, Meiko, Brett Dennen, Noise Addict, Dar Williams, Dawn Landes, Erin McKeown, Joe Purdy, Katie Herzig, Serena Ryder and The Watson Twins.

The price? Your e-mail addy. That’s it.

Go here for details.

Who doesn’t like Neil Young?

Even if you’re a right winger, you have to admire the grit of a musician willing to go up against MTV back in the 1980s, the longevity of someone who sold records back when they are records and continues to move digital downloads, and the skill of a man who can craft pop songs, protest songs, and ballads that make you want to kill youself. And he walks the walk, too, with his work for the Bridge School and support for various other charitable and political causes.

Plus, he makes some damn fine music that everyone can love. Don’t like the heroin-induced desperation of “Helpless” or “Needle and the Damage Done”? Then turn to fast-paced rockers like “Mr. Soul,” “Like a Hurricane,” or “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Want something gentler? There’s “A Man Needs a Maid” and “Comes a Time.” Prefer your music protest-folky? Then he’s got “Ohio” and “Southern Man.” Want more violence? Check out “Down by the River” or “Powderfinger.” Prefer something that sounds more modern? Check out “Let’s Roll,” “This Note’s For You” or even “Cinnamon Girl”—an old song that’s timeless. Face it, I could spend a page writing about the man’s music.

It’s about giving you something really cool. Like a copy of “Dreaming Man,” a concert of Neil’s classic Harvest Moon album, drawn from solo acoustic shows of his 1992 tour. If you’ve never had the chance to hear him acoustic, it’s a treat. I’ve seen him twice and heard countless boots of it, and the ’92 tour is among his best work. Plus, the actual studio album relied on The Stray Gators band, but here you get to hear Neil working the songs out solo. I have two copies to give away. It’s in celebration of the 17-year anniversary of Harvest Moon.

Here are some .mov files from the label:

Dreamin’ Man

One Of These Days

Purchase Dreamin Man here.

But the grand prize is Neil Young’s Archives, Volume 1. It’s 8 CDs recorded between 1963 up through 1972 (when he released Harvest—one of the greatest rock albums of all time). There’s stuff from Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, and plenty of Crazy Horse material. No, you’re not imagining this. I really have one to give away. I haven’t been blessed to hear it yet, but I’ve been told that the sound quality is a vast improvement over the original releases (much of the boxed set contains material that has previously been available elsewhere).

It’s like a starter-kit for a Neil Young fan who doesn’t own a lot of his early stuff—or who only has it on vinyl or audiotape (guilty!).

Another .mov file from the label:

Harvest Moon

HOW TO WIN:

Drop a comment with your e-mail and your favorite Neil lyric. Winners will be chosen at random in one week, and will be contacted by the e-mail in the comment. So if you leave out your e-mail, you can’t win. And if you don’t check your e-mail within 24 hours after I send you the “winner” notice, I’m moving on to the next guy. I’ve got one archives and two copies of Dreaming Man to offer, so your odds are looking pretty good here.

And how about a few covers to tide you over—or console you if you don’t win the giveaway?

Heart of Gold-Bettye Lavette

Neil Young-Dana Carvey

Splendid Isolation-Neil Young and Warren Zevon (direct link)

Mr. Soul-Uncle Tupelo

Rockin in the Free World-Drive-By Truckers (direct link)

CONTEST CLOSED

HEY EKKO!  You been postin’ all these pickshures and wordz about comick books an’ all, HOW ABOUT SOME FUCKING MUSIC???

This is primarily a music blog, after all.

Madlib & Guilty Simpson – “The Paper”

Some Girls (Rolling Stones cover)-Back Yard Tire Fire

Mary Shelley Overdrive-Karate (follow link–free album!)

Lil’ Wayne-No Ceilings (mixtape)

Thriller (Michael Jackson cover)-Back Forty

Cover Freak refuses to link to me or acknowledge me, despite many “shout outs” from me, but I’ll continue because it’s a damn fine blog.  They just posted a bunch of Radiohead’s Creep covers.  Now, go away.