Free mp3: Alabama Shakes

If you’re in the market for some gospel-infused southern-rock-influenced music with a dash of smoky soul, well, Alabama Shakes may fit the bill.

The band’s single “Hold On” from their 2012 debut Boys and Girls is available for free on Amazon. Get it.

The band looks straight from the high school garage (I especially like the bassist), but vocalist Brittany Howard’s voice is like a siren.

The video is from the band’s performance on Letterman. If you make it to the end, answer me this: is Letterman’s reaction genuine, or just a good acting job?

I’m curious of your answer.

Free mp3: The Barr Brothers

I’ll be honest: I don’t know much about The Barr Brothers (except what Wikipedia tells me … so it must be true), but any band that includes a harpist is worth a listen, right?

I was struck from the first note of the sample. It has that calm, cool, singer/songwriter, close-your-eyes-and-relax-because-everything-will-be-alright vibe. Plus any band that uses hand claps and knee slaps is OK in my book. But maybe that’s just me.

Download your own copy and see if you agree. Let me know either way.

Free mp3: The Orange Peels

OK, sure this song is two years old, but considering this band releases albums about every four years, I’m right there at the halfway mark … that’s not too bad, is it?

That’s the thing about music. There’s always more you don’t know about music than you do. It’s like thinking you know all about the ocean just because you’ve been to a beach or four. There’s always more ocean. There’s always more music

Selah.

Anyway, check out “We’re Gonna Make It,” from northern California’s Orange Peels. It’s a little rock, a little indie, a little pop … but it’s all good. I found this song while trolling through Amazon. It was on a Minty Fresh sampler, but the song is also free from the band’s 2020 album.

Download it and maybe, just maybe, you can dip your toe into some salty new music water.

Free mp3: Shawn Lee & The Ping Pong Orchestra

You may not have heard of Shawn Lee and The Ping Pong Orchestra before, but you’ve heard this song before. Wikipedia says it was featured in Nip/Tuck, East Bound and Down and Life, but I’m sure it’s been on other things.

Download it for free now and tell me where else I’ve heard this song.

Free mp3: Night Ranger

Go ahead and put your comb in your back pocket and tie a bandanna to your leg: it’s a free mp3 from Night Ranger!

Download “Growin’ Up in America” for free from the band’s new album Somewhere in California.

You probably won’t want to brag to too many people that you did, but that’s OK … they probably did too. So bang you head and strum that air guitar and rock out like it’s 1984!