Girl Loves Distortion is a trio from Washington DC formed by Jenn (Drums), Steve (Bass) and Chris (Guitar).
Their powerful rock sound is a mixture of some ill-used distortion pedals, a lot of emotional energy and scads of indie attitude.

GLD's debut release "Earth Beings In Exhibit" is out now on Exte Records and I really recommend you to check it out.

Download:

• GLD - Transition & Resistance (right click, save as!)
  

• GLD - Earth Beings On Exhibit (iTunes), (Amazon), (eMusic)
  

• My Space: myspace.com/girllovesdistortion

The Hotcakes are Erin Marsz (Vocals), Lee Leshen (Drums), Chris Hills (Guitar) and Eva Brooks (Keys).
Their lead vocalist Erin was a member of the Brooklyn based band "Tralala" which released two critically acclaimed albums and then split up.
Chris, the guitarist, also plays in a soul band called "Evergreen".
The Hotcakes first EP, released in march '08, is produced by Josh Peck who among other compositions wrote the new Knight Rider theme.
Anyhow, what comes out of this venture is marvelous. The songs are very melodic, 60s influenced, indie pop rock tunes. Erin's voice is lovely and very energetic, Chris plays great guitar solos and some bad ass riffs, Eva on Keys creates wonderful melody lines and Lee on Drums lays down some huge grooves.
All in all, an outstanding effort.

Download:

• The Hotcakes - Mister Mister

• The EP is currently only avaible on their live shows.
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/thehotcakesmusic

The Mood is: Marco Argiro (Vocals, Guitars), Corinne Callen (Vocals, Keys), Kenton Langstroth (Guitar), Chris Bunatta (Drums) and Brian Karp (Bass).
This five-piece band has been making quiet a name for itself in New York City's music scene.
The formula for their success lies in the catchy melodies, the upbeat rhythms and their solid songwriting skills. I like the simple but graceful vocals and the Glockenspiel adds even more charm to their contagious pop rock tunes.
The new record "Synaesthesia" is out now on Outright Records.

Download:

• The Mood - In The Forest (zShare)
  

• Direct
• Also available on iTunes & CD Baby
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/marcoargiro
• Homepage: themoodrocks.com
  

The Cool Kids are a hip hop duo consisting of Antoine Reed and Evan Ingersoll.
They enjoyed some notable success earlier this year with their "Bake Sale" EP. Since then we all eagerly await their debut album "When Fish Ride Bicycles" which should be released later this year on XL Records.
In the meantime they made available a really dope mixtape for free download.
They recommend to play this in your car first and after a first listen I could understand why: It's the perfect soundtrack for cruising down the road with the windows down and the volume cranked up to the max!
So, what are you waiting for?

Download:

• The Cool Kids - That's Stupid Mixtape
  

• iTunes
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/thecoolkids
  

I have been very busy the past weeks and weren't able to post but now I'm back and ready to begin blogging again. So, get ready for new, exciting and very interesting posts and visit us frequently!
Here are some short, classified updates of what happened the past few weeks. I hope you enjoy the free downloads!

Laid back electro:
Johnny Penn & Aaron Aujla a.k.a. Bikini release an EP entitled "Concerning The Number 7 and Your Love" on July 7. Find out more about them on MySpace or check out their cover of Feist's 1234 right here.

For the running rapper:
A-Trak dropped a new installment for the Nike+ Running series. It's a 45 minute mix designed to be the perfect soundtrack for a run. Check out the track "Me & My Sneakers" which is included in the mix over here. Go, see his MySpace.

Post Punk Trip Hop :
Tricky releases his new album "Knowle West Boy" on July 7. Visit his homepage to download a new track called "Council Estate", there's also a video you can check out.

Whatever gets people moving:
Pase Rock dropped a new track called "Get Money Kids" produced by Eli Escobar. Download/listen to it here. MySpace him.

Bad-Ass Techno:
Dmitry Fyodorov brings a new club banger hardcore techno rave track called "Anti Cimex".
Download or listen to it here.

Uncompromising Dance Music:
Baltimore's whiz kid Dave Nada refixed his track "Mars" and released the smashing Dave Nada Hood Mix. Download/listen here or MySpace him.

Bon Voyage are Jason Martin from Starflyer 69 and his wife Julie both hailing from California. They have already put out two records together (self titled "Bon Voyage" in 1998 and "The Right Amount" in 2002).
Their third album "Lies" is a timely and unique vision of pop inspired by bands like Blondie or My Bloody Valentine.

The LP hits record stores this month.

Download:

• Bon Voyage - Monster

• MySpace: myspace.com/bonvoyagemusic

The New York City-based quintet Blonde Acid Cult consists of Sonny (Guitar/Vox), Michael (Vox), Phil (Drums), Dammo (Bass) and Marcus (Percussion). The group debutated during the summer of 2007 playing a few small and invite-only gigs. As we know the word spreads fast throughout downtown Manhattan when there's a cool new band to be discovered and that's why we'll be able to enjoy their next gig on June 25th at Boweries Ballroom, perhaps Manhattans finest venue hosting live music.
They call their sound "Madhattan", inspired by "Madchester", an alternative rock genre that developed in Manchester (England) towards the end of the 80s. Surely, the influence of groups like Stone Rose, Happy Monday or even 808 State is sizable but there's more going on: funky drum breaks, a lot of punk attitude and classic guitar rock elements but first and foremost it's Manhattan's melting pot culture that carved them.

Enjoy their crazed up video to "Shake It Loose" directed by Lace Drake:

• Blonde Acid Cult - Kick The Funk
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/blondeacidcult
  

NRK, a trio hailing from São Paulo(Brazil), have released their first EP "Radical" as free download on their homepage.
It comprises 5 sick smash hits for the dancefloor which are proof enough of their talent.
The EP progresses in mostly upbeat fashion and is jammed with interesting ideas and arrangements. The band uses a lot of live instruments and combines them with some sugar coated dance beats to create some stunning original tracks.
Their music is influenced by local dance hero Edu K. and James Murphy's DFA sound.

They'll properly release the EP on June 12th.

Download:

• NRK - Radical EP
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/gonrk
  

Ponies In The Surf is a brother-sister duo from the city of Somerville in Massachusetts.
What Camille and Alexander McGregor are doing right now really stands out of the crowd of the other Indie-Pop releases.
Their style is truly unique, they stir together folk and pop elements with a hint of latin spice and a whole lot of intimacy, warmth and style.
The songs are dreamy and timeless-sounding. The writing is sharp and smart.

Their debut "See you happy" is out on June 9th on Darla Records.

If you live somewhere near Somerville, Massachusetts don't miss the release party tomorrow (28. June) at PA's Lounge!

Download

• Ponies In The Surf - Ventricle
  

• Darla Records: darla.com
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/poniesinthesurf
  

The Confusions from Sundsvall/Sweden consist of Mikael Andersson-Knut (vocals, guitar), Zarah Edström (keys, vocals), Mattias Löfström (drums), Henrik Svensson (guitar), Magnus Thorsell (bass) and Fredrik Hast (guitar).
In 2002 the band garnered some well deserved critical attention outside of Scandinavia with their stunning single "The Pilot".
Now they're back with their 5th studio album "The story behind the story".
With its catchy song hooks, the quirky guitar riffs and the simple but thoughtful lyrics the album is a delight from start to finish.

The album is available now on Massproduktion Records.

Download:

• The Confusions - The Pilot
• More songs, b-sides and live recordings can be found on: The Confusions Media Page
  

• iTunes (Europe)
• iTunes (US)
• Massproduktion Webshop (Sweden)
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/theconfusions
  
• Homepage: theconfusions.com

Does it offend you, yeah? are James Rushant (Bass), Dan Coop (Keys), Morgan Quaintance (Guitar) and Rob Bloomfield (Drums) from the UK.
Don't let the long band-name scare you away because this is really high class guitar-driven Indie-Electro!
James and Dan, were already producing and DJing when they eventually decided to make some tracks together. They stuck their first song "Battle Royale" on their MySpace and as it was really well received they did a track every week until they started getting noticed by record labels.
They have been picked up by Virgin Records and fired out a brand new live show including the two new members - Morgan and Rob.
Their debut album "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into" is a filthy electro punk fracases reminiscent of Justice, Daft Punk, and The Prodigy.

Download:

• DIOY - Let's make out
• DIOY - We are Rockstars

• iTunes (US)
• iTunes (Europe)
  

• MySpace: myspace.com/doesitoffendyou
• Homepage: doesitoffendyou.com
• MySpaceTV: video for "Epic last song"
  

Let me introduce you to the newest phenomenon in the nu-Rock-Rave-Electro-Dance scene.
Superpose are Paula Felitto (Vocals) and Isaac Varzim (Computers, Guitar, Keys) from the beautiful island of Floripa in the south of Brazil.
They deliver a slice of tough pounding beats with some simple lines of melody at the core. Abrasive synths and memorable guitar riffs blend wonderfully into one another.
The Portuguese vocals are okay though I can't get crazy about them either.
The production is very solid and the song structures are well developed and thought out.

Last week they released a new track, called "Calvin Klein".

Download:

• Superpose - Calvin Klein

• Superpose - Sorry

• Superpose - Say Yeah

• Superpose - Beautiful

• MySpace: myspace.com/superpose

Big Space a.k.a. Space Vein has been making beats and rapping for the past 10 years. He's originally from Lesotho but has now made his home in Johannesburg where he met his partner in crime Spoek Mathambo.
Together they formed the Slush Puppy Kids, an offspring of dirty grime funk.
The two new tracks "Beep Beep" and "Slushed Out" are banging! They mix up grimey basslines and filthy dubstep drums with some ill rhymes.
Spank Rocks über-hip booty bass beats acted as a model for this new crew from Johannesburg but the Slush Puppy Kids sound is tailor-made for people who are already out for some new exciting shit.

Download both songs and more legally and for free on Big Space's My Space page.

The Mixtape "Slushed Out Vol. 2" is on it's way and will soon be available on their My Space.

Free The Robots from Santa Ana, California is the brainchild of Chris Alfaro a producer who pays homage to the past with a drive for the future.
He blends elements of Jazz, Electronic, Hip Hop, Trip Hop, Soul and Psychedelia to create a sort of future jazz.
Alfaro spends hours of his time in record stores crawling through a vast number of old Jazz records in search of the ideal sample. When he finds one, he rushes back to his studio to do his thing. The recipe might not be new, but the results are quite tasty.
Free The Robots was started as a side project by Alfaro in 2003 while also playing with different bands, producing MC’s, and DJing full time. Having worked with so many different styles of music, Alfaro commingles them all to create beautiful Hip Hop instrumentals in the legacy of RJD2 and Kid Koala.

Check him out on My Space.

Download legally and for free:

• Clocks and Daggers here (courtesy of BBQChickenRobot)
  

Yesterday NIN released their new album "The Slip" and as a thank you to their fans for the continued support, they are giving it away 100% free!
The music is available in a variety of formats including high-quality MP3, FLAC or M4A lossless at CD quality and even higher-than-CD quality 24/96 WAVE. All downloads include a PDF with artwork and credits.

Download it from their homepage here.

For those of you interested in physical products, fear not. They plan to make a version of this release available on CD and vinyl in July.

Excerpt from their website:

"We encourage you to remix it, share it with your friends, post it on your blog, play it on your podcast, give it to strangers, etc."

Wow, now that's impressive!
After the "Pay what you want" campaign last year, this further move into a world of free music is exemplary. In my opinion every band should try first to reach the biggest audience possible by giving away it's music for free and then monetize on the popularity by touring, merchandising, ad placements, movie scores, etc.
There are plenty of ways for the musician to raise cash - you only have to be creative enough to know how to.

Trent you're truly a pioneer!

The Morning Benders are California's latest Indie Pop Rock sensation. The band consists of frontman Chris Chu (Vocals, Guitars, Keys), Joe Ferrell (Guitars, Keys), Julian Harmon (Drums, percussion) and David Perales (Bass) from Berkley, California.
The quartet brings back the glory of 60s songwriting, with catchy melodies, lots of delayed harmonies, some blaring guitar parts and a tumbling rhythm. Most of the lyrics are about the ups and downs of young romance. They're all masterfully written and never appear tacky or contrived.

Their debut album "Talking Through Tin Cans" is released digitally today on +1 Records. Pre order it here.

My Space them or visit their official homepage.

Download legally and for free the songs:

• Boarded Doors here.

• Fancy Free here.

• Loose Change here.