When a band lists its influences as “sun, moon, air, water,” you can be sure you’re dealing with either a group of New Age healers or heavy, heavy rockers. In this case, we’re dealing with the latter. This Connecticut trio pounds out primordial sludge of the highest order. “Slow and low, that is the tempo,” as another trio once put it. Low-slung bass dirges, grooving but barely moving Black Sabbath riffs of epic proportions, and Joey Maddalena’s wastrel-like vocals combine into one monstrous package that will make you want to get in the van, pack up your BMX bikes, and drive straight into the sun. If you like the track, check out the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Brothers Victor and Johnny Lopez were raised in El Salvador and East Los Angeles. The strife of those environments, from civil unrest to gang warfare, is what drives the lyrical content of Crooked Stilo. The duo takes their back-and-forth vocal onslaught from hip-hop’s greatest storytellers — from Big Daddy Kane to Tupac. But rhythmically, they draw deep from the wealth of traditional Latin styles. “La Charanga” is from their new release, Cumbia Urbana. If you like this song, check out the rest of the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Philadelphia soul singer Jazmine Sullivan is a protégé of Missy Elliott. The mogul mentored Sullivan when she was a teen. Today, at age 22, Jazmine is grown and sexy with her new Missy/Lamb-produced single “Need U Bad.” Sullivan heats up summer with this soul/dub reggae hybrid that sounds perfect blasting out of the corner bodega. Watch for her upcoming album Fearless, due later this month.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Emmy-winning sound designer Russell Brower teams with an Australian-based symphony to create this haunting overture for video game Diablo III. The piece starts with primal, ephemeral vocals that give way to theatrical string stabs. The tension builds and dissipates throughout the overture until evaporating, leaving listeners longing for more.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who’s on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Canción Gratis de la Semana. “Al Fin” is a dreamy, intoxicating track with sweet vocals and smooth melodies by indie singer/songwriter Florencia Ruiz. A professor of guitar at Conservatorio Morón in Buenos Aires, Ruiz uses diverse string instrumentation on the album including electric and criolla guitars, cello, violin, charango, and more. This song is just one of 14 gems spanning numerous styles, from electro to acoustic to pop to folk, on her new album, Mayor.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
