Rottenchester

Neko Case - If You Knew Neko Case has a tremendous voice and presence. This is a live recording of one of Neko's original songs - I think she's great at capturing the mixture of heartbreak and disgust she feels at being spurned by an ignorant asshole.

Nouvelle Vague - Guns of Brixton. A very mellow cover of a distinctly un-mellow song.

Aimee Mann - Dear John. The first song on Aimee's great new album, The Forgotten Arm.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Me and Mia. (This is the first song on the page - they don't like direct links.) Play it loud.

Jens Lekman - Black Cab. A great song about regret over being a drunk jerk at a party. We've all been there.

Jolie Holland - Old Fashioned Morphine. A strange modern take on an old-time jazz song.

Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole. Anger, pure and raw: "I will not pretend, I will not put on a smile, I will not say I'm alright for you..."

Jim White - Static on the Radio. Why, yes, that is Aimee Mann singing backing vocal.

The Pixies - Debaser. "Got me a movie, I want you to know." Yet another important contribution to our culture by Frank Black/Black Francis.

The Atomic Swindlers - Float (my electric stargirl) This is a video by a local Rochester band that's been getting a lot of good press lately. The lead singer, April, is a gorgeous blonde lesbian, and their first album is a concept album about a 23rd century stargirl. April's been called the "next Gwen Stefani" by some critics. Buy the whole album - they'll send you a nice thank-you note and picture.

I just don't get it. Give the average 30/40-year-old an iPod -- a device that can hold thousands if not tens of thousands of songs -- and they'll fill it with the same Springsteen, Zeppelin, Talking Heads or whatever else they've been playing since 33 1/3 RPM vinyl was the top end of music technology.

There's nothing wrong with any of those bands: they were (and, in some cases, are) great. But a hell of a lot has happened since the Boss cranked out the River, and some of it has been good.

Even if you're not into popular music, don't you want to hear something different? How about a little jazz, or even some classical? Don't your ears get bored?

Anyway, here's some more free music. Let's start with mellow songs sung by women:

Betty LaVette has a great, soulful voice. My favorite is her cover of a Joan Armatrading song, Down to Zero.

Cocorosie. One song will be enough to know if you love them or hate them: Beautiful Boyz.

In a similar vein, Azure Ray is probably another love-or-hate band. November reminds me of Mazzy Star.

Now for something a little different. Immaculate Machine is a new band from Vancouver, and I can't get Broken Ship, the first song from their new album, out of my head.

If you aren't smiling after listening to the Acid House Kings, you have no sense of fun. If you like This Heart is a Stone, you can sing along with a Karaoke version at their site.

What better way to sing about the hellhole of the planet, Los Angeles, than in French? Stereo Total does it on LA, CA, USA

The antidote to LA, CA is some gentle country singing by Laura Cantrell, When the Roses Bloom Again

Finally, here's a song about posting to Rochester CL RNR: Why Bother at All by Koufax

I thought Kathleen Edwards' song "In State" made that point eloquently:

Don't say you'll change after next time
You wouldn't even be yourself if you weren't telling a lie.

First, Laura Veirs. Do you expect someone who looks as serious as Laura to hurt your headache? Never. Her best song is "Galaxies", but that can only be streamed from her music page, from the Year of Meteors album entry. Bedroom Eyes isn't bad either.

Like a lot of independent artists, Laura's site is a study in how to keep people from finding your music. Everything is in a crappy, tiny frame, and the best songs need to be streamed. I'm sure RIAA and her record company are very proud.

Imogen Heap's song Hide & Seek has had a lot of indy radio play and it won't bother your hangover either.

At the Hop is a mellow live cut from Devendra Banhart.

Finally, a little Belle and Sebastian: Another Sunny Day.

For anyone who's going to see Brokeback Mountain, maybe you'd also be interested in the Hazzard's video Gay Boyfriend.

Finally, here's a great new song from Jenny Lewis, lead singer of Rilo Kiley: Melt Your Heart. "It's bound to melt your heart, one way or another. It's like a valentine, from your mother."

Let's start with Okkervil River's Black:

I can still see where you loved yourself
before he tore it all down. April 12th,
with nobody else around; you were outside the house
(where's your mother)
when he put you in the car,
when he took you down the road.
And I can still see where it was open,
the door he slammed closed.

If you liked that track, For Real, from the same album, is also worth a listen.

Alison Krauss's mournful New Favorite (Amazon Login Required) is a short, sweet breakup song.

Switching gears, there's always the denial before the heartbreak. The Hold Steady's Your Little Hoodrat Friend is a new take on that old theme.

Finally, here's Ted Leo doing a punk rock cover of Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone (as well as "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

Since we're all going to be nice, here's some pleasant and friendly free music to enjoy.

First, Jens Lekman was in town a couple of weeks ago and it was a great show.  Try I don't know if she's worth 900 kr from his big collection of free music. Jens' music is hard to categorize, but he does grow on you.

And how about the sweet 14th Street from the always interesting alt-country artist Laura Cantrell's latest album.  Laura is also very generous with the free music.

Now a little more punky, but still pleasant, try "Not Doing Alright" from The Chris and Joylene Show's MySpace page.

Finally, the The Hidden Cameras are coming out with a new album.  Here's the title track:  Awoo. If anyone who can figure out what the hell the lyrics mean, please post an explanation.