DJ Sober + A1 | AUTOMATIC

I finally got around to checking out the AUTOMATIC mixtape Sober and A1 posted last week and it does not disappoint. It runs through more genres (or jonres as Nikki Sixx would say) than you can shake a stick at, which other than the choice cuts on it and the flawless mixing, is why I like it so much.

Get AUTOMATIC here.

Das Racist | Shut Up, Dude!

When SXSW was getting ready to jump off and Spinner was showcasing a lot of the artists participating the name Das Racist completely jumped off the screen at me. I mean, really... how could it not?

The NYC duo get on the free mixtape wagon and, well, give away a mixtape. If you like early Beasties and are a fan of non-sequitors in your everyday conversation then you will prolly like their jamz. That being said, download away here...

MP3: Das Racist - Who's That? Brooown!

The Father, The Son And The Holy Ghost Mixtape

It's really odd in this day and age of music blog celebrity how a duo can make such a huge name for themselves by releasing one song. This is pretty much what has happened to NYC's Holy Ghost! Although now, they have released a second single (which we told you about a while back) and are prepping an album on top of their remix work.

Anyhoo... they duo and their label, DFA Records, have release an old skool type two-sided mixtape. You can get it here, oh yeah, and it's worth it... it will get your Friday afternoon/night started off the right way.

MP3: Holy Ghost - Side A
MP3: Holy Ghost - Side B

The Cool Kids Go Fishing

With the new era of the music industry in full swing a lot of artists have taken to releasing their singles, albums and mixtapes for free online.  It's a good way to get free publicity since most of their money is made from touring anyway.  No one has embraced this new model quite like The Cool Kids.  They only have one EP to their name and a slew of singles that have been released for free via blogs.  Today they release their newest mixtape Gone Fishing to keep their name out there.

It's what you would expect from The Cool Kids, hard 808 beats and off-kilter rhymes.

You can download Gone Fishing here.

Hipsters Are Faux Folkies

Yesterday I noticed that one of BFD's favorite bands, Headlights, took part in the Splicetoday.com folk mixtape.  I originally intended to post their contribution, "Come All Ye Fair Ladies," but as I got into the tracks the were released today I was in awe of what I was hearing from artists other than Headlights.

The Old Lonesome Sound brings together indie and blogger darlings to record their own version of traditional folk songs.  They range from the heartbreaking "Two Soldiers" by Arbouretum's Dave Heumann to the blues-gospel of "Ain't No Grave" by Adam Arcuragi.  The sound of the tracks range from a classic country, to blues, to a more indie-fied interpretation of the songs.  Thankfully, most of the artists stayed true to the original sound of the songs.  While not every song is a gem, 95% of the album is a keeper.  

The album is available for free download here.

MP3:  Dave Heumann - Two Soldiers

Travis Barker/DJ AM Mixin' It Up

I read a post a few weeks ago about Travis Barker and DJ AM hooking up to do like a live mash-up kind of thing.  I didn't really think much of it until I saw them on the VMA's tonight.  Yes, I know...there's nothing on.  But, they did their thing on "Wonderwall" by Oasis.  AM worked out the vocals and Barker laid down the beat.  I was impressed by the lil' snippet I was able to see of them.  

So, I found the original post because it said they were giving away a free mixtape called Fix Your Face.  So, I downloaded the mixtape and was floored.  The duo crosses about 50 genres in the span of the set.  You would think it would sound like shit cramming all the different styles into one song...but, that isn't the case.  My instant favorite was "Fix Your Face 3" which goes from "Block Rockin' Beats" by the Chemical Brothers and slams into "Killing in The Name" by Rage Against the Machine.  It has a great vocoder over the grinding guitar of the original while Barker, again, lays the beat down.  

What did I learn from this?  I need to not be such a hater all the time.  You can go here and either listen to the tracks or simply sign up and you'll be able to download the mixtape.  I suggest downloading it.

MP3: DJ AM & Travis Barker - Fix Your Face 3

That's Stupid!

Download this NOW!  If you aren't hip to Chicago's The Cool Kids, then you are missin' out, yo!  (Do the kids still say "yo?")  Anyhoo, if you've heard "Black Mags," "Mikey Rocks" or my personal favorite Klever Remix of "Gold Pager" then you are really missin' out.  It's got a killer beat and some of the best rhymes this side of the Trinity River.

You can get the FREE download here.

MP3:  The Cool Kids - Gold And A Pager (Klever's Big Ride Remix)

Nas Mixtape

So, Nas apparently bowed to the corporate pressure to rename his new CD from Nigger to something else. So, while we wait for the as yet untitled album, we have a mixtape to chew on.

Nas and DJ Green Lantern have released The Nigger Mixtape. You can get it for free here...just follow the links. (Nah Right)

Joe Budden Meets Portishead

One of the many things I love about the interweb is that musical artists can express themselves in an immediate way. Case-in-point the Joe Budden vs. Portishead mixtape.

The new Portishead disc has only been out a couple of weeks and already it's been sampled, and in a very impressive way.

You can get the whole mixtape here for free, just follow the links. Check out the "Roll Call" track below. It has some sweet usage of Portishead's "Machine Gun." (Rock & Roll Daily)

Joe Budden - Roll Call (mp3)

Coachella Is A Mixtape

If you go over to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends you can get a mixtape courtesy of that fine blog.

It's a good little mix for your trip out to Indio. Or, if you want to fall into a pit of pity because you couldn't afford the tickets, airfare and hotel expense, then this is the next best thing for you.