Today, Sound Sunday celebrates its six months existence. When I started, I had my doubts whether there would be enough quality material to supply a weekly feature for so long. However, the sheer flood of legal free albums has been mind-blowing and there is no end in sight.

If any of you have seen the Ron Sexsmith Documentary Love Shines, you got an idea of how the most talented artists of our time get screwed over, just because they are not aggressive enough. Maybe a culture of online publishing can become a lever and restore a much needed balance between corporate interests and fantastic music / the arts. People like you and me are the only ones who can make this happen.

Please support independent music wherever you can. Donate to artists you enjoy, buy their records, and go see their live shows. And if you find something you like, share it with your friends and family.

Reform the Resistance - selftitled

Genre: rock

free album

Reform the Resistance is a rock trio from Nashville, Tennessee. If you have been longing for a pure rock album and enjoy music from bands like Three Doors Down or Sevendust, give this one a spin. Great stuff! Reform the Resistance is available through the band's Homepage.

Mike Jones - Chicago Trio 2010

Genre: jazz, piano, instrumental

free mp3 download

Mike Jones is a Jazz pianist from Las Vegas, Nevada. This free album was recorded at the Green Mill Jazz Club in Chicago, where Jones played a set with fellow musicians Larry Kohut (bass) and Eric Montzka (drums). You can download the album from Mike's Homepage.

Engineers in Your Ear - Til The Clouds Run Dry

Genre: alternative, hip hop

mp3 album download

Til The Clouds Run Dry is a minimalistic and very melodic Hip Hop album. Carefully composed beats and classic instruments underline the raps from Paul B. aka Playback and Kyle Steven Richardson aka Kylo Rich. This is a name your price download from Bandcamp.

Sean Fournier - Oh My

Genre: pop, folk, acoustic

free music

Sean Fournier is bliss. Rhythms that make you go along, a calm sexy voice, and great melodies. On his homepage Sean writes "This album was made to be copied, given, and spread. Copy it. Give it. Rinse & Repeat." I can only second that. Please spread this excellent album! Download the album from Sean's Homepage.

So Elated - selftitled

Genre: indie, acoustic, folk rock

how to download music free

The band writes: "Inspired by a song and the images it evoked for singer-songwriter, Ben Thomas, So Elated was created in early 2008. Joined by fellow musicians in the Chicago area, So Elated released their self-titled album in January of 2009." You can download the album through their Homepage.

Kotchy - Baggy Spandex

Genre: experimental, electronic, pop, hip hop

music downloads

Kotchy's music is beat-driven and inspired, underlined by electronic sounds and creative lyrics. Baggy Spandex is a collection of mashups based on a bag of random records Kotchy found on the street. Why that name? Kotchy: "While listening to some of [the records], I saw someone running down the street wearing baggy spandex shorts." Baggy Spandex can be downloaded from Kotchy's Homepage.

Ghostly Machines - In Nature, We Find You

Genre: ambient, electronic, natural

legal download

The man behind Ghostly Machines is Jono Renton, an ambient music producer from Nottingham, UK. In Nature, We Find You is a flow of calming and relaxing music. Great soundtrack to take the stress out of your day. Get the free album from Ghostly Machine's Homepage.

Ki:Theory - Arms For Legs

Genre: alternative, rock, electronic

cool free music

Ki:Theory [key theory] is the project of Joel Burleson, a recording artist and producer of Richmond, Virginia. Joel describes his Ki:Theory compositions as "glitchy cut-n-paste songs" that he sings along to. Download the album from Ki:Theory's Homepage. The download is a bit of a process, but it's really free.

Freakah - Free Album No. 1

Genre: drum and bass, electronic, dub, dubstep

best free mp3

The following quote from MySpace should give you a proper introduction to this artist: "The thing Freakah really does well is slap you around the face with a deadly, almost illegal BASS." Gotta love the beat! Get the album for free from Bandcamp.

Spin Mixtape - Germs of Perfection: A Tribute to Bad Religion

Genre: mixed, punk, rock

sound sunday

To celebrate 30 years of the iconic label Epitaph Records, the digital music magazine Spin has released a free mixtape of top acts that cover Bad Religion. The label was founded by Brett Gurewitz, who also plays guitar for Bad Religion. Download the album from Spin. You will find another free mixtape on Spin: The Best of CMJ 2010.

Review past editions of Sound Sunday here. Feel free to get in touch with me [tina@makeuseof.com] if you have free material to share or suggestions you don't want to post in the comments below.