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Wood Spider: Tending Fires

Tending Fires is a simple but engaging compilation that's filled with lo-fi acoustic recordings from a four piece crew that call themselves, Wood Spider. Playing a host of acoustic, punk, freak folk, the album is perfect for those midnight campfires in the middle of nowhere and moon-filled camp reveries with the guitar and friends. Their sound brings to mind Gogol Bordello with the wailing/screaming vocals of Max Bemis of Say Anything. This is actually a split EP with Niko and the Juggler Meadow Family Band. It's a little over a year old and licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Hudson: Eastward

Eastward by Hudson is just the right music you need after going through a barrage of parties & other fast paced craziness thanks to the Holidays. Contained within the compilation is some of the finest and most melodic pieces you'll hear. The band is made up of duo, John Boswell and Will Crowle. With a sound that resembles a sweet and comforting pat on the back, the songs on the record tell the story of a man who goes on a journey to rescue his brother from captivity.

Mouth’s Cradle: Clark Kent

As if prophesying their own big break, The Next Big Thing became an instant hit for cheeky electro/hip hop and pop duo, Mouth's Cradle. (The boys have easily hit the 100k mark at the Frostclick blog alone. ) They're now back with a brand new record, bringing in tow their brand of lighthearted, sonically arresting and vocally invigorating sound. Composed of Syracuse grads, Kevin "Mouf" Moufadus and Brandon "Master Rogers" Linn; Mouth's Cradle carefully weaves the threads of art and pop as well as hip hop and dance.

Brixton Robbers: Rocks & Cranes

The Brixton Robbers are an energetic punk ska band from Quebec,Canada. Adding a whole lot of rock attitude to their resident sound, the group comes in loud and proud; churning in one energetic performance after another. Rocks & Crane is the band's first full album. It's a bit late as it was released back in 2009 and four years after the band initially got together. They weren't sitting idle in those four years though. The band in fact played more than 200 songs in between, apart from creating/recording tracks to be used in the record.

Stuedabakerbrown: Strangers We’ll Become

Stuedabakerbrown is an odd name for a band but what others might see as a poor name choice, the band more than makes up for with their sound. Strangers We'll Become is the band's 2010 release. Containing 11 catchy tracks, the album has helped propel the band into the limelight. They've managed to tour with national touring acts like Say Anything and The Spill Canvas. Moreover, much of their catalogs are licensed for use on cable networks like MTV, ESPN etc. Thanks to their refreshing and smart alternative rock, it's hard to dismiss the band as just another altrock number.

Felipe Sarro: Bach

If classical is more your thing, you might want to grab this little gem from Felipe Sarro. The Brazilian pianist takes on the music of one of the most influential and well-known classical composers ever, Johann Sebastian Bach. He plays several of Bach's original works as well as several transcriptions of Bach's music done byRussian composer Alexander Ilyich Siloti. Every single piece was recorded and played by Sarro on piano; recreating, reliving and celebrating the sound of the revered German composer.

Kimiko Ishizaka: The Open Goldberg Variations

Occasionally, it's good to get away from all the trappings of pop and modern music to indulge yourself in some good old classical tunes. Luckily, there's not a shortage of talented musicians and instrumentalist willing to take on the work of the masters. Kimiko Ishizaka is breathing a new life to some of Bach's greatest work in this great instrumental compilation. The Goldberg Variations is a Kickstarter funded work, which aims to record and recapture the Bach's famous 1741 composition. The album is produced by Anne-Marie Sylvestre and licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Eric Delay: Four Moments

After years of absence, Eric Delay is back with an intriguing new EP that shows him in his best shape. Four Moments is the result of rediscovering his own music and style. The artist supposedly had to "deny all the familiar sounds of the standard moves, starting with a blank face, not knowing what to get" while he was creating the tracks. The compilation is composed of minimal sounds that resonate in an ambient electronic groove. From beginning to end, you get a beautiful airy atmosphere filled with subtle instruments and sample.

Aidan Knight: Versicolour

Aidan Knight's music is like listening to a mash-up of Coldplay and Damien Rice. For a long while, the singer/songwriter has been contributing his skills to various bands, playing anything from bass to hardcore drums. For Versicolour though, he showcases a more laid-back acoustic indie folk side that is both soothing and melancholic. Accompanied with soft guitars and an equally emotional voice, the tracks are perfect for lazy afternoons, heartbreaks or just quiet moments where you feel like reminiscing about the many things in your life.