Top 5 MP3 Music Files
Free full-length MP3 tracks from Tom Waits and Buddy Guy, a video from John Lennon, and more.PCWorld.com Downloads Team
1. "Hold On," by Tom Waits: With a style that combines a sandpaper voice and a delivery like worn silk, Waits has garnered a fierce cult following over the years. He finally gained some much-deserved recognition when he won the Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2000 for Mule Variations, the album from which this single is taken. This quiet, spare song has Waits accompanied only by brushes on a snare drum. A brilliant, unusual performer, he's been below the radar of pop culture for most of his career, but nonetheless garnered some attention when his soundtrack for Francis Ford Coppola's One From the Heart received an Academy Award nomination in 1982. Other filmic endeavors include the soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch's 1992 film Night on Earth and acting stints in movies including Rumble Fish and Bram Stoker's Dracula, in which he played the fly-eating Renfield. 5 minutes, 33 seconds.
2. "Postcard Day," by Ian Anderson: This is a solo cut from the flutist responsible for much of the distinctive sound of the rock band Jethro Tull, which has earned many laurels, including over 20 RIAA-certified Gold, Platinum and Multiplatinum albums. Melodic and harmonious, this studio cut features Anderson accompanied by acoustic guitar, producing a gentle sound with lush lyrics. Not as furiously driving as the music some might remember from Tull's "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath" days, but most folks mellow a little after more than 30 years of performing, and Anderson has mellowed nicely. This cut is from The Secret Language of Birds, his new solo album. 3 minutes, 56 seconds.
3. "I'm Losing You," by John Lennon: This video mixes live footage of Lennon's band playing the song, some outtakes of John, and a healthy dose of sardonic cartoons. Lennon is well into his "peace and love" years here, with his beard and small, circular frames. You'll see shots of Lennon holding a stethoscope to the ground, making faces, and lying with Yoko in bed while they're surrounded by photographers. Other clips show him playing the song with his band on an all-white set that could be straight from a Calvin Klein commercial. As Lennon sings the tune, his backup guitarist busts some riffs on a natty checkered guitar. What more could you want? 3 minutes, 57 seconds.
4. "Try to Quit You Baby," by Buddy Guy: This song is definitely the blues--slow and a little mournful, but rich with the spare, incisive guitar style for which Buddy Guy is known. Guy ranks among the greatest bluesmen to emerge from Chicago. He's played with blues greats such as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, and his influence and talent have been acknowledged by musicians such as Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt. Guy's 1991 Grammy-winning album Damn Right, I've Got the Blues had guest appearances by Clapton, Mark Knopfler, and Jeff Beck. 2 minutes, 38 seconds.
5. "Victim of the Paranoid," by Six Feet Under: Death metal band Six Feet Under is led by vocalist Chris Barnes, late of Cannibal Corpse. Band mates include bass player Terry Butler (formerly of the bands Death and Massacre). Do you detect a theme here? Steve Swanson plays guitar and drummer Greg Gall provides throbbing drums as Barnes grunts, growls, and yelps his way through this pulsing, paranoid opus. 3 minutes, 14 seconds.