This website is a godsend. Created by people who believe getting the music to people is more important than turning a buck (here’s looking at you, Derek Webb), NoiseTrade is mostly populated by indie artists who don’t have huge distribution systems at their beck and call. You can pay what you wish to pay for each album, or – here’s the beauty – tell 5 of your friends. They will learn what great taste in music you have, you will get an album.
I mean, this is brilliant. This is music consuming with a conscience, from artists with a heart.
There’s no right way to do this. Once you get past artists you already know and recommendations from friends, you just nab whatever looks interesting. Sometimes you may strike gold, sometimes not. I know it’s a little scary – you get to decide if you like an artist all by yourself. No hype, no ad campaign, and maybe no one you know even cares. It’s just the music.
Which, of course, you can preview before you download. Like you need all that bandwidth anyway.
I’ll include a short list of artists whose music on NoiseTrade has inspired, challenged, shocked, or repulsed me. Maybe all at once. But try it for yourself. And if you make any fantastic discoveries – PLEASE let me know. Better yet, post it below so all can see.
We’re all in this together. Noisetrade.com.
- copernicus
Intriguing NT artists:
Andy Gullahorn, Derek Webb, Joe Garner, Judd & Maggie, Justin McRoberts, Sandra McCracken, Stephen Delopolous, Synthar, The States