freely-downloadable music resources and music blogs

I tend to forget about these myself until I'm reminded, so here's a reminder to myself and links for those who didn't know about them (edited 3:45 pm to add a couple more sites):

http://mp3.washingtonpost.com/
"Self-publishing by and for the Metro region's music community"
The Washington Post offers downloadable mp3s by local artists; all tracks "have been put here by or with the consent of the artists performing the songs". It's a good way to check out local bands that you may not have heard of, and there are also tracks by artists who are reasonably well-known -- the top ten downloads include four by Da Vinci's Notebook and one by Eva Cassidy. While you're there, check out Arthur Loves Plastic.</plug>

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/468646
Free Music Downloads at Amazon.com
Tons of downloadable music, organized by genre. The featured artists as I write this are My Morning Jacket, Devendra Banhart, Apollo Sunshine, Madness, Koufax. Geoff Byrd and a Gang of Four remix.

http://music.download.com/
C|Net's free music download service

http://www.betterpropaganda.com/
"betterPropaganda focuses on new, independent music & allows you to use interactive features to discover, hear & collect it. We are dedicated to providing independent labels & artists a better opportunity to be heard. Right now, the site is loaded with thousands of free, hand selected & fully legal mp3s, with brand new ones uploaded daily."

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For folks interested in music blogs, here are a few current favorites:

http://www.songstowearpantsto.com/ - Send in a request, and Andrew will compose a little original something on the topic

http://www.emptyfree.com/ - One of the best places I know of to get your Malaysian ska fix, Indian rock, or hip hop from Russia or Sweden

http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/ - includes the MOKB Cover Song Project; check the left side links to see the various covered songs to date

http://www.rbally.net/ - lots of live performances, including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at KEXP and what seems to be the last 'Mats show from Chicago in July 1991.

http://www.bannedmusic.org/ - links via BlogTorrent to "The Grey Album" and "The Double Black Album", although I suspect most people who want these things already have them

http://djdurutti.blogspot.com/ - a Boston-based blog "concerning a diverse array of music". No argument on that front.

http://aurgasm.us/ - Dizzie Gillespie, Norwegian dream-pop, flamenco guitar, and the Sugarhill Gang -- and that's just the current front page.

http://www.salon.com/ent/audiofile/index.html - Daily Downloads and reviews from Salon.com (I'm not sure if you need to be a premium member to access this or if the day pass will cover it.)

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/downloads - Get in touch with your inner indie hipster by checking out their downloads, although they're careful to say that no critical endorsement is intended by making these available. So, y'know, these don't *necessarily* have the Pitchfork stamp of approval in case that sort of thing matters to you (which I suspect it doesn't).

http://www.aprilwinchell.com/multimedia/ - Speaking of weird... I'm sure lots of you have seen links here already. Check out the German ABBA covers and "Celebrities Who Insist on Singing"

http://wiki.monkeyfilter.com/index.php?title=MP3_Blog_Listing
Not a blog, but links to many mp3 blogs and label music download pages