While some music fans have voracious, insatiable appetites for new music — and the news, MP3s, critical essays, videos and live shows that go along with that kind of an addiction — most fans can devote only so much time to their new-music fix.
And that’s where One Track Mind comes in. The Denver- based music blog, , presents one free, legal song download each day for its visitors’ pleasure. Hit “play.” Read the blurb. If it strikes your fancy, download it. If you think your best friend would love it, e-mail the link. Sign up to have the songs delivered to your e-mail — or Twitter — daily.
It’s that easy, and while Colorado is home to many quality music blogs — from Fuel Friends to The Post’s own Reverb — we talked with One Track Mind’s curator, Danny de Zayas, pictured, about how music should be like love: free.
Q: One song, one day. It seems so simple. Why does the world need One Track Mind?
A: Simplicity is really the point. Not everyone has the time or inclination to actively seek out new bands or keep tabs with what’s going on in the music blogosphere, but everyone can spend three minutes a day listening to a new song. It makes music discovery easy, both in terms of finding emerging artists to love, as well as keeping tabs on new releases by old favorites.
Q: You proudly write on your blog that all of these downloads are legal. That’s pretty rare among music blogs. Why is that important?
A: Musicians deserve the opportunity to earn a living from the art they produce, plain and simple. If they think making an MP3 freely available helps their cause, something I certainly believe to be true, then I’m happy to show support by disseminating that music.
Q: Do you think illegal downloads are the biggest problem facing labels, majors and indies, today? (Please answer in one word only.)
A: Psssssshh.
Q: Do you remember what the original Napster looked like?
A: Absolutely, but what I remember more are the feelings it engendered. All of a sudden there was this sense of accessibility as it related to artists and albums, especially in regard to what small labels all over the world were releasing. Dubious ethics aside, it was a revelation and obviously altered the way that bands and listeners both thought about how music should be distributed.
Q: I was lucky enough to be the guest for your most recent The Hidden Track podcast. Who would be your dream guest on The Hidden Track — whether they’re alive or dead?
A: Damon Albarn, preferably alive. The various bands and projects he’s been associated with — from his work as the frontman for Blur to recording with Tony Allen in Nigeria — has been so stellar and varied that I think he would be able to offer some wonderful commentary on the songs we feature. Consider this his standing invitation.
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
One Track Mind
Music blog offering free (and legal) song downloads. one-track-mind.com
Listen to the September edition of “The Hidden Track” podcast and hear Post critic Ricardo Baca discuss this month’s selections with the site’s Danny de Zayas and Jeff Fal.
Check out some of the artists
Here are a few recent selections from Denver-based music blog One Track Mind, which offers free (and legal) song downloads dailyalong with brief descriptions by curator Danny de Zayas.
Weezer, “(If You Are Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To”
“That rare blend of infectious hooks and terminal heartbreak.”
Pablo, “Hey Luci”
“A zippy, well-balanced song for the Pixies fetishist in all of our hearts.”
Monsters of Folk, “Say Please”
“Earnest, solid pop songwriting that proves ‘supergroups’ do best when they ease up on the bombast.”
Or, the Whale, “Datura”
“The year’s best song about drugs — so twangy and gorgeous that you may not even realize it’s about pot.” Ricardo Baca
