I generally ignore unsolicited email, especially when it’s some sort of advertisement, attempting to get me to buy something or join something. However, today I got one from something called eMusic. I almost ignored it as well, since it seems to largely promote independent music.

I have nothing against independent music, but I just didn’t figure I had the time to bother with getting to know a lot of new stuff. I have a growing list of music that I’d like to have already, and didn’t figure any of it would be available at eMusic. However, after doing some searches, I found that I was wrong. Not only was some of my list available (although most of it was not), I also managed to find a fair amount of music that was not on my list, but that I was interested in as well, much of it from artists I’ve listened to before.

So, I decided to go ahead and sign up for the free trial, which allowed me 25 free downloads. I figured I’d get some free stuff and then bail out. Whether or not I’ll stay for a month or two remains to be seen. Nevertheless, I did manage to get a couple of full albums that I was looking for.

First was Ty Tabor’s newest, Rock Garden. I love Tabor, who is the guitarist and co-vocalist for one of my favorite bands, King’s X. Both his work with King’s X and his solo work has all been outstanding. His newest solo disc was released last year, but I’d never gotten around to getting it. It was the first thing I downloaded today and, after only one listen, it is fantastic, as I expected. I look forward to hearing it many more times in the coming days.

The other full album I downloaded was by Mark Erelli, titled Hope & Other Casualties. I recently listened to clips of all of the albums on Scott Freeman’s year end lists (here and here), and made a short list of titles that I either wanted to get for myself or at least listen to again in order to decide. Erelli’s was near the top, and so it was my next download. It’s also a great album (again, after only one listen) and I’ll be hearing a lot of it in the near future as well. (Thanks, Scott.)

This song stuck out the first time around. It’s a great song, written in response to the September 11th attacks in 2001. It’s titled “The Only Way” and here are the lyrics:

I read the paper
I watch the news
It seems there’s only pain and sufferin’
And there ain’t nothing I can do
It’s so senseless
I feel defenseless
So small

I could shut my windows
Bolt my doors
But if I don’t feel safe enough
To speak my mind anymore
Then what’s the use
I’ve nothing left to lose
No further to fall

So I’m gonna love
And I’m gonna believe
I’m gonna dream
And I’m gonna roll up my sleeves
And give everything until there’s nothing left to give
That’s the only way that I know how to live

It was a nightmare
No tongue can tell
The streets of New York City
Looked just like the gates of Hell
In a flash
The smoke and the ash
Falling down like rain

But they circled wagons
They gathered round
As they bravely pulled our brothers
And our sisters from the ground
And I know
I owe them more
Than to be afraid

So I’m gonna love
And I’m gonna believe
I’m gonna dream
And I’m gonna roll up my sleeves
And give everything until there’s nothing left to give
That’s the only way that I know how to live

Why seek vengeance?
What comes of war?
I know freedom has a price
But it doesn’t keep score
It’s too much to swallow
It’s left me hollow
After all this time
All this time

I won’t tell you
What to believe
But I’m too young to be so cynical
And too old to be naive
Every action
Breeds a reaction
So let this be mine

‘Cause I’m gonna love
I’m gonna believe
I’m gonna dream
But I’m gonna roll up my sleeves
And give everything until there’s nothing left to give
That’s the only way that I know how to live

I have 3 more free downloads available. I’ll either be downloading some singles, or, if I decide to stay on for a month or two and get a few more albums, I guess maybe I’ll get the first 3 songs from the next one.

Cheap music rules, especially when it’s as good as these two.