Say what you want about the social implications of MySpace’s creeping takeover of the universe, but it’s hard to complain about the sudden availability of free music. Or, if you happen to play in a band, the ability to get your tunes out to the world so easily. And hey, you don’t even need an account to hear these ditties—some of our favorites from local artists on the web at the moment:
1. The Clydesdale, “Sister” (myspace.com/theclydesdale) Neil Young parties with the Meat Puppets on this perfect, two-minute slab of punk-country goodness. Yee-haw!
2. Camden, “I Traveled the World” (myspace.com/camdenrock) The sun may be out and the sweat pooling, but this what-could-have-been lament will deposit you in a barren winterscape of doubt and remorse.
3. Love Pentagon, “Dark Circus” (myspace.com/lovepentagon) Take a bit of dark synth-pop, mix in reverb-laden guitars, add Le Tigre-esque vocals, and what do you have? One of Las Vegas’ most fun-sounding bands, that’s what.
4. The Skooners, “Sleeping on a Sunburn” (myspace.com/theskooners) Rainbow battle-of-the-band champs craft a winning combination with this piano-goosed pop-rock ditty.
5. The Pandas, “Alone” (myspace.com/thepandas) Psych-rock that’s catchy and experimental, all at the same time.
6. The Fremonts, “Waitin’ to Die” (myspace.com/thefremonts) Badass country-rock that sounds like it was imported from the backwoods of Tennessee.
7. Lydia Vance, “Die Without Me” (myspace.com/lydiavance) They’ve only been together a short while, but the Vance rip through dark, dance-rock cuts like old pros.
8. 4LBS Entertainment, “All Up in Your Face” (myspace.com/4lbsentertainment) The rap outfit blasts unsupportive local radio stations and mouthy newcomers, and includes the first-ever diss of a Las Vegas Weekly staff writer (Damon Hodge).
9. ForTwentyDaze, “Irie Song” (myspace.com/fortwentydaze) Vegas’ foremost roots/reggae band guarantees to spread the love with this mellow, percussive groove.
10. Shirt in the Jupon, “Shopping Dreamer” (myspace.com/shirtinthejupon) Japanese soloist turns the finest parts of garage, J-rock and psych into pure, catchy chaos.
11. The Dirty Panties, “Pretty in Pink” (myspace.com/thedirtypanties) The punked-out, feminist answer to the Psychedelic Furs’ New Wave classic.
12. Sparkler Dims, “Without a Word” (myspace.com/sparklerdims) Drone on, cosmic explorers, drone on.
13. The Day After ..., “Car Crash” (myspace.com/tda) It’s hard to think of a Las Vegas rock band that sounds more polished and professional than these scene vets ... yes, including The Killers and Panic!
14. Forget McCarran, “Chardonnay” (myspace.com/forgetmccarran) Urgent, building verses, shout-along chorus and a frantic breakdown. Power-pop doesn’t get more powerful.
15. Slow to Surface, “Wichita” (myspace.com/slowtosurface) When did these guys go and get all post-rock trippy on us? Maybe about the same time they topped their “influences” list with Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
16. Atonalis, “azuredelusioN” (myspace.com/atonalis) Glitchy, dark and interesting, Atonalis’ take on downtempo IDM brings a new look to the electronic subgenre.
17. The Real Shames, “Runaway Girl” (myspace.com/therealshames) Garage punk that’ll make you wanna steal a Harley and run away from home, whether you’re 15 or 50.
18. Fletch, “Ghost in Chicago” (myspace.com/fletch) Dramatic narrative, symphonic sweep, courtroom-roof-raising bombast. The best B-side My Chemical Romance never wrote?
19. Ashbury, “Come On” (myspace.com/ashburyrock) Hey, if it was good enough to appear on MTV’s The Hills, this entrancing breakup/breakdown ballad is good enough for us.
20. Wyatt McKenzie, “War” (myspace.com/themusicofwyattmckenzie) Beautifully dark, combining elements of alt-country and folk in pure, viral form.
21. The Cab, “Take My Hand” (myspace.com/thecabrock) It’s poppy, it’s dancey, it’s a singalong, it’s R&B-y; the only thing it’s not is willing to settle for complacency.
22. The Objex, “Eat This” (myspace.com/theobjex) Total punky energy—see it live for the full experience.
23. Jr. Anti-Sex League, “Bang Bang Bang” (myspace.com/jaslmusic) This shape-shifter takes the ’80s seriously, shouting out the likes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, My Little Pony, Scarface, Punky Brewster and Rainbow Brite.
24. GDB, “Version” (myspace.com/gdb) This instrumental nutshells the reggae-rock vets’ approach: smooth, sometimes surfy jam-funk.
25. Meat Over Moscow, “Live to an Audience of No One” (myspace.com/meatovermoscow) Okay, so we’re biased since Weekly staffer Aaron Thompson happens to be in this experimental outfit, but who else in town can melt your brain without any help from the summer sun?