As of the time of this writing, not even a year after it’s launch, WFMU’s Free Music Archive already boasts nearly 18,000 free music tracks from a wide array of genres. It’s an interesting collection in that it not only features music that comes from the world of netaudio/netlabels, but many signed indie artists can be found among the FMA’s selection as well. It’s definitely an incredible archive of music to explore!

After a good three months of listening to thousands of FMA tracks, I somehow managed to whittle the selection down to 11 exceptional gems. It was really a difficult choice, but in the end the final line-up proves to be a terrific mix of Rock, Pop, Punk, Indie, Trip-Hop and even a splash of humor thrown in for good measure.

A special thanks to Jason Sigal over at WFMU and FMA who was most helpful in getting me access to lossless copies of the two Live At WFMU tracks which are featured here. Thanks also to the labels, artists and to CASH Music for participating and helping me pull together all that was needed to make this release happen.

Finally, thank you! For downloading, listening and sharing this release. I hope you enjoy this release as much as did putting it together.

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We set things off in 2007 with our premiere release, “netBloc Vol. 1: The Opening Salvo”. Even at that early stage, I knew that I wanted blocSonic to be a bit more than your standard “netlabel”. I didn’t want blocSonic to be completely self-serving… it was to be a promotional vehicle for netlabels, artists and the netaudio culture. However, what I didn’t know was if artists and netlabels were going to be supportive of the compilation idea and send me lossless versions of their music to be included. Happily my worries were for naught. Everyone involved has been extremely supportive over the years and my positive experience with the netBloc series got me thinking about original releases. Our first original release was back in February 2009, Just Plain Ant’s “Dig Deep”. Well here we are nearly a year later and I’ve got another premiere release for you to enjoy and it’s the talented Just Plain Ant bringing it once again!

So what is the Xtended Edition (XE) series? Before answering that question, let me start by explaining why the XE series. In the first 3 years of putting together the netBloc series, I’ve seen netlabels come and go. Some of those netlabels who’ve gone inactive had some very talented artists among their rosters and those artists’ releases have languished since the apparent demise of their labels. That got me thinking about re-releases and what form a re-release would take on blocSonic. I began to think about the many ways that the mainstream music industry have handled it. One particular re-release format that I’ve liked (when Universal has done it with classic albums) is the “Deluxe Edition” series. Universal’s series usually consists of the first disc being the original release and a second disc containing perviously unreleased material – demos, outtakes & alternate versions. Well our XE series is quite similar, though in the future won’t be limited to two discs. Each release in this series will feature the originally released album and at least one other disc containing demos, outtakes, alternate versions & remixes. Where we stray from the “Deluxe Edition” model is that each of ours will also feature completely new album art. As with all our releases, each is made available in three high-quality audio formats — FLAC, 320kbs MP3 & 192kbs MP3.

After deciding to go forward with our own special format of re-releases it was time to approach the artists. Among the releases that got me thinking about re-releases in the first place was Just Plain Ant’s “Fly”. An excellent release he released via Jamendo that I felt was worth more shine. Unfortunately that was not to be. As happens often, artists sometimes grow weary of early releases that they feel no longer represent their sound to the fullest. I could respect that. However, Ant was interested in seeing his terrific Just Plain Sounds release “Songs About Something” re-released in this format. At first I was hesitant, only because my original plan was to resurrect releases from netlabels who’ve shut down. That hesitation didn’t last long though. I quickly adapted the plan to include releases of living and breathing netlabels. However way you look at it, the goal of the Xtended Edition series is to bring more exposure to releases.

With the release of “Songs About Something XE” the evolution of blocSonic continues. This edition of Just Plain Ant’s foray into the world of trip-hop and downtempo delivers over two hours of soulful, chilled beats! Disc one is the original album in it’s entirety and disc two is packed with new Just Plain Ant songs and remixes by RVA (Richmond, Virginia) talents such as Annu, Oh.Bliv, Sleaze and Rowan. So, thanks again for downloading and listening. I hope you enjoy this premiere XE release, there are more on the way! As always, if you dig this release… spread it around… share with friends… share with strangers… share it with anyone.

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This fantastic release has been in the works since ETHX first contacted blocSonic back in May. In it you’ll find a few high-profile peeps he’s managed to connect with – folks like Boots Riley who you may know from The Coup, Zumbi from Zion-I and Myron Glasper who’s sung background vocals for everyone from MC Lyte to Blackalicious to Lyrics Born. Among the names you may know, you’ll also find incredibly talented MCs and vocalists who you may not know. One of those talented MCs is Nate Mezmer who's presence plays an integral part in making this collection feel like more than just a producer's showcase. Once again, blocSonic brings you real hip-hop with a touch of R&B… this fresh sound comes to you straight out of Northern California.

I want to say thanks to ETHX for approaching blocSonic in the first place and his guests for being part of what’s become “Boom To Bloom”. Welcome to the blocSonic fam!

We hope you enjoy this release and it gets heavy rotation in all your portable devices, CD players and computers. If you dig it, don’t forget to spread the word… share it with anyone and everyone you can.

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I want to first send out a heartfelt Happy New Year to you all! May 2010 be a year in which we all set the wheels in motion for a positive and happy decade.

For blocSonic, our first year featuring original releases was a good one and it was the year that we began planning the good things to come in 2010. Let it be known that we have a few surprises in store for you! In the meantime here’s netBloc Vol. 26 for you. It’s our final 2009 release and a terrific addition to the series. It features a CC-licensed gem from a fantastic score by Dave Merson Hess for the film “PRESENCE” as well fantastic pop, rock, hip-hop, electro and downtempo. In addition to the netaudio gems culled from around the world we’ve got not one, but two previews of upcoming blocSonic goodies… one from the new blocSonic artist ETHX and one from our good friend Just Plain Ant. Be sure to check the PDF booklet for more details. As always, thank you for making blocSonic a regular stop on your online musical journey, I hope you continue to do so. Don’t forget to share our releases with everyone you can. Thanks again to all participants… we REALLY couldn’t do this without you!

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According to Chinese philosophy two opposing forces, the yin and the yang, co-exist interdependently to make up universal existence. You cannot have one without the other. So it seems in many aspects of life that you cannot have the good without the bad and vice-versa. Life, death, love, hate, peace, war all intermingled in equilibrium. Would we be able to recognize peace without war? War without peace?

Would we recognize the gloriousness of a thriving, new alternative community of music based on sharing without the greedy, old music industry based solely on maximizing profits and pumping out product? Perhaps not. So let’s all heartily thank the old guard! Without their fastidious attempts to maintain their old ways, we probably wouldn’t have this incredibly varied new world of netaudio to explore and embrace! Thanks RIAA!

Thematically, this collection is comprised of both the yin and the yang… life, death, love, loss, happiness, sadness and all that human thought is compelled to express. Whether from Atlanta, California, Detroit, Hawaii, London, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Richmond, Stockholm or Utrecht… the featured artists aren’t sharing their art for mere profit. Every one of these tracks were born from the desire to express… whether it be lyrically or musically. Their creators then chose to share them with the world so that they may be spread far and wide. So please… share this netBloc release with everyone you can… burn discs for your friends… email them a link to the blocSonic page… whatever method you choose, it’s about spreading the music and letting it be heard by as many people as possible. Once you’ve done that and you want to do more… support your favorite artists… purchase hard copies of their albums… purchase T-Shirts… donate funds… whatever. We’re approaching the holidays, I’m sure these artists could use some extra cash in their pockets.

Thanks again to you, the listener, for your continued patronage! blocSonic.com traffic grows with each release and it’s because of your kind words and recommendations on websites, forums and blogs all over the net. Thanks as always to all netBloc participants… for your music and for your participation!

Enjoy this fine collection!

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Hip-hop is an incredibly diverse musical genre that has a bad reputation no thanks to the American mainstream branch of it. People who write-off hip-hop as idiotic, materialistic, violent or misogynistic are only getting a small slice of what it’s about. Since hip-hop has become international there are a wide array of ideas about what hip-hop should be today in 2009 and beyond. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the music will gladly give you their opinion about what “real” hip-hop is. Truth be told, after 30 plus years of existence, there is no “real” hip-hop. Hip-hop emcees, DJs and producers come from all walks of life. With such a wide variety of backgrounds, there can be no definitive hip-hop sound. Since there can be no definitive sound, there’s no reason to disregard hip-hop music that uses classic New York blueprints as the jump off for something fresh and new. Just as there’s a place for rock artists to try and capture a classic 60s and 70s vibe in their new recordings, there’s certainly a place for hip-hop producers, DJs and emcees to try and capture a vibe that’s widely regarded as classic.

With “Classic Material Vol. 3: UI Radio”, CM aka Creative, his various collaborators and producers all present to you hip-hop that’s both new and classic. Musically it reflects back to an early/mid 90s sound, topically, it captures all that a young, struggling and striving American emcee has on his mind. It’s the 3rd part in a series of releases which began at the netlabel Random Flow.

When it became clear to CM that Random Flow had become inactive, he approached me about releasing Vol. 3 through blocSonic. Having enjoyed both Vols. 1 & 2, I was instantly interested. I hope you’ll enjoy this release as much as I do. If you dig it, be sure to check out the previous volumes.

Thanks to CM for coming to blocSonic. Thanks to you for downloading and enjoying. As always, share this release with anyone and everyone.

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After a couple back to back original blocSonic releases, I’m back to introduce you to the latest in the blocSonic netBloc series. This batch of netaudio gems is packed with ear candy. I have little doubt that you’ll find at least a couple tracks that you also call gems. Who knows, perhaps you’ll call them all gems, just as I do!

So what exactly is packed in this release? You have operatic vocals with a metal, swing backing. You have straight-up hip-hop. You have electro-pop. Singer-songwriter pop. Smoldering, funky, lounge. Dance music. Straight ahead rock. Rock with a funky edge. Music from Japan, France, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, the UK and the US.

Many thanks again to all participating artists and labels, this series just couldn’t happen without your participation. Of course, thanks to you for downloading this excellent collection. Enjoy it. Share it.

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Back in February, Joey Ripps approached me about releasing one of his projects through blocSonic. One of the projects, a collaboration with 13aDLucK produced by Catastrophe, turned out to be quite a strong set. After hearing the drafts Ripps sent, blocSonic was officially down for a release! What you’re about to listen to is a fantastic collection of raw, NYC style, boom-bap hip-hop. It’s packed with smooth soul-drenched beats, classic B-Boy braggadocio and introspective rhymes. Luck & Ripps’ vocal styles are both quite compatible, so their collaboration on this project feels natural and unforced. Catastrophe’s production throughout serves as the perfect bed for their verses to rest. Once again, we feel that we, blocSonic, have dropped another solid contribution to the world of independent hip-hop. Check it out… and remember… share this with everyone you connect with. Thanks goes out to Luck, Ripps and Catastrophe for being part of the blocSonic fam. Thanks also to you for taking the time to download!

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Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce to you the latest member of the blocSonic family, Formula. A producer extraordinaire hailing from London. This here is his premiere solo release and our second original. If you’ve been following our netBloc series for a while, you’ve most-likely heard “Is It Too Late For Us All?” from the collaborative project that he was part of (along with Boston’s own Tha Silent Partner), MUTE. It was featured on “netBloc Vol. 15: this album won’t eat your gas money”. Welcome him back with what I’m quite confident you’ll think is one fantastic release. Hip-Hop on another plain… from another perspective… but real boom bap hip-hop none-the-less. From the introduction “Ebony Shards”… to “X Man”, there’s not a boring or weak moment to be found.

To me “The Overcast Project” feels like the perfect follow-up to Just Plain Ant’s “Dig Deep”. Formula seems to share a similar desire to expand the definition of “hip-hop”. With Formula at it’s core and a talented group of musicians and emcees, Overcast gels into a superbly cohesive unit (much like Ant’s release before it). There IS a “Formula sound” and each of the guest musicians and emcees lend their distinctive touches in such a way as to make the unit stronger.

Sit back and get ready for the journey… the sky may be overcast, but no rain is in the forecast… so enjoy the journey!

Thanks to Formula for allowing blocSonic to handle the release of this gem!

As always, thanks to you for visiting blocSonic and listening to our releases… remember… share this with friends, enemies, parents, siblings, politicians, zombies and aliens… oh… and the rain gods…

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Of course we didn’t invent the compilation! Duh! No really! We didn’t… seriously! Why do you doubt me? Even though we didn’t invent them it doesn’t mean we didn’t perfect them… so here’s another perfect compilation for your soul to absorb via your ear canals. A collection of 11 tracks plus one sampler. That’s two bonus tracks on top of the standard 10 track line-up! Whoa! Crazy! I loved the Jay Slim release so much that I simply couldn’t contain myself to only one track. Then Just Plain Ant released the sampler of his upcoming release “The New Black” and I felt that it’d be a perfect addition to the line-up. In fact, I wish other labels/artists released samplers like this. I’d love to feature one with every netBloc release. Consider this an invitation to any of you who may be working on some music and want to begin promoting it early, send us a sampler and it’ll be considered for a future netBloc release. 1 track, no longer than 15 minutes and only send wav, flac or aiff files along with any info you'd like mentioned about the upcoming release. Send files to us via services such as Yousendit.com or you can use our contact form to let us know you'd like to send us something and we can set you up with an ftp account to upload directly to the blocSonic server.

So what sounds can you expect this time around? Industrial, electro-pop, electro-funk, hip-hop, punk, rock, pop-rock and indie-pop from France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US. Our netBloc releases are always an eclectic, international affair and this time is no different. By the way, if you’re a Boo Radleys fan, you might like to know that one of the featured artists is none other than Martin Carr. Check out his fantastic track “Why You Gotta Bring Me All This Rain?”. Check out the fatty 79 page PDF for details.

Thanks again to all participants and to all of you for checking out netBloc Vol. 23: We Invented The Compilation! Each and every one of you rock! Remember… share this! Give it to friends, enemies and strangers alike! Tell them how much netaudio rocks! When you’re done doing that, be ready… later this month on Tuesday, July 28th is the release of blocSonic’s second original release featuring one of our newest artists, the UK’s Formula and his “The Overcast Project”. A fresh release with complete production from him and featuring artists from the US, UK, Canada & Jamaica. The LP features artists signed to independent labels (LDZ - Dented records), major labels (Aynzli Jones - Mercury) and an unsigned MC called Isayu (from the Bay in Oakland). Then… on Tuesday, August 25th we keep the hip-hop flowing with our third original release by another of our newest artists Luck & Ripp and their “The Catastrophic Connection”. The short song structure, Luck’s intricate flow, Ripp’s deep, creative lyricism and UhOh’s simple loops and boom-bap drum style make the album seem like a bumrush with a softer side. From being “awoke to the ways of the world” to reminiscing on your childhood, this project covers all the bases. So keep your ear to the ground… blocSonic is rumbling on…

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

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