Summer 2016 Road Trip sampler - Various Artists

Artist: Various Artists

Album: N/A

Description: This is a solid 11 tracks -- more than 35 minutes -- of music courtesy of artists working with Sugar Mountain PR this spring and summer.  It's called a "road trip" sampler, but there's nothing necessarily summer- or vacation-themed about it.  But with songs from Frances England, the Sugar Free Allstars, and the Not-Its, the Okee Dokee Brothers, and more -- not to mention songs from as-yet-unreleased albums by The Whizpops, Brady Rymer, and 123 Andres -- it will do just nicely even if you're just shuttling the kids to the municipal pool or lounging around at home.  Grab it quickly, as it'll only be available for the downloading through May 25.

Source: Soundcloud

The Peculiar Tales of the S.S. Bungalow (Full Version) - Big World Audio Theatre

Artist: Big World Audio Theatre

Album: The Peculiar Tales of the S.S. Bungalow

Description: The half-story/half-musical hybrid from the (very) multi-headed hydra that is Portland, Oregon's Big World Audio Theatre gets a limited-time giveaway.  That's right, for the month of August you can download their fine debut The Peculiar Tales of the S.S. Bungalow.  It's worth more than that (throw in a couple dollars at least), but if you haven't had an opportunity to listen, take advantage of this.  (Also, below the Noisetrade widget, find a brief promo video the band made to introduce the album to newbies.)

Source: Noisetrade

Let's Hear It for the Moms! - Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Let's Hear It for the Moms! album cover

Let's Hear It for the Moms! album cover

Artist: Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Album: Let's Hear It for the Moms!

Description: A seven-song sampler of previously-released maternally-related tracks from the New York roots-rocker, downloadable for free.  I would guess that this is a limited-time offer, so don't delay -- Mother's Day has come and gone, but celebrating the mothers in our lives, be it our own or others we know, doesn't go out of style.  I've always liked Rymer's take on "Mama Don't Allow," but all of them are worth the mp3 space.

Source: Bandcamp

"Jelly Beans!" - Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips

Artist: Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips

Song: "Jelly Beans!"

Album: N/A (upcoming release)

Description: Featuring a sugar-infused electro-blues (again, MCJ is kindie's hyphenate king) amped to 11, lyrical delivery from 14-year-old Ava Flava (with an assist from Mista Cookie Jar), this ode to the sugar- (or corn syrup-)filled candy winds up and up until it crashes at the very end.  The free download crashes (i.e., ends) just about the time your kids will crash after eating their Easter candy (i.e., sometime Easter Sunday).

Source: Bandcamp

Food Songs for Thanksgiving - Various Artists

Artist: Various Artists

Album: N/A

Description: Eight songs free for the downloading (for a limited time, anyway), courtesy of artists from Sugar Mountain PR.  Ostensibly they're songs for Thanksgiving, but that's really just because they're food-related.  But with music from Kira Willey, Lisa Loeb, Heidi Swedberg, Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke, the Okee Dokee Brothers and more, I think you'll find enough to be grateful for.

Source: Soundcloud

Father's Day Playlist - Various Artists

Artist: Various Artists

Album: N/A

Description: An eight-song collection of free music (at least through Father's Day) via Sugar Mountain PR.  Includes the title track from Raffi's upcoming album Love Bug and other upcoming albums from Brady Rymer and The Not-Its, plus some classics ("When I Grow Up," "The Elephant Song").

Source: Soundcloud

"Who Grew My Soup?" - Story Laurie

Artist: Story Laurie

Song: "Who Grew My Soup?"

Album: N/A

Description: An educational song with just enough funky groove and ska to make it go down so easy.  When the kids have mastered the melody, you can start reading them The Omnivore's Dilemma at night, right?

Source: Bandcamp

"Happy Fluffy" - Charity and the JAMband

Artist: Charity and the JAMband

Song: "Happy Fluffy"

Album: Rock Your Socks Off

Description: Wow, can it really be more than 8 years since the Bay Area released their third album of dance-inspiring mellow grooves?  Yes, yes it can be.  One of that album's strongest tracks, "Happy Fluffy," is available for free (name-your-price) download for a limited time.  It was made free, bandleader Charity Kahn reports, for the International Day of Happiness 2014, but I also think it's kind of appropriate as society starts celebrating the Easter Bunny.

Source: Bandcamp