When Free Albums Galore started in 2005, good free and independent pop music albums were rare on the internet. Most of the music that passed for pop and rock was supplied by an hobbyist with a laptop. That has changed immensely. Nowadays you find artists and bands that are as polished and commercially viable as the bands that grace the Billboard charts. Free and online music is now another successful way for professional musicians to get their music out and in my humble opinion, it is often better than the Billboard variety as the artist has the final say in their products instead of a corporate shirt watering it down for the mass consumer.

Exhibit A is We Are Smug, an independent duo that has their own sound and a polished but enthusiastic delivery. The music in their debut self-titled album is a joyful mix of pop, indie , and funk, sort of The Bee Gees meet The New Pornographers meet Prince. I especially like the funky “Shit on The Radio” but “Words That I Can’t Say” and “Watching Me Watching You” have that infectious good time marriage of beat, melody and lyrics. “Tear it Up” is interesting. Despite the trite “uh huh, uh huhs” and cliched lyrics (”We need to tear it up, we need to burn it down”), this is a killer track with a a take-no-prisoners beat. If you want something more romantic, check out the pretty “Never Be The Same”. This is getting a lot of play when my friends are around and they are all surprised that this is an unsigned band with free and legal music. Most common remark: “I would pay for this”. So grab this before We Are Smug gets the hint.

The album is available in 192kbps MP3.

Update: It appears this “new” duo isn’t so new after all. We Are Smug consists of Darren Hayes, the lead singer of Savage Garden, and his partner Robert Conley. Still a fine effort any way you slice it. Thanks Christian for the info.

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