We Are Smug - We Are Smug
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.
No longer available
very good debut album i am glad i downloaded it now before these guys get bigger but lets hope they do they are fresh and its good to hear fresh music that is different thax.
Comment by sabata — October 5, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Both of em are counting as quite big ;)
The singer is Darren Hayes, who has a long record history (Lead singer of Savage Garden).
We Are Smug is a side project of him and his life partner.
Comment by Christian — October 8, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Wow! Didn’t know that. Explains why the sound is so professional, doesn’t it. I like Savage Garden but I like this better.
Comment by Marvin — October 8, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
I love this album!
Comment by Michael Gregoire — November 1, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
It’s a great album…and just a note to be correct in the information…Robert Conley isn’t Darren’s life partner (Richard Cullen is) Darren and Robert worked together on one of Darren’s solo albums.
Comment by Eveline Voss — December 23, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
You just can’t buy music like this - the best things is free, after all…
Comment by Anonymous — February 17, 2010 @ 12:07 pm
I have everything Darren Hayes has ever released and, I must say, this ranks right up with “The tension and the spark”. Can’t believe it’s free!!!
Comment by Andre Retief — February 17, 2010 @ 12:10 pm
Seems as if the site is down. I did find “Hot Tub Blues,” my favorite song from the album, on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgg8hc_fGMM
Comment by Aaron Sherman — March 4, 2010 @ 4:29 am