The world and society at large, is in an uncertain surreal environment. In the midst of a pandemic that has taken lives and threatens our way of living. From the view of music, it is an art form that will endure. The primitive recordings of Robert Johnson survived a war, and still continues to influence. This pandemic will not overcome us as society, but it will affect the aspiring talent that we rely on.
On March 6th, as tours were cancelled, I wrote that streaming platforms are crucial to incomes when music fans cannot travel to purchase music. These platforms are also important as they highlight upcoming artists. The misconception that ‘music is not like it once was’, is just that, a lie we tell ourselves out of love for long-standing artists. Music is as fruitful as it ever was. But my point about streaming platforms, and what needs to be done came to fruition two weeks later when Bandcamp waived its fees on March 20th.
For 24 hours in an effort to help artists and labels struggling in the face of gig cancellations due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The initiative was met with phenomenal public support, with fans purchasing nearly 800,000 items and putting $4.3 million into the pockets of musicians – making March 20 the site’s biggest ever sales ever. So much so, Bandcamp’s CEO Ethan Diamond noted that March 20 “was an inspiring day, and we heard many requests to do it again, so we’re going to do exactly that (and a bit more).”
Bandcamp are once again waving their fees and supporting talent. The act of support is exactly what is needed, although not just in the music sector, but across all areas. For the first-time user of the site, that music fan who now wants to get in on the artistic action, it is a minefield of bands and releases. With that in mind, and in no particular order, here are fifty recommendations. Crossing power pop, punk and solid rock. All of which give the proper bang for the buck. There are thousands of others, these are just a drop in the ocean that is Bandcamp, but the hope is that it may bring more to the site, and music fans will discover new sounds.
1.James Clarke Five – Parlour Sounds
2.Dot Dash – Proto Retro
3.Carol Pacey & The Honey Shakers – Bliss
4.The Toms – The 1979 Sessions
Bandcamp
5.Chris Church – Backwards Compatible
6.The Persian Leaps – Electrical Living
Bandcamp
7.SKYTONE – Without You
Bandcamp
8.dunkie – Working To Design
9.Gretchen’s Wheel – Moth to Lamplight: A Tribute to Nada Surf
Bandcamp
10.Norman – Buzz And Fade
Bandcamp
11.Dolph Chaney – Rebuilding Permit
12.Lisa Mychols & SUPER 8 – Lisa Mychols & Super 8
13.Baby Snakes – Cause A Scene
14.Blaine Campbell – Under The Tidal Wave
Bandcamp
15.Shplang – Los Grandes Excritos {1994-2019}
Bandcamp
16.Future Pilot AKA – Orkestra Digitalis
Bandcamp
17.Empty City Squares – 337
18.Right Hand Left Hand – Zone Rouge
Bandcamp
19.Lannie Flowers – Home
Bandcamp
20.The Armoires – Zibaldone
Bandcamp
21.Whimsical – Bright Smiles & Broken Hearts
22.Strip Search Tramp – Assume The Position
Bandcamp
23.Theatre Royal – Singles 2010 – 18
24.Jo Beth Young (RISE) – Strangers
Bandcamp
25.The Vertigos – Out Of My Head
Bandcamp
26.The Hangabouts – Kits and Cats and Saxon Wives
Bandcamp
27.Gozer Goodspeed – Running with the Outliers
Bandcamp
28.The Cosmic Array – Goldilocks
29.The Tor Guides – Backwards In Reverse
Bandcamp
30.LITHICS – Wendy Kraemer EP
Bandcamp
31.Ambulette – Too Bad About All Your Problems
Bandcamp
32.The Coolies – Uh Oh! It’s… The Coolies
Note: Proceeds to ALS research.
Bandcamp
33.The Grief Brothers – Thirty Five Years On Woodfield Street
Bandcamp
34.The Vapour Trails – Lonely Man
Bandcamp
35.Snowgoose – The Making Of You
36.the black watch – Brilliant Failures
37.The Allegations – Non-Neutered 1%
Bandcamp
38.The Reflectors – First Impressions
Bandcamp
39.Blake Jones & The Trike Shop – Make
Bandcamp
40.Roger C. Reale & Rue Morgue – The Collection
Bandcamp
41.Twin Peaks – Lookout Low
42.Pop Co-Op – Factory Settings
Bandcamp
43.Jetstream Pony – Jetstream Pony
Bandcamp
44.Bobby Conn – Recovery
Bandcamp
45.The Legendary Pink Dots – Angel In The Detail
46.The No Ones – The Great Lost No Ones Album
Bandcamp
47.BOYTOY – Night Leaf
Bandcamp
48. Ezrat – Carousel
Bandcamp
49.Black Dresses – Peaceful as Hell
Bandcamp
50.Sister Suzie – Don’t Want To
Bandcamp
51.Big Joanie – Sistahs
Bandcamp
52. Moses Sumney – græ
Bandcamp
53. Babygotbacktalk – Space Jam
Bandcamp
54. Shamir – Cataclysm
Bandcamp
55. Skatune Network – Pick It The Fuck Up
Bandcamp
56. Yves Tumor – Heaven To A Tortured Mind
Bandcamp
57. Indigo Honey – Natalia, My Goth Gf
Bandcamp
58. Starchild & The New Romantic – Forever
Bandcamp
59. Christelle Bofale – Swim Team
Bandcamp
60. Dua Saleh – ROSETTA
Bandcamp
61. Pleasure Venom – Pleasure Venom
Bandcamp
62. Oceanator – Tear the Fascists Down
Bandcamp
63. Beauty Pill – Please Advise
Bandcamp
64. Algiers – There Is No Year
Bandcamp
65. keiyaA – Forever, Ya Girl
Bandcamp
66. Sneaks – Mars In Virgo
Bandcamp
67. Jackie Venson – Make Me Feel
Bandcamp
68. Proper. – I Spent The Winter Writing Songs About Getting Better
Bandcamp
69. Emma Swift – Blonde On The Tracks
Bandcamp
70. Librarians With Hickeys – Long Overdue
Bandcamp
