Don't Run Barefoot on Broken Glass

This list is a mix of American indie pop/rock. All tracks are freely available for download from the amazing music site Epitonic. To download the song, click on the name of the song.  The band name links to the Epitonic page about the band.  They all are close to 90 BPM so work for a 180 SPM (strides per minute) run.

Broken Glass by The Baptist Generals 91bpm
From Texas. this track is super pretty and melodic. 

Dots on Maps by Say Hi 90bpm
Pacific northwest. Very melodic and catchy.  

Sick Days by Yourself and The Air 91bpm
Chicago. A little bit more of an edge than the last two, but not much.

Lovesick Teenagers by Bear In Heaven 90bpm
Brooklyn.  Hip. 

Of Pressure by Mirah 94bpm
Washington State.  Might be a bit fast for some, but I like this bpm. I downloaded this song many years ago, before Epitonic hibernated for several years.  Its a super sweet pop song.

Universe Or Worse by Braid 90bpm
Chicago.  A little more rock than pop.  

Stars So Pretty

This list is a mix of American pop and  folk-pop. All tracks are freely available for download from the amazing music site Epitonic. To download the song, click on the name of the song.  The band name links to the Epitonic page about the band.  They all are close to 90 BPM so work for a 180 SPM (strides per minute) run. Enjoy spring running with some happy music. 


Out In The Country by Future Hits 93bpm
Very cute song, only outdone by the cheeky band name. From San Francisco.

A Million Years by Alexander 91 bpm
Alexander is the singer from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, who has appeared in two of my other posts; here and here. Very sweet love song.

We the common by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down 90bpm
This is the same Thao from Mirah and Thao so if you like this you may want to go listen to them too.

A Movie Script Ending by Death Cab for Cutie 92bpm
Death Cab for Cutie are from Washington.

Rich Hum Of air by Shannon Wright 89bpm
Shannon Wright is from Atlanta, Georgia.  I love this song, it has a sort of odd sound to it.  Well her voice sort of stands out; she's intense.

Shine by The Album Leaf 92bpm
From San Diego. Instrumental, pretty.

Come Run With Me

It's april and it's sunny!  So lets have something happy. I have already recommended a song by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros but here's another one, Man On Fire. It's available for free download on Epitonic,
->click here<-
to start the download. I've also included a video.  The video is very sweet.

"only one desire,
that's left in me,
I want the whole damn world,
come run with me".

Actually he sings "come dance with me", but I wish he sung come run with me.  The BPM is a perfect 90.  Genre: indie folk / americana.

PS If you like this then, the other song is here.

 

ANGRY ME

Here's an angry FANTASTICALLY intelligent song by Sole. People piss me off. They piss me off too Sole and when I get too pissed off, I go running. I don't think its available yet, or I can't figure out how to download it, so I'll have to wait to run to this. Genre: rap BPM: 88. Oh and barefooters, don't you like his name?

Mixed Up

Here's another list of song from the amazing music site Epitonic. All tracks are available for free and legal download. Click on the song name to start the download, the band name to be taken to the page about the band on Epitonic. The BPM is around 90, so perfect for a 180 SPM run.

Everything on the list is American and there is no theme this month, just a mixed up list of songs I like. I've added a video when I could find one, so that you can have a listen without downloading.

No Parties by Fergus & Geronimo 87bpm
These guys are from Texas, but they sound English. This is a fun, driving, smart almost comical track. Lyrics are intelligent, or at least very timely. Genre: experimental rock.



Lasers Vs. Lizards by Blasted Canyons 92bpm
From San Francisco. Fast, hard, short. Genre: hard-rock.


Croquet by Bitch and Animal 94bpm
Bitch and Animal are, well were, signed to Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records label. I discovered them when they opened for Ani at a show in Munich, Germany in 2004. They are so adorable and funny and serious and entertaining. I was charmed. In this song I think they are taking the piss of rap songs. I fucking love that! Genre: queercore.

Cold Feet by Lost Lander 93bpm
American from the Pacific Northwest totally sound like they do, well in the folk-rock sense not the grunge sense. Sweet song, lyrics will appeal to introverts. Genre: indie-folk.


Highest Echo by Pontiak 88bpm
Pontiak are brothers from Warrenton, Virgina, USA. The track has a bit of a long intro, it really kicks in at 38secs, so might be interesting to trim. Genre: rock

The Breathing Machine by Greenhorse 87bpm
Like dark grey clouds on the horizon, this track feels like it is ushering in some gloom. They are in the L.A. scene, but according to Epitonic also have connections to London and South Africa. Genre: electronic rock. During my search for more info on this band I discovered that they did a cover of the Ellie Goulding song Lights. It is really different from the original. Even though Ellie's in the same category of stuff I don't like (Ke$ha, ...) she is a runner and so I'm allowed to like her and still be cool. Here's the video of that cover, its not runnable but worth a listen.

Fire makes me go

I am kind of liking giving this free download list a theme, so here's another themed list, this time with an acoustic indie feel.  All tracks are available for free and legal download on the awesome music site Epitonic. Click on the song name to start the download, the band name to be taken to the page about the band on Epitonic.  The BPM is around 90, so perfect for a 180 SPM run.

Child-Heart Losers by Sunset Rubdown  92bpm
Canadian from Montreal.  This song is sad and melodic and has a sort of medieval sound to it.  Let the "fire make you go"...

Winged Wicked Things by Sunset Rubdown  89bpm
OK so this is another one by Sunset Rubdown, but it doesn't sound anything like the last track, at least I would never have guessed it was the same band.  This song sounds like it was influenced by Pink Floyd's The Wall. It is a great track. "Chaos is yours and its mine"

Ghost Story by Cloud Control  91bpm
Australian.  Sounds like the theme song for an old western movie.

In The Pines by Widowspeak 93bpm
American from Brooklyn.  Reminds me of Mazzy Star.  Pretty female vocals, good guitar.

A Milion Years by Alexandre  91bpm
American from southern California.  Finally a happy song on Run to the Beat - enjoy it, who knows when I'll like a happy song again.

Drunken Tears by Quasi  87bpm
American from Portland, Oregon. A bit melodramatic, just like the title suggests.

Every Day is Lighter

It is getting lighter for us folks in the northern hemisphere, but where I am there is still no vitamin-D forming strength sunlight.  2 years ago almost to this very day I got a stress fracture and I don't know if winter and vitamin-D has anything to do with it, but if you do live somewhere dark, and run, well it might be time think about taking a supplement. Actually since the fracture I take a calcium-magnesium-zinc supplement, and vitamin K2, plus I got tested for vitamin-D and was very low, so I take these mega doses of that once a month. 

So now for the music after last month's list of hardcore tracks (Forever Punk) I have swung the other way, the following 6 tracks all have a strong pop influence.  All tracks are available on the amazing music site Epitonic.  Click on the song to download.  The band name links to the Epitonic page for the band. 

Shapeshifter (Epitonic saki Sessions) by Hollows 89bpm
Lo-fi pop from Chicago.  Very melodic. 

16 Military Wives by The Decemberists 92bpm
Sweet indie rock from the pacific northwest USA.

Jaded Bones by Koda 88bpm
Downtempo electronica from Columbia, North Carolina.

Ninnyhammer by Holobody 92bpm
Synth-pop from Montreal.  Could be too cute for its own good, I'm sure I'll get sick of this quite fast, but I am currently quite enchanted.  Luckily there is oodles of great, free running music to consume.

Snap by Nosaj Thing 94bpm
Electronic hip-hop from LA. Quite melodic. Has a very slight 8-bit feel.

Boogie Down by Gramatik & Break Science 94bpm
From Portoroz, Slovenia, but doesn't sound like I'd expect.  I'm not really even sure what I expect from Slovenia?  In the same sort of spirit as the last track, electronic hip-hop.

Forever Punk

Running in the winter is hardcore. So here's a little mix of punk, post-punk, math-rock, metal for the furious few left out there on the trails. Nothing electronic, lots of attitude, fast loud.  All tracks are available on the amazing music site Epitonic.  I usually try to limit myself to 6 songs on the free download lists, but these 7 tracks still clock in under 30 minutes. As usual click on the song to download, the band name will take you to the Epitonic page for the band.


Queen of Hearts by Fucked Up 90bpm
Yes let's fall in love!  This is a totally sweet little love song! Canadian.

Drug Control by 7-Seconds 91bpm
Short and to the point.  Don't dope people! It ain't a winning strategy. Oh and this track is only 39 seconds long.

Turbofonte by Chevreuil 87bpm
Instrumental. Get lost in this track listening to all nine and a half minutes. Frenchies.

Chasing My Mind by Holograms 94bpm
Isn't that what running is half about, chasing your mind? Swedish.

Craver by Lower 87
Has a dark sound, which I just love, officially downer punk. Danish.

Goergia X by Creedle 89bpm
Somewhere between metal and punk.  This is a great track. Plus they are from San Diego, a town I love.  

Yellow Guy / Pink Eye by Sleeping People 90bpm
Instrumental, more metal than punk.  I LOVE running to stuff like this.  It will add power to your stride. Again from San Diego.

PS the title is a homage to my current favourite band Die Goldenen Zitronen.  It's their 'cover' of Forever Young.  Not a good running song, but I couldn't resist!

6 Free Running Songs for August 2012

Its that time again, time for some freely downloadable running music from Epitonic.To download the song, click on the name of the song.  The band name links to the Epitonic page about the band.  They all are close to 90 BPM so work for a 180 SPM (strides per minute) run.  Just in case this isn't obvious why, 90x2=180 and honestly I can't really even tell the difference, between a song MixMeister classifies as 90 or 180.  

Cry for Judas by The Mountain Goats  91 BPM
Clever indie folk rock, melodic and I don't know what's the word for the opposite of annoying?  The Mountain Goats are that. They are also are American.  

90 by Pompeya 90 BPM
Summery indie pop from these Moscowites!  I didn't know it gets this hot in Moscow. Very fluid pretty pop.  Plus the name of the song just has to be a reference to the BPM, no? Anything that takes BPM seriously like this is worth a listen.  

Dear Believer (Timmy The Terror Remix) by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 92 BPM
Indie folk from Los Angeles. I like the lyrics "reaching for heaven", well isn't that what running is all about?  

Afternoons by Papier Tigre 92 BPM
Frenchies, Epitonic describe them as danceable despite their brooding, mathy aggression. I like this sound a lot. This is my favourite song on this list.

Séance On A Wet Afternoon by Girls Names 89 BPM
These guys are from Northern Ireland, which to me makes more sense to call Irish than British. They are noisy pop.  

Pure Imagination (Epitonic saki Sessions) by Faux Fix 179 BPM
This is a cover of the song from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  I love that song, so this cover just totally gets me. I don't like covers that sound like the originals, what's the point, but they have taken the basic melody and text and done something really different. American.

Not enough free running music for you?  Click on the free download label below and see all my posts with free music.   

Strong Bones

I'm on holiday, I wrote this post before leaving and am testing the schedule function of blogger.  So it worked.

Here's two songs from a band I recently started listening to, Rubyrough or Ruby Rough?  I'd classify them as down-tempo electronica with female vocals. I think I discovered them when last.fm made a similar playlist while I was listening to Monocular or Portishead.  The thing I like a lot about them too is that the album is really diverse, the songs don't sound alike. The singer is an American the music by a German. They are based in Berlin.


The first track, Skeletons, clocks in at 91BPM.  The video is awesome.




The second one is Ruby Red Glasses with a BPM of 89.  You can listen to a 30 second sample of the track here.  

6 Free Running Songs for June 2012

Time for another 6 free running songs post.  As usual all songs are available on Epitonic for free and legal download.  To download the song, click on the name of the song.  The band name links to the Epitonic page about the band.  They all are close to 90 BPM so work for a 180 SPM (strides per minute) run.  


City of Electric Light by Chad VanGallen 91 BPM
Canadian folk / singer-songwriter with pop elements, lots of melody and smarts.

1330 Oak 1995 by Kind Of Like Spitting 90 BPM
Portland's Kind of Like Spitting don't get my attention for their band name, ick, but don't be put off, this is a very decent little indie rock song, with a nice strong run-able beat.

No Language by Owen 88 BPM
This track by American singer-songwriter Owen has really odd lyrics, I can't quite decide what I think of them, but the tune is good.  The song is very well constructed. 

Sinful Nature (Anika with BestMate Remix) by Bear In Heaven 90 BPM
I just discovered this track from Brooklyn based Bear In Heaven on Epitonic, and I LOVE it; rock, with some pop hooks, nice lyrics. 

How To Be Perfect Men by Songs: Ohia 90 BPM

America singer songwriter.  This is a really old song, came out in 1999 on the Axxess & Ace album.  I downloaded this song and Lioness from Epitonic way back then, and loved them both, so much I immediately ordered several Song: Ohia albums.  To be honest I never got completely into this band, all the songs sounded too much the same to me. This is a great song though, sound is great, good lyrics.  


Copper by Shellac  92 BPM
American indie rock, but sort of hard, almost metal...  they're literally singing about chemistry, the geek in me LOVES this!

6 Free Running Songs for May 2012

Time for another 6 free running songs post.  As usual all songs are available on Epitonic for free and legal download.  To download the song, click on the name of the song.  The band name links to the Epitonic page about the band.  They all are close to 90 BPM so work for a 180 SPM (strides per minute) run.  

The end of this month I am moving out of the apartment that I lived in with future ex-husband for over 6 years.  Its the longest I have ever lived in one place. Although we've been living apart since Christmas, this move, into an apartment I am buying, feels really definitive. Its the right thing to do, but it still leaves me feeling sad and a bit lost.  The songs this month sort of reflect this, they are a bit melancholic but soothing, that's where I am at.


Oh and everything this month is American.  I like to have things be a bit more international, but somehow that didn't work out this month.


Sea of Miss by Nate Ashley 89 BPM
Dreamy indie folk from pacific north-westerner Nate Ashley.  The download is just over 2mins long and at first I thought the free download version was cut off, but the one on sale at Amazon is the same length.  This song sounds slow and chilled but don't be fooled the tempo is perfect for running. 

Towers by Bon Iver 92 BPM
Again Indie folk.  According to last.fm, Bon Iver is a play on the French phrase 'bon hiver' meaning good winter.

Blue Escape by Willis Earl Beal 88 BPM

This falls under blues, not a genre I am a usual fan of.  Somehow this track works for me anyway.  Willis has a raspy voice and the sound is quite minimal.  There is some kind of back story of him being homeless while he wrote or maybe even recorded this album, the release of which sort of propelled him into the limelight. The lyrics are quite poetic.

Exit the Mine by Baths 89 BPM

Lo-fi indie pop.  A sweet, but a little repetitive, tune from Los Angelian Baths.

Sick Days by Yourself and the Air  91 BPM

Indie pop again.  Yourself and the Air are from Chicago.

Mirando by RATATAT 89 BPM

Taking it up a notch or two, Ratatat can't quite decide if they are indie-rock or electronic. There are no vocals, but this track stays interesting over its not quite 4 minutes.  It has high energy sound that'll put you in the mood for a run. Ratatat are from Brooklyn. 

Open Your Eyes

Electrify by the Beastie Boys.  BPM of the original version is 90, this mix comes in just a bit below that, 88 or so.  Great track and beautiful video. RIP Adam Yauch.


El7

Meet You in the Sky

I am not really sure what genre Buzzin' In My Brain by Alū falls into. I think its officially singer-songwriter, but has too strong of an electronic/goth edge for that to be an accurate description. I call this freak.  The BPM is 89 and the song has a really strong beat so good to run to.  I think if she ran, she wouldn't need that lobotomy.  Run your crazy out!

Introverted, Complex and Experimental

Wikipedia says post-punk is a genre that 'retains its root in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental'.  So here's two songs that fall into the post-puck genre for all the complex introverts out there to experiment with.  Both the tracks are available for free download at Epitonic.  Click on the song name to download, or the band name to go to their page on Epitonic, so you and listen first and read up a bit on the band. To be honest I don't listen to this style of music much in normal life, but I do while running/biking/gym-ing and these two songs aren't quite as hardcore as other post-punk songs.

Waiting (Too Late) by Colisem with a 89 BPM

Plastic Bag by Evergreen at 87 BPM