Let me begin by saying that I have the utmost respect for Hands Off Cuba. Every recording I’ve been able to get my hands on has been a treat – and quite a different spin on what you usually hear coming from Nashville based artists.

That being said, I have to say I’m a bit frustrated with their latest release From Arrival to Survival. Not because the album isn’t a fantastic listen (because it is) but because if you didn’t ask a Grimey’s employee about what’s a good new local release to check out you’d have no idea it even exists. The bands Myspace makes no mention of it or has any of the music in the player. The label, Sebastian Speaks, doesn’t even list them as an artist they’re working with. Google doesn’t seem to think there’s anything relevant with the band beyond their last EP, CoLAB, from 1995. I’d venture to say that the image of the cover art included in this post is the only mention of it on the entirety of the Internet! For all modern purposes, it’s a ghost.

My first inclination was to beat my chest about how terrible it is to release such great music into a void but an artists choice to do what they want with their music is just that, their choice. I place no judgments on the band for putting together an incredibly quality album with handmade packaging on limited run vinyl. I support such an action. However, I’d like more than that. How about how quality digital downloads of the album for those that purchase the vinyl? How about an option to buy the album only in a digital format?

But I’m not one to bitch and moan without backing it up. So, Hands Off Cuba, this is my offer to you. If you contact me I will happily build and host you a full fledged website, get your music online and aid you… kicking and screaming… into the digital age. If you want it.

More and more local bands are embracing the power of Bandcamp. This is, obviously, a very good thing. Here’s a few I’ve stumbled across recently:

• You Are A Hologram – The Invisible Hand – while not really a band that plays around town very often, You Are a Hologram makes some laid back, low key, electronic based tunes.
• Shaky Voices – Phil Collins Head – a digital “single” if you will; focusing on a track about the phenomena of floating heads on Phil Collin’s album covers. The style and subject matter sort of remind me of the onslaught of silly songs from the mid-90s. It’s nice to know people are still writing what they know…
• Armed Forces – Various Singles – these guys have a ton of singles up on their Bandcamp, all costing a $1 a piece… or just stream them for free. Despite what you think of their offerings there is no denying the top notch graphic design for every single cover. Really quite impressive.

As if the gifts bestowed upon us by Lakefever Sessions weren’t enjoyable enough as it was already, they’ve gone ahead and sweetened the deal. According to this post on their somewhat neglected blog, they will be releasing selected audio volumes of the sessions so you can listen along at home. The first release, Volume One, contains a track from every session released in 2009 and they promise that the releases will be much more regular from here on out (I’m told four times a year).

Stop wasting time, go download it now.