Why You Can Trust CNET Get 770 free MP3s from Amazon
These no-strings-attached downloads come from Amazon's MP3 store, which is home to DRM-free tunes--many of them discounted. You can't download all the freebies at once, but that's the only real catch.
Want to freshen up your music library? Amazon.com is offering a whopping 770 MP3s you can download free of charge.
I've long been a fan of Amazon's MP3 store, which offers DRM-free music downloads compatible with PCs, portable players, cell phones, GPS devices, MP3-playing fry pans, and other gizmos.
I visit the store almost daily to check out the Daily Deal, which is usually a complete album for just $2 to $4. (For example, last month, Amazon had U2's new "No Line on the Horizon" for $3.99. Alas, it's back up to $8.99--but that's still a buck cheaper than on Apple's iTunes.)
As for the freebies, you'll find singles from the likes of Neko Case, Robyn Hitchcock, Death Cab for Cutie, and plenty of artists you've probably never heard of. But so what? Free is free, and there's loads of good listening to be had here. Here are five downloads I like:
- "Hurt Feelings," Flight of the Conchords
- "Belated Promise Ring," Iron & Wine
- "Ghosts Under Rocks," Ra Ra Riot
- "Sean Connery," Craig Ferguson (8 minutes of stand-up gold)
- "All the Same Mistakes," Mieka Pauley
Unfortunately, there's no way to download all 770 tracks in one fell swoop--you have to grab them one at a time. (You'll also need to install Amazon's MP3 Downloader app, which, conveniently, can automatically add new tracks to your iTunes or Windows Media Player library.)
Amazon regularly adds new stuff to the freebie library, so make sure to check back every few weeks. Oh, and if you want an easy way to keep tabs on the Daily Deal, subscribe to Amazon's Twitter feed.