hee hee, I've been waiting for this - some of my favorites...

[mzd]

AWESOME forum! I actually have thought about starting a thread like this here and on other forums I frequent. So all of these are legal and GREAT (I'll use 'star' ratings - out of a possible five)!

First:
Dan Bern These are from his record label Messenger Records (http://www.messengerrecords.com)
Dan came out with two E.P.s before the election and these are a bit political:
President (http://www.messengerrecords.com/sounds/president.mp3)*****
We Will Not Be Divided (http://www.messengerrecords.com/sounds/We_Will_Not_Be_Divided.mp3)****
Bush Must Be Defeated (http://www.messengerrecords.com/sounds/Bush_Must_Be_Defeated.mp3)***
Revolution Begins in the Basement (http://www.messengerrecords.com/sounds/Revolution_Begins.mp3)***
A few off earlier L.P.s:
Baby Bye Bye (http://www.messengerrecords.com/sounds/Baby_Bye_Bye.mp3)****
Sweetness (http://www.messengerrecords.com/sounds/sweetness.mp3)****

Next up:
Matthew Ryan From his official website http://www.matthewryanonline.com
Off his latest commercial L.P.
Return to Me (http://www.matthewryanonline.com/Return_to_Me.mp3)*****

the Mountain Goats From http://www.epitonic.com
Incredible songwriter - these are recorded on a Panasonic boombox - as were all his first 8-9 albums! John Darnielle is a storyteller and the raw emotion is so evident in his singing and fervent guitar strumming.
Baboon (http://www.epitonic.com/artists/themountaingoats.html)*****
Family Happiness (http://www.epitonic.com/artists/themountaingoats.html)*****
The rest are from one of the many labels he is on: http://4ad.com - these are newer and were recorded in a real studio.
No Children (http://www.4ad.com/mp3/audio/mount-cad2215cd-07.mp3)*****
Palmcorder Yajna (http://4ad.com/mp3/audio/mount/cad2401cd-02.mp3)****

Songs: Ohia aka The Magnolia Electric Co or Jason Molina more from http://www.epitonic.com
Well, the first one is actually from his label Secretly Canadian (http://www.secretlycanadian.com)
Farewell Transmission (http://www.bwscd.com/mp3/sc/farewell.mp3)*****
Steve Albini's Blues (http://www.epitonic.com/artists/songsohia.html)*****
Two Blue Lights (http://www.epitonic.com/artists/songsohia.html)*****
Captain Badass (http://www.epitonic.com/artists/songsohia.html)****
There are more on epitonic but those are the best imo. Feel free to explore the rest!

Sufjan Stevens From his labels Sounds Familyre (http://www.soundsfamilyre.com) and Asthmatic Kitty (http://www.asthmatickitty.com)
Beautiful, mellow music with great instrumentation - most played by Sufjan. The first two are from an album all about Michigan.
All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace! (http://www.asthmatickitty.com/mp3s/sufjan_stevens_-_michigan_-_all_good_naysayers.mp3)*****
Holland (http://www.asthmatickitty.com/mp3s/sufjan_stevens_-_michigan_-_holland.mp3)****
Sister (http://www.soundsfamilyre.com/soundsfamilyre/media/mp3/Sufjan_Steven-Seven_Swans-Sister.mp3)***

That's it for now. I think the above artists are all incredible songwriters and are in my top ten. They are all indie so if you like their music, please support them and buy some albums! They are definately struggling but are staying indie to maintain their artistic integrity. Most are available on iTunes, if not from the label links provided. Also, Epitonic doesn't allow direct linking to the files so I'm linking to the artist's pages. The files are at the bottom and you want to click on the bold "mp3" links, not the sample or play links. You can right+click (option+click) and save link as well.

[Codybarnett]

Thanks! The anti bush songs rock!

[Joshdude]

I first saw Sufjan Stevens at All Tomorrow's Parties in Long Beach a few months ago. They played songs off their album, "Greetings from Michigan," and it was awesome. A very talented musician.