Free Paper or Plastic EP

Paper or Plastic has always been a favorite in these parts, and they've followed up 2006's Best of Luck to Cody James with a new EP, Ron Save The King. And best of all, it's free at their Bandcamp site. Obviously, it's worth the price, but it's also worth the listen. I'm still wondering, though, if in these environmentally sensitive times they'll end up changing their name to Cloth.

Paper or Plastic freebie (or freebie of most any other discs)

Rhapsody has always been kind of the stepchild of the online music industry; not as hip or niche-oriented as iTunes or eMusic, they've basically served as the best of the subscription online music services, which is an OK model with the major drawback of having to eschew an iPod in favor of one of the WMA/DRM "plays for sure" models. Anyway, in addition to maintaining their subscription service Rhapsody this week has joined the crowd in selling non-DRM'd mp3s, and the reason I bring all this up is that between now and Friday (July 4), they're offering $9.99 worth of free mp3 downloads, which is either 10 tracks or most full albums. The only requirements to qualify for this offer are to create a Rhapsody account and give them your credit card info. There's no further obligation to buy anything.

And this offer gives me the opportunity to segue to a post on the new Paper or Plastic release, Don't Be Like That. It's the perfect segue because Don't Be Like That is an digital-only release and for now at least, PoP is only selling pressed CDs of the album at their shows. For those who don't recall them from their 2006 mini-album Best of Luck to Cody James, PoP is a piano-based power pop band from Portland (love me some alliteration) that comes down somewhere between Ben Folds and Elvis Costello with a little bit of The Argument and Jack's Mannequin thrown in. This one might be their best yet - tracks like "Good Looks & Dedication", "For Christ's Sake" and "Break Your Bond" capture their essence, while "Six Diplomats" even trends a bit into Decemberists territory. Great stuff, and since it only has 9 tracks, you can get them individually and still have one free download left over. (Incidentally, you can listen to full streams of each track on Rhapsody as well by clicking on the play button; you can stream 25 full-length tracks without even setting up an account).

Rhapsody | MySpace

UPDATE: Although it's not power pop, perhaps the best deal to take advantage of in this Rhapsody promotion is The Doors' Perception, a 90-track boxed set that's amazingly listed at $9.99.

CD of the Day, 11/5/06: Paper or Plastic-Best of Luck to Cody James

Paper or Plastic is a piano-based power pop band out of Portland, Oregon, and they've been doing this for a few years. Their latest is Best of Luck to Cody James and it might be their best yet. Sonically, they're somewhere between Ben Folds and Elvis Costello (they covered "Blame It On Cain" on their debut disc), or perhaps what it would sound like if Steve Nieve were the front man and Elvis C were one of the Attractions.

In any event, the songs are all killer, no filler on this seven-track release. The leadoff track is piano power pop perfection with "West Virginia" (as in "you have an unescapable dependence on"); "My Reputation is Better Than Yours" wears its attitude on its sleeve; "Neckties" rocks to a great melody; "Gay Bar" ("let me take you to a") is good fun and has a 70s vibe, not that there's anything wrong with that; "Street Lights" is a midtempo marvel; "I'm Not a Bastard" is right out of the Ben Folds Wiseass playbook; and closer "For The Money" reminds me a bit of Orson.

Grab an mp3:

West Virginia

"West Virginia", "Gay Bar", "Neckties" and "Street Lights" are all streaming at their myspace page, and the rest can be sampled at CD Baby. It's also available at iTunes, which is a cheaper way to get it, especially if you grab the "West Virginia" mp3 and/or take them up on their free download offer on their myspace page.

And who is Cody James? Google says he's this guy, but for we all know it could be some local childhood friend of the band or a name they just liked the sound of. Anyone from Paper or Plastic (or who otherwise knows) can feel free to enlighten us in the comments.

UPDATE: See the band's cryptic response in the comments.