J-Walk has mentioned this several times and I want to second his motion, so to speak. EMusic is the best deal for music on the web. (Outside of Whole Wheat Radio and TestingTesting, of course.)

You won't find the latest in corporate shit music here. So, if you need the coporate stamp of approval for your music, this isn't the place for you. But, if you like music, there are many, many, many musical gems at EMusic.

EMusic has partnerships with over 900 independent record labels to offer their catalogs in MP3. Our selection features all styles of music, but we specialize in genres that can be hard to find in traditional record stores, such as electronic, alternative/punk, urban/hip-hop, classical, jazz, blues, metal and world/reggae.

You can download (full length tracks, complete albums, unlimited access), play (download once, play anywhere, on your computer, on your portable player, on any MP3 or CD player), and burn (create and mix your own CDs, no limits!, burn as much as you want). Burn, baby, burn! These are high quality tracks and the labels and musicians are getting paid. They offer unlimited MP3 downloads for a flat monthly fee ranging from $9.99 (for a 12-month minimum) to $14.99 (for a 3-month minimum). I joined about a year and a half ago when I discovered they had many of John Fahey's early albums. Those albums are worth all the money I've spent at Emusic, not to mention the other 15 gigabytes of downloads.

J-Walk has a list of recommended CDs that he has downloaded recently. Check them out. I've added most of them to my EMusic Stash. Here are some of my recommendations.

John Fahey
This legendary guitar player has 12 albums at EMusic. Try America. Try them all.

Louis Armstrong Hot Fives and Hot Sevens
This is a four CD set from the English label JSP. This is the period in which Louis Armstrong created modern jazz. No jazz collection is complete without these recordings. West End Blues, on disc 3, is one of the most amazing 3 minutes of music ever recorded.

Airto Moreira and Flora Purim
Brazilian jazz. Airto and Flora are man and wife. Airto played drums behind Miles Davis for awhile. He has also played with Mickey Hart on the Planet Drum series. *Anything* by these two amazing musicians is worth having.

The Pixies
There are 6 albums from The Pixies. Try Doolittle.

Lightnin' Hopkins
The Complete Prestige / Bluesville Recordings. This is a 7 CD set.

Tom Waits
Three CDs here: Mule Variations, Alice, and Blood Money.

Django Reinhardt
18 CDs here. Check out the four CD set: Classic Early Recordings

Roy Rogers
Slideways This is not your father's Roy Rogers. *Great* slide guitar blues.

Bill Evans
76 CDs. Check out one of the classic jazz recordings of all time: Bill Evans Trio: Sunday At The Village Vanguard.

John Cage
The four volume set of Cage: Atlas Eclipticalis And Winter Music; 103.

The Carter Family
The Carter Family 1927-1937, a five disc set of the roots of American music.

Jimmy Rogers
Classic Sides 1932-1933, five discs of one of the great American song writers.

Tito Puente
Oye Como Va!: The Dance Collection. Santana did a great job on Oye Como Va!. Tito wrote it. Listen to the master.

Sonic Youth
Some of their more experimental music.

Holy Modal Rounders
Psychedelic bluegrass.

Bill Laswell
Many electronic wonders from Bill and his buddies, Pete Namlook, and Jah Wobble.

Maybeck Hall Series
20 discs of a series of piano recitals from the great jazz pianists of today. Check out the Jessica Willams CD.

John Coltrane
Many choices including Live Trane: The European Tours, a 7 disc set.

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Most of Creedence for a little chooglin'.

There is a whole lot more. Enjoy.