First up are two great albums available from Noisetrade.com, Trent Dabbs’ “Southerner” & Ben Rector’s “Into the Morning”. Both are available for free but considering how great each of these albums are please make sure to support them by giving a tip.

Next is a sampler from American Songwriter. If you’re familiar with this magazine then you know that their samplers are always top notch. The country sampler alone is always worth checking out. This week they have released their “Muse August Sampler” which is a collection of AS’s favorite new tracks. Highlights include Beirut’s “East Harlem”, John Hiatt’s “Train to Birmingham” & our focus track this week the Leagues “Magic”. The Leagues’ lead singer, Thad Cockrell, is one of our favorite artists here at MCI. The Leagues music is a unique mixture of Robert Plant meets U2. Listen to the song “Magic” & it’s easy to hear the comparison & why this was one of our most anticipated EPs of the year. Visit AmericanSongwriter.com to hear the rest of the “Muse August Sampler” & visit LeaguesMusic.com for a full list of tour dates (including an August 26^th Nashville date at the Mercy Lounge) & audio samples from their new EP.

Nashville is a town filled with inspiring music. Music that makes you want to be a writer yourself, change the world in some small way, or just change the path your life is on. Thad Cockrell’s album “To Be Loved” is one of those rare albums that contains music that inspires from the kick off of “Pride (Won’t Get Us Where We’re Going)” to the very final track “Oh To Be Loved”.

Thad grew up in NC, the son of a preacher, & was not only surrounded by the word of God but music every Sunday. According to Thad when he was young, sitting through his 4th Sunday service, it was the music that touched & stirred his soul. Thad really didn’t start playing music till he was out of college because according to him “I was tortured without doing so!”.

“To Be Loved” is Thad’s 4th album, & in my humble opinion is his strongest to date! Thad wrote the songs on “To Be Loved” to be as if you were sitting at his house, talking about faith, love, and life’s struggles. These are songs written from Thad’s heart with strong messages of faith that will shake any man to the very bottom of his soul. Layered in catchy music, the lyrics weave throughout & come through as being truly moving, soul stirring & hope giving.

There is so much great music on this album that it was really hard to pick just one to highlight. “Great Rejoicing” is the one I’ve decided to chose. It’s one of the most beautiful songs on the album with lyrics that speak of hope after this life is finished. “There is going to be a great rejoicing. The troubles of this world will wither up & die”. Thad’s voice is strong throughout & backed by some beautiful harmonies with music that compliments & doesn’t over power.

“To Be Loved” can be downloaded in its entirety, for free in exchange for your e-mail address at Noisetrade.com. Thad is currently on tour & hopefully will be making his way back to Nashville sometime soon. Follow @ThadCockrell on twitter for all updates, or visit his website, www.thadcockrell.com.