In case you hadn’t heard, Bandcamp is waiving its fees today to help musicians affected by the coronavirus pandemic. From midnight to midnight Pacific Time on May 1, 2020, artists and labels will get 100% of the proceeds from all sales. To help navigate Bandcamp’s deep waters, we’ve come up with some recommendations.

And if you miss out on this one, Bandcamp has promised to waive their fees again on June 5 and July 3. Happy shopping!

Man Man – Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between
No one wants to release their comeback album in the middle of a pandemic, but such is what has happened to Honus Honus (aka Ryan Kattner) and his experimental rock outfit, Man Man. Despite the lockdown, the musician has been working overtime to promote the record, including doing a daily Instagram Live series called “From Honie Pond,” where he talks to fans and special guests while he’s taking a shower. Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between, his Sup Pop debut, is quirky, soulful and brilliant.

The Mountain Goats – Songs for Pierre Chuvin
John Darnielle wrote and recorded this album on a boombox at the onset of the coronavirus lockdown. Inspired by A Chronicle of the Last Pagans, Darnielle’s impetus was to generate revenue so he could pay his band and tour family during this tough time. When it dropped, the cassettes flew off the shelves. You can still buy a digital version of this incredibly special album.

Kyle Craft – “Donnie at the Gates”
We love us some Kyle Craft. The Sub Pop southern-fried glam rocker has been keeping busy in Portland, Oregon during the lockdown. He came up with an amazing cover of Tim Heidecker’s quarantine-era song “This Ain’t No Living To Me,” and he’s been working on a Gram Parsons tribute album. In honor of artist/label day on Bandcamp, he’s posted a political tune he recorded in New York City a while back, “Donnie at the Gates.” This isn’t Craft’s first shot at the President. In 2016, he drafted “Before the Wall.” It’s also up on Bandcamp.

Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
With Saint Cloud, Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) has delivered one of the best albums of 2020. She wrote it following her decision to get sober. The record takes her back to her country roots and has hints of Lucinda Williams, Fiona Apple, and Linda Ronstadt. It’s a must.

Brigid Dawson and the Mother’s Network – Ballet of Apes
Former singer/keyboardist of Thee Oh Sees is striking out on her own with backing from members of Sunwatchers. Ballet of Apes isn’t due out until May 22, but you can pre-order it now. More on the album here.

Car Seat Headrest – Making a Door Less Open
Will Toledo and his band Car Seat Headrest take things in a different direction with Making a Door Less Open. Bringing together elements of EDM, hip hop, futurism, doo-wop, soul, and rock and rock they come up with something unique, daring, and earnest. Give it a try.

Sweet Spirit – Trinidad
Merge signed Austin sextet Sweet Spirit to the label earlier this year. The band, fronted by Sabrina Ellis (A Giant Dog), turn out fun glam/power-pop tunes and outrageous live shows. Unfortunately, the shows will have to wait, but you can pre-order their upcoming LP, Trinidad, now. It drops May 29.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Our love for Bonnie “Prince” Billy is endless. He has quite a lot to choose from on Bandcamp. His new LP, I Made a Place, is perfect lockdown listening. He also has six mixtapes curated by Dennis Loeser that are worth a look. They feature a lot of rare recordings. Also available is the new Superwolf single, “You’ll Get Eaten, Too.”

Islands – “Ethics + Molars”
Islands aka Nick Thorburn posted “Ethics + Molars” the last time Bandcamp decided to waive their feeds. The single is a previously unreleased outtake from Islands’ debut album Return to the Sea (2006). Thorburn, Jace Lacek (Besnard Lakes), and Jim Guthrie all play guitar on the track, with Jamie Thompson on drums and Tim Kingsbury on bass. According to Thorburn, the song is about CIA murdering musicians.

Stephen Malkmus – Traditional Techniques
Stephen Malkmus’ third solo LP sans the Jicks finds him dipping his toes in the folk-song pond. This 10-song album with its gorgeous arrangements is a keeper.

Oh Sees
John Dwyer’s psych-punk-rock band doesn’t have anything new up on Bandcamp, but this could be a splendid opportunity to fill in any holes in your Oh Sees/Thee Oh Sees collection. They have stuff on there dating back to 2007.

Sahel Sounds – Sahal Sounds Label Sampler 2
Can we interest you in music from the West African Sahel? Portland, Oregon-based label Sahel Sounds focuses on music from this region and has an excellent 16-song sampler plum for the picking. It features artists such as Mdou Moctar, Tidiane Thiam, Hama, and Luka Productions.

Burger Records – QUARANTUNES: Songs From Self-Isolation
Burger Records is a family-owned and operated label based in Fullerton, California that specializes in down and dirty rock n’ roll. In mid-April, they released QUARANTUNES: Songs From Self-Isolation, a 7-volume series (plus an addendum) featuring over 140 different artists including Mattiel, Thelma and the Sleaze, King Khan, TV Party, and Tomorrows Tulips. All the songs in the series were written and recorded within the last five weeks.

Image courtesy of Bandcamp