This isn't a consumer warning - you're responsible for your own taste if you want some "Amercian Idol" wannabe's audition tapes - just a note in passing that more than music is out there. While this article sticks to music when dealing with downloads, it's worth noting a few local examples before moving on to more songs from performers with Juneau connections.

The Alaska Public Radio Network has years of its "AK" programs at www.akradio.org/archive/index.html. Alaska ICE has dozens of community-related features at www.alaskaice.org/mediavault2.php?mode=2&ftype=8. A collection of "Sounds Wild" programs, about Alaska's wildlife, is at www.juneauempire.com/stories/032804/out_soundswild4.shtml.

There are many more such offerings for curious surfers. But back to the music:

Michael Maas

http://www.michaelmaasmusic.com/mp3s

There's a lot of quirky creativity in these 14 tracks, the sort of thing you'd expect from a University of Alaska Southeast student who works with Perseverance Theatre. His "love" songs have titles like "All My Ex-Girlfriends Have Girlfriends Now" and others like "Snooter" are about "a hermit who lives locked up in his tower and controls the town via computer." Production is a shade below top-notch, but his singing and playing are appealingly loose and casual.

Alexander Tutunov

http://www.tutunov.com/recordings.htm

A nice assortment of about 20 pieces by the Russian pianist who is an artist-in-residence at UAS (he performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Juneau Symphony last weekend). Those looking for complete movements will be disappointed, but those who don't mind segments will find quality performances.

Mitchell Pourow

http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=961

Dude, too much chorus pedal. If you're into garage rock where the guitar and vocals sound like they're recorded under water, give it a shot. A reviewer at the site gives him seven out of 10 and says there's "some potential there." For pure novelty, audition "Thank You," a cheesy '70s pop-rock composition with "na-na-na-na" background vocals and lyrics consisting of "thank you for clicking on my Web site."

Matthew BurtneR

http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~mburtner/listening.html

A CrossSound radio program MP3 focusing on a performance by Burtner at Northern Light United Church is just one of many of the Alaska native's experimental/electroacousitc music. For the past 10 years the composer/musician has focused largely on his Metasaxophone project, which is basically a tenor sax wired to some complex computer-generated music equipment.

Next week we'll expand into works by Southeast Alaska musicians. Phrases to Google with "MP3" until then: Grateful Dead, Amazon free downloads, free science songs.