Once we submit our music to the good people at CD Baby, we’re pretty much at their mercy. They send it to iTunes, Napster, eMusic etc., and eventually it appears for download.

Not all that they do is obvious, though, and a quick Google search reveals this:

http://www.stumbleaudio.com/#homeguard/1

It seems to be a way to ‘stumble’ across new music. Seemingly made for the busy youth of today with an attention span shorter than an ant’s miniskirt, you simply give music a thumbs-up or thumbs-down as you listen, before clicking and moving on to the next song. On the other hand, it does provide links to buy our music and even share it with a friend, which at least makes it a worthwhile curio.

Perhaps not so these:

http://www.musicsrc.com/album/The+Home+Guard/A+Head+of+Steam

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_home_guard

Any ideas? If anyone can shed any light on the above, we’d be glad to hear from you!

Time for a new song! This is a work-in-progress demo mp3 of City and Soke, the penultimate song on our forthcoming album (click to play, right-click and “Save Target As” to download):

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/City_and_Soke_(Demo)_17-02-09.mp3

It’s an out-and-out rocker, but with added flute. Although this is the first time we’ve uploaded this song, as you can probably tell, it’s not far off being ready for a proper mix. Your opinions at this stage will be greatly appreciated.

We’re well aware that these lyrics are likely to leave a lot of listeners scratching their head, so to shed a little light, they’re meant to be sung from the perspective of someone who (many years ago) served in the Peterborough Home Guard. Yes, it’s another of Dan’s character-based efforts, and I don’t think I need to explain the inspiration behind this one!

Incidentally, a version of City and Soke was sent to members of our Street Team last December. So if you want to be at the cutting edge of The Home Guard and don’t mind helping us to promote our music online, simply sign up here:

Meanwhile, here are some previous demos, in case you missed them:

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Other_People_(Demo)_30-1-09.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Turn_Me_Up_(Demo)_8-12-08.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Year_Zero_(Demo)_29-10-08.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Dead_on_My_Feet_(Again)_(Demo)_14-10-08.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Soldier_On_Demo_15-9-08.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Pseudonym_(Demo)_10-11-08.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/Nothing_Can_Stop_You_Being_Mine_15-6-08.mp3

http://www.thehomeguard.info/demos/One_for_the_Road_(Demo)_18-11-08.mp3

http://acuvi.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/the-home-guard/

There is nothing more to add, other than our thanks!

This just in from ReverbNation:

Yes, it’s a widget widget. That is, a widget containing many different ways for you to get code for our banners or players. Feel free to post them wherever you like! (Though steer clear of the schedules or press ones – they’re empty for us.)