You could always suscribe to pandora.com (free) and download a recording program like i-sound (again, free). Then start up pandora and record away. It'd be kinda hard to get specific tracks that you want, though.
Limewire is awesome!!!!!!!! I've put it on my usb memory stick, and it is working perfectly!!! I'm downloading Norther as i write this... I can't belive that I've found it... (i didn't on emule and dc++) THANKS
bittorrents. Get a bit torrent client such as: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/p2p_software/p2p_applications/abc.cfm And then go to a site such as: www.isohunt.com or www.torrentspy.com You can get software, movies, music, etc.
I would either go with a BitTorrent client (I use Azureus), or just go to blogger.com, put in the artist you want, and type "rapidshare." You should be able to find most artists like that. There are tons of blogs that offer free downloads of individual songs and full albums from virtually every artist (even very rare albums).
ahhhhhh man archive.org every fucking jamband there is ......... go to the live music archive.... you will shit your pants how much free music there is on there if you have never been on there