Earlier this week, Denton rock duo, RTB2, announced that their first full-length album, The Both of It, is now available for free download online.

The album, recorded live in April of 2007 by Justin Collins at Satisfactory West, sold roughly 500 copies. So why, then, would RTB2 want to hand you something they could get five bucks for?

Firstly, it's out of print: "We don't have anymore physical copies," explains drummer Grady Don Sandlin. "We just wanted to put it out for free, so people who don't have it can have it."

Guitarist Ryan Thomas Becker and Sandlin were in the band Sunday Drive when they formed the (then) side project, RTB2. Sunday Drive was put on the backburner as RTB2 got more serious and began to record demos that later became "Wishy Waltz."

"Doing The Both Of It," Sandlin explains, "the way we did it, recording it live, had everything to do with wanting to release something that sounded exactly what we did live... [It] gave us our initial identity."

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And it worked: The Both of It is an honest and pure rock album. Tracks like "Your Name Stays In My Throat", "The Spilling Blood Child", and (underrated) "Need/Want (Part IV)" unapologetically slap you in the face in the best way. "Yer Fool's Suite (Part II)" shows the boys softer side, but only cleverly veiled in their happy blend of bluesy alt-rock.

Now three years and one, more-produced EP (In the Fleshed) later, the two continue to thrive in the local music scene. This year, among other nods, the band is nominated for Best Group in our annual Dallas Observer Music Awards.

Tthe side projects are continuing along as well. And another of Becker's, Eaton Lake Tonics, has also announced that their new Rancho Folly IV EP is too available for free online download.

"At our level,": Sandlin says, "you make money at shows, not from record sales. Selling records is just [perceived as] people showing interest, like a tip. If we play a show and one person buys a CD, then it's a success. But, ultimately, if people want our music, they should have it."

• DFW Music News