We’re about a week into Song-A-Day 2011, and there’s already something a little different happening this time around.

In previous years, the project felt like an endurance challenge. It was always fun, but it was also something of an uphill battle for everyone. Just get something posted each day, no matter how rough and ragged, and move on. We did the best we could, and some good work got done, but there was also a lot of stumbling around.

Not this year.

I don’t know what’s going with everyone, but the quality of the music that’s being produced has jumped up to another level. As I go through my daily ritual of listening to all the new music that’s been posted, I want to call everyone up and say “Guys: when you’re posting new songs each day, they’re not supposed to be this good!”

I sort of doubt they’d listen.

What the hell happened? Maybe it’s just that this has been going on for a few years now and folks are starting to find a rhythm to it. Or maybe it’s all the fresh faces we’ve got this year. Or maybe it’s something else altogether, who knows? All I do know is that I’m hearing music created in a day that outclasses stuff I have on “pro” albums that I know took months to produce. And that’s just nuts.

If you haven’t been there yet, I strongly encourage you to head over to the main Song-A-Day site and have a listen or two (or three or several). There’s also an RSS feed, and you can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes if you’re so inclined. Each day, you’ll get a new batch of freshly-pressed tunes in a wildly varying range of styles, produced some very talented and passionate (and probably insane) musicians, all for free. Where else are you going to find a deal like that?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got another track to write…