iTunes: Free Tuesday
Welcome to this week's edition of iTunes: Free Tuesday featuring a new collection of free singles and videos from around the world. Each week we send out our dealgnomes to the furthest corners of the Earth to find and retrieve iTunes freebies from all the International stores. Here's what's new today.
US Music
US: Black Heart Queen by Gallows
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. Last week, we gave you some cool California folk-pop, but we're completely switching gears this week. Brace yourself for the uncompromising English metal/punk of Gallows. "Black Heart Queen" is fueled by a contagious, spitting anger and playing with a fury that recalls classic early '80s hardcore mixed with the melodic heaviness of newer acts like Funeral for a Friend and Bullet for My Valentine. Not for the meek.
US: Ya Me Voy by Ceci Bastida
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Canción de la Semana. Ceci Bastida spent the majority of her teenage years singing and writing songs for the ska-punk group, Tijuana NO. For her first solo album, Bastida moves away from the crunchy side of things and delivers a smart, quirky pop song with hints of electronics underscored by an acoustic rhythm.
US: I Don't Wanna (With Black Thought) by Carol Riddick with Black Thought
Our Discovery Download puts the focus on a different genre each week, offering up a free track from an artist we think is worth your attention. Philadelphia's reputation as a launch pad for stellar soul singers is further validated by Carol Riddick, who was discovered performing at a wedding attended by Will Smith's manager James "JL" Lassiter. The meeting led to studio work with DJ Jazzy Jeff's A Touch of Jazz production company and cameo appearances on projects by Musiq, Anthony Hamilton, Terry Ellis, Jill Scott, and Norman Brown. No longer content in the bridesmaid role, Riddick exudes class and confidence on "I Don't Wanna," (with a cameo by the Roots' Black Thought) a butterscotch sweet track taken from her debut, Moments Like This.
US Video
US: Trick My Truck/Robert LaGrange
In the third season of Trick My Truck, the Chrome Shop Mafia delivers eight episodes pumped full of sheer diesel power and electrifying new vehicles. No expense is spared to rev up the typical ice cream truck, tow truck, and a few big rigs, and spin them into head-turnin' works of art.
US: The Making of Mad Men
From AMC and Emmy® Award-winning writer and executive producer Matthew Weiner of The Sopranos comes Mad Men, a daring original series about the things we want and how far we'll go to get them.
Free TV Roundup
See four pages of free TV offerings on this new iTunes highlight page.
International
Australia: Runnin' Wild by Airbourne
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. This Melbourne-based four piece has exploded onto the hard-rock scene with its debut album, Runnin' Wild. The fist-pumping title track has all of the powerful driving riffs of their forefathers AC/DC and Rose Tattoo. In addition to the forceful guitars, Airbourne vocalist Joel O'Keefe takes on the role of screaming frontman with dedication and not a touch of that dreaded irony to be found. "Runnin' Wild" is an exercise in booze- and sweat-soaked rock 'n' roll.
New Zealand: Runnin' Wild by Airbourne
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. This Melbourne-based four piece has exploded onto the hard-rock scene with its debut album, Runnin' Wild. The fist-pumping title track has all of the powerful driving riffs of their forefathers AC/DC and Rose Tattoo. In addition to the forceful guitars, Airbourne vocalist Joel O'Keefe takes on the role of screaming frontman with dedication and not a touch of that dreaded irony to be found. "Runnin' Wild" is an exercise in booze- and sweat-soaked rock 'n' roll.
Canada: To Build a Home (Edit) by The Cinematic Orchestra
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. Cinematic Orchestra is the sound collective led by Jason Swinscoe. The new album, Ma Fleur, is a sweeping, grandiose record with arrangements that fall somewhere between big band jazz, orchestral jazz, and downtempo electronica. "To Build A Home" is a sentimental, emotional, and quite stunning track from the album and features vocals from Patrick Watson. If you like things like cellos, strings, and beauty in general, please listen to this now.
France: In Purdah by Angil
Si vous aimez ce morceau, obtenez l'album ici.Chaque semaine, nous trouvons un titre d'un artiste ou d'un groupe sur le point de percer et vous le proposons comme Single de la semaine.Issu de la bouillonnante scène musicale stéphanoise, Mickaël Mottet, alias Angil, signe aujourd'hui avec son groupe The Hiddentracks Oulipo Saliva, un album salué par la critique. Déjà remarqué en 2004 avec Teaser for: Matter, paru sur l'étonnant label toulousain We Are Unique Records, Angil collabora ensuite avec le groupe B R OAD WAY pour créer The John Venture, un projet qui déjà gommait les frontières entre hip-hop, électro et folk ; une des magnifiques surprises musicales de l'année passée.Avec Oulipo Saliva, Angil prouve qu'en plus d'être un auteur-compositeur hors pair, il est également un chercheur prolifique et insatiable de nouveaux espaces : flirtant allégrement avec le jazz ou l'abstract hip-hop, les chansons pop d'Oulipo Saliva font preuve d'une étonnante inventivité. Qui aurait en effet osé écrire un album entier en s'affranchissant de la lettre " e " et de la note mi (E en anglais) ? Un album lipogramme, dont la pochette est l'œuvre du dessinateur de BD Guillaume Long, qui joue dans la cour des grands sans posture snob, et qui est sans aucun doute possible l'une des réussites musicales de l'année.
UK: Paris Is Burning by St. Vincent
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. St. Vincent is the alter ego of one Annie Smith, a multitalented singer/songwriter just entering her twenties who's already done time in the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' touring band. The word on "Paris Is Burning" is spreading fast and it's easy to hear why. The track is an unpredictable blend of baroque pop, wheezing electronics, and some kind of old world gypsy caravan music. It's like Bjork, Kate Bush, and Feist all rolled up in one odd little basket.