iTunes: Free Thursday
Another week, another free collection of free iTunes selections. Each weeks brings a new collection of free singles and videos from around the world, from Australia to Canada, New Zealand to France. Here's what's new today.
US Music
US: Bubbly by Colbie Caillat
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. Colbie Caillat has the sound of breezy California down pat. She grew up in Southern California close to the beach and the catchy sweetness of "Bubbly" practically smells of salt water. A little bit of folk guitar, a lilting rhythm, and lyrics that tread on the border of cute make this track a mandatory anthem for summer.
US: A Marte by Pastilla
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. Pastilla are a guitar-and hook-driven punk-pop group whose mixture of melody and ragged guitars makes them sound like the offspring of Green Day, the Cars, and the Killers. "A Marte" has touches of new wave angularity, but Pastilla are not ones to forsake a good song in lieu of style. It's a classic bit of verse/chorus/verse that reminds you why this formula is likely to never go out of style.
US: Tenebrae: Second Movement by Kronos Quartet
Last month, we put together a playlist called If you like Barber's Adagio. If Osvaldo Golijov's Tenebrae had been available back then, it would have been the first track. This two-movement work for strings (performed here by the Kronos Quartet) displays the neo-baroque side of the Argentinian composer's eclectic musical range. If you enjoy it, check out the rest of his new album, Oceana.
US Video
US: Mad Men by 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.
US: The Chicas Project, It's Hypnotic
The Chicas Project is back for a second season of outlandish adventures and mischief. This season Crash and Yasmin wrestle their way into a Lucha VaVoom ring, get down and dirty at the roller derby with the L.A. Derby Dolls, and even join a regional Mexican band. It's all in a days work for the Chicas and it's only on mun2.
Audio Books
US: Interview with George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, the best-selling author of the epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, is also an award-winning writer of short fiction in a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror. In this exclusive interview, Martin and Rob McDonald, iTunes' audiobook programmer, discuss Dreamsongs, the author's forthcoming collection of short stories from the past 30-plus years. They also discuss favorite characters, the influence of Hollywood, the meaning of "the heart in conflict," and more.
International
Australia: True Love by Whiskey Go Gos
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. On the track "True Love", Whiskey Go Go's give off a vibe like rabble-rousing good ol' boys rambling down the trail, electric guitars in hand. They come off a bit like the Kings of Leon with a better sense of humour. Their southern-fried sound is helping them become live favourites around the country, having supported Howling Bells and the Vasco Era. The band is hitting the road in July for the True Love tour.
New Zealand: True Love by Whiskey Go Gos
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. On the track "True Love", Whiskey Go Go's give off a vibe like rabble-rousing good ol' boys rambling down the trail, electric guitars in hand. They come off a bit like the Kings of Leon with a better sense of humour. Their southern-fried sound is helping them become live favourites around the country, having supported Howling Bells and the Vasco Era. The band is hitting the road in July for the True Love tour.
Canada: Citizens of Tomorrow by Tokyo Police Club
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. Festival audiences and David Letterman can attest: this Toronto quartet transforms youthful energy into sparkling two-minute blasts. From the opening handclaps and robotic keyboards to the choppy guitar and bass, Tokyo Police Club's "Citizens of Tomorrow" declares open season on insular indie rock types. Get the hyperkinetic "Citizens of Tomorrow," lose the mope and shake it like a saltshaker.
France: Sleezy Bar by Milkymee
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.Milkymee est une jeune artiste française qui vit en Suède. Son premier album, Songs For Herr Nicke, est doté de chansons à la fois minimalistes et traditionnelles, parce qu'elles se résument le plus souvent à une guitare et à une voix, mais elles ne manquent pourtant pas d'émotion. Sa voix très spéciale, éloignée de celle de la cohorte des autres auteurs-compositeurs, pourrait venir d'un bar rock enfumé, où la scène à peine éclairée se résumerait à une seule vieille chaise décrépie, et vous, l'auditeur, positionné loin derrière, près du bar, essayant de comprendre si Milkymee est en colère, en panique, ou juste débordante d'un mélange de tristesse et d'exaltation.
UK: The Great Escape by Patrick Watson
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. Patrick Watson is a singer/songwriter from Canada whose sweet and direct vocals have a bit of that soulful resonance that you can hear in Jeff Buckley's music and in Rufus Wainwright's less dramatic moments. "The Great Escape" is just Watson and a piano, and it's a mellow heartbreak of a song, with Watson pushing his amplified whisper into the furthest corners of your heart.
Japan 今週のシングル: Shall We Dance ? by Illmatic Headlock
沖縄出身のワイルド MC ターミー、千葉出身の正統派ヒップホップ MC マサト、神戸出身エレクトロマスターのシンセギタリストMAD-K により2000年に結成。「人力でグルーヴを叩き出す最強ダンス・ロック・バンド」として都内各地のクラブ、ライブハウスで話題を呼んでいる。今年の春にはヒップホップの名門レーベル Def Jam recordings 初のロック・バンドとして契約、FORCE OF NATUREのリミックスも収録したデビューシングル「RIDE ON THE MUSIC」をリリース。"Shall We Dance?" はグルーヴィな四つ打ちビートが押し寄せる夏のパワーチューン。個性際立つ2MCと輝くギターシンセサウンドをチェック!
