iTunes: Free Tuesday
Once again, TUAW is pleased to present you with a selection of free songs and videos from around the world. Many of these iTMS items won't be free for long, so grab your copies before the week is up. And don't forget: If you want to buy these on your iPhone or iPod touch, make sure to sign into your account in iTunes before you sync.
US Items
US: Ana Serrano van der Laan,
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. Ana Laan was born in Spain, but grew up in Sweden. Her sweet, sublime voice spins gentle melodies in both Spanish and English, as evidenced on this track "Paradise" from her album Chocolate and Roses. The track's rhythm has a light bossa-nova, '60s bachelor pad-esque stylishness but Laan's cooing vocal turn is the true highlight.
US: Eric Durrance,
Our Discovery Download puts the focus on a different genre each week, offering up a free track we think is worth your attention. The ex-vocalist of Big Dismal, Eric Durrance leaves behind his former band's big rock leanings for a more countrified air on this track from I Lost It All. Durrance's voice has a sweet-sounding twang that gels with the barebones acoustic rhythm.
US: Unhitched, Unhitched
From the creative minds of the Farrelly brothers comes this single-camera comedy about a group of newly single friends learning the painful lessons of starting over in their thirties. Jack "Gator" Gately is a charismatic, optimistic leader who never expected to be single again. Gator and his buddies chronicle their dating misadventures in a cautionary list of "dating don'ts," such as: "if she's still nursing, it's too soon," and "how to identify gang tattoos." Joining Gator in bachelorhood is his thrice-divorced best friend, Tommy, and Gator's college roommate Freddy, a successful but hopelessly naive surgeon. Rounding out the group is Kate, a smart, successful attorney who handled all three of the boys' divorces. Starring Craig Bierko (Cinderella Man, Boston Legal), Rashida Jones (The Office, Little Black Book), Johnny Sneed (The Guardian, Fever Pitch), and Shaun Majumder (24).
US: Bakugan, Bakugan
In an alternate universe called Vestoria, a rogue Bakugan is scheming to seize total power. But when the battle spills over into Earth, a Bakugan named Drago must ally himself with his human friend Dan to eliminate the evil Naga and restore balance to the parallel universes. Along the way, Dan must play his cards wisely in order to help lead the Bakugan Brawlers to victory.
US: High School Reunion,
What happens when the Popular Girl, the Geek, the Drama Queen, the Jock, and the Lesbian reunite at an oceanfront estate in Hawaii? After 20 years, anything's possible! TV Land's original series (from the producers of The Bachelor) captures all the drama, romance, and comedy as 15 real-life classmates from J.J. Pearce High School in Texas reconnect, two decades after graduation.
International Music
Australia: Leroy Lee,
ach week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week.
New Zealand: Leroy Lee,
ach week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week.
Canada: Yoav,
Each week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week.
Nederland: Sons and Daughters,
Elke week komen we met een track van een artiest of band die wij erg goed vinden en bieden die jou dan gratis aan als Single van de Week. Nog voordat ze Sons and Daughters oprichtten, gaven David Glow en Adele Bethel aan de vaak donkere stromingen van de indie rockers Arab Strap wat luchtere tonen. Terwijl hun vorige band zich wentelen in de peilloze diepten, zoekt Sons and Daughters naar verlossing in scherpe folknummers en, met betrekking tot de gratis single van deze week, in donkere en energieke, met violen besprenkelde popsongs.
UK: Alela Diane,
Each week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. Alela Diane hails from Nevada City, a forest-enclosed town in Northern California where harpist Joanna Newsom also calls home. Indeed, it was Newsom who gave Diane some encouragement to perform early on. This track from Diane's debut, The Pirate's Gospel, lies more within the folk idiom than Newsom's surreal, complex poetry, but they both inhabit that slightly off-kilter world of fable-like storytelling. It's just her and a guitar, aided by some haunted female and male vocals, but there's a rough and rural sincerity to this ghostly tune that gives the track some extra emotional weight.
France: Double U,
Chaque semaine, nous trouvons un morceau d'un artiste ou d'un groupe que nous avons apprécié et nous vous le faisons partager.Double U, le projet musical de Franck Rabeyrolles, a trouvé naissance Montpellier en 2002. Franck fait partie de la génération bercée au son de Pink Floyd, de Tangerine Dream, des Byrds et de Leonard Cohen.
Japan 今週のシングル: Asa,
ブレイク直前の新進アーティストをフリーダウンロード曲とともにご紹介するこのページ。今週は Marvin Gaye、Nina Simone、Fela Kuti らが築いたアフロ・フォークの流れを担うシンガー、Asa。昨年リリースされたアルバム「ASA[asha]」がフランスでヒット、ヨーロッパ各国でチャートの上位にランクインした。パリで生まれ、ナイジェリアで育った彼女は、レコードコレクターだった父親の影響で幼い頃からソウル、ジャズ、レゲエを聴き、いつも歌うことが大好きだったという。Akon、John Legend、Beyonce、Snoop Dog のオープニングにも抜擢された彼女、これから世界中でブレイク間違いなしの実力派が登場だ。Erykah Badu、Angelique Kidjo などが好きなら特におすすめかも!