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: Diego, Losing Me - Single of the Week
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. The doors to success began to open very early for Diego González. In 2003, he was a top-ranking finalist on a reality TV talent search. He was just 13 years old at the time. What followed was a slew of acting opportunities and his debut album, released in 2005. "Losing Me" is a huge, anthemic ballad from his assured follow-up, Indigo. Pop songwriters and producers Mitch Allen and Kara DioGuardi have also stepped in to give the songs on this new album a bit of polish that is likely to bring the tune to a massive audience. This week we are also offering the Spanish language version of the song - just click over to our Latin music store and check it out.
US: Diego, Perdido En Tí - Canción de la Semana
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. The doors to success began to open very early for Diego González. In 2003, he was a top-ranking finalist on a reality TV talent search. He was just 13 years old at the time. What followed was a slew of acting opportunities and his debut album, released in 2005. "Perdido En Ti" is a huge, anthemic ballad from his assured follow-up, Indigo. Pop songwriters and producers Mitch Allen and Kara DioGuardi have also stepped in to give the songs on this new album a bit of polish that is likely to bring the tune to a massive audience. This week we are also offering the English language version of the song - just click over to our U.S. music store and check it out.
US: The Blakes, Two Times - Discovery Download
Our Discovery Download puts the focus on a different genre each week, offering up a free track we think is worth your attention. Seattle-based indie rockers the Blakes don't so much perform their songs as swagger through them. "Two Times" is a case in point, a track that allegedly caught the ear of indie rock luminary Iggy Pop who was moved to say "This s**t is good". We can't help but agree. The song takes a while to get to the chorus but once there, you find yourself wishing it would never leave. Grunge this most certainly is not but the music exudes a certain undeniable authenticity - clearly the work of a band that has paid its dues. And what could be ccooler than a band named after William Blake?
International Music
Australia: Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates, I'm Just Not Ready For Love - Single of the Week
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. Mahalia Barnes has taken the time to perfect her own unique vocal style with equal measures of rock and soul. Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates re-create the sass and power of real soul music and you will hear it in spades on their first single "I'm Just Not Ready For Love", originally performed by the Ikettes in the '60s. Equally exciting is the rich blend of original songs and covers recorded for their debut album Volume 1, to be released in June '08.
New Zealand: Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates, I'm Just Not Ready For Love - Single of the Week
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. Mahalia Barnes has taken the time to perfect her own unique vocal style with equal measures of rock and soul. Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates re-create the sass and power of real soul music and you will hear it in spades on their first single "I'm Just Not Ready For Love", originally performed by the Ikettes in the '60s. Equally exciting is the rich blend of original songs and covers recorded for their debut album Volume 1, to be released in June '08.
Canada: Crash Parallel, World We Know - Single of the Week
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. This Toronto powerhouse build a world-weary pop monument in the way of "World We Know" - a track which also happens to be the title of the group's debut. Occupying the middle ground between subdued melancholy and all-out glorious noise, the group conjure up ghosts of early Coldplay or Lifehouse.
Nederland: Nicole Atkins, Together We're Both Alone - Single Van de Week
Ieder week kiezen wij bij iTunes een nummer van een artiest of band en bieden deze 'Single van de week' gratis aan. Nicole Atkins heeft in interviews gezegd dat ze in haar muziek een specifieke klank probeert te bereiken. "Ik wil net zo klinken een meidengroep uit een film van David Lynch" waren haar woorden, en we kunnen het nummer echt niet beter beschrijven. Atkins brult het nummer van haar debuut-cd uit als een mengsel van Ronnie Spector en Loretta Lynn, maar de arrangementen zijn niet anders te noemen dan grandioos en gekleurd met noir-achtige zwarte en witte schakeringen. Bellen rinkelen, snaren zingen en in de verte klinkt een gitaar. Maar Atkins is de leidstar hier. Roy Orbison zou trots zijn.
UK: Jack McManus, Not the Hardest Part - Single of the Week
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. This week, multi-instrumentalist Jack McManus takes us on a relentless ride through the helpless fury of a love recently lost. To make the point, the Bromley-born singer/songwriter uses clever lyrics (juxtaposing "her velvet hand" and "sharpened claw") set to crystal clear melodies over a brashly played piano. McManus seemingly switches tempos and keys with every mood of the jilted lover and fuels his musical pyrotechnics with stark string arrangements and thick, multi-layered background vocals. If "This Is Not the Hardest Part", we wonder what is?
UK: Peep Show, Peep Show, Series 5
David Mitchell and Robert Webb return in another series of the multi-award-winning, critically-acclaimed sitcom. Mark rediscovers single life after his disastrous wedding to Sophie, and he and Jeremy become victims of crime. Take it away! (Thanks Shaun)
France: The Teenagers, Starlett Johansson - Single de la semaine
Chaque semaine, nous trouvons un morceau d'un artiste ou d'un groupe que nous avons apprécié et nous vous le faisons partager.Dans « Homecoming », The Teenagers se vantaient de leurs conquêtes féminines sur le sol américain. Cette fois, le trio de pop synthé élargit sa notoriété avec « Starlett Johansson ». Sur des rimes parfois prosaïques comme You whisper in horses' ears / I always found it exciting / I'm scared by spiders too / I never managed to blame you, voici un morceau de pop moderne et enlevée provenant d'une sous-couche située quelque part entre the Cars et Klaxons, et qui alimente en même temps l'obsession du monde pour la célébrité.Si vous aimez ce morceau, obtenez l'album ici.
Japan: Lillies and Remains, Moralist S.S. - Single - 今週のシングル
ブレイク直前の新進アーティストをご紹介するこのページ。今週は、昨年夏から急激に注目を集めている日本のニューウエーヴ/ポストパンク・バンド、Lillies and Remains。フェイバリットとして Neils Children を挙げている彼ら。いわば初期アルビニ的、エッジーで金属的なギターを核とした"不敵"なサウンドだ。15歳の頃から作曲を始めたというフロントマン KENT は、音楽に関する知識の深さを伺わせる多彩なフックをここそこに仕掛けており、国内の同世代バンドとは明らかに一線を画すオリジナリティだ。タイトルも最高なニヒルなトラック"Moralist S.S."をフリーダウンロード!
