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 Selections
US: Santos De Los Angeles,
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. Santos De Los Angeles was born in Mexico, but grew up in L.A. His music brings messages of love and peace amidst a killer groove that touches on reggae, R&B, and cumbia styles. "The Sweetest Thing" finds Santos in his Bob Marley mode, finding the spirit underneath the music.
US: ADELE,
Each week we find a track from an artist or band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. Many eyes are on ADELE, whose appearances in the U.K. made many think they were hearing the new voice of powerful, orchestrated neo-soul. Indeed, the song "Chasing Pavements" has proven to be a huge success for her back home in England. This week, we're featuring another track from her upcoming album. "Hometown Glory" is a heart-wrenching, piano driven mixture of pride and nostalgia.
US: Addison Road,
Our Discovery Download puts the focus on a different genre each week, offering up a free track we think is worth your attention. Addison Road are a Christian band from Texas who are fronted by vocalist Jenny Simmons. The group's sound is a mixture of shiny, well-produced harmonies, touches of soul, and (at least on this week's free single) a touch of the Fab Four's later years. Imagine a female-fronted Maroon 5 and you'll understand the kind of energy being put together here.
US: Dirty Jobs, Dirty Jobs
Mike Rowe has tackled more than 150 of the smelliest, messiest, and most back-breaking occupations imaginable as the host of Dirty Jobs - and he's still going. With his hands-on approach, Rowe works alongside farmers of all kinds, cleaners, recyclers, and other professionals performing an honest day's work, giving viewers a deep appreciation for those folks who make civilized life possible for the rest of us.
US: The Animation Show, The Animation Show
Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead, King of The Hill) and indie-animator Don Hertzfeldt (Rejected, Everything Will Be Ok) bring you The Animation Show. A collection of the best animated short films in the world. Celebrating animation in all forms, the films gathered here represent the finest animation available, from groundbreaking new indie films like Jennifer Drummond's Feds and Chel White's Magda to the very latest in CGI wizardry: Fallen Art and The Cathedral by Tomek Baginski - to the best in stop motion and claymation: Ward 13 by Peter Cornwell and an entire episode devoted to PES and his amazing films.
International Music
Australia: Regurgitator,
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. On this track from indie favourites Regurgitator, you might hear a little bit of Blondie, a little bit of the Human League, and plenty of the group's signature keyboard-driven pop. It's a touch of romantic synth pop with a defiant edge to it. If you like the track, check out the album.
New Zealand: Regurgitator,
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. On this track from indie favourites Regurgitator, you might hear a little bit of Blondie, a little bit of the Human League, and plenty of the group's signature keyboard-driven pop. It's a touch of romantic synth pop with a defiant edge to it. If you like the track, check out the album.
Canada: Black Mountain,
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. "Stormy High" is the opening track on the second album from Black Mountain, In the Future. In their quest for the future, Black Mountain look back to the storming power of riff-driven psychedelia. The drums are enormous, the riffs are like being pelted with rocks, and the group drops in synthesizers like bolts of lightning thrown by the mighty Thor. Think you're ready?
Nederland: La Melodia,
Big in Japan, dat gaat zeker op voor La Melodia. In 2006 tekende het duo MC Melodee en DJ I.N.T. een contract met het Japanse label Handcut Records. Eén van de medewerkers van dit Japanse label had eerder in Nederland een in eigen beheer uitgebrachte 12'' op de kop getikt en was danig onder de indruk. Inmiddels is het album ook in Nederland verkrijgbaar. Warme soulful hip-hop met een scherp rand.
UK: Sons and Daughters,
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. Before forming Sons and Daughters, David Gow and Adele Bethel added a touches of light to the often-dark pathways of indie rockers Arab Strap. While their former outfit could wallow in the abyss, Sons and Daughters look for salvation in ragged folk numbers and, in the case of this week's free single, dark and energetic violin-flecked pop songs.
France: Luis Francesco Arena,
Chaque semaine, nous trouvons un morceau d'un artiste ou d'un groupe que nous avons apprécié et nous vous le faisons partager.En 2005, l'auteur-compositeur français Luis Francesco Arena sort son premier album éponyme, qui exhale à la fois rage et mélancolie, multipliant les contrastes entre voix franche et fragile et musique profonde. Son nouvel album chez Fiat Lux Recordings, Porcelain Tandem, s'aventure un peu plus loin encore et nous fait découvrir l'étendu d'un univers musical singulier, où les textes sont inspirés par des faits réels que l'auteur confronte à un monde imaginaire jusqu'à la distorsion.Instinctive et réfléchie, la musique de Luis Francesco Arena incite à une écoute active et attentive, qui nous conduit au-delà des frontières… Partez donc en voyage en découvrant « Lion's Kiss », notre Single de la semaine sur iTunes.Si vous aimez ce morceau, obtenez l'album ici.
Japan 今週のシングル: Via Audio,
NY発ポップでキュートなエクスペリメンタル・ロック!!2003年、ボストンの名門バークリー音楽大学で出会った4人がバンドVia Audio(ヴィア・オーディオ)を結成。2004年に自主制作でリリースしたEPが話題となり、カリスマ・バンドであるDeath Cab For Cutieのクリス・ウォラの目に留まる。後に彼のお気に入りバンドとして紹介され、メディアから脚光を浴び始める。2005年ファーストアルバムの制作にとりかかったものの、パソコンのクラッシュにより一時中断。そんな折、ヴォーカルのジェシカがSPOONのライブを見に行き、ジム・イーノに自分たちのEPを渡した事がきっかけで彼からプロデュースのオファーを受ける。テキサスのオースティンでレコーディングを行い、彼らのデビューアルバム「SAY SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING」が完成した。2006年度のSXSWやCMJパフォーマンス、CLUB NME LAなどで精力的にツアーを行い、メディアでも絶賛を受けているニュー・カマーである。
