US Music

US: The Rain by K-OS
This new cut from Ontario's k-os is taken from his album, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco. "The Rain" is a departure from the verbose hip-hop of his previous releases. This track shows k-os using his voice to sing with some palpable passion. The rhythm feels like a slight deviation on James Brown's "This Is A Man's World," but k-os has made his own epic soul track here. While the strings stab along with the syncopated rhythm, a scratchy, noir-tinged guitar line rears up and practically grabs your hand and leads you into the promised land. Get it now.

US: Casting Off by This Beautiful Republic
This Christian punk-pop group was the best kept secret in Toledo, Ohio, until the people at Forefront Records decided that this five-piece needed to be heard by the rest of the world. One listen to "Casting Off" and you can hear the appeal. Lead singer Ben Olin has a pained, emotional range that fits the group's urgent, spiky rock.

US: You Got Me by Adassa
Reggaeton y Hip-Hop.

Canada: The Guide by Borne
The four-piece known as Borne formed in 2003 in Australia and has spent the years since its inception honing its epic pop into something more precise, passionate, and unique. Cameron Tapp's vocals have an earnest, yearning quality that floats in the same airspace as Chris Martin or Bono, but has a rougher, more soulful edge. On "The Guide," the band turns a plaintive piano lament into an ecstatic array of guitar-lead bliss. The band originally sent us their demo a while back and we ended up featuring a track from them in our Australian store. The track was a phenomenal success. We think the band is something special and so now we're making this new track available free worldwide in order to get the word out. If you like the song, check out the group's album Loss of Signal, available exclusively on iTunes for a mere $5.99.

UK: The Guide by Borne
The four-piece known as Borne formed in 2003 in Australia and has spent the years since its inception honing its epic pop into something more precise, passionate, and unique. Cameron Tapp's vocals have an earnest, yearning quality that floats in the same airspace as Chris Martin or Bono, but has a rougher, more soulful edge. On "The Guide," the band turns a plaintive piano lament into an ecstatic array of guitar-lead bliss. The band originally sent us their demo a while back and we ended up featuring a track from them in our Australian store. The track was a phenomenal success. We think the band is something special and so now we're making this new track available free worldwide in order to get the word out. If you like the song, check out the group's album Loss of Signal, available exclusively on iTunes for a discounted price.

Japan ???????: The Guide by Borne
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Borne ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Loss of Signal???"The Guide"???????????

US: Friday Night Lights, Episode 101
Audiences cheer the first season of this poignant and powerful drama. The intimate storytelling and the inspired performances involve the viewer with an authentic portrait of life, love, family, and friendships that really hits home.

Japan ???????: Testin Me (Vocal) by Peven Everett
?????????????????????????11?????????????????????????????????????????????????•??????????????????????/??????????????? ABB ????? ABB SOUL ?????????????????? "Testin' Me" ??????????????????????????????? R&B ???????????????????????????????????????????????

Here are a few Thursday treats for your iTunes downloading pleasure. A new TV show from the US store. The UK store finally updates and the Single of the Week is now actually free. Plus the Japanese store gets its free single.

US: Two-A-Days The Challenge (Season 2 Premiere)
Welcome back to Hoover, Alabama, where football still rules the South. This season of Two-A-Days follows the highly ranked Hoover High Buccaneers through the 2006 high school football season as they drive for their fifth state championship title. After winning four titles in five years, the whole town is expecting this team to bring home trophy number five. These athletes live with the tremendous pressure to maintain Hoover's legendary reputation - not to mention keeping their grades up, keeping their girlfriends happy, and attempting to live a relatively normal senior year. Will their relationships be able to stand the test of two-a-day practices? Will they be the team to set a new record for Hoover? Watch the second season of Two-A-Days to find out just how hard they'll work to survive both the football season and their last year of high school.

UK: Abominwé by Lionel Loueke
Lionel Loueke is an African guitarist who plays with such a fluidity and dexterous skill that he's becomes an in-demand player on both the jazz and African music sides. Our free Single of the Week introduces you to his subtle voice, and more importantly, shows you the sort of unique approach he has on the guitar. His experience as a percussionist gives him a rhythmic style, but his finger picking and melodic invention provides something even more unique. Have a listen - it's on us.

Japan ???????: Cocoon by FROM CRESCENT
????????????????????FROM CRESCENT ?"COCOON"???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? UK ???????????????????????????????

After a few weeks, where there barely were any new freebies, what a surprise it is to keep waking up to new offerings. Today's freebie is a US Video of the first episode of the second season of "The Real Housewives of Orange County". It might not be everyone's cup of tea (the reviews of Season 1 suggested that there wouldn't be a Season 2), but maybe it can brighten the afternoon of one of you out there in reader-land.

US: The Real Housewives of Orange County (Episode 201)
Find out how the other half really lives when Bravo takes us on another visit "behind the gates" in an all-new season of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Even in sunny Southern California, privileged doesn't always mean perfect. These housewives all may be enjoying the luxe life - replete with plastic surgery, frequent shopping sprees, and a luxury car to match each of their outfits - but real life still manages to find them, even in the land of excess and indulgence.

In my recent iTunes freebie update, I posted about HBO's Extras podcast, the video podcast that presented the first of Season 2's episodes. I asked readers what they thought about this possible new trend. International readers in particular responded enthusiastically. They loved getting access to quality video especially since iTunes does not yet offer video stores outside the US. Here is a rundown of some of the other Store-versus-Podcast-for-Free-Episodes issues brought up both by reader feedback and via brainstorming.

For all of you readers either in Japan or with Japanese iTunes accounts, here's Japan's updated Single of the Week. Enjoy!

Japan ???????: Ru's Rock by CONDOR44
????????????????????????????????????????CONDOR ?4??????????????????? NEW YORK-TOKYO MUSICFESTIVAL?SXSW ?????????????????????•?????•?•???????????????????????????????????????????????4???????????????????????????Good Bye 44th Music???"Ru's Rock"?????

It may be MacWorldSF2007, but we here at TUAW haven't forgotten the rest of you scattered around the world and waiting for your iTunes freebies. Sure, there may be big news about iTunes later today, but should that step between you and your free music and videos? We think not. Here's today's fresh hot scoop of new freebies. Download, sync and enjoy.

Follow the jump to find today's freebies list

US: Cory In the House (New Kid in Town, Premiere episode)
It's a brand new life for Cory Baxter when his dad, Victor, becomes the personal chef to the President of the United States. Cory's entrepreneurial scheming reaches new heights as he mingles amongst high-powered Washington D.C. elite.

The UK store finally got updated today with the free download/Single of the Week. It's odd that it took so long this week. Even Japan's free single appeared before the UK's, which was very unusual timing wise. Leona Lewis still rules at #1--but my heart belongs to Eton Road and the Unconventionals.

UK: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Overture by St Petersburg Kirov Orchestra & Valery Gergiev
This month, the BBC will begin its celebration of the genius of Tchaikovsky, one of music's great melodic geniuses. As we end the festive season and move into the new year, iTunes and new LSO Chief Conductor Valery Gergiev preview the "Tchaikovsky Experience" with a free download Gergiev's famous recording of "The Nutcracker," our Single of the Week.

Today we want to welcome back all our TUAW readers returning from the holidays, as well as to welcome you new readers who just received an iPod or a Mac for Christmas. Welcome to TUAW and to free iTunes Tuesday Friday. (It took Apple way longer than usual to get around to posting the freebies this week.) Here's a great opportunity to start filling your iPod or your Mac with fabulous free music and videos. This Free Tuesday Friday roundup includes items free at the US store as well as international offerings. Scroll on down the post to see the complete list of this week's freebies.

US Music

US: Auld Lang Syne (Acoustic) by Jack Ingram
Now we generally try to turn the spotlight over to new artists for our Single of the Week, but we're feeling the spirit of the season this month. Check back here each week to get a free holiday track from an established artist. Here, country singer Jack Ingram takes the perennial New Year's Eve favorite and turns it into a more majestic, twangy celebration.

US: Ya No by Kuky
Kuky's strong, luscious voice rises up out of the swaying rhythm of this track, leading the listener into her soulful, playful world. The tune's strength lies in its simplicity. This is a pop song not meant to be disposed of immediately. Kuky - also known as Lucero Rodriguez - got her start singing the hooks on hip-hop tracks, but is now set to release her debut. "Ya No" is our free Single of the Week.

US: When the President Talks to God by Bright Eyes
(No description.) Readers are getting mixed results for this track. Make sure it shows up as free in your shopping cart before you buy.

It's a Japanese update today, brought to you by Japan's free Single of the Week (???????) by AWICH.

Japan: Dedicate to You by AWICH
???????? ???????19?????? AWICH (??????)???????DUTY FREE SHOPP. � ???????? TAKUJI a.K.a GEETEK ????????????????????????????????(?????)?????????????????????????????????GOKU ??????????????Oh No ? DEEP THINKERS ????????????WITH YOU????????????????"Dedicated To You"????????? AWICH ???????????????????= You?????????????????????????????????????

US Music

US: Silent Night by Sarah McLachlan
Now we generally try to turn the spotlight over to new artists for our Single of the Week, but we're feeling the spirit of the season this month. Check back here each week to get a free holiday track from an established artist. Here, Sarah McLachlan turns "Silent Night" into the warm, ethereal majestic snapshot of devotion that we've always known this song to be.

US: Christmas Reindeer by the Knife
If you tend to tire of the traditional holiday music fare, then the Knife have the cure to all of your Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis-related ills. The Swedish electro-art-pop duo deliver us "Christmas Reindeer" - a pulsating clang of a tune dedicated to Santa's most trusted animals. Enjoy!

US: Anacona by La Sista
This reggaetonera steps up to the microphone in a big way on "Anacaona," a remake of a song originally recorded by Cheo Feliciano. La Sista's own roots (she's of African and Puerto Rican descent) come through on this blazing tune, which booms with a heavy, buzzing bass line and Sista's own bold, dancehall-tinged rhymes.

Hannibal Rising: Excerpt
Audible.com and Random House Audio are pleased to present this excerpt from Hannibal Rising (Unabridged). The complete audiobook will be available for download on December 5, 2006. He is one of the most haunting characters in all of literature. At last the evolution of his evil is revealed. Hannibal Lecter emerges from the nightmare of the Eastern Front, a boy in the snow, mute, with a chain around his neck. He seems utterly alone, but he has brought his demons with him. Hannibal's uncle, a noted painter, finds him in a Soviet orphanage and brings him to France, where Hannibal will live with his uncle and his uncle's beautiful and exotic wife, Lady Murasaki. Lady Murasaki helps Hannibal to heal. With her help he flourishes, becoming the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France. But Hannibal's demons visit him and torment him. When he is old enough, he visits them in turn. He discovers he has gifts beyond the academic, and in that epiphany, Hannibal Lecter becomes death's prodigy.

US Music

US: Jingle Bells by James Taylor
Now we generally try to turn the spotlight over to new artists for our Single of the Week, but we're feeling the spirit of the season this month. Check back here each week to get a free holiday track from an established artist. This week, the patron saint of singer-songwriters, James Taylor, gives us a rather roots-y take on "Jingle Bells."

US: Sixteen by Los Super Elegantes
If you're looking for the perfect accompaniment to showcase the latest and greatest hi-fi equipment in your swanky, retro-themed apartment, then Los Super Elegantes have got the perfect atmosphere for you. Our free Single of the Week, "Sixteen," is a blur of go-go rhythms and icily cool melodies. The dueling boy/girl vocals and regal horns are themselves pitted against echoing vocals and laser effects. It's stylish kitsch, just for you.

More fun and freebies after the jump...