Free iTunes Music

Free Music Tuesday: Adam Gregory, Asa, Doctor Krapula

2009-01-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

Three songs, one music vid this week.

Aṣa (pronounced Asha) is a great artist hailing from the new wave of Nigerian hip-hop. The song itself has a timeless feel, reinterpreting that old adage of reaping what you sow. Asa is huge in Africa these days, and is starting to get her music heard in the US. Definitely worth checking out.

2. Adam Gregory - Crazy Days

I'm not a huge country music fan, but I acknowledge that there is good country and bad country. Johnny Cash, good country. I'd even admit Carrie Underwood sometimes forces me to grudgingly acknowledge that maybe all country music doesn't rupture my ear drums.

Adam Gregory is so boring, I'm not even willing to classify him as bad country. He's more "meh" country. "Crazy days" is a pretty harmless pop song with a little twang thrown in. I think it's the ludicrous music video that makes me crazy. He has to leave his beautiful girlfriend to drive across Florida in a giant Hummer SUV and then his own private yacht, and this makes him so sad. Lame.

3. Mister Danger - Doctor Krapula

The track is fine, I guess. En español. I would recommend downloading it just because you can't not have a song in your collection from a band called "Doctor Krapula". That's just made of win. I wonder if Krapula means something different in spanish?

4. Someone Like You - SafetySuit

This download is a music video. The video alternates between a girl running and the band playing on a beach. Not exactly cinematic excellence.

The band is a standard alt-rock group from Oklahoma making their chart debut with a song about unrequited love. The lead singer has a more emotive voice than most standard rock bands (Nickelback: I'm subtlely dissing your gritty monotone), so it's a nice track to have in your collection.

Free TV: Patrick Swayze in "The Beast"

2009-01-26T16:48:00.000-08:00

This week, iTunes offers a free pilot episode of A&E's new show "The Beast", starring Patrick Swayze.

I guess I'm glad to see that Patrick Swayze is working after his scare with pancreatic cancer. Last I read, he was still pretty sick, so I don't know what that means for the future of this show. In the show, he appears pretty gaunt, but the look lends a fierceness to his demeanor that's suited to the part. Here's hoping he stays healthy.

That said, the show is much better than I expected for a standard FBI drama. It's gritty, intense, and darker than I thought it'd be. The pilot has a great twist that makes it worth watching on its own.

Get "The Beast".

Free Music: 1/20/2009

2009-01-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

It's Inaugural Week, so why not celebrate our multicultural society with some free iTunes?

1. Stop the Clock - Jean

This week's first featured track, "Stop the Clock" comes in both English and Spanish flavors, both of them in yummy soulicious stylings. The artist, Jean, goes by one name, but actually legally holds claim to five as Jean Carlos Rodríguez López-Cepero. While the clock ticking as percussion in the background is a bit literal, I'm digging Jean's silky voice. Overall, a good track in any language.

Check out Jean's album.

2. My Love Sees You - Beni
Beni the Australian producer was one half of the duo Riot, and is now on his own with this sweet disco-meets-electronica track. Squishy goodness.

3. Her Morning Elegance - Oren Lavie
I thought this was the highlight of the week. We don't often see music videos for free, and this one was particularly charming stop-motion animation with a very sweet accompanying track. A must-download for those of you that have bandwidth and gigabytes to burn.

As far as Oren Lavie, he makes stunning music. I just picked up his album last week. His chord progressions are complex, his arrangements are rich, his vocals quiet but laden with rich, unexpected harmonies. I find myself sinking into the quiet intensity of this album with pleasure.

Definitely a rare pleasure to find such a gem. Check out Oren's album here.

Free iTunes Music is back, yo!

2009-01-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hey,

Sorry we had to go away for a while, but life gets crazy like that for a while, y'know?

What? You want to know where we were? Would you believe us if we said we were huddling underground waiting for the end of the Bush regime? It's true -- underground bunker, tinned food, and an ipod powered by a treadmill. At least we had tunes while we were working out.

Anyhoo, we're back and ready to keep showcasing all of the free and nearly free stuff that iTunes has to offer. We should also get the free music contest going again after a little bit too.

So sing the Welcome Back Kotter song and welcome us home.

Free Music Tuesday: Tristan Prettyman

2008-04-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

1. Madly - Tristan Prettyman
I'm so excited about this week's free track. I saw Tristan Prettyman open up for Jason Mraz a year ago, and it was clear she was going to be the next big thing. This girl is tall, gorgeous, and has a killer voice. Since she adopts the laid-back surfer attitude, many have dubbed her the female Jack Johnson.

To be clear, the video above is a song from her last album. Her new album: "Hello" just came out today, and is a steal at $5.99 on iTunes. I have a feeling her mellow vibe is going pick up quickly, so I'd grab this album before the price skyrockets up.

Get the free track.

2. Bien Sudao - Tony Dize
Tony is a Puerto Rican who has apprenticed under the best duo in reggaeton, Wisin & Yandel. Now he's out on his own for the first time. The track is reggae meets hip-hop. Very danceable.

John Mayer likes Dave Barnes, so you should too.

2008-04-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

"How do I say this diplomatically? I don't love everything I hear," Mayer writes on his blog. "I think that's fair to say. When I hear something I do love, it stands out. And if it's in the singer/songwriter genre, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Dave Barnes is that sore thumb. My thumb aches for Dave Barnes (one word: T-Shirt!). I was trolling the internet a while back – for songs – and came across a tune of his called 'Grace's Amazing Hands' and I was immediately floored."

"Dave and I have kept up over the years, but it took listening to his tunes recently to realize that I've been comatose when it comes to calling out his name in public... He's one of those rare talents that comes so complete out of the box that you can't ask to change a thing, even if you think at first you want to. It just is – and it's great. Dave has never pounced on me, he sends his CD and then – rightfully so – let's the music do the promoting. And he's right in thinking it works. Even though I'm late as hell in responding."

His new album is called "Me and You and The World", and it's so up and coming, it's both in the iTunes top10 right now, AND it only costs $5.99. If you're into the John Mayer/smooth voice/r&b over acoustic guitar thing, you should definitely grab this one.

She & Him: Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward

2008-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since I saw Zooey Deschanel sing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the movie Elf, I prayed that someday she would release an album. Zooey has an unbelievable voice: it sounds at once classic and modern. Strong yet vulnerable.

So obviously I was psyched when Zooey teamed up with indie star M. Ward to put out She & Him: Volume One.

It's an eclectic collection of original material and covers. It covers alt-country territory tread by Neko Case before, as well as 60's motown. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and each track improves on multiple listens.

The first track to tempt your ears with is "Why Don't You Let Me Stay Here?", but I really think the entire album is deserving of a listen.

Grab "She & Him".

If you like Tegan & Sara, you'll like Girl in a Coma

2008-04-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

This week's iTunes Editor's Music Choice is a band out of of San Antonio, Texas called "Girl in a Coma". Inspirations here are immediately apparent as the lead singer sounds like a female Morrisey, while the band name draws from the name of a famous Smiths song.

The album is well done top to bottom. Surprisingly sophisticated chord progressions, nearly perfect vocals, fantastic harmonies. I'd start with "Their Cell", my favorite track.

The album, "Both Before I'm Gone" is on sale this week only for $5.99.

Free TV: The Riches, The Paper

2008-04-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

1. The Paper - Race For Editor-In-Chief (20:24)
The Paper is a new MTV reality show about a bunch of journalism students putting out their school paper. I haven't watched the full episode, but in the preview I saw on tv, there was a chick with glasses singing really loudly and that was pretty annoying. But hey, it's 20 minutes of faux-reality from MTV, and maybe it will be the next Hills.

2. The Riches - Various Clips (under 2 minutes)
I'm obsessed with the Riches. Such a good show. Basically, Eddie Izzard (who is my favorite!) and Minnie Driver are Irish con-men that are released from prison, and then happen to get in a car accident with a very wealthy couple called "The Riches". The Riches are killed, so they assume their identities, including freakily good southern accents. Definitely worth checking out.

Weepies Album available for Pre-Order

2008-04-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

You know the Weepies, even if you don't think you do. You've heard their music on commercials, or maybe on Grey's Anatomy, or in a dozen or so movies. To me, they were the seminal album of 2006, every song so simple and so achingly gorgeous. I've been waiting with baited breath for the arrival of their new album, Hideaway.

If you don't know the story of the Weepies, it's a good one. Deb Talan, a folk singer, was a huge fan of another folk singer Steve Tannen. They saw each other in concert, and met each other, and totally fell in love. So they started writing and singing together. The Weepies, and a marriage, were born.

They named themselves "The Weepies" because they want their music to make you cry: both tears of sorrow and of joy. And with the recent birth of their first child, it will be interesting to see how they've woven that tremendous new experience into their work.

Pre-Order Hideaway by the Weepies for $9.99

Free iTunes Tuesday: Algebra, White, and Antonio

2008-04-08T09:06:00.001-07:00

1. Algebra Blessett - Run and Hide
Looking at all of the articles about Miss Algebra Blessett, one can only hope that she really does like math, because her first name has cursed her to a lifetime of punny headlines. Even the bio on her website says things like "Ironically there are no textbooks or classroom instructions that could help one balance the equations of Kedar Massenburg's newest protege, ALGEBRA."

Poor Algebra. Listening to her album though, you can definitely start to imagine that she is the next big thing in R&B. Her flow is effortless, it reminds me a bit of a cross between Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.

Sample her free track, and then consider picking up full album for the bargain of $6.99.

2. Time On Your Side - Emily Jane White
Emily Jane White is one of those rare folk singers that can really depress you. Her voice sounds a bit like Beth Orton, but on her website she mentions how most of her songs are about "isolation". Let's examine her lyrics.

Not much to do
When you've got time on your side.
You sit and think about your wasted life.
I try to move to change things through and through, hoo hoo.

Well, I'm thoroughly depressed. Let's move on.

3. Vengo Venenoso - Antonio Carmona
Excellent Flamenco track. Wanna dance?

John Mayer - Say

2008-04-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

It's a pretty slow week for free stuff on iTunes. And I would highlight some great new releases, but I blew most of my music budget last week on the new Raconteurs and R.E.M. albums.

So I'm going to do something I never thought I'd do. Profile a John Mayer song from a crappy Jack Nicholson movie.

I used to be a huge John Mayer fan. Then I realized that he's a bit of a douche. I'm mean seriously - have you seen this guy talk? Then there's the huge butt-chin. Also, he dumped Jessica Simpson, which qualifies him for major douchage.

Strangely enough, however, I happen to like his new single, "Say". I'm going to try to forget it's from "The Bucket List", a movie that was so terrible the previews made me shudder with loathing. Yes, I'm just going to put my headphones out, block all of that out, and try to listen to the nice song, which is very nice, with a tingly guitar riff and flowing harmonies.

Close your eyes, and grab "Say" for $.99 on iTunes.

Up and Coming Album Sale: Missy Higgins and Meiko

2008-04-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

iTunes is having a fantastic sale right now where albums of up-and-coming artists are available for $5.99 and $6.99.

Two of my favorites in this group come from the genre of "modern chick music", which isn't quite as angry as Lilith-Fair-era chick music, but is also just girly enough to struggle in crossover success into the male audiences.

1. Missy Higgins - On a Clear Night

I've loved Missy for what seems like ages, when she won a songwriting competition in high school and became a breakout success at the age of 16. She's Australian and absolutely huge over there. Here, her songs pepper the Grey's Anatomy soundtracks, but she hasn't had much radio play.

The striking thing about Missy is her voice. The Australian accent mixed with the strong, but still breathiness of her dark alto is undeniably awesome. "On a Clear Night" is the name of her new album for $6.99. Stand-out tracks are the quietly morose "Where I Stood", the jubilant "Steer" and the dainty "Sugarcane".

But if you want a song that will absolutely melt your girly heart, go check out "The Special Two" from her first album. About a girl who surprised herself by cheating on the love of her life, you'll be shocked she wrote this when she was 16.

Grab Missy Higgins' "On a Clear Night" for $6.99

2. Meiko - Meiko

Meiko (despite its spelling, pronounced "meek-koh") is one of those MySpace success stories. Still an independent artists, she's done very well on iTunes, keeping the #1 folk record for several consecutive months. I'm not sure I would classify her as folk, but who can figure out what folk really means these days?

The great thing about the album is that there's no laziness. It's quality songwriting and production all the way through. Stand-out track for me is "How Lucky We Are" which was apparently originally called "Sh*tty Apartment" but changed for the album release.

The self-titled album Meiko is an absolute steal at $5.99.

Free iTunes Tuesday: Cut Copy, Flavio Cianciarulo

2008-04-01T08:24:00.001-07:00

1. Cut Copy - Lights & Music
I'm ridiculously pleased that this is the free song of the week, since I was prepping an article on Cut Copy anyway. They released their new album, "In Ghost Colours" last week and tempted by the $6.99 price and great review in Spin Magazine, I downloaded. It is love.

Cut Copy's unique sound mixes elements of indie rock and dance music, and the result sounds like the soundtrack to the most raging, awesome party that you've ever wanted to throw. If you listened to New Order in the 80's, you get the general gist.

The free track and first single, "Lights & Music" is cool, but my favorite track on the album is "Feel the Love". I guarantee that it'll be showing up in a car commercial sometime soon.

So grab "Lights and Music" today for free, and if you like it, I strongly urge you to grab the whole album for $6.99.

2. Señor Flavio - Mandita
I am told that Mister Flavio, aka Flavio Cianciarulo, "is a founding member of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, one of the greatest rock bands on any continent, from any era." This track in particular is supposed to explore 80's rock, a la UB40.

I like the overall track which is upbeat and poppy with lots of hurried rhythmic lyrics. But then this rather scary man who is apparently in third-stage emphysema pops up and starts yelling angrily for the kids to get off his lawn. Or at least, that's what it sounds like. It's in Spanish, I can't tell. It's not for me, but maybe you'll enjoy it...

Music Podcast of the Week: KCRW's Top Tune

2008-03-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Want to be a music tastemaker? Want to have your friends envious of you because you're able to pick the up and coming bands months before they hit the big time? Well, you need to be listening to the right source for free music.

The right source is KCRW. They are the exclusive owners of the crystal ball that rotates CDs when you look into it. Either that or they've kidnapped a number of radio executives and are torturing them to play the songs of their choosing. And now they have a song-of-the-day podcast featuring some of the best music o' the future.

The podcast is brand new, so it will take some time to get a good selection of music, but I daresay it will be awesome.

Grab KCRW's Top Tune Podcast.

Beat It Cover by Fall Out Boy and...John Mayer?

2008-03-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Wow. When I woke up this morning, I certainly didn't expect to end up listening to a "Beat It" cover by Fall Out Boy. And then to discover that John Mayer was the one shredding the guitar during the course of the song? I'm so freaked out, I'm seriously considering going back to bed.

There's no video yet, thank Thor. I have serious doubts that Pete Wentz can moonwalk. And I know for a certainty that John Mayer will think that he can moonwalk, but his attempt will be an epic fail.

Check out "Beat It" on iTunes.

Free iTunes TV: Green River Killer, Green Power Documentaries

2008-03-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Many of the past week's free TV episodes are still available. But you want to hear about the new ones, right?

1. Capture of the Green River Killer (10:03)
Get a preview of this upcoming Lifetime miniseries, based on the true story of Washington's Green River Killer, and his eventual capture. James Marsters (who played "Spike" on Buffy) is in it. Which makes it totally worth watching.

2. Big Ideas for a Small Planet (25:38)
I'm super into the environment lately. Shrinking my carbon footprint and everything. I've been drawing inspiration from a number of green blogs, and am participating in Earth Hour tonight.
So this award-winning documentary that covers developments in alternative energy that may help us avert the climate crisis is timely, and definitely worth a watch.

More from Heidi Montag

2008-03-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

I don't understand.

Does Heidi Montag have an actual album coming out? Or is she just going to keep drizzling out singles and homemade videos because Spencer hasn't been able to figure out how to work the CD burner?

Regardless, Miss Heidi has another single out titled "No More". This is one case where you can be glad for vocal effects as it transforms the song into something vaguely listenable. I've got 10 bucks on another bikini video magically surfacing for this one. We can only hope.

Download Heidi Montag's "No More".

Free iTunes Tuesday: Lady Antebellum, Hayes Carll, Chana

2008-03-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Country fans: this is your week for free iTunes music. Let's dig in:

1. Love Don't Live Here - Lady Antebellum
I'm not sure what to say about this one. It's a nice country song, full of twang and harmonies and break-up angst. I guess I could point out that the singer Charles Kelly is the brother of Josh Kelley, who is married to Katharine Heigl. That's kind of interesting, I guess.

2. She Left Me For Jesus - Hayes Carll
Wildly clever country song. All I need to do to sell you on this one is post the lyrics of the chorus:
"She left me for Jesus, and that just ain't fair.
She said that He's perfect, how could i compare?
She says that I should find him, and I'll know peace at last.
If I ever find Jesus, I'm kickin' His ass."

Love it.

3. La Duda - Chana
I was hoping to report that "La Duda" translated to "The Dude" because that would be an awesome name for a song. But it translates to "The Doubt", which is still pretty cool.

La Chana is Rosanna Tavarez, a vocalist and songwriter of Dominican heritage who grew up in New York and Miami. This track is kind of awesome: dance rock meets power pop. It reminds me a lot of CSS. Highly recommended.

Death Cab for Cutie is back! And they will possess your heart. Tho' not in a demonic way.

2008-03-24T10:24:00.001-07:00

Ben Gibbard's Death Cab for Cutie found mainstream success with their last album, "Plans". Many of their cult fanbase accused them of selling out, and certainly the album was a bit less thoughtful than the quirky work of their past.

It will be interesting then, to see how Death Cab bridges art and mainstream with their upcoming album "Narrow Stairs".

If their first single, "I Will Possess Your Heart" is any indication, they are embracing their art sides all the way. Over eight minutes long, the song has a four minute instrumental introduction. That's right. Four minutes with no vocals. After all, the band is full of master instrumentalists, why not show off what they can do?

It's likely the radio version will cut out those four minutes and get straight to Ben's lovely singing voice and DC's harmonies. But check out the newly released single and see whether you like the new Death Cab.

Pick up Death Cab for Cutie's new single: I Will Possess Your Heart

New Danity Kane album features exorbitant hair extensions, Missy Elliot, and robots.

2008-03-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

I won't own up to it. I never watched the P.Diddy "Making the Band" reality show that put Danity Kane together. "Show Stopper" was never a huge guilty pleasure for me. And Aundrea is certainly not my favorite of the group.

Which is why I'm completely neutral and qualified to comment on Danity Kane's new album: "Welcome to the Dollhouse". Pluses here: the album is really well done. The arrangements are complex and interesting. The songs are all danceable and catchy. The first single "Damaged" was voted on by the fans as their favorite new song off the album and features a couple of great hooks. Missy Elliot makes an appearance on "Bad Girl".

Still, part of me mourns every time I hear a Danity Kane song. If you watch the show (which I don't), you know that these girls have legitimately great voices. They are extremely talented. But the way that their vocals are produced, layering on *heavily* the AutoTuner and the digital effects, means that all of the individuality is washed out of their sound. They could be any five hot girls off the street. Or Fembots, for all we know. Is it too much to ask for one song that turns off the vocal effects and lets us hear them raw and real?

Still, I'm digging it. Secretly. Shhh. Don't tell. And pick up Damaged.

Free iTunes TV: Greek, Life of Ryan

2008-03-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Pretty uninteresting free tv this week, I'm afraid. A few more episodes of things we've seen before, and a bunch of repeats from past weeks.

1. Greek - Pilot (52:22); Black, White, and Read All Over (45:58)
An ABC Family show about being greek in college? I'm sure there will be lots of squeaky-clean drama fun for the whole family. Still, you get two entire free episodes to hook you.

Greek also has about seven 30 minute videos on their casting for each episode, if you want to check that stuff out. The same link above will take you there.

2. America's Prom Queen - Casting Episode (11:10)
Yeah. This is still there, plus a free episode called "Prom Princesses". I'm not really sure why America needs a prom queen, since prom queens are mostly a high school popularity contest. Without standing on the backs of your teenage peers, how vital is a prom queen title anyway? Well, Jai Rodriguez, one of the Queer Eye guys is a judge, so maybe it's worth a peek.

3. Life of Ryan - Flashback (20:58)
A full episode of that Life of Ryan show with the angsty skateboarding kid. I think this is a Season Two clip show with some deleted scenes and stuff.

Sorry it's so sparse. Hopefully next week will be better!

Heroes Soundtrack is made of awesome, new songs from good bands.

2008-03-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

When I clicked on the newly released Heroes Soundtrack, I was pretty surprised what I found there. After all, the show isn't like "Grey's Anatomy", renowned for its music. It has a pretty decent original score, but only a few of those tracks are featured on this album.

Instead, what's on there are a bunch of unique, new songs from some of my favorite bands. Imogen Heap's "Not Now, But Soon" is a highlight. Death Cab for Cutie, The New Pornographers, My Morning Jacket, Nada Surf, Panic at the Disco, and Wilco have new tracks on here as well.

Mix that up with a few great tracks from David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and the Chemical Brothers and it's like listening to the greatest "Heroes"-inspired mix tape that was ever created.

Many iTuners will be annoyed that you can't pick up the singles individually, but IMO that's not as much of an issue when the whole album is this good.

Download the Heroes Soundtrack.

Jason Mraz is "Yours", Adorable.

2008-03-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

I've been a huge Jason Mraz fan ever since I saw him perform live. He is just such a dynamic performer with such a huge, pure voice. It's impossible to listen to his music without being lifted up by some karmic, happy boost.

He is prepping for a new album coming up, and has released an 4 song EP called "We Sing" in anticipation of it. The lead single, "I'm Yours" is unspeakably adorable. Pick it up - it will immediately brighten your day.

All American Idol Albums on Sale!!

2008-03-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Always wanted to pick up that Kelly Clarkson or Daughtry album, but didn't want to shell out the full $9.99 for it?

Well this week, all American Idol albums are on sale for $7.99. Everyone you can think of is here from the currently-hot Jordin Sparks, to the gorgeous Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Clay, and my personal favorite William Hung. Hung got an entire album? That guy is amazing!

Some of the lesser-knowns are also present. Did you know that creepy Constantine did an album? I didn't either. I don't even remember who Jim Verraros is. I do remember Bucky Covington, and what I remember frightens and confuses me.

Rounding out there group are eating disorder subjects Katharine McPhee and Kellie Pickler, the bouncy Blake Lewis, marine Josh Gracin, Elliot Yamin and his newly fixed teeth, scarily cheerful Taylor Hicks, two efforts from Kimberly Locke, the forgetable Diana DeGarmo, and Ms. Clarkson's most beautiful disaster: Justin Guarini (::shudder::).

Personally, I'm going to grab the Daughtry album and considering Katharine McPhee's, which was pretty well reviewed.

Free iTunes Tuesday: Walk Like an Egyptian, R.E.M., and The Kills

2008-03-18T10:00:00.001-07:00

Very esoteric week for free iTunes music this week.

1. The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful
My understanding of the Kills is that they are two people who used to be nice, normal, and in unsuccessful bands. So they swore some sort of oath to the devil or something and started over. Their new strategy involved chain smoking and vomiting on stage, never giving press interviews, condemning corporate America, and making some pretty awesome music. Good track. Sounds a bit like Garbage. Grab it.

2. The Puppini Sisters - Walk Like an Egyptian
A 40's jazz-version of the Bangles' 80's hit? ::shrugs:: Why not?

3. R.E.M. - Living Well is the Best Revenge [Video]
R.E.M.'s latest release is getting stunning reviews. I've heard a few tracks and have been floored at how gorgeously angry they are. This video features R.E.M. crammed in a van, driving along a dark highway, playing their instruments acoustically, drumming on the steering wheel, and joyously making harmonies. It's the way that music should be experienced, and it's a joy to watch a band so candidly enjoying each other. I strongly recommend you download this.

4. Karyme Lozano - Ay Ay Ay
This was totally throwaway for me. If you're really into Latin music, grab it. Else, pick up the rest of this week's tracks.

Free TV on iTunes: Pilots for New Amsterdam, Canterbury's Law, and more

2008-03-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

Lots of free TV popped up on iTunes this week. Let's have a look:

1. New Amsterdam - Pilot (43:56)
I watched this pilot on TV a couple of weeks ago. The show has gotten great reviews as kind of a Highlander meets CSI. John Amsterdam, the main character, was given a curse by some indian tribe in the 1700's where he can't die until he meets "the one". So he's lived hundreds of years, had multiple wives, sired dozens of kids, and had a gazillion occupations, but he hasn't met her yet.

Then, while chasing a suspect through the subway, he has a heart attack, falls down unconscious, and wakes up in a morgue. Was the "one" somewhere on the subway deck? Unfortunately, we're going to have to survive dozens detective mystery episodes with flashbacks to his early life to find out...

2. Canterbury's Law - Pilot (44:41)
I did not watch this show when it debuted on tv, but I know a few things about it. One, it stars Julianna Marguilles who I always adored on ER. Two, she places a lawyer who is mean to everybody but really good at what she does. Sort of a lawyer equivalent of House, and the polar opposite of Eli Stone. I have a hard time picturing Julianna as a Bia-tch, which is probably why I'll eventually tune in.

3. Greek - Pilot (52:22); Black, White, and Read All Over (45:58)
An ABC Family show about being greek in college? I'm sure there will be lots of squeaky-clean drama fun for the whole family. Still, you get two entire free episodes to hook you.

4. MLB 2008 Season Preview (1 hr); MLB 2008 Fantasy Season Preview (44:10)
MLB.com brings two significant season previews for the upcoming season. Great way to get psyched up for the upcoming season. (Go Indians!)

5. AxMen - Man vs. Mountain (44:12)
Another meaty full episode from the History Channel's series on loggers. I was watching this last night. Men really are men, and many limbs have been lost. It's kind of sad, actually.

Free Jack Johnson videos in Podcast form

2008-03-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not entirely sure whether this is within copyright laws, but there is an awesome podcast on iTunes this week that offers many of the videos from Jack Johnson's new album: "Sleeping through the Static". If you download it, you can watch all of the videos for free. Pretty sweet deal!

The podcast itself is in French, but that doesn't really matter. Free videos! Check it out quickly.

Leona Lewis: the newer, less crazy Whitney Houston

2008-03-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Leona Lewis won an American-Idol like show in the UK called "The X Factor". With her stunning looks and a voice capable of both belting remarkably high notes and shimmering soft ones, she's gotten a number of well-deserved comparisons to Whitney Houston.

Her first US single is Bleeding Love, and I strongly encourage you to check it out on iTunes. It's incredibly catchy and pleasing to the ears. A good guilty pleasure.

Free TV: Medical Mysteries, America's Prom Queen, and more

2008-03-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

1. Mystery Diagnosis - Survivors 2006 (40:55)
A baby boy is stricken with nonstop vomiting. A woman drinks three gallons of water night and day. A man who doesn't sweat. This Discovery Channel show looks into some very cool medical mysteries.
2. America's Prom Queen - Casting Episode (11:10)
I'm not really sure why America needs a prom queen, since prom queens are mostly a high school popularity contest. Without standing on the backs of your teenage peers, how vital is a prom queen title anyway? Well, Jai Rodriguez, one of the Queer Eye guys is a judge, so maybe it's worth a peek.
3. Unhitched - Behind the Scenes (9:20)
If you liked Karen from the Office, this is her new series. Did you know that she's apparently dating the guy that plays Jim in real life? In this series, she helps a group of defunct guys get divorces and start to repair their love lives. I think.

Usher asks if we'll make love in the club. World responds: "Yes!"

2008-03-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Usher is getting ready to drop his new album, and the racy first single has already raced to the top of the charts.

Love In This Club features Usher trying to convince his young lady friend that they should risk imprisonment, shed their clothes, and start getting it on in the middle of the dance floor.

I'm not sure why they can't wait until they get home. I guess she's that irresistible...

Still, the track is almost as hot as Usher himself. Pick it up on iTunes today.

Free iTunes Tuesday: Duffy, Madita, and Los Mono

2008-03-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

1. Duffy - Mercy
iTunes loves giving us female UK-imports resembling Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, so why not do another one? Mercy has 50's-retro appeal. Duffy's voice is lighter than Winehouse and scratchier than Lily's, but has an appealing quality all of it's own. Definitely one of the best free singles in a while.

2. Madita - Better Brother
If you've liked the Feist and Yael Naim tracks that iTunes has skyrocketed to popularity, chances are you'll also like Madita. Her album swings from ethereal, Portishead-like tracks to Sara Bareilles-like jazz/pop. Very promising new find. It's another must-download.

3. Los Mono - Promesas
Very groovy latin-electro-funk track. To me, it sounds a bit like LCD Soundsystem with latin lyrics. Had me dancing, and didn't once get boring.

Jason Castro breaths new life into Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujiah"

2008-03-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

I was shocked when I opened the iTunes store this week and saw that one of my favorite songs, "Hallelujiah" had shot to the top of the charts. Jason Castro, the dopey looking guy with dreadlocks, did a passable version of it on American Idol, which has reminded everybody how awesome the song was in the first place.

"Hallelujiah" was originally written by infamous songwriter Leonard Cohen, and then was covered by everyone in existence. My favorite two covers are Jeff Buckley's (who died after putting out an achingly beautiful album), and Brandi Carlile (singer of "The Story").

But there are so many good covers out there to choose from. Have a listen to the diverse set of people singing this amazing song:

Jason Castro - "Hallelujiah"
Jeff Buckley - "Hallelujiah"
Leonard Cohen - "Hallelujiah"
Brandi Carlile - "Hallelujiah"
Rufus Wainwright - "Hallelujiah"
K.D. Lang - "Hallelujiah"
John Cale - "Hallelujiah" (heard on the tv show "Scrubs")
Alison Crowe - "Hallelujiah"
Willie Nelson - "Hallelujiah"
Elisa - "Hallelujiah" (pretty powerful version!)
Josh Allan - "Hallelujiah"

Free iTunes Tuesday: Ana Laan, Eric Durrance

2008-03-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

A bit of a quieter iTunes Tuesday this week. We've just got two free tracks, both a little on the chill side.

1. Ana Laan - Paradise
The startling, romantic voice of singer Ana Laan was born in Madrid and matured in Stockholm, Sweden. The daughter of a Spanish professor of literature and an American mother, Ana was raised in a home where learning was revered and multi-culturalism was the norm.

The song sounds a bit like if Lily Allen or Kate Nash did a Latin track. Very cute.

2. Eric Durrance - Wait Till I Get There
Country track. Eric Durrance is embarking on his solo career and coming out with a new record in a couple of weeks. The man is hot, and has a melting voice.

The song itself is pretty sad - the lyrics tell the tale of him rushing home to say goodbye to his grandpa before he dies. The song will probably make you tear up a bit.

Free TV: American Idol, quarterlife, and more

2008-02-29T21:03:00.000-08:00

Lots of good free TV and entertainment on iTunes this week:

1. American Idol - Josiah's Journey (4:30)
Josiah was kind of a weird diva/brat/sweetheart that didn't make American Idol's final round. A whiz with a keyboard, he famously dismissed the band from the stage in his final round of auditions only to kind of suck. It was too bad - he definitely had talent and provided some much needed drama to the show. Check out his journey for free.

2. The Mean Mrs. Dickstein (15:00)
Do you like Sex in the City? Then you should download this free short story on tape, written by Cynthia Nixon. It chronicles some events of her living in New York City, and I believe she narrates it as well. No link for this because Apple is lame. Go to iTunes and search.

3. An Introduction to the 12 Second Sequence (10:00)
Jorge Cruise offers 10 minutes of get-in-shape inspiration.

4. Bakugan - The Battle Begins! (22:15)
Yay for free anime episodes! In Bakugan, Drago must ally with his human friend Dan to eliminate the evil Naga and restore balance to the parallel universe! Awesome!

5. quarterlife - Featurette (9:01)
quarterlife is a new show that depicts the lives of a bunch of 20-somethings living in New York. Yeah, it's Friends with graphic designers.

6. Eli Stone - George Michael Video "Faith" (2:58)
It's only three minutes, but at least it's three minutes with George Michael...

How old are the Jonas Brothers, anyway?

2008-02-26T21:04:00.002-08:00

For all of you Jonas Brothers fans out there, here are the ages of the Jonas Brothers.

Nick Jonas is age 14, born 9/16/92.
Joe Jonas is 18, born 8/15/89.
Kevin Jonas is age 19, born 11/5/87.

So, for all of you cougars out there, two out of the trio are 'of age'. You can stop feeling guilty for leering at them. I think they're dreamy.

S.O.S. is their latest single, and it's already burning up the airwaves. Check it out.

Ashley Simpson is pregnant! Better catch her in a bikini now.

2008-02-26T21:01:00.000-08:00

Rumor is that Ashley Simpson and Pete Wentz, infamous bassist for Fall Out Boy, have made a baby and gotten engaged.

One wonders how the impending visit from the stork is going to impact publicity for Simpson's upcoming album, "Bittersweet World", scheduled to drop on April 15th.

Still, in honor of their news, here are two celebratory gestures.

First, "Outta My Head", the debut single from Ashley's upcoming album.

Second, a picture of Ashley Simpson in a bikini. You know what these two things have in common? Yes, that's right. They're both hot.

Edit: Turns out those pregnancy rumors were just a cruel joke purported by Ashley and Pete. So this won't be the last bikini picture after all!

Were you charmed by "Once" at the Oscars? I was.

2008-02-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

I didn't really watch the Oscars. I had them on in the background while I was doing some work. But for three solid minutes, I was riveted to the screen while Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed the song "Falling Slowly" from the motion picture "Once".

The song is just beyond enchanting. Words don't do justice, so watch the video above. And of course, it won the Oscar. Good for them.

The entire "Once" soundtrack is infinitely lovely. But at the very least, pick up "Falling Slowly" to add to your collection.

Danger, Mavado, and Macaco for free this week on iTunes

2008-02-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Free singles this week on iTunes are a bit meh this week, methinks. But let's take a look anyway.

1. 11h30 - Danger
First of all, this guy calls himself "Danger". Since he's French, I thought I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and assume Danger meant something different in French. But, no. Danger just means "danger" in French. I don't know about you, but I only respect people whose middle name is Danger.

Then there's the fact that his album cover has a big black pyramid on it. Let me repeat that. The guy who makes thumping electro-house music put a big black pyramid on his cover. Daft Punk much, anyone?

After all of that, you start thinking. Wow, this guy has some serious cajones. I wonder if he's all tricked out in a robot costume or something. But, no. This is what Danger looks like:
That is one dangerous looking goatee!

Despite the fact that this guy is obviously trying too hard, the single rocks. I'm not kidding. I think I might get the entire album if this is indicative of his direction. The guy has started using guitars (yes, guitars!!!) in his house music. Thank the stars for Danger.

2. Last Night - Mavado
Mavado is a reggae singer, and I guess that's why I can't understand a single word he says. The single is repetitive and boring, but the lyrics are intoxicating indecipherable. Take this sample from the second verse:
"And Dem A Wonda Weh Mi Watch Be
Want Fi Buss Mi Head
An Want Fi Mek Docta Cant Even Patch Mi
Bout A Born Mi Born A Nuh Woman Hen Hatch Mi
Tell Informa Mission Gun Mi Hav Di Factory
Swear Seh Dem Kill Mi D.N.A It Did Match Mi"

Genius!

3. Mama Tierra - Macaco
This Spain export reminds me of a latino Sugar Ray with his record-scratching sounds, vocal echos, and quick rhythmic vocal lines. But also like Sugar Ray, it's infectious. Worth a try.

Reader Reminder: Check Your Email!

2008-02-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

Faithful readers, may I offer a suggestion?

IF YOU WANT TO WIN FREE ITUNES, CHECK YOUR EMAIL!!!!

The last two free iTunes $10 prizes we have tried to give out have not been claimed. Which is a shame for the rest of you that are really hungry for free iTunes.

If you win, we send an e-mail from freeitunesmusic at gmail.com to your e-mail address that is subscribed to our newsletter. Please make sure that e-mail address is added to your spam filters so you see it coming through.

I have just sent an e-mail to this week's content winner. So check your mail!

Those of you who want to sign up for our $10 weekly free iTunes drawing, read contest rules here.

Juno Soundtrack sets world record for quirkiness

2008-02-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

I finally saw this "Juno" movie everybody's been raving about. And now I understand it's strange power over all of my friends. I'm so ready to go out and buy some converse shoes and a telephone shaped like a hamburger. Because that's what quirky people do.

The music of Juno is just as quirky as the movie itself. None of the singers try too hard, lest they be perceived uncool. In fact, rather than singing many of the artists seem to talk melodically. The instrumentation is all kept to an absolute minimum.

Kimya Dawson, who scores six songs on the soundtrack, serves to remind us that even though the world is totally messed up, we can still revel in its quirky pleasures. On "Loose Lips", she tells us that even if we want to cut, burn, or kill ourselves, to remember that she loves us. "Call me up before your dead, we can make some plans instead. Send me an IM, I'll be your friend." Aww, that's so sweet.

The Juno soundtrack has been in the iTunes top 10 for...well basically forever now. Pick up your quirky copy this week.

We don't wanna be in love with Good Charlotte, but we can't help it.

2008-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Good Charlotte. Lessee, what do I know about them? I know that like five years ago they were one of the first emo bands. They were all cute and young, and had huge hits like "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous".

Then they disappeared for a while. I think they did another album, but nobody listened to it. Word was that they messed around too much with their sound, and lost their core fanbase. Plus they were growing up and getting less cute, which never helps.

Their recent album is back to basics, retooled in a more young-adult way. So well, in fact, that now they're touring with Justin Timberlake. Good for them.

I also know that the lead singer, Joel Madden, was dating Hillary Duff for a while, but then got Nicole Ritchie preggers. Are they engaged now, or what? And isn't Joel's brother in the band? What celebrity is he knocking up?

Regardless, I love their new single "I Don't Wanna Be In Love". The full album, "Good Morning Revival", is also discounted at iTunes for a limited time at $7.99.

Pick up "I Don't Wanna Be In Love".
Pick up "Good Morning Revival" for $7.99.

Believe: The Bravery's new album at a discount

2008-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hold on. There's an American indie rock band that does better in the UK than in the US? Yup. They're called The Bravery and whatever oversight led to that odd discrepancy will be corrected pretty soon, since the long-due Bravery are finally burning up alternative radio waves with their new album "The Sun and the Moon".

Frankly, it's a bit shocking that The Bravery has flown under the radar for so long, since they clearly have a flair for the dramatic.

In 2005, they got into a huge fight with "The Killers". Brandon Flowers criticized them in the press saying that the Bravery were riding on their coattails, and that anyone who was once in a ska band could not be serious about New Wave music. I assume this means someone in the Bravery played in a ska band?

At the Glastonbury Festival in 2005, their set couldn't be aired on TV, since their bassist decided to take off all of his clothes, play naked, and finish off by jumping into the drumkit.

Then, at an MTV VMA after-party, while sitting with Jay-Z and Ludacris, the drummer jumped up on stage, stole the mic from the MC, and tried to rap over their music. Security rushed him and there was a big fight (the Killers happily jumped in too), and the Bravery were ousted from the party.

Conclusion? They are drama queens. But the music is still pretty groovy. Two songs off the record have hit the top 10 so far: "Believe" and "Time Won't Let Me Go".

The album is a steal right now at $7.99. Pick up "The Sun and The Moon" this week, while it's still on sale.

Heidi Montag has bad taste in music, men.

2008-02-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you read the internets at all, it's unlikely that you haven't exposed to the unwatchable horror that is Heidi Montag's first music video. Still, I've posted it above in case you've missed it, or need a reminder on how sad/hysterical/bizarre it is. Your bleeding eyeballs and eardrums can thank me later.

As if that hadn't disturbed us enough, the Hills star has decided this would be a good week to share her favorite songs with us on iTunes. First of all, her playlist features a picture of her in a black bikini holding a garden hose for no discrenable reason (when will this girl just get it over with and do porn?). But that's not the half of it.

The playlist she's accumulated swings back and forth between the tastes of a 12 year old girl and a 60 year old woman. She has Hannah Montana songs, no less than 2 Britney songs, 2 Elvis songs, 2 Elton John songs (no offense, Elton), and of course Jim Jones' "We Fly High" to round it all out. Huh? Isn't compiling a celebrity playlist on iTunes all about showing how *cool* your musical tastes are?

Check out Heidi Montag in all her trainwreck, resplendent glory.

Pussycat Dolls shake it for free

2008-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Remember the good old days, when there were only like five Pussycat Dolls, and you could keep track of them? Then they had a reality show and added a few more, and then they started self-replicating through some process of alien mitosis. Now there are about ninety-four million Pussycat Dolls.

Not satisfied with that number, Robin Antin is at it again, now forming a new girl's group called Girlicious, which might be the laziest name for a girls group ever. And, of course, there's a tv show to select the group.

You can watch the first episode, "Let's Get Girlicious", for free on iTunes this week.

And since you've been so patient in reading today's blog, here is a gratuitous picture of some of the Pussycat Dolls in bikinis. You're welcome.

Jack Johnson can sleep through the static

2008-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Jack Johnson has done it again. He's somehow mesmerized us with his beachy, laid-back tunes. And he's got a number one album, on both the Billboard charts, and iTunes. I hear it's also doing quite well in the UK.

At first listen, I think it's a bit more adult and classic than his last album, which contained several whimsical, poppy delights. Sleeping Through the Static has light-hearted tracks too like the first single, "If I Had Eyes", but his songs also touch on bigger issues: war, the deterioration of etiquette in society, and an ultimate dissatisfaction with the beach bum lifestyle that he lives.

It's an excellent listen, both as chill background music for your next party, and as something deeper to investigate closely.

Start with Jack Johnson's "If I Had Eyes" for $.99 at iTunes.

iTunes Free Music Tuesday: I Nine, Kelley Polar, and more...

2008-02-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to iTunes Free Music Tuesday. We've got an exciting one for you this week. One from an up and coming band that is going to be all over the radio in the next few months, one from a well-respected electronic artist, and a gorgeous track out of Mexico.

1. I Nine - Seven Days of Lonely
I looked everywhere and I wasn't able to figure out the origin of this band's inexplicable name. They are a quartet of a bunch of kids who grew up together in Atlanta. The female lead singer has an Avril Lavigne quality but sweeter. The backing guy musicians all look brooding with their long hair. Somebody plays the cello.

The point is, Cameron Crowe discovered these guys, put them on the ElizabethTown soundtrack a couple of years ago, and the rest is history. Their album drops soon and is going to be huge, so by picking up this single this week, you're totally ahead of the curve.

2. Kelley Polar - Entropy Reigns (In the Celestial City)
If a more pompous title exists for a song, I can't think of it. I submit that it's especially high-minded for a track that uses whip cracks and synth beats ripped off Wham! tracks in the deep 80's. But, what do you expect of a tortured genius who was kicked out of Julliard because his stuffy professors didn't share his taste for mixing up electronic beats with the baroque masters? Here's a picture of him not looking pretentious in the least.

I can't find any vestiges of classical influence on this track, but that doesn't mean it's not cool. I am digging it the more I'm listening to it. Unlike most electronic music, it has a tremendous diversity of sounds, rhythms, and riffs. It keeps me interested and keeps my head bopping. Pick it up and feel intellectually superior to all of your friends.

3. Gabby Villanueva - Mundos Diferentes
Wow. From the second this track starts, you're struck by Gabby's voice. It's gorgeously, perfectly pop. It soars. It doesn't hurt that she's downright gorgeous to boot. I can't find much information on her on the web, but she seems like a fantastic mainstream talent.

Free on iTunes: The Best Seven Minutes in American Idol History

2008-02-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

We'll get to the free singles in a moment, people. First I have to talk about American Idol.

I am so over American Idol. Seriously. Not even the bad auditions really thrill me anymore. But with the writer's strike going on, there hasn't really been anything else on television to come home and relax to after hours at my soul-sucking job.

So I've watched this season. And boy am I glad that I did. It was all worth it - to bear witness to one amazing little man named "Renaldo Lapuz".

Renaldo starts off looking like any crazy asian guy in a costume. Little do we know, he has two secret weapons: an unrelenting charm, and a hit song called "We're Brothers Forever".

The clip starts off when Paula asks Renaldo why he has Simon's name written on his hat. His response, "Everyone, everywhere, as long as there is free media: television, radio, speaks the name of: Simon!" Wow. If that isn't epic praise, I don't know what is. Simon as a symbol of the free world is imagery I'd never quite considered. But it gets better.

Then Renaldo launches into his song, thus bringing hope to those in despairs [sic]. The lyrics?

"I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing the songs,
The music that you like. OH!!!!!!
We're brothers to the end of time
Together or not,
You're always in my heart
You hurt your feelings
And you will rain no more!"
(spoken) I love you brother!

Renaldo sings the song like seventeen times, and something magical and crazy happens with the judges. Even Simon can't help but sing along for a few bars. Randy grabs Seacrest to come in and dance with Renaldo as he sings.

Paula can't seem to stand that the attention has been off of her for so long, and completely loses it and starts doing sign language over the song followed by a weird "Cold-Hearted Snake" dance right in front of Renaldo. Simon can't help but smile, for once.

Renaldo's speech at the end nearly made me cry, right up until he said that Simon gives chances to any talents for free of charge. Where is this guy from that he's obsessed with free media and free auditions, but speaks (nearly) flawless English? Wherever he's from, he sure knows how to rock that silver cape.

I've gone on far too long about this. You should just download it and watch it three hundred times like I did. Then swoop around your house shrieking "I AM YOUR BRO-OH-THER until your boyfriend smothers you with a pillow.

Get Renaldo Lapuz's "We are Brothers" for free on iTunes this week.

Don't Look Away from Kate Voegele

2008-02-18T09:36:00.000-08:00

Artist-on-the-Rise Kate Voegele is young, hot, and was on One Tree Hill. And as we all know, that's the trifecta of success, the ultimate triple threat, that everyone in the music industry is looking for.

Turns out she's got some amazing pipes as well. Check out "Kindly Unspoken". The girl's voice is fascinating: a bit uncontrolled, definitely unique, and man can she belt. It's like searing, raw emotion in a bottle.

Kate Voegele's debut album has been hanging out in the top 10 of the iTunes charts for a while. It's now available for a limited time at the bargain price of $7.99.

Check out Kate Voegele on iTunes.

More Free TV

2008-02-18T09:30:00.001-08:00

More free tv episodes added to the iTunes store. Hurry, these will probably be gone tomorrow.

1. Pinks - Kansas City (22:36)
I don't really watch the Speed channel, but this show looks cool. People bring their most awesome car to race, and if they lose, they lose their car. Very Fast and the Furious except without Paul Walker moping around everywhere. Why is such a seemingly manly show called "Pinks"? Your guess is as good as mine. And mine involves tutus.

2. Jericho - Reconstruction (44:20)
Maybe the only example ever of fans asking a network to bring a show back, and the network listening. I watched a few episodes of it. It was pretty good, but I wasn't going to tie myself to desk at CBS for it or anything. Still, Season 2 premiere for free. Pick it up while you can.

3. The Animation Show - My Pepper Heart by PES (2:04)
I guess Mike Judge of Beavis & Butthead fame has a show where he showcases great animation? How have I not heard of this. One Mature Audiences Only animated short for your enjoyment.

Do You Like Rock Music?

2008-02-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, you've listened to the new Arcade Fire album about three million times at this point. You've mastered the delicate art of keeping the car running while no cars go, and you've secretly cranked out the beginning of "Intervention" at your church. It's still brilliant, but it's growing a little stale. So what else can you listen to?

For all of you Arcade Fire fans out there, let me suggest British Sea Power as a suitable alternative. Their newly-released album, "Do You Like Rock Music" has received universal acclaim from critics. Plus, it has all of the epic, sweeping, ethereal soundscapes that you look for from Arcade Fire. Their lyrics are just complex enough to be intriguing, and this indie band packs stadiums in the UK.

As a sampler, I recommend downloading the track "Waving Flags". Listening to it feels a bit like you're caught in an angry thunderstorm. Even if you don't like rock music, there's a chance you might by the end of the track...

Free iTunes TV Episodes

2008-02-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

Only a couple of free iTunes TV stuff this week.

1. Dirty Jobs - Viewers' Choice Extra (17:16)
I love Mike Rowe's dirty jobs show. I watch it every time I'm bumming about my desk job and thinking fun it would be to work in construction or something like that. Out under the open sky. Mike always brings me back to Earth and reminds me that working outside pretty much sucks. This is a collection of favorite moments, bloopers, and outtakes.

2. The Naked Brothers - Three Shorts (around 1 minute each)
Wait, the Naked Brothers are a Nickelodeon band? Isn't that a slightly risque name for a band targeted at kids? Sure, you've got the Barenaked Ladies, and the New Pornographers, but they aren't purposefully going after the 3rd grade demographic. Anyway, these ill-named brothers who are also a band have some short episodes for free available.

Joshua Radin and Ingrid Michaelson duet on "Sky"

2008-02-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

I discovered Joshua Radin through Zach Braff a few years ago. I was randomly reading Zach's blog, trying to figure out if he really was dating Mandy Moore or whether it was just rumor, when he mentioned that this guy Josh was the best singer/songwriter he'd ever heard.

This was during the time when I took Zach Braff's musical tastes incredibly seriously. So I checked him out and boy was I glad I did. I was obsessed with his album "We Were Here" for months.

Joshua has a new album coming out soon, and has released an EP with a few early songs on it. When I saw the first track, I nearly died, because if there's anybody I love more than Joshua Radin, it's Ingrid Michaelson. She's the one with the effulgent voice straight out of a 40's jazz club that does the Old Navy commercials with the "Take Me the Way I Am" song. She also has a weird music video with clowns in it.

Anyway, they sing a gorgeous duet called "Sky". Joshua's vocals sound more confident, the production is more lush, but it's still every bit as heart-wrenching as his earlier work. The song itself is adorably retro. I think I'm in love.

Download Joshua Radin & Ingrid Michaelson's "Sky" at iTunes.

Reader Tip: Free Thriller Video Upgrade

2008-02-15T09:46:00.001-08:00

We received a tip this morning from Ryan that anybody who recently purchased the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video should check their e-mail. iTunes is sending out one-time-use codes to download the 25th anniversary remastered version for free! Thanks, Ryan!

We Asked: You Voted

2008-02-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everybody who participated in our last feedback poll. It rocks that so many of you weighed in with your opinions.

Here are the results. The things you want to see more of on this site are:

1. More free media from iTunes: TV, movies, etc.
We'll immediately expand our free postings to include ALL free content on iTunes, not just the music.

2. More sweepstakes for free iTunes $$!
Our sweepstakes will keep going on a weekly basis. Drawings every Friday. Maybe you'll be the next winner!

3. More introductions to new artists and songs (like Feist, Kate Nash, Finger Eleven, etc.)
We spend a lot of time highlighting artists that are great values, but little time promoting new artists. We will dedicate a little more time to this in the future. But the focus will still be on the free stuff!

Thanks for your opinions. And if you have any other comments, feel free to e-mail us at freeitunesmusic (@) gmail (dot) com.

Meet our first free iTunes winner

2008-02-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

Our first free iTunes winner has finally made himself known. His name is Lyle and he greets us from the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii (my favorite place in the entire world).

With his 10 bucks in free iTunes, Lyle plans on buying Christian rock group Mainstay's new album: Become Who You Are (which, serendipitously, is available for $7.99 this week at the iTunes store). Excellent choice for value. He'll have a few bucks leftover to pick up some singles of his choice.

Congratulations, Lyle!

Remember, to sign up for the contest, all you need to do is subscribe to our daily e-mail, or feed. Rules are here. Drawings happen every Friday night. But check your mail! Winners are notified, and have five days to respond. If you don't get back to me, I'll draw another name!

Podcast of the week: Sub Pop Records

2008-02-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

Sub Pop Records may be the most successful indie label of all time. It's certainly my favorite. Sub Pop first achieved fame in the 1990's signing acts like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and MudHoney. You'd think that once grunge was over, it'd be difficult to see that kind of success ever again.

But Sub Pop has proven extremely resilient, reinventing themselves repeatedly, and signing amazing Seattle talent. Today their roster boasts artists like The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Postal Service, Rosie Thomas, Band of Horses, Modest Mouse, Wolf Parade, Rogue Wave, and dozens of other notable names.

With such a strong repertoire to choose from, it's no wonder that the Sub Pop Records Podcast boasts a free treasure trove of talent and great indie tracks.

It looks like they post music a little sporadically, but that doesn't diminish the quality at all. Great music. Free music. Check it out right away.

Get your V-day Tunes on the cheap!

2008-02-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

The night is planned. The dinner is cooked, the candles are lit, and you've scattered your rose petals. All that's left to do is to put on some special tunes.

You know the kind of tunes I mean. You need a smooth, soundtrack brimming with romance to complete the evening for your special someone.

Luckily, iTunes has you covered with 16 classic tracks for $6.99. All of these songs were, at one point, #1 hits on the Billboard charts.

The album includes:

I'll Make Love to You by Boyz II Men
Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Truly by Lionel Ritchie
More Than Words by Extreme

Pick up "Love Song #1's" for $6.99 this week only.

Free iTunes Tuesday: 2/12/2008

2008-02-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Free iTunes Tuesday! Got three new tracks for you this week, so let's just jump straight in, shall we?

1. Adele - Hometown Glory
I know that since the call came to boycott Amy Winehouse until she got help, we all faithfully put away our "Back to Black" CDs. Since then, we've had to come to terms with the gaping hole of neo-soul music that's left in our lives.

Well, the wait is over. Adele has heard your pleas, and has offered to fill in temporarily for Amy. There are some differences you're going to have to deal with: Adele is not anorexic by any stretch, her hair remains disturbingly close to her head rather than taking up residence in the upper stratosphere, and she behaves rather normally. All very new territory for us.

But the voice, ah....the voice. Whereas Amy's voice comes from a very guttural, no-nonsense place, Adele's soars. Her highs are brilliant, her lows smoky and intriguing. Her vocal acrobatics are quick and effortless, leaving you tingly with delight.

The free single track this week is reminiscent of Ingrid Michaelson with a clamoring piano accompaniment. On its own, it's a little flat, but in the context of her upcoming album, it's breathtaking. Pick up Adele's "Hometown Glory" for free.
2. Addison Road - All That Matters
Christian bands like Addison Road really get on my nerves sometimes. Not because I'm not into Christian music or anything, but because they're deceptive.

I'll be driving late at night, scanning the radio. And I'll stop because I hear a pretty groovy song. It sounds like Maroon Five, except with a girl singing. It's pretty groovy. I start getting excited.

The lyrics seem pretty normal - classic love song stuff:
"Cause all that matters is
All that matters is
I know your love has set me free
And that’s all that matters to me"

That's awesome. She had low self-esteem, and then this guy came along and set her free. Cool! But then the last verse hits me like a ton of bricks:
"My life comes from the One
Who made the stars and brought the sun
He loves me more than these
So I don’t need another identity"

Wha? She was singing about God that whole time? Dang it! Those tricksters! I was robbed! Why do they do that? Why do they need to trick us all into loving the Lord?

It's like telling your friends for weeks that you've been seeing this great new guy who's perfect for you, and then you finally arrange a big dinner where they're all going to meet him, and you sit down alone and pull out a life-size cardboard cut-out of the big JC instead. And your friends are like, "huh?"

Well, I've warned you. And now that you know, you should pick up the track, because despite its lying ways, it is cute and catchy.

3. Santos de Los Angeles - The Sweetest Thing

Our last track comes from Santos. Santos is Mexican-born, but was raised in LA. This track has him doing his best Bob-Marley-meets-Latino-crooner. And truly after listening to this track you will believe that everything will be all right.

Grab "The Sweetest Thing" for free.

Air Traffic is ready for take-off

2008-02-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Click here to see full music video for "Shooting Star".

While they've been steadily climbing the charts in the UK, Air Traffic released their "Fractured Life" album to the US just this week. Their piano-driven, indie-rock sound peppered with falsetto vocals certainly will do well if Keane and Coldplay are any indication.

I find Air Traffic's sound more versatile than either of their predecessors. They are younger, more raw, and offer more than one sound. Being the newbies that they are, sometimes this is to their detriment, but I believe in the long run it will be to their strength.

The first single will be "Charlotte", followed by "Shooting Star".

You can pick up their brand, smacking-new release for $7.99 this week.

Huge Hip-Hop & Rap Sale

2008-02-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

Huge hip-hop and rap album sale happening at iTunes this week. It's impossible to choose highlights from amongst this set of classic and new albums, so I'm going to tell you what's on sale and let you sort it out for yourself.

Eminem, Eric B. & Rakim, The Game, Gucci Mane, Public Enemy, Rakewon, The Roots, Slick Rick, Talib Kweli, Swizz Beatz, Lil Boosie, Pharoahe Monch, Ghostface Killah, Cam'Ron, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Fabolous, DJ Khaled, Styles P, Unk, DJ Envy & Red Cafe, T-Pain, Bow Wow & Omarion, Wyclef Jean, N.W.A., Common, Wu-Tang Clan, Keak da Sneak, Brother Ali, OutKast, Nas, Dudley Perkins, Gang Starr, Ice Cube, WC, Westside Connection, T.I., Oh No, and Tony Touch.

All albums on sale for $7.99.

Mika's 'Happy Ending' includes disembodied hands

2008-02-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's too bad the Grammy's, and even the VMAs, have neglected the "weirdest music video" category. I say this, because surely Mika's "Happy Ending" video would win it.

What did the pitch meeting for this video look like?

Producer: "So, we'll have you sleeping in a seven year old's room, and your stuffed animals will start singing to you. Then a balloon will grab you and suck you into Earth's orbit where, while wearing a hot pink blazer, you'll be serenaded by disemodied hands doing that face-talking thing from 'Labryinth'. Oh, and your shoes will be untied the entire time. It'll be a classic!"

Mika: "My shoes are untied the entire time? Do you really think people will buy that?"

Producer: "Good point. Okay, we'll make it a dream sequence then."

Trippy music video aside, you'll remember Mika from his hit "Grace Kelly" earlier this summer. In the US, he sort of disappeared off of that, but in the UK, the album went on to spin off a gazillion more #1 hits. Yes, a gazillion.

Mika himself is kind of awesome. He was an opera singer, who woke up one day and decided to go pop. All of the songs themselves have a timeless quality which will last in your music collection.

Pick up Mika's "Life in Cartoon Motion" for $7.99 on iTunes today.

Giveaway #1 Over, and Your Feedback Requested

2008-02-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

Giveaway#1 is over, and somebody has won $10 in free iTunes. I've asked him to get back to us soon with what he's bought with it.

If you didn't win, never fear. We're swinging straight into week #2's drawing for more free iTunes. Rules the same as the first. If you're already signed up to our mailing list, you are already entered to win.

The mailing list is still extremely small, so your odds to win are very good!

On another subject, we at Free iTunes Music are committed in improving our service to give you more of what you want.

In that spirit, take a moment to tell us what you would like to see more of (or less of!) on our site:

more at twiigs.com...

Introducing Yoav

2008-02-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

When Yoav (pronounced Yo-Av) was fifteen, he went to one of his first rock concerts: a Crowded House show in his native South Africa. Neil Finn asked if anybody from the audience wanted to come up and sing "In Temptation". The guy who was chosen sucked, and was boo'd off after two lines.

Then Neil said, "Ok, one more." All of Yoav's friends pointed at him, and he was chosen. He sang the entire song in front of 15,000 people to a standing ovation. He knew at that instant that music would be his career.

So perhaps we have Neil Finn to thank for one of the most innovative, compelling artists I have heard in a long time. It's difficult to classify Yoav's sound. "Damien Rice as produced by the Neptunes" says one review. "Justin Timberlake doing an acoustic record with Portishead" says another.

Yoav's love of electronic music and hip-hop forced him to figure out how to evoke those same rhythms and sounds on his acoustic guitar. Using effects pedals, the sound that Yoav can make as a single man on a stage is absolutely jaw-dropping on a live stage.

His music, however, is also equally compelling in a fully-produced setting, as it lends itself well to club treatments. To demonstrate some of the awesomeness that is Yoav, I give you two videos.

One is the fully produced "Club Thing". The other is Yoav alone on stage presenting "Beautiful Lie". I like "Club Thing", but as "Beautiful Lie" builds and opens up, it absolutely flattens me.

Yoav's newly released album is now available on iTunes for $7.99.

Beautiful Lie Video

Club Thing Video

Huge slew of free videos

2008-02-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Usually, we don't cover the free videos on iTunes because in truth, they aren't really very good. They're promos. Previews. To draw you in. They waste your hard drive space.

This week, however, there are a few quality views.

For grown-ups:
1. Lost: Past, Present, and Future (41:25)
It's been 9 months since Lost aired. If you're going to watch Season 4, you'd better watch this and refresh your memory on all of the mysteries you've forgotten existed.

2. The Big Gay Sketch Show (13:49)
Like SNL, but with all gay and lesbian relationships. Sort of funny.

3. My Big Redneck Wedding (21:24)
Since you were a little girl, I'm sure you dreamed of your perfect wedding day: riding in on your ATV with your green John Deere dress on, packing heat and ready to rumble. Wha? Full episode of this strange reality show from CMT.

4. Scott Baio is 46, and Pregnant (40:03)
Full Season 2 premiere from VH1. Mostly consists of Scott Baio sitting in a golf cart, freaking out about his girlfriend being pregnant and how his life is over.

5. Life of Ryan (21:02)
Full Season 1 premiere from MTV. As far as I can tell, Ryan is a skateboarder. But he's also a teenager. That's right: even though he's a skateboarder, he has problems like any other normal kid.

6. Rob & Big (21:29)
Full Season 3 premiere from MTV. Hysterical Rob & Big episode about finding a poop in the pool and sleuthing out who dropped it.

For Kids:
1. Ni Hau, Kai-lan: The Dragonboat Festival (24:05)
Full episode of cute kid's show with singing, dancing, and a smattering of Chinese.

2. A is for Asthma (20:37)
I love Sesame Street, but really? A is for Asthma? Really? Anyway, this is an Elmo focused Sesame Street where he learns what to do when his friend has an asthma attack. Can't wait for "H is for Heimlich"

3. Aprende Con Sesame (Learn along with Sesame - 22:22)
Cool Spanish-only Sesame episode. Great for kids or adults learning spanish, as the spanish is slow and well-articulated. In this episode, they discuss how awesome learning at school is. En espanol, claro. And no, I don't know how to make the swirly thing above the 'n' in my blog. Sorry.

Sara Bareilles won't write you a love song

2008-02-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite albums of 2007 is Sara Bareilles' Little Voice. Paradoxical title, really, because her voice is pretty dang huge, even in a live setting.

The video above is not the pervasive "Love Song", nor the upcoming single "One Sweet Love", but a live version of "City", one of the amazing ballads off the album. Hard to pick whether this is my favorite or "Between the Lines" or the soul-crushing "Gravity". I've fallen hard for literally every song.

Sara Bareilles rails at the comparisons to Norah Jones or Fiona Apple. And she's right to do so. She's much more a female version of Ben Folds than any of the her other ivory-tickling female contemporaries. Her accompaniments flirt with jazz chords, but are definitively pop, and her lyrics weave classic stories of love and heartbreak.

Little Voice is strong with just a touch of vulnerability; melodic with a touch of irony. Girls will instantly feel kinship with it. Guys will like it too because it's not overly sappy (and Sara is a touch of hot, herself).

Little Voice is available for $7.99 at iTunes.

Sean Kingston: Bonus Free Track

2008-02-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

Sean Kingston - "Eighteen"
Rather than our normal three free singles, we have a fourth free track this week!

From the singer of "Beautiful Girls" Sean Kingston brings us the free track "Eighteen" to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. Man, I feel old.

You've heard Kingston's stuff by now. It's reggae-inspired and imminently danceable.

I suggest you wish Sean a happy 18th by honoring his new right-to-vote and getting yourself out to vote in today's primaries. Afterwards, grab his free single.

Free iTunes Music Tuesday: 2.5.2008

2008-02-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to New Music Tuesday! Buckle up, and hold onto your butts - iTunes has pulled out all of the stops this week.

1. Yael Naim - "Far Far"
Ever since Yael's tune "New Soul" was featured in the MacBook Air commercial, her album has been burning up the charts. To tease us even further, iTunes is offering a sweet track that's a wonderful showcase for Yael's voice in "Far Far".

Yael is reminiscent of Feist and Regina Spektor, but has a sound all her own. Of French-Israeli origin, Yael has burned up the charts in France for some time, and her light accent complements her fluttering, breathy voice perfectly.

"Far Far" is a can't-miss download.

You may also want to check out her intoxicating full album. Best $9.99 I've spent this year so far.

2. We the Kings - "Check Yes, Juliet"
We've talked about We the Kings before, because their full album has long been available at the iTunes store for bargain of $5.99.

They remain an exuberant, young, up-and-coming band. The single is undeniably catchy, capitalizing on a story of the singer passing Juliet a note asking some kind of "Do you like me? check one: yes/no" question.

If she checks yes, apparently they get to run around the city in joy, never to be torn apart again. Happy endings! Grab We The Kings free single, and cheap cheap cheap album.

3. Maya & Veze Skante - "Back to You"
Veze Skante is quickly emerging as a latino hip-hop star. iTunes says it best: "This laid-back, head-nodding funk attack gives Veze the chance to unleash verses at his most relaxed and seductive." Myra sounds great on the chorus as well.

Not to diminish the awesomeness of this free track, I have to share with you my favorite comment from the YouTube video of this song:

"I really like this song alot....it reminds me of my ex- man.....he's in prison know..we still cool and we write to each other all the time...dam but this song...I can't find the lyrics!!! I'm trying to send them to him.....but no luck!!! well happy new Year people!!! Much Love!!!!"

So there you have it. The song is good enough to send the lyrics to your man in prison. That's something special. Grab it for free this week.

In Honor of the New York Giants...

2008-02-04T09:33:00.000-08:00

Last night was one of the best Superbowl games I have ever watched. That's how the game should be played. Tough. Smart. Physical. Great defense. Heart and determination. Never say die.

I'm thrilled to the pieces that the Giants pulled a huge upset. Don't get me wrong, I like Tom Brady, but I also love a great underdog story.

So, in honor of Eli Manning and his Giants, we bring you a few celebratory tracks:

1. Spoon - The Underdog
"You've got no fear of the underdog. That's why you will not survive." One of my favorite tracks from one of my favorite bands.

2. Death Cab For Cutie - We Looked Like Giants
True, it's mostly about making out with a girl in the back of his car, but when you get to the "We Looked Like Giants" part, you can throw your arms up and scream triumphantly.

3. Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
I can just see the team listening to this pre-game to get themselves psyched up. Creepy, atmospheric, and utterly defiant.

4. Joey Scarbury - The Greatest American Hero
The Manning family has that unassuming, all-American quality, don't they? I'm bracing myself for the new wave of Peyton/Eli commercials. In the meantime, how about giving Eli a theme song? Let's see: from the 80's, a bit cheesy, yet triumphant. This is perfect!

5. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits - $7.99
The halftime show was boring but classic. And I was actually reminded that Tom Petty existed, and that some of his songs are good! $7.99 is pretty decent for an 18 track greatest hits album.

Congrats NYGiants!

Free Flight of the Conchords Podcast

2008-02-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen Flight of the Conchords on HBO, it's a bit difficult to fully describe how entertaining this show is. It's kind of...quietly hysterical.

Basically, two New Zealanders who have a band move to New York to try to make it. They have a single fan, who stalks them mercilessly. Their band manager works at the New Zealand Tourism Bureau and calls attendance at the start of every meeting consisting of the three of them. The curiously side-splitting songs their band writes are interspersed into the episodes.

And their rap names? Hiphopapotamus and Rhymenocerus.

iTunes has a free Podcast promoting Flight of the Conchords that includes a number of the music videos from the show (including the Robots one above), and the video blogs of their crazed fan Mel.

If you want a bit more, iTunes is also offering an EP collection of a number of their best full songs for $5.94.

Thriller and Faith: Classics you've gotta have for $7.99

2008-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Michael Jackson and George Michael have a lot in common. I mean, there's the obvious fact that they both have "Michael" in their names. But the commonalities go even deeper than that.

Think about it:

1. Both were part of exploitative, soul-crushing bands when they were younger: GM with "Wham" and MJ with "The Jackson Five"

2. Both found themselves in weird legal trouble over sexually-related issues.
3. Both put out epic records in the 80's that will stand the test of time: Thriller, and Faith.

4. Both of those records are now available at the iTunes store for $7.99.

Let's take a look at these albums individually:

Michael Jackson - "Thriller"

What can I say about this album except to remind you of its tracklist? Wanna Be Startin' Something, The Girl is Mine, Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Human Nature, Pretty Young Thing...

Every song is a hit. Every note a classic. It is a must-have for any serious music lovers' collection.

George Michael - "Faith"

You have to be cautious when wearing heavy metals while listening to this album. Even things with high melting points are liable to do so in the presence of George Michael's soulful voice on his debut album.

The front half of the album contains the classics you know and love: Faith, Father Figure, I Want Your Sex, and One More Try. The back half has tracks that aren't as instantly memorable but are still brilliant showcases for GM's gorgeous, sexy voice.

Get Thriller and Faith for $7.99 at iTunes this week.

Get $10 in Free iTunes Music in our Weekly Contest!

2008-02-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Free iTunes Music's first weekly contest!!
Every week, we will give one lucky winner a gift certificate for $10 in Free iTunes Music. All you need to do to enter is to sign up for an e-mail subscription. That's it!

Not only will you keep getting updates on the best deals in iTunes, but you will be automatically entered to win $10 in free music every week.

Right now, our e-mail list is really small, so your odds of winning are very good. The earlier you sign up, the better your chances are to receive new music.

To sign up for e-mail and enter the contest, click here.
Good luck!

Fine Print Rules:

You must be a verified subscriber (meaning you clicked the link sent to verify your address).
Your e-mail information is 100% private. We won't reveal it to anyone.
You must be subscribed by midnight, 2/8/2008 to qualify. If you unsubscribe before the drawing, you cannot be chosen.
All previous week's subscribers automatically qualify for the next week's contest.
Anybody suspected of cheating or scamming the system will be disqualified.
If you'd prefer to subscribe to the feed, that's fine, but I'll need some sort of proof (like a screenshot of your feed reader with the feed in it). Send me an e-mail with proof at freeitunesmusic@gmail.com, and I'll add you to the contest list (don't worry, no SPAM to your e-mail address).
Winners will be notified via the e-mail address they are subscribed with. Prize will be delivered via same address.

Puressence: iTunes Editor's Music Choice

2008-02-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

iTunes has started a new regular editorial feature called "Editor's Music Choice" where they select an unknown artist and significantly mark down their album.

This week's is a band out of the UK. Manchester, specifically, which is in the North. Where men are men and soccer is football.

Puressence have been around for quite a while, but they haven't done much lately. Apparently they left their record label after they were told they "needed to sound more like Savage Garden". Can't say I blame them.

But they are back, with a new album. The music is good. It sounds a bit 90ish, as you might expect from a legacy band. But the vocals (yes, that is a man singing) are intriguing, and there is an upbeat poppiness that sets my toes-a-tappin'.

Check out Puressence on iTunes for the bargain price of $5.99.

Free Podcast of the Week: iTunes New Music Tuesday

2008-01-31T11:00:00.000-08:00

One of the best ways on iTunes to get access to free tracks is through the Podcasts. This week, we are featuring a podcast that comes from iTunes themselves.

iTunes New Music Tuesday plays the new singles from the freshly released mainstream albums. Last week's included Natasha Bedingfield, Matt Costa, and CL Smooth. Previous weeks have featured Kelly Rowland, Kate Nash, Alicia Keys, and Radiohead.

The host's banter is a bit annoying, but it's brief. If you want to get some great new music for free, subscribe now.

Kate Nash uses mouthwash, breaths out fresh tracks

2008-01-30T10:31:00.001-08:00

From across the Atlantic, waterskiing in the wake of Lily Allen, comes Kate Nash. Her two singles, "Foundation" and "Mouthwash" are everywhere right now.

Though she shares a country of origin with Miss Lily Allen, musically Kate Nash seems to share more in common with Regina Spektor. She plays piano brilliantly. Her music has humor, irony, spunk, spirit, and a knack for capturing the angsty joy of young adulthood. Plus: her accent is irresistible.

Her debut album "Made of Bricks" opened as #1 in the UK. In it she sings about dickheads and discos, trainers and tarts. The stories she weaves are true-to-life, and frenetically fun.

Made of Bricks is $7.99 on iTunes right now. Great deal for a universally acclaimed #1 album. Get it now before the price goes up.

Free Music Tuesday on iTunes: 1.29.08

2008-01-29T16:19:00.000-08:00

Finally! The wait is over! iTunes has finally updated their store with new free tracks for this week. And there are some gems!

1. Raheem DeVaughn - "Woman"

We begin with a track from Raheem DeVaughn called "Woman". For starters, is that a smooth name or what? But that's not all he's got going for him.

This particular track is Grammy-nominated. Yes, you heard me right. This track has been nominated for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance" at the 2008 Grammys.

Raheem is a premium artist on the verge of explosion. It's rare you get a song of this quality for free. Download it immediately.

2. James Otto - "Just Got Started Lovin' You"

Next is a great country track from James Otto. I'm not terribly familiar with James Otto's music, but he has a sonorous bass voice with just a hint of sauciness to it. Plus, he's a local Fort Lewis Navy boy, so holler!!

Apparently this song is #28 on the country charts right now, so it's probably getting some radio play. It didn't blow me away, but I dug it. Check it out.

3. Pedro Capo - "Esta Noche"

Honestly, some of the best unknown tracks iTunes pulls out are the latino pop ones. This week's is from Pedro Capo. Pedro Capo is the son of Bobby Capo, who was an extremely famous Puerto Rican singer in his day.

And continuing in the tradition of latino musical sons, Pedro is hot. Not Enrique Iglesias hot, but he's got his own thing going on.

I love the excitement and tradition of this music. Pick it up this week or face paying $.99 for it next week.

Katherine Heigl's husband has shape-shifting abilities, reasonably priced album

2008-01-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

Josh Kelley is a fairly new artist on the scene, probably known more for his marriage to Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl than for any meaningful music contributions thus far.

But things seem to be falling in place for Josh Kelley. He's got the trendy Converse sneaks, he's got his hot wife in his music video, and he's just released a pretty catchy album with mainstream appeal.

Since it's release date on 1/17, "Special Company" has been hanging out in the iTunes top 10 albums, so I decided to check it out.

The album is incredibly versatile. Josh is a veritable musical chameleon. There are some moments when I would swear I was listening to John Mayer with breathy vocals and impeccably picked guitar. Then suddenly he's straddling his guitar like a rock demi-god and wailing impossibly high notes. He shifts again, his voice light, and jazzy, trilling out warbling falsetto like no one's business. Blink, and he's channeling country harmonies and twang.

Time will tell if this tremendous versatility serves to make Josh a superstar, or simply confuses his listeners. But the diversity of the album will keep you intrigued and listening. And it's a steal at $7.99 on iTunes.

Pick up Josh Kelley's "Special Company" for $7.99.

Paula Abdul + Randy Jackson = Suprisingly Not Terrible.

2008-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I first heard that Paula Abdul was staging a comeback, I ran to the internet to ascertain whether pigs, had in fact, sprouted wings and were spotted zooming through the skies. No such luck. The internet only confirmed the rumors. My skin began to crawl and I began sweating profusely. I could smell disaster on the horizon.

My fear was rooted in my experience last year watching the reality show "Hey, Paula!". Anybody who saw that show could only conclude that Paula Abdul was a slightly more advanced-in-age nutjob than Brittany Spears. And we all know what happened with Brittany's "comeback..."

But I should have known better. Paula's American Idol handlers would never let her do something that would cast a negative light on the show. And in fact, the first single, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow", is out and it's...shockingly good.

Sure, it's so heavily produced (by none other than Mr. Randy Jackson), you can't really hear Paula's voice. There's auto-tuner on every note, but I suppose you could argue it's stylistic. It's catchy and danceable, and still somehow keeps some of the essence of Paula's music from the 80's.

Grab "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" now before Paula debuts it at the Superbowl next Sunday!

Jeremy Fisher makes good music, weird videos.

2008-01-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

As we countdown towards more free music on iTunes, indulge me in bringing you something a little bit different.

I was first exposed to Jeremy Fisher via a Paste Magazine CD Sampler featuring the song "The Scar that Never Healed". The track went into my car where I played it for three straight months, fiercely loving all of its quirky boppiness, and then promptly forgot about it.

I was then reminded of Jeremy Fisher again in seeing his video for "Cigarette" on YouTube. The guy literally spent hours moving around a little play-doh cigarette. That kind of effort and dedication is worth some kind of reward, so I checked out his album on iTunes.

I was thrilled with what I found. First off, the album is great. Jeremy vocally delivers a bit like Tom Petty, but over super-happy, poppy, guitar-picking goodness. He can build up your heart, and then break it all over again with equal fervor. I enjoy every track.

But best of all, the album is only $5.99 on iTunes. I can't imagine why: it's $12.98 at Amazon. But it's a fantastic deal. Plus, you get two more awesomely homespun music videos from Jeremy's strange and fantastic brain.

Pick up Jeremy Fisher's "Goodbye, Blue Monday" today for only $5.99.

The hotness of OneRepublic

2008-01-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

There's pretty much no chance that you haven't heard OneRepublic's smash hit: Apologize. It's been all over the air waves this winter. I'm sure you were, like myself, captured instantly by the soaring vocals of lead vocalist Ryan Tedder. His last name is Tedder? How cute is that? With those little chubby cheeks he absolutely could be a chubby teddy bear.

I digress. OneRepublic blew up on MySpace this year, and then blew up even further under the arm of Timberland. Personally, I think their raw track sounds way better than the Timberland remix, but judge for yourself. What I'm here to talk about is the album.

The album is really amazing. If you like The Fray, Coldplay, and Maroon 5, OneRepublic has a knack of mixing some of the most striking features of each of these bands: the wunderkind pianist, the soaring falsetto, and the funky soulfulness.

Listening through, you'll cycle through getting goosebumps and getting pumped up. The entire record rockets with cathartic release.

And get this: iTunes has it on sale for $7.99! That's $2 less than amazon and $5 less than you'll pay in the store. In addition to 13 great tracks, you'll get 3 music videos and a digital booklet with pics of the band.

Get OneRepublic for $7.99 at iTunes today!

Get Radiohead's "In Rainbows" for free on iTunes

2008-01-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

If you were living under a rock, you might not have heard how Radiohead made history by offering their latest album, In Rainbows, on the internet for "whatever price you felt like paying" (plus a not-frequently-publicized $2 transaction fee). Gazillions of people got the album for "free", but many others chipped in lots of cash.

The album is now in stores for a normal amount of money, but Radiohead demonstrated how they could break the cd business model and still make bank.

Well, they're at it again. Not satisfied with breaking the mold in one way, Radiohead is now offering their item up for free AGAIN. This time as a podcast. Yup. You can download the entire podcast, and listen to the album as often as you want to. For free.

In truth, it is a great album. Radiohead gets a lot of idol worship that may or may not be undeserved, but this is the first album of theirs in a while that actually feels accessible to me. Their last few, I kind of appreciated the music for its complexity and innovation, but I wasn't couldn't really get into it. It was like Thom Yorke was executing some inside joke that only he and a select base of fans were privy to. I wasn't moved by it.

This record is a pleasure to listen to. Pick it up for free and rediscover the genius of Radiohead.

iTunes Free Music: Week of 1/22/07

2008-01-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

1. The March – Astra Heights

I’m digging the title of this song, because it describes exactly what’s going on in the music. A driven, heavy guitar is the perfect accompaniment for a long, arduous march down the road that you’re trying to liven up a bit.

While Astra Heights’ sound is classic Brit rock, they are apparently a bunch of Hispanic brothers with one half-Greek/half-Chinese honorary brother in the mix. They pay homage extremely well, sounding a bit like a mellowed out Fratellis. There’s a lot to like here: soaring vocals, crisp harmonies, and solid production.

My initial thought on hearing their sound was that it was a bit muddled. I wanted it to go fully dirty and gritty, or a bit more glam and polished. But it grew on me after a few listens. I’d watch out for these guys. I have a sneaking suspicion they are going to be huge.

Grab their free single, and check out their full album here for an extremely reasonable $5.99.

2. Ashley Shepherd - Takin' Off This Pain

Listen to Ashley's song and then guess her age. Go on. I'll wait.

You back? Okay. I bet you never guessed that the girl with that enormous, mature voice is only 21 years old. Yup, and she's as cute as a little button too.

I'm always a fan of young talented people. She's obviously a good musician, and I think she'll be big on the country circuit. She's already getting some radio play, and I say good for her.

But, there's a weird dichotomy created by her appearance, her voice, and the song lyrics. She looks like an adorable girl-next-door. Very sweet and innocent. But with her big, adult voice and her lyrics, it's almost like RCA is trying to market her as older than she actually is.

I mean, she's already holding a beer in one hand and being disillusioned with her marriage with the other? At 21? Really?

Despite my confusion, and a sometimes harsh timbre to her voice like she's pushing it too hard, I like Ashton Shepherd. She's newly signed, and her album isn't yet, so grab her single and consider yourself lucky to have gotten a preview.

Free Music Podcast of the Week

2008-01-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

This is the time of the week where we remind everybody that one of of the best ways to get access to free music on iTunes is to download music podcasts.

One of my favorites is the IndieFeed series of podcasts. This week, we are featuring the IndieFeed Alternative/Rock Music podcast.

These podcasts are fantastic. They aggregate some of the hottest and upcoming acts in music and feature one great track a day. The result is a collection of music that would be extremely pricey for you to acquire yourself. It's a cheap way to broaden your tastes and find great music.

And what do they get in return for this great deal they're giving you? Nothing really, as far as I can tell. So support their true altuism and download their podcast.

Get the podcast.

Free iTunes Music: Week of 1.17.08

2008-01-17T14:20:00.001-08:00

1. Black Tide - "Shockwave"
It's the return of rock! All you rockers out there will be very pleased with this week’s free track from Black Tide. It’s all here: classic vocals, raging guitars, and bad attitudes. It hearkens back to the days when Guns N’ Roses were roaming the streets, all bad-ass. But with slightly more metal influences. Funny story: you’d never guess from listening to this track at how young the band members are.

2. Monareta - "Llama"
I was totally digging this track from Monareta, a South American duo. It’s very hip, boppy reggae with some random Spanish vocals, electronic effects, and the occasional jazzy horn sample. Then, somewhere in the middle of the track, something bad started happening.

It sounded as if they added someone scraping an electronic washboard to their wall of sound. I know, it sounds like that would be cute and folksy, but it started buzzing my speakers so badly I thought something was wrong with my computer.

I’d recommend downloading it and skipping the last two minutes. The song is too long anyway.

3. Angie Mattson - "Thank You"
“Thank You” is a nice, if-unremarkable track from Angie Mattson. Angie has a standard-issue smoky voice, and apparently a standard-issue grateful heart. It’s the kind of track that gets tossed as a P.S. onto the end of an album. ‘Thank You’ isn’t really a showcase for her songwriting skills, and the instrumentals trap her between country and jazz genres, which is a misrepresentation of her work. This is all too bad, because this is probably the biggest exposure Angie will see for a while, and she actually has some pretty good stuff.

I can think of worse things to listen to as you’re trying to fall asleep, so it’s worth picking up for that, if nothing else.

New Free Singles Tuesday

2008-01-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday and that means we have three new free singles available. This week's are a significant step up from last week's. You're going to want to download all three

1. Time to Pretend - MGMT
iTunes was having some trouble with this track when I attempted to download it, so I'll add a link once it's started behaving. Luckily, I'm very familiar with this band. MGMT (said: management) is a fantastic up-and-coming band that mixes indie pop and electro-rock to spectacular results.

They are very difficult to describe, but immediately compelling: rock-oriented vocals and harmonies find their way through buzzing bass and chill beats. The result is something like nothing else you've ever heard, but you're going to want to hear a lot more of.

2. Quien Eres Tu - Maria Jose (featuring Trey Songz)
Maria Jose is already extremely well known in Mexico, as part of the pop group Kabah. This is the first single off her first solo effort, and is already rocketing up the charts.

It's not hard to see why. Not only is she beautiful, but the music is catchy. Think late-era Spice Girls in Spanish. Most of the song is in Spanish (the title translates to 'Who are you?'), but Trey Songz does some gorgeous over the song all in English, so still definitely worth picking up for you English-only speakers out there.

3. Celebration - The Modern Tribe
Forget lyrics here. It's impossible to hear precisely what vocalist Katrina Ford is saying as she warbles through this single. But you won't need them. The music is so full, it doesn't really afford for luxuries like words or breath. Katrina is an extremely interesting, versatile vocalist, sounding in turns like Feist cut free from pretentions, then like a mellow Karen O.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio influences can be heard here, but largely the music surges forward on its own merits.

After listening to this single, I feel like I've eaten an enormous aural meal. My ears are full. I need to go find a pallette cleanser somewhere.

$7.99 Greatest Hits Sale

2008-01-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Everybody needs to get those oldies but goodies into their mp3 collection. Those songs that you grew up with, danced to in front of the mirror, and would secretly still like to dance to in front of the mirror.

In honor of that spirit, iTunes is having a $7.99 sale for a large number of their Greatest Hits albums. What's good about this? Two things:
1. Greatest Hits albums have lots of rad songs on them, so there is a high awesomeness:crap ratio. And,
2. Greatest Hits albums have TONS of songs on them. Usually 15-18. Meaning that you're getting a great value for your money.

Here are some of the highlights of the sale that I would recommend:

1. U218 Singles - U2
I cannot emphasize enough what a great deal this is. Not only are you getting U2's 18 top hits, but 10 other songs as well, including 9 live tracks. That's 28 U2 songs for $7.99. I call that value for money.

And don't tell me that you don't need U2. Everybody needs U2. Sure, 15 years ago you collected all of the cds, but along the way your car got broken into and they were stolen, or there was a tragic accident involving a dog, or after getting super emo after a bad break-up, you listened to 'With or Without You' on repeat for 43 hours straight and your cd player imploded, cd still inside.

Plus, Bono will just give the proceeds of the album purchase to Africa or something. So it's practically giving to charity and getting great music in return. C'mon. You need it. You know it.

2. Journey's Greatest Hits
Journey is one of those bands that nobody pretends to like, and then you open their car doors and "Just a small town girl, livin' in a lone-ly wo-ooorld. She took the midnight train goin' ehhn-eeee-where..." comes blaring out. And you get in the car, reseal the doors, and join them in air guitar for the next four glorious minutes.

Seriously, this album is so guilty-pleasure good that it pangs my heart strings. 16 tracks, among them: Don't Stop Believing, Any Way You Want It, Open Arms, Faithfully, and more sheer awesomeness.

Other Highlights:

Best band of the 90's: Smashing Pumpkins' Greatest Hits
My first introduction to David Bowie was in the movie Labryinth, with giant hair and tight, bulging spandex pants. My eyes took years to heal. But turns out he makes some great music too: Best of Bowie
Yeah, you know 'Man on the Moon', but if you haven't fallen in love to 'NightSwimming', you don't really know REM yet: REM's Greatest Hits
Listen to the chord progression of a train wreck in action: Britney Spears' Greatest Hits
I only recently got into the Cure. There's something timelessly cool about them: The Cure Greatest Hits

Post a comment about your favorite greatest hit album!

Free Singles for the Week of 12.31.07

2008-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I've been on vacation, so these are a bit late, but we'll get back to the regular posting schedule this Tuesday.

The fact of the matter is, you didn't miss much. This week's free singles on iTunes are insanely horrible. I just finished listening to them and when I came too found that I had ripped my own ears off in self-defense. But they are free, right? And since that's all that really matters, let's review.

1. Buck Buck - DJ Envy and the Red Cafe

I can picture the recording session for this single now. They met a rapper who was great but his talent was handicapped by a slight stutter. Still, they let him into the studio, and gave him the mike for his big shot. "Buck, Buck, Buck, Buck, Buck, Buck" was all he could get out, sounding frustrated and angry, foam building up in his mouth as he tried to spit out the right syllables. But we are left bereft and aching at what mysteries he never got to reveal. Buck Rogers, perhaps? Bucking Cowboys? We'll never know...

Seriously, this is the single worst song I have ever downloaded from iTunes. You might want to download it for the sheer entertainment value. There's an incomprehensibly bizarre bridge in the middle of the song where some atonal singing begins and there's a bunch of gunshot noises. I guess sometimes with iTunes, you really do get what you pay for.

2. Sola - Insight
One of the reviewers on the iTunes site captured it best: this sounds like a cover band of Fall Out Boy singing in Spanish. Nowhere near as offensive to the ears as the first track, but a bit sloppy and lacking in any meaningful hooks. Maybe the lyrics are really moving, but my three years of junior high spanish only let me pick out the phrases "and where are you" and "I only think of you", so likely not. Still, worth the download.

3. Spring Again - Lanae' Hale

Lanae' Hale is mysterious. Is she a country, pop, or Christian artist? Why does she do that hiccuping thing with her voice at the end of a perfectly good note? Why does she have a seemingly needless apostrophe at the end of her first name?

Mysterious or not, thanks to this week's competition lowering the bar so low that we had to dig a hole six inches underneath the ground to accomodate it, she has contributed the best single of this week. It's a bit syrupy, but I can't say I disagree with the sentiment. I very much want spring to come again. And she has a quirky, but not quite-quirky-enough, way of singing about that. So, yea Lanae'!

Great Alternative Rock Albums for $7.99 and less!

2007-11-09T13:57:00.001-08:00

1. The National - Boxer - $7.99
People I know have called this the best album of 2007. It may not grab you on first listen, but when the album reluctantly opens up to you, you will marvel at its beauty. Spend some time with the lyrics, and you will marvel at how they reflect you. Put it on when you're driving on a dark road late at night and marvel in the instant appropriateness.

2. Regina Spektor - Fidelity - $7.99
You've probably heard a few of the songs from Regina's breakthrough album: Begin to Hope. Many of Regina's fans also adore her prior album: Fidelity, where Regina really started to come into her own.

If you haven't heard Regina, it's a bit difficult to describe. She is unique. You can compare her to Fiona Apple, but you have to replace moody angst with whimsical glee. You can compare her to Tori Amos, but you have to replace ugly crazy with adorable smarts. Her Russian/Jewish heritage are an important part of her work, as is her classical music background, but she wraps it all in a package that is fresh, accessible, quirky, and profound.

Highlights include: "Us", a dreamy tiptoe through the clouds that stunningly turns out to be about the fall of the Soviet Empire, "Somedays" and "Ode to Divorce" which will both tug at your heartstrings, and the irrepressible "Sailor Song" where Regina screeches out "Marianne's a bitch" and we still find her enchanting.

3. We the Kings - We the Kings - $5.99
I don't know much about We Are the Kings. They are opening for Boys and Girls and Metro Station on the road, and I like both of those bands, so that's a good sign. They sound pretty tight for a new band, reminding me of a younger Jimmy Eat World, or of their touring partners, Boys and Girls. Armed with tight harmonies, shaggy hair, and youth on their side, these guys could be going somewhere. It's a great deal, so pick it up if you're young and into new music.

Is the Starbucks Free iTunes Promo still going on?

2007-11-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Does anybody know if the Starbucks free iTunes promo is still happening? I think it was technically supposed to end 11/7, but iTunes still has links on their site to it. Are folks still getting hand-outs?

Great Mew Album for $6.99

2007-11-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of Mew, you should definitely check them out. They are a Danish quartet, and they create music on an epic scale rarely heard these days. Their vocals float on driven, dreamy soundscapes that calm and rage simultaneously.

The first Mew album I heard was the 2005 effort "And the Glass Handed Kites". It's a brilliant effort, with an incredibly cheesy looking cover. Do yourself a favor, and get past the cover art and go preview 3 tracks: "Apocalypto", "Special", and the "The Zookeeper's Boy".

$6.99 is an absolute steal for this record, which is offered for $12.98 at Amazon.com and $14.88 at Walmart.com

More Good Albums for $7.99

2007-11-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

When good albums are going for $7.99 on iTunes, we like to call them out, because that's a great deal for legit tunes.

1. The Office - A Night at the Ritz
'The Office' is the band with the unfortunately timed name. Every time I mention them to friends they respond, "Yeah, that Dwight guy is hilarious!" Despite the confusion with the similarly named television show, the band 'The Office' has produced one of the more satisfying albums of the year.

You may have picked up their free single earlier this year on iTunes. I strongly recommend that you pick up their full album now. This album is pure pop bliss: jangly harmonies, charming lyrics, and a sound that sounds simultaneously fresh and retro. At $7.99, it's a steal.

2. Mat Kearney - Nothing Left to Lose
You may not know it, but you've definitely heard Mat Kearney's music by now. It's been featured in Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, The Closer, and just about every other show ever produced that uses emotional pop filler in the background.

But don't hold that against Mat. He's struggled to gain his footing against all of the other singer/songwriter Matt's: Matt Costa, Matt Nathanson, and Matt Pond PA. But Mat is different in three major ways: 1. He only has one "t" in his first name. 2. he sings AND raps. Shockingly well. 3. He's really very, very good.

I love his voice. It sounds familiar to me somehow, like Adam Duritz and Chris Martin gave birth to a robust baritone with earnest, urgent delivery, who was also capable of leaping into falsetto or rap modes at any given moment. Pick up this album for $7.99 and you'll be getting some great songs, and at least four brilliant songs: the catchy "Undeniable", the soulful "Where we Gonna Go From Here", the pop anthem "Nothing Left to Lose", and "All I Need", the absolutely gorgeous ballad written for his friends in Katrina.

3. Big Change - Song for FINCA
Natalie Portman really wants you to buy this album. Or, that's what I've gathered from the giant picture of her head on the iTunes album page.

Seriously though, Natalie handpicked these songs and put together this album to support FINCA, an organization that offers a proven program of microloans to village entrepreneurs in Africa.

The album itself is a bit sprawling, plodding along with introspective singer-songwriter fare. I can't help but wish giving money to Africa made Natalie feel a little more uptempo. But who can argue with 16 tracks for $7.99? And there are some real gems on here: Tokyo Police Club's "Be Good" is undeniably infectious, the heartbreaking "Ain't No Reason" from Brent Dennen, and Rogue Wave's gently inspiring "How We Landed" is jaw-droppingly gorgeous when it opens up.

If you're feeling charitable and want some good tunes to boot, pick this album up.

Free Bright Eyes Track

2007-11-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

I'm not terrible certain why this single Bright Eyes track is available for free, but it's Conor at his angriest and most powerful. It's definitely worth checking out. A highlight of some of the lyrics:

When the President talks to God
Do they drink near beer and go play golf
While they pick which countries to invade
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess God just calls a spade a spade
When the President talks to God

When the President talks to God
Does he ever think that maybe he's not?
That that voice is just inside his head
When he kneels next to the presidential bed?
Does he ever smell his own bullshit
When the President talks to God?

Get "When the President Talks to God - Bright Eyes" for free on iTunes.

Free Music Podcast of the Week

2007-11-07T10:59:00.001-08:00

One of the least known, but best ways to get free music on iTunes is to subscribe to the music podcasts. Many of the free music podcasts offer a new single daily, or weekly. They are often from top notch artists as well. Sure, they show up in the "Podcasts" section of your iTunes library instead of the "Music" section, but you can still enjoy the great music, right? You can still put it on a playlist, burn a cd, etc.

This week's free music podcast is the KEXP Song of the Day. KEXP is an excellent radio station based out of Seattle that plays an eclectic mix of indie bands. Artists recently featured on their podcast include Tunng, Metric, Pinback, Band of Horses, Tokyo Police Club, the Editors, Spoon, Iron & Wine, and more!

This Week's $7.99 Albums: Solo Female Artists

2007-11-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

iTunes offers a subset of its albums at the great price of $7.99. Don't bother hunting through to find them all -- we take care of it for you!

This week is a great week to pick up some great solo female artists if that's your scene. All for $2 less an album than your traditional iTunes music.

1. Sara Bareilles - Little Voice

Some compare Sara to Norah Jones or Fiona Apple, but she has neither the fluidity nor the agenda to align with either of those artists. I would instead label her "the female Ben Folds": apt at creating potent, poppy melodies (with the occasional jazzy hook) that tell vivid stories. I have listened to her album more times than I can count this year. Highly Recommended.

2. A Fine Frenzy - One Cell in the Sea

According to the VH1 video that I saw, "A Fine Frenzy" is just a 20 year old girl with orange hair. She sings pretty well, but on piano she's limited to pounding out simple chords in 4/4 time. Despite the pervasive too-tender angst, the songwriting doesn't underwhelm, and sometimes surprises. It's unchallenging music for a rainy day.

3. Vanessa Carlton - Heroes & Thieves

It was impossible for me not to like Vanessa Carlton's first album with the "Thousand Miles" song, but then that got played three billion times, and then I saw randomly saw Ms. Carlton peddling Candie's shoes in my local mall, and the mystique was just gone for me.

But a further listen of her latest album is surprising. The songwriting is tight and fresh. Songs like "Spring Street" showcase a seriously maturity emerging in her work. Her voice is sometimes a little too precious for me still, but Vanessa Carlton is no longer playing it safe.

4. Emmy Rossum - Inside Out

If Imogen Heap, a posse of opera singers, and a flock of ethereal chipmunks made sweet sweet love and had a baby, it might produce this album. Last time I checked, Emmy Rossum has an awesome voice, so I'm not certain why her production team is hiding it behind an army of effects and dubovers.

The sparser tracks might have the answer. Emmy sometimes can bust it out and leave you surprised and breathless, but other times has trouble fleeing her diaphragm-supported, open-vowel, operatic roots, and embracing something a little rougher. For $7.99, it's an interesting acquisition. For any higher, only buy it if you are a 14 year old girl or a die-hard Phantom Fan.

Pre-Order the Live Earth album, get a free song

2007-11-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

Live Earth was a concert to raise awareness of Global Warming that took place this summer. I think the general consensus is that it was a bit of a bust, but the live album coming out looks pretty fantastic, with live performances from Madonna, the Foo Fighters, The Police, Roger Waters, and more.

If you pre-order now, you get a free copy of John Mayer's live performance of "Waiting on the World to Change".

iTunes Store Free Singles of the Week

2007-11-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

Free Singles of the Week for this week are:
1. Cheri Dennis - Remind You
Cheri has a great voice. The repetitive piano instrumental is pretty annoying, but I started digging the track despite it. It's not an iTunes free single classic, but it's tolerable free music.

2. Bengala - Miente
It's in Spanish, but it's passable enough adult contemporary rock.

3. Sterling Harrison - Don't you Mess with my Money
The best free track this week. This guy's got soul, and there's no denying it.