iTunes: Free Wednesday
Once again, TUAW is pleased to present you with a selection of free songs and videos from around the world. Many of these iTMS items won't be free for long, so grab your copies before the week is up. And don't forget: If you want to buy these on your iPhone or iPod touch, make sure to sign into your account in iTunes before you sync.
US Items
US: The Ting Tings, Great DJ – Single of the Week
The Ting Tings are an English duo made up of Jules De Martino and Katie White who formed in Salford in 2006. Their style is one that is pure adrenalin and pop music and some kind of unnamed sugary confection thrown in to make it stick. The singles in their so-brief career have been like bubble-gum electro-pop with guitars. But the catchiness of "Great DJ" is also due to the song-craft underneath, integrating play yard melodies with a touch of indie rock hooks. Their first full-length We Started Nothing sees the light in the spring of 2008.
Note: the Ting Tings track "Shut Up and Let Me Go" is the music for the current iPod/iTunes ad.
US: Santogold, L.E.S. Artistes – Discovery Download
Each week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week.
Our Discovery Download puts the focus on a different genre each week, offering up a free track we think is worth your attention. Santi White is Santogold, a Brooklyn child running wild in the indie pop jungle. She raps and sings over a brutal concoction of dub, punk, electro, and new wave, eliciting positive comparisons to Karen O, Annabella Lwin, and M.I.A. The single "L.E.S. Artistes" shows Santogold's depth in a temperate slap at elitism. Influential producers such as Diplo, Freq Nasty, Mark Ronson, Switch, XXXchange, and Naeem (Spankrock) lined up to appear, produce, and remix songs from her forthcoming self-titled album. Get on the Santogold bandwagon while there's still room.
US: Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible, Akai 47 – Discovery Download
Our Discovery Download puts the focus on a different genre each week, offering up a free track we think is worth your attention. Bostich + Fussible are two members of Nortec Collective (Ramon Amezcua and Pepe Mogt) who created most of the songs on Tijuana Sound Machine while on tour with the larger group. "Akai 47" is a glitchy, frenetic mix of electronics that is resolutely Latin in origin of rhythm – accordion samples are whipped into a frenzy while the beat is a serious party starter with heavy influence from traditional ranchera music.
US: Alex Cuba, Agua del Pozo – Canción de la Semana
Each week, we find a track from an artist or a band who's on the cusp of success and bring it to you, for free, as our Canción de la Semana. Alex Cuba is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from (take a guess...) Cuba who also calls Canada home. This track is from his second album, Agua Del Pozo, a mellow collection of soulful rhythms and strikingly agreeable melodies. His music has a touch of his Cuban roots, but has a knack for melancholy that is like a combination of sad Brazilian sambas and more American-ized baroque pop.
US: How I Met Your Mother, How I Met Your Mother, Season 3
In Season 2 Ted was at the top of his game, working as a successful architect and deeply in love with his girlfriend Robin. In the season finale, while Ted's roommates – best friend Marshall, and Lily, his new wife, head off to their honeymoon, Ted and Robin reveal the sad news of their break-up to Barney, their friend with endless, sometimes outrageous opinions, a penchant for suits, and a foolproof way to meet women. At first Barney is shocked and saddened by their revelation, but he doesn't waste any time and starts planning Ted's return to single life . . . which Barney insists will be "legendary!" So as Season 3 begins, Ted's search continues to find true love . . .
US: Introduction to The South Beach Diet Supercharged!
Diet
International Music
Australia: MGMT, Weekend Wars – Single of the Week
Each week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. MGMT is a group from Brooklyn whose debut was produced by Flaming Lips constant, Dave Fridmann. They also spent a good part of 2007 creating new fans while opening for Of Montreal. Brightly-lit psychedelic rock with electronic overtones is how you might describe "Weekend Wars". It's a blinding pop gem bedazzled with laser rays and glam-rock's finesse.
New Zealand: MGMT, Weekend Wars – Single of the Week
Each week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. MGMT is a group from Brooklyn whose debut was produced by Flaming Lips constant, Dave Fridmann. They also spent a good part of 2007 creating new fans while opening for Of Montreal. Brightly-lit psychedelic rock with electronic overtones is how you might describe "Weekend Wars". It's a blinding pop gem bedazzled with laser rays and glam-rock's finesse.
Canada: Kreesha Turner, Bounce With Me – Single of the Week
This week, the spotlight is on Edmonton-based Kreesha Turner and her R&B- and soul-inflected pop. The track's sparse arrangement and catchy melody perfectly suit her attractive voice, and the infectious dance tune is sure to get everyone up and bouncing. It's clear that the singer, who counts such soul icons as Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Gladys Knight (to mention but a few) as her influences, is passionate about her music.
Nederland: dEUS, Slow – Single Van de Week
Ieder week kiezen wij bij iTunes een nummer van een artiest of band en bieden deze 'Single van de week' gratis aan. De beste rockband van Antwerpen, dEUS, is terug met hun vijfde album Vantage Point. Onze Single van de week "Slow" is een malende klaagzang met een stuwend achtergrondritme en extra vocals van Karin Dreijer Andersson van The Knife. Het is een zenuwslopende, smeulende melodie geaccentueerd door de weerklank van gitaren als machinegeweren die wat licht in de duisternis scheppen, hoewel dit weinig troostrijk is. Onomstotelijk geweldig – onomstotelijk dEUS – geniet er van.
UK: Whitley, More Than Life – Single of the Week
Each week we find a track from an artist or a band we've been enjoying and bring it to you, for free, as our Single of the Week. This week, we present the tumbleweed sounds of the Melbourne-based folktronic artist Whitley. If ever a song was written for relaxing on the veranda on a hot afternoon, this is it. Lean back in the shade and listen as the pulsating, finger-style guitar carries the gentle harmonies of Whitley and Nick Huggins across the song. The sound is open and warm, perhaps because the song was recorded in Nick's family home in Port Lonsdale – though perhaps not on the veranda.
France: Nôze, Danse avec moi – Single de la semaine
Chaque semaine, nous trouvons un morceau d'un artiste ou d'un groupe que nous avons apprécié et nous vous le faisons partager.Nôze est un duo électro français, composé de Nicolas Sfintescu et Ezechiel Pailhes. En 1999, les deux comparses fondent leur propre label, Circus Company. Le groupe se fait rapidement remarquer, notamment lors de prestations dans des festivals. En 2005, Nôze sort un premier album de freak-house intitulé Craft Sounds and Voices. Le public et la critique sont sous le charme. L'année suivante, la formation revient dans les bacs avec le disque How To Dance, qui reflète l'énergie des shows de Nôze et leur côté club. L'année dernière, la réputation de Nôze a encore grandi avec le méga succès de boîte " Remember Love " (sacré meilleur titre techno de l'année par Pitchfork), présent sur leur nouvel album, Songs On The Rocks, dont est extrait " Danse avec moi " est notre Single de la semaine sur iTunes.Si vous aimez ce morceau, obtenez l'album ici.
Japan: The Steps, Cold Floors – 今週のシングル
ブレイク直前の注目アーティストを紹介するこのページ。今週は、メンバーの平均年齢18才というフレッシュなテキサスのロックンロール・バンドThe Steps。従兄弟同士で熱烈なクラシックロック・ファンであるヴォーカルのウィルとギターのサムをはじめ、ブルース好きのベーシストのサムとドラマーのZ。演奏を見た地元オースティンを代表するプロデューサーに認められ、早速EPをレコーディング。昨年秋には、アメリカのバンドながら、UKの人気インディー・レーベル"YOUNG AND LOST CLUB"からEP「OUTLAW」をリリース。フリーダウンロードトラック"Cold Floors"を聴いて彼らのUK的センスを確認。