It may be dull, rainy and grey outside but it’s all sunshine and good vibes in Hot Press Towers as we bring you another Free Music Friday!

This week’s obligatory person covering The National is Birdy, the 15-year-old English prodigy who also gets to grips with the likes of Bon Iver, The xx, The Postal Service and Phoenix on her self-titled debut album. Go to [link]soundcloud.com/rfp86/birdy-terrible-love-the[/link] and give it a whirl.

Fresh from supporting their fellow Nordy Irelanders Snow Patrol, Rams’ Pocket Radio offer us a streamed preview of their rambunctious – there’s a word we don’t use nearly enough! – Dogs Run In Packs EP at [link]ramspocketradio.bandcamp.com[/link]

If you’ve yet to make the acquaintance of spoof LA hair metallers Steel Panther, we suggest you check out their free [link]earwolf.com/guest/steelpanther[/link] podcast. There’s also a new album, Balls Out, to look forward to. Well, unless you’re a sensitive singer-songwriter type in which case you should avoid like the plague.

America’s wonderfully benevolent National Public Radio has full streams of REM’s Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011 and Los Campesinos!’s Hello Sadness albums at [link]npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link]

If you’re still dilly and indeed dallying over whether to purchase the new Florence + The Machine album, the whole of Ceremonials can be listened to at [link]bit.ly/sflpvt[/link]

You can find a free EP from the man dubbed “the new Justin Timberlake” at [link]kdrewmusic.com/KD[/link]

[link]soundcloud.com/kisses/kisses-johnny-and-mary[/link] is home to a gorgeous re-working of the Robert Palmer classic by LA popsters Kisses.

New track 'Narrow Street', from Marc O'Reilly, taken from his album My Friend Marx. You may have seen the singer on The View recently... check out the whole album here.

Obviously having far too much time on his hands, Harlem electro whiz Doveman has re-worked the whole of the Footloose soundtrack with, er, interesting results. Cop an earful @ [link]doveman.bandcamp.com/album/footloose[/link]

Two Door Cinema Club’s Kitsuné labelmates Man Without Country are streaming their King Complex six-tracker at [link]manwithoutcountry.com[/link] We’re also very much liking the video for the dreamy title-track.

We’ve more eye candy courtesy of The Minutes who’ve put together a rather nifty From Roof Top To Sweat Box short-film.

Our week has been greatly enhanced by us stumbling across ‘Come To The City’, the standout track from Philly indie outfit’s The War On Drugs' Slave Ambient album, which is streaming at [link]bit.ly/v43KdV[/link]
Come visit us soon boys!

Should Glee be one of your guilty pleasures, you can stream the whole of their Crimbo album at [link]music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds#/1tw[/link]

Annoy your neighbours and/or colleagues with Detroit electro clash-er Celldweller’s ‘Disposable War Pigs’ merging of Black Sabbath with Metallica. That's @ [link]bit.ly/tdKCLt[/link]

Never mind ‘11’, The Duke Spirit crank it up to ‘12’ on the cover of Motorhead’s ‘Damage Case’ residing @ [link]bit.ly/ueYR7R[/link]

Another week, another cover from The Horrors who give David Bowie’s ‘Suffragette City’ a goth kicking at [link]bit.ly/sDkudY[/link]

Born in Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow but now residing in Swansea, The Sounds Like have a NIN/Explosions In The Sky-inspired five-tracker, Before The Noise, streaming @ [link]soundslikeareason.bandcamp.com[/link]

Tim Love Lee remixes ‘Ain’t Dubbin’ My Goodbyes’ with LCD Soundsystem-ish consequences. See what you think @ [link]soundcloud.com/tummytouch/aint-dubbin-my-goodbyes-tomvek[/link]

Athens, Georgia buzz band Alabama Shakes make their funky-ish intentions perfectly clear @ [link]alabamashakes.bandcamp.com/album/alabama-shakes-ep[/link] Hugeness awaits!

Ever wondered what Phil Oakey’s ‘Together In Electric Dreams’ would sound like if given a transvestite metal makeover? Well, Australia’s Mechanical Black have provided you with the gloriously kitsch answer.

Fresh from wowing the nation on The View, Marc O’Reilly has released another single from his My Friend Marx album. You can download the very beautiful 'Narrow Street' for free on hotpress.com later this afternoon. In the meantime, we urge you to watch the video for the album’s title-track, which recently picked up a Dare Media Short Film Festival award.

Check out rock/punk act Band66's debut single 'Planet Earth' here. It's out on November 18, with an EP (currently being recorded in Ashtown Recording Studios) to follow.

Last but certainly not least, punky Drogheda types Valentino Is Dead offer us a sneak preview of their new single.