Hogging the FMF headlines this week are U2 whose infiltrating of iTunes with their Songs Of Innocence album has, it’s fair to say, polarised rock ’n’ roll opinion.
The method of its dissemination has somewhat overshadowed the fact that it’s a damn fine collection of deeply personal tunes, which we’ll be chewing over in our next issue, out on Thursday September 19 with that nice Andrew Hozier-Byrne on the cover.
“Deeply personal” is also a description that applies to ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’, the title track from Damien Rice’s long overdue new album, which drops here on October 31.
Produced by Rick Rubin, it’s all kinds of gorgeous and is making us even hungrier for next month’s release.

NPR has fab download sessions from Jessica Lea Mayfield, a Crazy Colored Ohioan who’s equal parts Cyndi Lauper and Aimee Mann; Minnesotan bluegrass whizzes Trampled By Turtles and Justin Townes Earle who’s a real chip off the old alt. country block.



This week’s bumper array of streams kicks off at [link]3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] with the latest from Mazes, Karen O, Avi Buffalo, Paul Collins, Ballet School, Middleman, Herva, Peru Ubu, Coves, Simian Mobile Disco, Sean Rowe and TOPPS; [link]www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] adds Moon Hooch, My Brightest Diamond, Lia Ices, Steelism, Lowell, Jason Moran, Sean Rowe and Robert Plant to the mix; depending on where you and your computer are residing [link]albumstreams.com[/link] can sort you out with Deers, Jones, Dive Index, Meg Mac, Philip Selway, Lydia Ainsworth, Jaws, Shayna Leigh, Cathedrals, Sloan, Hiss Golden Messenger, In Flames, Tennis, Death From Above 1979 and Foxygen, and the new Deacon Blue album awaits at [link]www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturevideo/musicvideo/11072395/Deacon-Blue-A-New-House-album-stream.html[/link]
The fabulous (PIAS) treats us to a free - but you’re welcome to tip! - American label sampler featuring the likes of Dry The River, Melanie De Biasio, Horse Thief, MONEY, Agnes Obel, Cherry Ghost, Joan As Police Woman and The Trouble With Templeton.
Also new this week from Noise Trade is Scattered Air, a six-track introduction to Arcade Fire worshipping Brooklynites Great Ceasar and Good Luck, an album from LA electro-popper Lenachka whose honeyed tones have been reverberating round HP Towers all week.



Mixtape of the Week honours go to Que, an Atlanta spitter whose Can You Digg It? collection has a really slick gangsta flow.

Courtney Love mightn’t be overly pleased that this solo vocal and guitar mic vid of her performing ‘Celebrity Skin’ has gone viral.

We’re jolly chuffed to be able to bring you the first look at the new promo for Fox Jaw’s ‘Falling Debris’ single, which is accompanied by a lengthy Irish tour, details of which can be found elsewhere on [link]hotpress.com[/link].

Also doing the video biz this week are Coade whose ‘Understand’ clip was directed by former Hot Press sharpshooter Mick Quinn.

Making it a hat-trick of quality vids is  this little beaut, which accompanies The Hard Ground’s new single, ‘Deep In Green’. Hot Press copped a live eyeful of them last night in famed Kilkenny venue Cleere’s where they were helping to kick off the Guinness Amplify festivities. The lads - and lady - were mightily impressive as were Edisons, the America-tinged Dubliners we saw afterwards in Matt The Miller’s.

And with that we bid you a teary Free Music Friday farewell for another week. Keep those links coming to @stuartclark66 and Come On You Blues!