- Music
- 28 Nov 14
Starring Eminem, The Libertines, Hamilton Leithauser, Duke Special, Public Service Broadcasting, Chromatics, Sun Kil Moon, Mogwai and much more...
Despite working harder than Santy Claus at this time of the year on the bumper Hot Press Christmas/New Year Annual - in shops now, kids - Free Music Friday has managed to assemble another cool pre-yule selection of tunes, vids and trailers. So light the candles, get out the essential oils, run yourself a bath and let it wrap around you like a warm duvet.
Eminem whets appetites for his Shady XV album, with a ginormous 66-track mixtape that spans his entire 15-year career and includes contributions from such musical allies as D12, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Jay Z. There's also a video for a new Sia-assisted tune tune, 'Guts Over Fear', in which he apologises for ranting - and worse - at the likes of Iggy Azalea and Lana Del Rey.
Our favourite Free Music Friday thing this fortnight is the autumn sampler from Asthmatic Kitty, the American indie imprint that has the supreme good taste to feature the likes of My Brightest Diamond, Castanets, Half-Handed Cloud, Mozart's Sisters, Lily & Madeleine and Sufjan Stevens on its roster.
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Also new from the Noise Trade stable is a five-track sampler which includes the Willie Nelson, Shelby Lynne, Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers collaborations that grace Mr. Humperdinck's Engelbert Calling album; another sampler from Ready Set, a Nashville imprint whose quality control rarely dips; Drew Holcomb & The Neighbours who also hail from the Music City and peddle a deliciously laidback brand of Americana, and an 18-track whopper from Ike Reilly, an Illinois Dylan aficionado with lots of Irish blood coursing through his veins.
The Libertines have given an online release to the film they showed on the big screens before playing to 65,000 adoring fans this summer in Hyde Park.
It's the work of Roger Sargent, the band confidant who previously directed 2010's There Are No Innocent Bystanders doc.
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With Carl Barât confirming that him and Pete Doherty have written five new songs, and Pete adamant that he's clean after another spell in Thai rehab, we may get to see the likely lads in the flesh here next year.
Pat Benetar rolled back the AOR years when she treated American NPR listeners to a hit-strewn acoustic set. It's a stream rather than a download - boo! - but still all sorts of wonderful.
To the streams now and the week's [link]3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] goodies include Sleaford Mods, Gilles Peterson, The Blind Shakes, Broncho, Nots, Trust, Dream Police and the mighty Wreckless Eric; [link]npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] weighs in with She & Him, Two Inch Astronaut, Flake Music and Your Old Droog; http://albumstreams.com is the go-to place for AC/DC, Hayden Calnin, Mogwai, The Drink, Kelis, Nels Cline, Submotion Orchestra, Bella Novela, Chromatics, Soundgarden, Sun Kill Moon and the Penguins Of Madagascar OST - love the nod towards Blondie's Parallel Lines cover! - but the usual geo-positional niceties apply, and this week's [link]nytimes.com/interactive/arts/music/pressplay.html?_r=3&[/link] pick is Willie Nelson & Sister Bobbie's December Day: Willie's Stash, Volume I which is a gorgeous family affair.
Hamilton Leithauser, he of The Walkmen fame, has a new tune gagging to be downloaded for free.
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Moonlighting Arcade Fire man Will Butler treats us to a sneak preview of 'Take My Side', and the Policy album it flies the flag for.
Having (metaphorically) kissed and made up, The Wu-Tang Clan are streaming their new album, A Better Tomorrow, in its entirety. The tunes are rocking and the artwork pretty damn stunning.
Na Fianna have premiered the vid for 'Drunken Sailor', a suitably rambunctious version of the classic tune which graces their new The Stable Sessions CD and DVD. If John Delaney wants to sing something Irish, this could be just the ticket!
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Hot Press' old mucker Duke Special has come up with this fabulous animated promo for 'Elephant Graveyard', the first single to be lifted from his Look Out, Machines! album, which drops in the New Year. It was created by Bill Hazzard of NARTYSTATION, a Donegal-based group of animators, filmmakers, actors, engineers, philosophers and musicians best-known for their work on Blizzard Of Odd and videos for The Pox Men. Hopefully radio will give it the attention its pure pop chorus deserves!
The quality vids keep on coming with this eye-catching hip hop dancing cosmonaut one for Public Service Broadcasting's 'Gagarin'. The chaps have also announced May 2015 visits to Mandela Hall, Belfast (3) and Button Factory, Dublin (5).
Some of the country's leading pro-democracy campaigners contribute to the No Music In Ukraine, a documentary look at the underground scene in Odessa.
Storyman have produced a nifty B-Movie clip for the rather lovely 'Afloat'. The soda bread looks only gorgeous...
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Which is where we take our Free Music Friday leave of you for another week. Keep those links coming to @stuartclark66 and enjoy your bath!