FREE MUSIC MONDAY

The madness in Hot Press having temporarily abated, we’re delighted to bring you an all killer, no filler Free Music Monday. After three disgracefully Matt Berninger-free weeks, we’re delighted to report that The National can be seen performing a gorgeous new track, ‘Rylan’, at [link]www.cbc.ca/q/video[/link]

You’ll have to watch a couple of cringey Canadian adverts first, but trust us, it’s worth it. There’s also audio of another new track, ‘I Need My Girl’, at [link]soundcloud.com/alan-williamson/the-national-i-need-my-girl[/link] Still not sated? Okay, we've got the vid for Clogs' 'Last Song', which features Matt's very dulcet tones.

The Drums may sound like a genetic splicing of all the best British indie bands of the past 25 years, but they’re also huge Sugarcubes fans as is evident from the cover of Bjork & Co.’s ‘Birthday’, which they recorded recently for America’s Sirius XM network.

50 Cent turns Santa Claus with a free mixtape, which enlists the help of Paris and Tony Yayo @ [link]www.mixtapepass.com/music/0000020761-the_big_10.php[/link]

Not to be outdone, Lupe Fiasco has his own mixtape, which is trailed at [link]923now.radio.com/2011/12/06/download-lupe-fiascos-electro-infused-mixtape-fight-evil-in-the-process[/link]

If it’s obscure retro Crimbo music you’re after proceed immediately to [link]latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/12/premiere-zebras-christmas-morning-from-struts-in-the-christmas-groove.html[/link] which has details of the very fine In The Christmas Groove and a free download of Zebras’ ‘60s nugget, Christmas Night’ – a tune that sounds like The Zombies after copious egg nogs.

Alex Winston won’t be releasing her full-length debut album until March, but the American indie songstress is whetting appetites with her
version of The Black Keys’ ‘Everlasting Light’. Check it out @ [link]www.covermesongs.com/2011/12/alex-winston-turns-the-black-keys-everlasting-light-into-an-indie-pop-hit.html[/link]

Ms. Winston has another freebie available in return for signing up to [link]zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/vvreg/5886-167906[/link]

The cover versions keep on comin’ with [link]soundcloud.com/ernestimesblog/the-big-pink-mayonaise-the[/link] hosting The Big Pink’s suitably raucous take on the Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘Mayonnaise’.

Mark Lanegan has a new album, Blues Funeral, out in early 2012 and which includes the little beaut residing at [link]marklanegan.com[/link]

[link]soundcloud.com/dimitrivegasandlikemike/lady-gaga-mtn-dvlmrmx[/link] finds Lady Gaga getting the Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike remix treatment. A damn fine version of ‘Marry The Night’ it is too.

We’ve already pointed you in the direction of Karen O and Trent Reznor’s cover of ‘The Immigrant Song’. Now you can watch the accompanying video at [link]www.cinemablend.com/new/Watch-Immigrant-Song-Music-Video-From-Girl-With-Dragon-Tattoo-28304.html#ooid=R2a2U0MzrI6rgFA1Btw2dE8WXdxmqfzC[/link]

In related matters, the full Reznor and Atticus Ross-penned soundtrack (All 173 minutes of it!) to the The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is available now. For a free six-track sampler, head over to [link]www.nullco.com/GDT/gbp.php[/link]

Next to [link]www.npr.org/2011/12/11/143453381/first-listen-john-zorn-a-dreamers-christmas[/link] where you can hear all of the avant garde composer’s A Dreamer’s Christmas album. Terrific stuff.

There's more festive fare to be had at [link]ninahynes.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-time-is-here[/link] where Ms. Hynes is streaming the kiddie choir-tastic 'Christmastime Is Here'.

A one-hit wonder or an artist who come next Christmas will be challenging the aforementioned Ms. Germanotta and Adele at the cash registers? Make your own mind up courtesy of this official preview of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born To Die’.

To celebrate becoming a daddy again, Paul Weller is gifting us the very fine ‘Around The Lake’, which resides at [link]soundcloud.com/flowe-1/paul-weller-around-the-lake[/link] and is reckoned by our Dave Hanratty to be very Horrors-esque. The track’s taken from the Modfather’s new album, Sonik Kicks, which is out in March.

Foster The People’s penchant for giving away free music shows no signs of abating with [link]soundcloud.com/bigkidsmusic/foster-the-people-call-it-what[/link] housing an electro-flavoured BIGkids remix of ‘Call It What You Want’.

Making it in by the skin of their pearly whites this week are The Jepettos, a thoroughly charming young Derry-Belfast quintet who preview their Start A New People five-tracker at [link]thejepettos.bandcamp.com/album/start-a-new-people[/link]. If they sound familiar that’s because their ranks include a couple of former members of The Lowly Knights.

We’ve just time to mention the free stream of Whipping Boy’s ‘No One Takes Prisoners Anymore’ that's available right here and that we’re afraid is your Free Music Friday on a Monday (again!) lot. Streams and links are always most welcome @stuartclark66