Friday Freebies

Capitals
Those of you who pay attention might remember that I posted a session from this up and coming Edinburgh outfit just last week. Well if you liked what you heard or it passed you by, then fear not as their debut single "Hello World", has just been released as a free digital download. The band play live at King Tuts on the 16th supporting the fabulous Come On Gang!

Idlewild
It's 10 years since 100 Broken Windows came out, that makes me seriously old. I guess the band probably feel the same, it feels like ages since I last gave the 'wild a listen, I am starting to feel pretty nostalgic in my old age so I am going to make the effort to dig out their old albums. Anyway, enough about me on with the freebie, you can get yourself a free download of a live version of Quiet Crown in exchange for your email address here.

Jonsi
I don't think I am spoiling to much by admitting that the Sigur Ros frontman's solo album is going to feature pretty well this year in my albums of the year. If it wasn't for my partner in crime, Halina, I would probably never have bothered to check it out. However, as she continued to bang on about how amazing his album was I decided to take a chance on his album. I was huffed to bits that I did as it's an awesome album. If you haven't heard then I would suggest you get it added to your Christmas wish list, if you need some convincing then you can download of a new live version of his song 'New Piano Song' for free here.

How To Swim
Those crazy How To Swim kids have recorded their very own Christmas single, 'Sleighbells (Christmas Makes Me Blue)', rather good it is too. Not only that, but it's also free to download on their Bandcamp.

French Wives
In the third of their series of Home Fires posts, i.e. the ones where they give away a song for free download, those lovely French Wives have posted up 'Greet Me By The Doorway' as recorded as part of their Radio One session. You can download it for nowt here.

Clash Magazine
There is a rather nifty free download of Clash Magazines top tracks of 2010 available for free free download here. It includes tracks from LCD Soundsystem, No Age, The Phamtom Band and Avi Buffalo.

Six By Seven
I was pretty shocked to find out these guys were still going, shocked in a good way I might add. Their debut album 'The Things We Make' was particular favourite of mine back in 1998, then they just kind of disappeared off my radar. So I was pretty chuffed when I found that not only are they still going, but there are also a whole load of free downloads up for grabs on their Bandcamp.

Bad Religion
This week really does find me reliving my youth, it's been donkey's since I last listened to old school punks, Bad Religion. Well now I am going to add them to my old school catch up list as they have a free live album up for grabs in exchange for your email address, download it here.

FOUND
Another Friday and once again we have another freebie from those fabulous FOUND boys, as I am writing this the night before I am still in the dark as to what it will be. All I can say for sure is that it will be great and it will be free, they're good like that.

Miaoux Miaoux
In a week when pretty much all we've had to talk about is the white stuff, it feels pretty apt that I post a track called Snow. Taken from his amazing Blooms EP, if you haven't already checked out Julian Corrie's alter ego then now's the time to do some much needed catching up by downloading the track for free here.

The Savings and Loan
It feels as if I have been plugging Song By Toad a lot lately in Friday Freebies and rightly fucking so (I felt the need swear there, I put this down to Matthew's bad influence). This week he's posted up the second single from The Savings and Loan's debut album, 'Today I Need Light', which you can find here.

Gerry Loves
The fabulous new Edinburgh label are having their Christmas party next week, as part of their celebrations they've posted up a whole load of free download links from their 'alumni'.

Buffalo Tom
Another blast from the past this week, Buffalo Tom are back after an extended break, you can download a free tune from their latest offering here.


The Foreign Films
"For many years I’ve been recording, writing, and touring the world. I’ve played packed arenas, and empty bars. There’s been “next big thing” talk that quickly disperses into “next time” talk. My last band Flux A.D. splintered into some cool projects with Julie Fader and Graham Walsh having success with Feist, The Great Lake Swimmers, and Holy Fuck. I on the other hand wanted to reassess where I was and what music I wanted to make. I think the results are the best, and most fulfilling work I’ve ever been associated with. No matter the mysteries of the future, music truly is the gift that keeps on giving. At this link I have my new Fire From Spark EP free to download".

Atlas Sounds
I meant to post this last week, but somehow it got missed out, my fault sorry. There is a free download of an albums worth of material up for grabs here.

Perfume Genius
Much as my good friend Ian has tried to convince me, I am still not sold on the old Perfume Genius. Each to their own I guess, if it's your cup of tea or your just curious to find out what all the fuss is about then head over to Stereogum where you can download new track 'Dreeem' for nothing.

Galleries
You can download yourself a free copy of Galleries single 'Rocket Science' for free on their homepage, while you're at it their debut EP is also up for free download.

Jack James
Someone else who is getting into the festive spirit is Jack James who has posted both of his albums up for free download on his Bandcamp page.

Kori Pop
The rather lovely Kori Pop has released a free holiday EP on Bandcamp. Here's what she had to say about it... "If the thought of holiday tunes makes you nauseous...please do not fret!! They are one-of-a-kind mixes. Two tracks were written & crafted by myself in GarageBand. The other two are from everyone's favourite Christmas shows and were recorded at a friends place". Download it here for free

The Radio Dept.
Whilst visiting New York, The Radio Dept. popped into KEXP and recorded an acoustic Piano version of Heaven's On Fire which you can now download here, for free.

The Pipettes
Those lovely Pipette ladies have posted up a new Christmas song for free download, get it here.

Galleries - Ally McCrae Session on Radio One (02/09/10)

Track Listing
1. Great Comets of 1910
2. Love Diagram
3. International
4. +Danger

Download

Fresh Meat Monday - Galleries

Would you care to introduce yourself?

We are the band Galleries from Glasgow. My name is David, I am the singer, one half of the guitars and take care of the programmed beats and synths. Paul is also on guitar, Adam plays bass and Andy is the drummer.

How would you describe the music you make?

Most people tend to use the word 'epic' when describing what music we make. We definetly go for that BIG sound on record and even more so live. It's melodic, post-rock pop music with a sound comparable to bands like Mew, Explosions In The Sky and The National.

How did you start out making music?

Paul and I started making music together really early on with various line-ups, band names and styles. It wasn't until we found Andy/Adam when Galleries was born and we found a sound to call our own.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

We spend a while developing a song to the finished article. I write the music infront of a computer- getting the structure, basic melodies, synths and lyrics down before bringing a song to rehearsal where we will form the song as a band. Songs, most of the time, end up sounding a lot different to how i imagined they would during writing.

What can people expect from your live shows?

Loud loud noises. Bleeps and bloops. Epicness.

What are you all listening to at the moment?

David: Errors, Midlake, The Knife (Tomorrow, In A Year), Memory Tapes.

Adam: Two Door Cinema Club, The Antlers, Lou Reed, Dan Auerbach, And So I Watch You From Afar.

Andy: Ministry of Sound 80s Electronic Anthems

Paul: The Amphetameanies, Rush, The Reverend Horton Heat

What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?

We have just released our Debut EP which you can get FREE from Slow Receiver Records

Mostly we will be playing live so check out our myspace for upcoming shows at our Myspace

Also writing new exciting music and then recording it to tape.

Galleries - Underground Overground (MP3)

Friday Freebies

Too Many Fireworks
Neil Milton is reviving his label 'Too Many Fireworks', woo to the mother fucking hoo! The double bonus is that if you sign up to the labels mailing list you'll get an eight track too many fireworks sampler download in exchange for free. It's worth it just to hear some Flying Matchstick Men again. Go on, do it, do it now.

The Wildhouse
Edinburgh blogger Ed is just about to put out his first album release by the Dundee band The Wildhouse on his 17Seconds Label. In celebration of this forthcoming release he's put up some free MP3's from the album. Download them here.

Run/Lucky/Free
The Edinburgh band are offering up some 'free downloads, free video acoustic sessions and more'. All you have to do is sign up their mailing list here.

Galleries
Tipped by the Pop Cop as one of his one's to watch in 2010, find out if he's uncovered another diamond by downloading their debut EP completely free here.

To Rococo Rot
In celebration of the release of their new album 'Speculation' , the Berlin based post-rockers are giving away a free MP3 download of new song "Working Against Time"

Caribou
The Canadian electronic musician, Daniel Victor Snaith aka 'Carbou', returns with a new album Swim on the 19th of April. In anticipation of this release he's put up a new song for you to download Just sign up to his mailing list and you'll get yourself a free download of 'Odessa'.

Peter Broderick
The Portland singer/songwriter has put a whole host of demos and outtakes up for free download, strangely they're available to download from Flickr of all places.

Any Color Black
The Glasgow Electro rock duo have put up a free download of 'Start a Fire' for your aural pleasure. If it tickles your fancy then you can get even more MP3's by signing up their mailing list.

Annie Accidental
The Glaswegian lassie has put a free download of her song 'S.A.D.' to down load for free here. It's twee as fuck and it sounds amazing, the perfect song to see you through till normal hours of daylight return.

Little Yellow Ukuleles
Up and coming Weegie powerpop starlets 'the Yook' have put a free download of 'Discopants' on their Bandcamp.

Plum
The lovely Edinburgh electornica lady Plum has put her ode to the bard, 'Ae Fond Kiss' up for free download on her blog. Download yourself a copy here.

Pacific Theatre
Another Glasgow powerpop band amking waves are Pacific Theatre, who have put a free download of their song, 'Far Away' up on their Bandcamp.

Yeasayer
Apparently the new album, 'Odd Blood', is very good, haven't heard it myself yet so I can't comment. However, I can tell you that they have have put the second single from the album, 'ONE', available as a free download on their website.