While generally in life you get what you pay for, there are rare instances when the reverse is true. Since their launch I've been fairly regularly checking out the free Single of the Week on the iTunes Music Store (UK and NZ editions). A 30 second preview is enough to decide if it's worth a download or not, and I have discovered some real gems from artists I hadn't previously heard of. Here are the "keepers" from my Freebies playlist; I hope you find something that tickles your fancy too.
The following list is a bit eclectic, with a good proportion not sung in the English language. I'm no music critic—I either like it or I don't. I don't have the knowledge to describe the merits of each track or even what it is that appeals, so I won't try. Music doesn't have to justify itself.
In no particular order:
| iTMS link | Track and artist |
|---|---|
| NZ | Say You'll Stay by Luke Thompson |
| NZ | Be Bad by Low Rider |
| NZ | To the Light (Acoustic Version) by Newton Faulkner |
| UK | Hot Tears by Sarabeth Tucek |
| UK | Nobody's Fault But Mine by Beth Rowley |
| UK | More Rock 'n' Roll by Ruarri Joseph |
| UK | Cler Achel by Tinariwen |
| UK | Lalala by Julien Civange and Louis Haeri |
| UK | Thin Blue Flame by Josh Ritter |
| UK | Multiply by Jamie Lidell |
| UK | Mi Tierra by Guitarra De Pasión |
| UK | Congoleo by Angélique Kidjo |
| UK | Counting to Sleep by Wallis Bird |
| UK | Totally Underwater by Shelly Poole |
| UK | The Nomad by Niraj Chag |
| UK | Come & Get It by Lady Ragga |
| NZ | Mama by Kate Miller-Heidke |
Surely there's at least one track on that list you have to have? If I had to pick "favourites", they would be More Rock 'n' Roll, Cler Achel (top of the list), Thin Blue Flame, Multiply, Mi Tierra (gone AWOL?), and Mama (Words on the same album is also great).
Love Cler Achel, Tinariwen. I spent a bit of time in Istanbul and saw a few bands that this reminded me of - they love this type of "world/jazz" music - so do I!
Polyrythms and complex sounds are my bag, I'll start rambling on about Holdsworth and Khaled soon...
I can't even remember the last time I was on the iTunes store ... lol.
But, I agree, being able to sample music does broaden the horizon. I recall a former employer enjoying classical music when I worked there as a kid. I thought the music was horrible. Now I rather enjoy it compared to what is 'in' now. Therefor I must be growing old, right?