What's going on? A Free Download Friday that's actually posted on a Friday!? And not so much a download as a down loads because, this week, it is not one or two tracks on offer but 14 tracks - an entire CD of Rock and Metal to download and enjoy.
Classic Rock magazine decided to make the cover mounted CD that was available on the international edition of the magazine available for download. Even better the download is not restricted to just the UK, nor do you have to buy the magazine to get it. See the Download Classic Rock CD For Free page for a full listing and a link to the download service.
I have to admit that I did not recognise any of the artists but from the fourteen tracks on offer, you'd have to be pretty grumpy not to find at least one track you enjoy. The one that I like best (so far at least) is There’s A Hole In The Heart Of The Blues by Micki Free. But what's your favourite?
Saturday 22 October 2011
Sunday 16 October 2011
Free Download Friday #112: Subdivisions
Now this is a bit closer to normal free download service... albeit that it's very late for a feature called "Free Download FRIDAY". (Supercheap Sunday anyone?)
I have made no secret of my love of Rush, so I was intrigued to hear of a Canadian indie band offering a free download of their cover of a Rush track. The band are called PS I Love You and the track they are covering is Subdivisions. (See the Rolling Stone site, MP3 Download: PS I Love You's Gritty Rush Cover 'Subdivisions' for details and the download link.)
PS I Love You are a duo of musicians who, like the Black Keys, are a guitar and drums only outfit, so they have a simmilar stripped down, raw style to the Black Keys. This makes the choice of Subdivisions for a cover all the more interesting. Subdivisions opens with Geddy playing the synth and is typical of that period of Rush where they were developing a slick, multi-layered approach to their music. In this cover, the synth part has been replaced by a rough and raucous guitar riff that really works (IMHO). In fact, if they had kept it as an instrumental cover, I think I would have loved it but then the vocal kick in... For me at least, Paul's vocals will take a bit of getting used to, so I only really like the track rather than an out and out love!
Now, before anyone else says it, I know that Geddy's vocal style is a stumbling block to many. His voice seems to be an acquired taste (although I never had any problem acquiring it!). I have no doubt therefore that there are people who have no problem the the PS I Love You vocals. However, I've listened to the cover version a few times now and the vocals are growing on me. I really like the feel of the track, and so have no hesitation in recommending it for download despite my reservations about the vocals. Oh, and it ends with a great bit of feedback!
What do you make of it though?
Just before I leave this band, I was amused by Paul's description of his gradual conversion to Rush in the Rolling Stone's article and Subdivision in particular with its, "epic synth intro". Subdivisions is a track I have used in the past to try and convert people to all things Rush. My recommendation is that people listen to it all the way through once, then go back and listen to it while concentrating on the bass line. Then again but concentrating on the drums. Then again, a fourth time, but trying to isolate the guitar part in their head before finally listening to it as a whole again. Each individual part is brilliant but the whole is even better. (And note, that I don't even touch on the "epic synth"!)
Finally then, a bit of the real thing. Rush have a live DVD: Rush Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland
coming out in October and here is a trailer to whet your appetite:
Well, it's has my mouth watering!
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PS I Love You, a photo by
musicisentropy on Flickr.
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PS I Love You are a duo of musicians who, like the Black Keys, are a guitar and drums only outfit, so they have a simmilar stripped down, raw style to the Black Keys. This makes the choice of Subdivisions for a cover all the more interesting. Subdivisions opens with Geddy playing the synth and is typical of that period of Rush where they were developing a slick, multi-layered approach to their music. In this cover, the synth part has been replaced by a rough and raucous guitar riff that really works (IMHO). In fact, if they had kept it as an instrumental cover, I think I would have loved it but then the vocal kick in... For me at least, Paul's vocals will take a bit of getting used to, so I only really like the track rather than an out and out love!
Now, before anyone else says it, I know that Geddy's vocal style is a stumbling block to many. His voice seems to be an acquired taste (although I never had any problem acquiring it!). I have no doubt therefore that there are people who have no problem the the PS I Love You vocals. However, I've listened to the cover version a few times now and the vocals are growing on me. I really like the feel of the track, and so have no hesitation in recommending it for download despite my reservations about the vocals. Oh, and it ends with a great bit of feedback!
What do you make of it though?
Just before I leave this band, I was amused by Paul's description of his gradual conversion to Rush in the Rolling Stone's article and Subdivision in particular with its, "epic synth intro". Subdivisions is a track I have used in the past to try and convert people to all things Rush. My recommendation is that people listen to it all the way through once, then go back and listen to it while concentrating on the bass line. Then again but concentrating on the drums. Then again, a fourth time, but trying to isolate the guitar part in their head before finally listening to it as a whole again. Each individual part is brilliant but the whole is even better. (And note, that I don't even touch on the "epic synth"!)
Finally then, a bit of the real thing. Rush have a live DVD: Rush Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland
coming out in October and here is a trailer to whet your appetite: Well, it's has my mouth watering!
Saturday 8 October 2011
Free Download Friday #111: Nick Lowe
Another unusual one this week. In fact, I'm not sure what I make of it myself.
By the late seventies, I was listening more or less exclusively to Rock music. Of course I was aware of other forms of music, particularly punk, but such is the musical division in teenage tribes, I couldn't admit to liking, or even listening to other musical styles.
One of my friends though was into Nick Lowe, an artist that is difficult to pigeonhole. Wikipedia describes his style as Pub Rock and Power Pop, certainly different from the stuff I usually listened to, and yet I developed a soft spot for I Love The Sound Of Broken Glass:
Therefore, when I saw he had two tracks available for free download, to promote his new album, I thought I'd check it out.
One of the tracks is off his new album and is called House For Sale. It's a pleasant little song about lost love and the end of a relationship. (And, no, I'm not being sarcastic. Genuinely, it is a gentle, lyrical track.) It is not entirely my cup of tea but having listened to it a few times now, it's growing on me. Great lyrics... but still not sure.
The other track is an acoustic version of What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love And Understanding? and that I do like!
So, not the usual fare but a wee blast from the past for me. Let me know what you make of it. If you like what you hear, check out his facebook page where you can listen to the whole album as an audio stream.
By the late seventies, I was listening more or less exclusively to Rock music. Of course I was aware of other forms of music, particularly punk, but such is the musical division in teenage tribes, I couldn't admit to liking, or even listening to other musical styles.
One of my friends though was into Nick Lowe, an artist that is difficult to pigeonhole. Wikipedia describes his style as Pub Rock and Power Pop, certainly different from the stuff I usually listened to, and yet I developed a soft spot for I Love The Sound Of Broken Glass:
Therefore, when I saw he had two tracks available for free download, to promote his new album, I thought I'd check it out.
One of the tracks is off his new album and is called House For Sale. It's a pleasant little song about lost love and the end of a relationship. (And, no, I'm not being sarcastic. Genuinely, it is a gentle, lyrical track.) It is not entirely my cup of tea but having listened to it a few times now, it's growing on me. Great lyrics... but still not sure.
The other track is an acoustic version of What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love And Understanding? and that I do like!
So, not the usual fare but a wee blast from the past for me. Let me know what you make of it. If you like what you hear, check out his facebook page where you can listen to the whole album as an audio stream.
Saturday 1 October 2011
Free Download Friday #110: Gary Moore
It's late and I'm tired but I think this one speaks for itself. A free video of Gary playing live.
A quote from the Free Gary Moore Video page on the Eagle Rock site explains:
A quote from the Free Gary Moore Video page on the Eagle Rock site explains:
Enter your email... to get your free download of "Oh Wild One" from "Live at Montreux 2010".What do you think? A bit different to link to a video on Free Download Friday. Would you like to see more video downloads? Leave a comment to let me know, or click one of the feedback check boxes below.
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