Free Music Friday #92: Columbia Records Sampler

Another interesting freebie from Amazon UK. (Sorry UK only I suspect - unless you know different!) Thirteen tracks, given away for free, on a Columbia Records Sampler album.

It is a bit of a mixed bag but hopefully you'll find something of interest. For me, it is worth downloading the whole thing for the tracks from the Foo Fighters and the Kings of Leon alone, not to mention an interesting offering from Glasvegas.


And while you are there, why not check out the current crop of tracks available for free download. The two that caught my ear are My People from Yusef (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens) which has an understated feel to it and Sympathetic Type from Duff McKagan's Loaded which is wonderfully raucous.

Free Download Friday #31: Alestorm

Anyone for True Scottish Pirate Metal? Now I appreciate that this is not a question you hear everyday, so perhaps some explanation is required...

AleStorm
Originally uploaded by Seldaek

Alestorm are a band from Scotland who produce what last.fm describes as Folk Metal. However, for reasons that are not entirely clear, they make pirate themed folk metal. Perhaps they were enjoying Talk Like A Pirate Day, when all of a sudden, the wind changed and they were stuck like that.

There are a couple of videos on Naplam Records' pages that will give you a feel for their look and their sound. There is also a three minute sound clip for download on their promo page, but, to get a whole track, in all its awesome silliness, go to last.fm where you can download Captain Morgan´s Revenge. Six minutes and forty-two seconds worth of true Scottish pirate metal. Brilliant!

Finally, I can't resist some pirate themed jokes:

Why are they called Alestorm? They just aaarrrrr!

What is Alestorm's favourite shop? Aaarrrgos!

How do they get their gear from one gig to the net? By aaarrrticulaed lorry.

What do they call their fans at a gig? A vast aaarrrmy.

Perhaps not the best pirate jokes in the world, but can you do any better?

P.S. If anyone from Naplam Records reads this, can I say I'm impressed with the amount of audio and video that you have made available on your website. However, the three minute music clips are extremely frustrating. If you don't want to give away a full track, that's fair enough; a short sample of thirty seconds or so will give the flavour of the track. Three minutes though is enough to really get you into the track - enough to make it annoying when it suddenly fades beore the end. I may be a lone voice here, but I would rather have a very short sample than a frustratingly truncated three minutes worth. Actually, I'd rather have a whole track for download... but I'm taking that as read. :-)

Free Download Friday #8: Duff McKagan's Loaded

I wasn't sure what I was going to do for my first Free Music Friday since I had to stop posting to make time for study. Also, as I've already mentioned, Jeff set the bar pretty high, so I wanted to re-start with something that was good. I think I've managed both quality and quantity!

Originally uploaded by Samuca Matata

Last night as I was mowing the lawn, I was listening to the latest Classic Rock Podcast. Among other things, they had an interview with Duff McKagan (of Guns n' Roses and Velvet Revolver fame). He seemed like a good chap... well apart from some gratuitous naughtiness - his is the only bit that needs a parental advisory. :-) ...But apart from that, he seems like a good chap. For instance he said some good things about Axl Rose and how he was always open to lyrical and musical ideas from the band. Also, he refused to be drawn into slagging off Scott Weiland which I thought was impressive.

What prompted this post though was news of one of his (many) side projects - Duff McKagan's Loaded. They have recently released a new album (which is available for download to subscribers to eMusic) but the previous album, Dark Days, is available as a free download. That's the whole album! For free. Excellent!

It's a very good rock album with a strong opening track in Seattlehead which really growls along (I do like a growly guitar). Another stand out is the title track, Dark Days. It's a belter - as menacing and brooding as the name suggests.

Do you like rock music? Then give it a go!

P.S. I was quite please with this download but when I went to check, as usual Jeff got there before me! Maybe one week I'll find something he hasn't already posted. :-)