Free Download Friday #119: Fourth Download in Advent

A bit of a bonus this week. First the one I was going to do last week and then a couple of others I've come across, including the one I was going to do this week.

Sandi Thom @ O2 ABC2 Glasgow 7th May 2010, 
a photo by Vhazza on Flickr

I suppose I must have been aware of Sandi Thom because, although I couldn't hum it to save myself, I at least recognised the title of her breakthrough single: I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair). It was, however, her album, Merchants And Thieves, that really caught my eye though because it features a collaboration with Joe Bonamassa.


When I heard that she was offering a free Christmas download, I was hopeful that it would be in the same Bluesy style as the track she did with Mr Bonamassa. Unfortunately, it's not,. But fortunately, it is still a good free Christmas download.

She has recorded a fairly gentle acoustic version of Merry Little Christmas which you can download when you enter an email address. (And unlike many of these offers, you don't have to wait to get an email and then follow a link back to get the download - the download button becomes active as soon as you enter your address.)

As I say, the track is fairly gentle and shows off her vocal ability. Personally, I would have liked the guitar to feature a bit more prominently in the mix but despite that reservation, I can see this track working really well as a late night listen. What do you think?

Next up is a Christmas song from Rob Halford - yes as in Judas Priest. On Halford's site you can buy a Christmas For Everyone from the site shop for the princely sum of $0.00. To me, it sounds a bit more Ramones-ish rather than Judas Priest-y but I like it. What do you think? If you like what you hear, check out his free music page where you can download a variety of non-Christmas tracks.

Finally, a couple of links that I've not had a chance to process properly so I offer them here without comment:

• Yazz - Angels From The Realms Of Glory
• The Hives and Cyndi Lauper - A Christmas Duel (Time limited download)

Hope you enjoy. And have a great Christmas and a happy New Year.