EOIN BUTLER's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams

SNOOP LION

La La La Vice Records***

Hear ye, hear ye. The artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg will henceforth, and until he has another project to promote, be known as Snoop Lion. “The high priest looked me in the eye,” reported Snoop of his deeply sincere and not-at-all- opportunistic, conversion to Rastafarianism. “And he said ‘You are the light. You are the lion’.” (When Snoop was out of earshot, the high priest then added, ‘Plus, you’ve got a pretty lame reggae record to push. You could probably use the publicity’.”)

MUSE

Survival Warner Bros**

The lead single from Muse’s sixth studio album (The 2nd Law), Survival also happens to be the official anthem of the London 2012 Olympic Games. So expect to hear a lot of it as the track and field events get underway. It’s a preposterously over the top rock opera of a type that would have made even Freddie Mercury blush.

TOM JONES

Tower of Song Island****

Tom Jones is 18 years older than Leonard Cohen was when the latter composed this meditation on aging and mortality. Yet, predictably, the Welsh veteran belts it out with a lot less resignation and a lot more verve.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE

Spectrum (Say My Name) Island***

The fifth single from Florence Welch’s Ceremonials album has just scored the singer her first UK No 1, courtesy of an up-tempo Calvin Harris remix and one of the most ridiculous haircuts of the year.

PSY

Gangnam Style YG Entertainment****

Park Jae Sang is a 34-year- old South Korean rapper who, insofar as I can determine (and this is certainly outside my area of expertise), is roughly that country’s answer to Har Mar Superstar. You know, fat, cheeky and embroiled in a tortuous long- term love affair with irony. Here he amusingly satirises residents of the upscale Seoul neighbourhood of Gangnam. I’m guessing they had it coming.