After my completely deserved, over-the-moon review of “Alan’s Right” earlier this week, I downloaded his new Skeleton EP the moment it was released yesterday; I took my time listening to each track, and after giving it a solid 3 or 4 go arounds, I can easily say this is one of the best projects we will see in 2012 from a newcomer; Mainly because, this is presented on such a level that you’d think this kid is a seasoned veteran.

The entire EP flows from one track to the next, creating a cohesive sound, and an edgy & serious tone that reflects each track’s power; Like “Alan’s Right”, each song was written, produced, recorded, and engineered by this 19 year old Massachusetts native - an incredible achievement when it results in quality songs like this.

You’ll find hip hop, indie, pop, and what I consider to be “Irish” musical elements incorporated throughout this sound track, keeping you completely involved in each new sound that sings along with his lyrics; He reminds me of a combination of M83, OnCue, and his own special quality, all wrapped up in a ball of talent.

Become a fan of Terence Ryan and Fresh Musikk!

Download Skeleton EP

posted by: k.roth

Midi Matilda, is an indie-electro pop duo hailing from the free spirit city of San Fran; Their effervescent sound is so infectious, it brings some positivity to your day, and makes you bounce in your seat. “Red Light District” defines that feel good sound, and stellar vocals, so definitely keep a look out for new music from these guys.

Become a fan of Midi Matilda and Fresh Musikk!

posted by: k.roth

Acoustic Live Version

Cuey stand up. Because I’m giving you a standing O.

We’ve gotten hits on hits on hits from OnCue, and we can finally say that the big day has arrived; Can’t Wait is no doubt one of the best mixtapes of the year. He combines his spitfire hip hop delivery with indie inspired hooks, which is one of the reasons that makes him a standout- he raps and he can sing. CJ Luzi makes a major impact on the project, with his incredible production on the majority of the tracks; The instrumental alone could carry the songs, so with Cuey’s added voice and lyricism, the outcome lies in the fact that every track is truly impressive.

OnCue has always provided a deeper insight into his life more than other up and comer’s that may fall into the hip hop genre. He talks about his hopes, his dreams, his insecurities, and overcoming a rocky past; As I mentioned in Drake’s review, people get really tired of hearing the same ‘party and bullshit’ lyrics over and over - give me some depth, give me something raw & pure that I can feel!

When I do an album or mixtape review, I write down my favorite songs as I go through it, and in this case, I wrote the first 6 songs down before I had even gotten halfway…So there truly is no way for me to share my top picks, but if you still need a taste, check out: “Running”, “Feel Tall”, “Better Than Before”, “Can’t Wait”, “Cigarettes and Perfume”, and “Selfish”…Or just stream it all below, and click to download in its entirety. MUST DOWNLOAD.

Also check out some incredibly artistic visuals for the intro track, “Headlines”, created by Adam Ross, who’s also the mastermind behind the “Better Than Before” video.

Become a fan of OnCue and Fresh Musikk.

Download Can’t Wait

posted by: k.roth

ps - CUEY, my roommate, Emily, loves you, if you give her a shout out on twitter I’ll be the roommate of the year.

Dude, it’s raining out. And it’s summertime. It’s supposed to be sunny and hot. Always.
BUT
This song relates to the weather in an uplifting sort of way; It might be about winter, but it’s heartfelt melody and lyrics can be relatable any time throughout the year. “Winter Snow’ by Canadian rapper, D.N.A., featuring Dyland Owen, is sadly beautiful and is deff worth the download for a slower, touching vibe. “Winter Snow” uses the instrumental from Ingrid Michaelson’s, “Winter Song”, and effortlessly incorporates the indie vibe throughout.

Become a fan of FM!

Download “Winter Snow”

posted by: k.roth

p.s. don’t worry i’ll get a pump up pregame jam up before tonight

Album Review: A Serious Post to A Seriously Killer Album

Yesterday, I finally got the chance to listen to Bon Iver’s self titled album, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, and make my own judgements amidst the plethora of reviews already posted; And it is AWESOME. Coming from someone who’s mind is almost always going a mile a minute, and usually with ADD/ can’t-sit-still symptoms, I LOVED the slow, mellow tunes, carried by Justin Vernon’s incomparable falsetto. This undeniable crooner is literally divulging a musical path of his own, carving out a new sound for indie music; utilizing a host of strings, banjo, horn sections, and of course piano, guitar, and drums. Bon Iver is already making a huge commotion among music blogs, the social media scene, and making the rounds on late night talk shows.
My personal favorite tracks are, Perth, Holocene, and Beth/Rest. Perth starts off the album, and sets the bar incredibly high, utilizing a soothing instrumental intro, supported by a prominent drum beat at the same time vocals are introduced. The song itself is a rising crescendo which keeps you captivated til the last note. It’s literally chilling.
Holocene, performed above, emanates the same serene vibe, and produces those kinds of emotions that poets and writers spend their entire lives trying to describe; I on the other hand, will let the song speak for itself. Check it out.
Beth/Rest concludes the album playlist, and reminds me of some old school 70’s/80’s artists who had soullll: Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, and Phil Collins. To be honest, any song on the album would be perfect for a fireplace love scene in any romance movie (totally could have pictured this in Top Gun’s love scenes); Or maybe you can apply them to your own daydreams, and make them the soundtrack to your own story.
Regardless of what kind of musical genres capture your attention the most, it would be hard for anybody to NOT appreciate the musical genius present in this album.

Become a fan of Bon Iver and Fresh Musikk!

Buy his album on iTunes!

posted by: k.roth

Amazing. My friend showed me this video he found on a surf blog, and it is so many shades of perfect I’m not sure where to begin. The visuals are incredible, journeying through Spain on a skateboard, fading in and out of focus, beautiful people (with pb’s), and a feel good attitude. I watched it again and listened to the song and the lyrics drew me in:
“I caught the sun, on my way home when I was still daydreaming…
I climbed up the hill when I got home, and I faced out towards you
What are you thinking over there…”

After some googling, I found out the song is called “I Saw You Blink” by Stornoway, an indie/folk band from the UK. They incorporate strings and keyboards on top of the typical pop backline, and have poetic lyrics that dance along a catchy beat. They just played at Sasquatch, and are finishing up their brief U.S. tour tonight in Portland, Oregon.

* Sidenote - this isn’t the official music video for the song, it is a digital short produced by Mikel Yerobi

Become a fan of Stornoway and FM!

posted by: k.roth

This is a very unique post for our site because it involves one of the FEW actors who has successfully made a meaningful contribution to the music industry. My girl (and celeb crush), Leighton Meester, did a beautiful duet with the band, Check in the Dark of their song “The Stand In” last night at Hotel Cafe.
Leighton found success with her hit, “Good Girls Go Bad”, and “Give In To Me” with Garrett Hedlund (from Country Strong), but her performance last night really showcases her beautiful voice, and her ability to be multi-faceted within different genres; This beautiful song could be categorized as indie/folksy with a little bit of country twang.

Become a fan!

posted by: k.roth