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

Love Cuey interviews…maybe not as much as my roommate, but FM loves the kid.

OnCue dropped by Shade 45 in Manhattan to talk with Jack Da Ripper and Miss Mimi;; Aside from an awkward heroin joke, and a ‘wtf moment’ when Miss Mimi didn’t know what indie music was, the whole Shade 45 crew seemed really taken with the Brooklynite.
Cuey talks about his major recent successes with Can’t Wait, “Feel Tall” on the VMA Bing commercial, and him linking up with Just Blaze for an upcoming video. 2012 is going to be a big year for Geoffrey.

Become a fan of OnCue and Fresh Musikk.

posted by: k.roth

21. “What Goes Around”, Big Sean

Just a small representation of the greatness on his long awaited, breakthrough album.

20. “Palace”, A$AP Rocky

A$AP’s talent is undeniable - and although I’m no hip hop head, I still can’t get enough of this track.

19. “Good Girls”, Cris Cab

Far and away the anthem of the summer, Cab exploded onto the scene with this all original song, and quickly found himself touring the country to showcase his phenomenal talent.

18. “Pumped Up Kicks”, Foster The People

Overplayed, over- remixed, and pretty much just over done - but for good reason! FTP created a catchy, unique song that captured everyone’s attention, and everyone’s radios.

17. “Swim Good”, Frank Ocean

Mr.Ocean gave us one of the best progressive r&b mixtapes of the year, with his smooth, buttery voice.

16. “Headlines”, Drake

“I might be too strung out on compliments, overdosed on confidence- Started not to give a fuck, and stop fearing the consequence. Drinking every night, because we drink to my accomplishments…”

15. “Don’t Move”, Phantogram

I tweeted everyone and their mother when Phantogram released this as their single off of Nightlife; Still waiting to hear Michael Kors’s thoughts on it…

14. “Fade”, Timeflies

The Scotch Tape lit up the iTunes album charts the day it was released, and Timeflies made sure the people who hadn’t been paying attention before, knew what the eff was up now; So while I love all the songs, “Fade” had the most plays from me.

13. “Half Naked & Almost Famous”, Machine Gun Kelly

This is the only song I put on here with a sample, but I listened to it every single day when I went running for 4 months straight. “Maybe I’ll just mapquest my dreams and it’ll say the address was me.”

12. “Be Easy”, Radical Something

The revolutionary song that became the start of a fantastic group, and a sunny, cali vibing movement. Stay radical.

11. “Heartbeat”, Childish Gambino

Quirky, intense, and does as he pleases; Mr. Glover created a fantastic debut album, and “Heartbeat” acts as the pumping force throughout it.

10. “The Motto”, Drake ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga

Drake, always the trendsetter, adds another phrase to the pop culture generation; It actually took a few tries for this song to grow on me, and low and behold it’s now on the best songs list. #YOLO

9. “Can’t Wait”, OnCue

I originally had “Feel Tall” in this spot, but “Can’t Wait” is my favorite song off one of the best mixtapes of the year; The production is beautiful, and Cuey’s lyricism is heartfelt.

8. “Who Gon Stop Me”, The Throne

Pretty much somes up this duo.

7. “Other Side”, Macklemore

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis create music that reflects true life experiences - so whether you love it or hate it, it’s their story, and they’re just speaking the truth; Other Side is presented with such an honest intensity, it’s impossible not to stop and listen.

6. “Lost Ones”, J. Cole

Although this song was created in 2008, it made the cut for Cole World, and the emotionally raw video was released this year; The candidness and realness behind the lyrics are almost impossible not to respect.

5. N****s in Paris, The Throne

4 encores…5…wait, no 6… no, now 8…fuck it, I don’t even know what number Jay and ‘Ye are at anymore!

4. “We Found Love”, Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris

Don’t even pretend like you don’t love this song, because I won’t believe you. Calvin Harris really knocked it out of the park with this one; 8 weeks at #1 and counting…

3. “Midnight City”, M83

This appeared on the ending credits on “How To Make It In America” (tear, r.i.p.) and never looked back. It’s phenomenal production and character outshines every other indie pop song of the year.

2.“Save The World”, Swedish House Mafia

SHM was the first electro act to sell out Madison Square Garden - talk about an accomplishment! “Save the World” is the smasher that jumped the charts and fell into every dj’s/remix artist’s agenda.

1. “Levels”, Avicii

“OOOOhhhhhh sometimes, I get a good feelin- yeaaa. I get a feelin that I never, never, never, never had before, no, no - I get a good feelin”

Become a fan of Fresh Musikk!

posted by: k.roth

Merry Christmas everyone!

Best Music Videos of 2011

10. “LA Lights Remix”, Smarterchild - Directed by Colin Kelly

There really isn’t any reason for me to find this particular ‘party’ video any different from others - but the moment I saw it, I watched it 3 more times. The song, the vibe, the faces, the eclecticity of people, everything just come together in a captivating way. And yes I made up the word eclecticity, via eclectic, just go with it.

9.”Lost Ones”, J. Cole

Although this was filmed in 2008- which must seem like a lifetime ago for Cole who’s entire life has changed in those three years- Jermaine debuted his most personal video during a show at Best Buy Theater in NYC; Chilling, raw emotion, pure and simple.

8. “Better Than Before”, OnCue

While most may not notice the little things - the details are what make OnCue’s videos that much more profound. Adam Ross and OnCue developed the video for “Better Than Before” so that it was a continuation from their previous video for “All The Way” (cue hat scene); The duo created a video, vibe, and environment that perfectly reflected Cuey’s message.

7. “Midnight City”, M83

A little creepy, a little uplifting, and a whole lotta perfect. This is everything I would expect from M83, and when I watched the video it was as if everything fully made sense within “Midnight City.”

6. “I Was Here”, Beyonce

K.Ry put it best when she said, ‘If you weren’t a fan of Beyonce before, you will be after you watch this.” For some reason I have always had some irrational feelings of annoyance and dislike for Beyonce; And although I have always respected her talent, I realized after watching this collection of home videos, flowing simultaneously with her powerful lyricism, that those feelings were out of awe and jealousy. To be able to inspire and positively affect so many people’s lives, while living such a blessed one for herself, truly must be an incredible feeling. And she is right, she has already left a mark - Everybody knows she was here.

5. “Wings”, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

4. “Other Side”, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have had a memorable 2011 to say the least; It seems everything’s finally coming together for the duo who just completed their nationally sold out tour. Macklemore’s vulnerability and honesty in his lyricism is what makes him stand out from the pack. And as he put it, “The fact of it is most people that rap like this talkin’ about some shit they haven’t lived” but he has real life experiences to draw on.
Their videos are short film documentaries - perfectly matching the message behind the words, and that is why both “Wings” and “Other Side” take number 5 & 4 respectively.

3. “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”, Coldplay

I mean…Coldplay definitely has the money to make a baller video, but “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” really encompasses everything I love: great song, bright colors, trippy neon, creativity, and a powerful message. Now just get some kind of ocean shot in there and it would be me in a nutshell.

2. “Otis”, Kanye West & Jay Z

The definition of fun, brotherhood, and living large, aka BALLIN.

1. “We Found Love” Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris

This doesn’t need explaining. At all.
But I will just say… We’re given the range of emotions: infatuation, lust, love, exhilaration, adrenaline, sadness, depression, hopelessness, heartbreak, willpower, closure. Get it, get it Rihanna.

Become a fan of Fresh Musikk.

posted by: k.roth

proud of this one guys..

Fresh Musikk presents it’s 7th playlist, “Occupy Dance Floor”.

November was hands down, one of the best months for music all year; We saw albums from, Drizzy, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller - and mixtapes from, OnCue, Mike Posner, B.o.B. - and incredible singles and leaks from other artists on the rise. So to say it was difficult to narrow my 239 new songs from November down to 25, would be an incredible understatement.

As the holiday season approaches, listen to this mix, chill out, vibe out, party on, and occupy that dance floor.

Become a fan of Fresh Musikk. DO IT.

Download “Fresh Musikk: Occupy Dance Floor, November 2011”

posted by: k.roth

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.

Today OnCue released his final single off of Can’t Wait, which based on what we’ve seen, has the potential to be one of the top mixtapes of 2011.

Cuey grabs Mike Posner to hop on the third verse of “Kinda Late”, giving us some signature Posner vocals; 88 Keys produced the sexy, and at times a little scandalous, song. And although I still sweat “Feel Tall” and “Better Than Before”, he sill delivers another high quality track, and I’m definitely feeling Posner’s verse.

Who’s excited for Wednesday? Would you go so far as to say you Can’t Wait?

Had to.

Sorry.

Become a fan of Oncue and FM.

Posted by: k.roth

Noooo! Not the flow!

I was momentarily speechless while I was watching Oncue’s new music video for his single, “Better Than Before”; And for those of you who know me personally, I am very rarely ‘without words’. After the third watch, I was able to tear my eyes and ears away from the screen so that I can tell you that this is his best video, and top of the list, for best songs yet.

CJ Luzi provides insane production, and director, Adam Ross matches the vibe with a serious tone, and emotionally raw visuals. MUST DOWNLOAD.

OnCue’s tracks have always stood out for his real lyricism, and his ability to sing his own hooks - I can’t get enough, and thankfully, Can’t Wait, is just around the corner…November 16th, will be a great day.

‘I don’t even miss ya, don’t need ya no more. Cuz I’m doin’ better, better than before.”

Become a fan of OnCue and Fresh Musikk!

posted by: k.roth

FINE.
I guess I have to admit fall is actually here. Seeing as I was shivering at my desk yesterday, and wrapped in layers and layers last night to avoid putting the heat on in my apartment, it is definitely safe to say that summer is over.
But wait…
What’s that say?
It’s going to be 80˚ all weekend?!!?!
I knew I still lived in New England for a reason - effed up weather all year long, 30˚ one day, 85˚ the next. SOLID.

Enjoy September’s mixtape, it will ease you into the new school year/ end of summer nicely…Featuring, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Childish Gambino, 3LAU, Bei Maejor, and many more of the best songs/music videos released in September!

Download “Fresh Musikk: Fall Ahead, September 2011”

Become a fan of FM!

posted by: k.roth

Cuey has an edge that those other ‘typical white rappers’ can’t keep up with; Not only does he have that unique rap sound where he literally spits the words out of his mouth, but he always sings on his hooks, which is definitely commendable. “All The Way” is another great single off of his upcoming tape, Can’t Wait, and provides us with a deeper flow than just some “party & bullshit”.

“The shoes on my feet are the only thing that I’m proud of, millions of miles, that they got me out of…”

He released the track last night, but I wanted to wait until he dropped the visuals, which really reflect the mood of the song, and drive the lyrics home.

Become a fan of OnCue and Fresh Musikk!

Download “All The Way”

posted by: k.roth

Fresh Musikk: Best Summer Ever, Mixtape 2011

This summer was arguably one of the best summer’s of my life; I brought some of my best friends to my house in Cali, did trips to the cape and Newport, took advantage of rooftop spots in Boston, and enjoyed beautiful days at the beach.
I strengthened friendships with some, and had missteps with others; Met new people, some cool, some not; Made new friends, while I watched others come and go…
I reminisced about a past that I realized I had virtually let go of; While wondering just how much had happened in a year, and having a hopeful curiosity for the next; God forbid, I know my tan will fade, but hopefully these memories will last a bit longer…
And most importantly, I partied my ass off, and proved to any in doubt, that yes, it is still possible to have fun, and inappropriately crazy times after college.

So instead of just saying, “Hey guys, here’s my fresh ‘end of summer’ mixtape, enjoy!” - I wanted to share a few of my thoughts as the summer comes to an end.

I spent the morning on my roofdeck, wondering if this was going to be the last truly nice, warm, sunny day of summer. I had already done the whole ‘summer memories’ thing with my roommate a few nights before, and was completely content with how I spent my summer; But one thought kept creeping into my mind this morning… “Although this is one of the best summer’s ever, I can’t help but think of how it used to be”…

Back in high school, when ‘work’ would consist of teaching swimming lessons for a few hours a day, and waterskiing, wakeboarding, and boating the rest; When every night would feel like an adrenaline rush in our attempts to buy/steal/sneak alcohol for parties and bonfires on the beach; When I truly had no idea what and who would transform my life the next 5 or 6 years; When I didn’t have to worry about responsibility, when my only concern was “who’s car are we taking to the beach?”

So would I go back?

Never.

I’m 23 years old, and I can honestly say I am in a really good place right now, where most things just seem to be going right. What I’ve learned this past year - the post college, “yea, I just graduated” phase - is that every stage you’re in seems to be the best times of your life…Until you get to the next one.

Live it up. And reminisce about your summer with these songs…

Become a fan of Fresh Musikk!

*Download “Fresh Musikk: Best Summer Ever, Vol 1.”
*Download “Fresh Musikk: Best Summer Ever, Vol 2.”

k.roth

* Had to put them on two zips because file was too big, & I removed the songs that are only available for purchase on iTunes

Holler at me if you want the track list.

Fresh Musikk: Soak Up The Rays, August 2011

August is so bittersweet because you know that Fall is just around the corner… But I have no doubt, everyone successfully balled out this month.

This mixtape includes tracks from: WTT, 3LAU, David Guetta, Sex Ray Vision, Drake, Timeflies, OnCue, The Dean’s List and so many more. It’s a compilation of the best songs that were posted in August.

Be on the lookout for the Summer mixtape, which I should get up by tonight…

Also, not all of the songs are included in the download because of copyrights.

Become a fan of Fresh Musikk!

Download “Fresh Musikk: Soak Up The Rays, August 2011”

posted by: k.roth

It’s a PLΣDGE TΘ RΔGE kind of morning…

Yesterday, OnCue released his new single called “Don’t Fall For That,” assisting The Dean’s List in increasing the hype for their upcoming fall tour. Cuey’s gone 2 for 2 with his first two singles off of his upcoming mixtape, Can’t Wait, and is making a major splash with his music. Providing the same formula from “Feel Tall,” Cuey spits out his rap verses, with some singing on the hooks for this catchy track.
Also, if you were watching the VMA’s this past Sunday, you may have noticed the instrumental from “Feel Tall” in the Bing commercial featuring Mick Boogie and Terry Urban - major congrats are in order for this achievement!

Click here for PLΣDGE TΘ RΔGE tour dates.

Become a fan of OnCue and Fresh Musikk!

Download “Don’t Fall For That”

Posted by: k.roth

Damn Cuey.

OnCue delivered some fresh stop motion camera work for his music video for his smasher, “Feel Tall” which he released back in June; Still one of my favorite songs of the summer, his artistic creativity portrayed through his music and videos is something that other people should take note of. I always point out when an artist can both rap and sing because it’s truly commendable to be able to be good at both. Props Cuey, love it.
I have a strong desire to say that I “can’t wait for Can’t Wait”, but I’m sure a million blogs have already said that lame ass quip, and I’d like to think I could think of something better than that…. Um..But seriously, I am excited.

Also, if you haven’t heard that Cuey and The Dean’s List are going on tour together this fall then you must be living under a rock. PLΣDGE TΘ RΔGE tour dates are being announced soon, but if you’re in Michigan, you’ll be lucky enough to see The Specktators open for them!

Become a fan of OnCue and FM!

Download “Feel Tall”

posted by: k.roth

p.s. I apologize for not posting this fast enough for Ms.Hayes… but you’re right, an hour out is unacceptable

YUP.

This is amazing, plain and simple. Oncue is on point, and you will be completely hooked on “Feel Tall” after verse 1 and one round of the chorus. Released as a GMAD exclusive off his next tape, I’m fully convinced that Can’t Wait will be HUGE. My favorite part is the lead up and singing on the hook, and I believe that’s what makes this song stand out so much from the masses.

Become a fan of OnCue and FM!

Download “Feel Tall”

posted by: k.roth