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AM Taxi will release their sophomore album We Don’t Stand a Chance this June, following it up with stints on the Warped Tour. A member of both Field Specialists and Scribbling Idiots, Cas Metah is also known for his solo work and many collaborations. Hailing from Canada, The Most Serene Republic released their third LP …And the Ever Expanding Universe in 2009. In 2009, A Place to Bury Strangers signed with Mute Records and released sophomore follow-up Exploding Head. A trio living in the musically blessed Brooklyn, the three members originally played in a band called Stealing From Bandits before coming together once more to form Voodoo Farm.

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This week’s Freshmen winner is The Happy Hollows, who took about 50% of the votes. Their video will go into on-air rotation next week. I’m actually pretty stoked to make that announcement because I really dig this group and I like that a song whose title is completely nonsensical took the win. I think it shows people are willing to expand their ideas about music and embrace tracks that might be a little odd. Also, as I mentioned in the previous post, I have a soft spot for the controversial lo-fi genre. Come back next week for a chance to vote on a new round of artists. In the meantime, you can follow me and mtvU on Twitter for musical updates.
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Beatnick & K-Salaam’s single comes from their mixtape Where the Streets Have No Name, which was released as a free download last summer. The Happy Hollows are a three-piece indie band from Los Angeles who have opened for the likes of former Freshmen Deerhoof with their album Spells. Originally formed back in 1999, Sparks the Rescue re-released their first full-length studio album Eyes to the Sun last spring. Juaquin Mulphers goes by his hip-hop name Waka Flocka Flame, a moniker that is rumored to have been given to him by rapper Gucci Mane. We are the Arsenal is a quartet from Southern California who released their acclaimed debut album They Worshipped the Trees last year.

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Wow. First off, congratulations to Disco Curtis for their Freshmen win. The “Ashley” video will be added into on-air rotation next week. Now let’s discuss the comments section this week. I was glad to see that towards the end of the voting, people were urging each other to be more peaceful and encouraging POSITIVE support of whichever artists you chose. I wholeheartedly agree on both counts. Also, when I chime in occasionally, it’s usually to clear up a misconception OR to let you know that I do read each and every comment to see what you’re saying and gauge a reaction to the music. Please remember that what I write is just an opinion. Nothing more. Nothing less. And please be kind to one another. Tune in next week for the Freshmen vote and in the meantime you can follow me and mtvU on Twitter for musical updates.
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A hip hop artist from Chicago, Add-2’s newest mixtape Tale of Two Cities Vol. 3 has been garnering more and more public attention. Already a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist, Angel Taylor continues to make waves with her debut album Love Travels. Benny Cassette is a hip-hop artist based in Los Angeles. Disco Curtis is a quintet from Dallas who have toured with the likes of Boys Like Girls on the strength of their Play with Fire, Get Burned EP. Last summer, folk duo Vandaveer released sophomore album Divide & Conquer.

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The consensus has spoken and it has said fun. FTW! This week the group garnered strong support in both comments and votes to become the Freshmen winner. Their video will be added into on-air rotation next week. I was glad to see that most of the comments this week concerned positive aspects about all the artists. Keep the support coming! Don’t forget to tune in next week for a new group and a new chance to vote. In the meantime, you can follow me and mtvU on Twitter for musical updates.

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Hip-hop trio Dem Southernfolkz hail from Dallas, Texas and have recently released a free EP, Something To Hold On To. Next month they will be supporting Jack’s Mannequin’s headline tour, but for now Fun has brought their single “All the Pretty Girls” from their debut LP Aim and Ignite to the Freshmen. John Reuben released his sixth album Sex, Drugs, and Self-Control last month, all recorded at his home studio in Ohio. A former teenage pop star in Norway, Marit Larsen’s sophomore album The Chase is her introduction to the US music scene. Vanessa Brown, more popularly known as VV Brown, is a British recording artist whose first studio album Travelling Like A Light was released last summer.

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This week’s Freshmen vote really came down to the last second with both Fireworks and D. Black in the running until the very end. However, as you know, there’s only one winner and Fireworks managed to pull through with a mere 2% of the polls. Congrats to the group, whose video will now be added into on-air rotation next week, and congrats to D. Black as well. Both artists have incredibly loyal fan bases. As always, just want to remind everyone TO BE NICE to each other in the comments section. It’s a new year. Let’s practice some kindness, eh? Tune in next week for another round of voting and in the meantime you can follow me and mtvU on Twitter for musical updates.

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After releasing This Ain’t No Mixtape in 2009, Curren$y also put out Jet Files as a precursor to his follow-up album The Grand Scheme of Things due out this year. “Yesterday” was the first single off D.Black’s album Ali’Yah released in September 2009. Fireworks, a Michigan based pop-punk band, brings their debut album All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion to mtvU. Hadouken!’s newest album For the Masses is set to be released on January 25th. Mike Kinsella has created five albums under the moniker Owen; the most recent LP New Leaves was released last fall.

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Philly jam band The Disco Biscuits surged in end-of-the-week voting to take The Freshmen win ahead of Kam Moye (props to Kam fans for their solid showing.) “You And I” will be added into on-air rotation on mtvU and will certainly introduce more people to the surprising ferocity of cute Japanese call girls.
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