Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Gareis Jennifer Garner
Thursday, June 30, 2011
It's a Royal Affair...
... in Brooklyn!
Bev has decided to wear an asymmetrical fascinator to celebrate Kate and Wills' big day, while Mary opted for a hat with a little tropical flavor.
Cheerio!
(By the way, this wasn't an easy photo to get:)
First Look: Bj�rk, ?Crystalline?
Last weekend we got our first listen of Bj�rk‘s new single Crystalline, which is taken from her upcoming new album Biophilia. Today we get to check out the single cover artwork for Crystalline as the song has been released for sale on iTunes. Click below to see the cover photo for Crystalline … and take [...]
Ashton Kutcher Attacks The Village Voice Over Sex Trafficking!
Oh shiz!
We've never seen him get worked up like this!
Ashton Kutcher, who runs a foundation that fights human trafficking, recently took to Twitter to condemn the editors of The Village Voice for printing ads for escort agencies in the back section!
He writes:
hey @villagevoice hows the lawsuit from the 15 year old victim who alleges you [...]
We've never seen him get worked up like this!
Ashton Kutcher, who runs a foundation that fights human trafficking, recently took to Twitter to condemn the editors of The Village Voice for printing ads for escort agencies in the back section!
He writes:
hey @villagevoice hows the lawsuit from the 15 year old victim who alleges you [...]
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: n/a
- Album: Moonwalker
Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory': A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet
In her newest video, Gaga pays homage to classic clips of the 1980s.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
The first thing that strikes you about Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory" video is the fact that it's steeped in the rich, gauzy traditions of classic pop clips and noticeably missing any of the allegories, agendas or, uh, afterbirth of her previous work.
Simply put, "Edge" is an homage to an entire genre of videos that has since gone by the wayside — namely, the eternally soft-focused, ethereal mini-movies of the 1980s, (mostly) pop productions that reimagined cityscapes as dream-like fantasy worlds, where the just-wet streets shone like mirrors, the manholes frothed with steam and no piece of fabric was left un-billowed. These were decidedly big-budget, unapologetically Hollywood things, shot on studio backlots, glowing with million-dollar lighting budgets and given extra grandeur thanks to sweeping, soaring crane shots. They made no attempt to portray reality as anything of the sort — because, much like the songs they accompanied, there was rebellion in that fantasy — or of hiding their excesses. And, not surprisingly, as the decade came to a close, and earnestness began to reign supreme, they slowly disappeared (surely, their big budgets didn't help their fate either).
But with her new clip, Gaga resurrects the epic videos of the '80s once again. And, seemingly, all at once. There truly are too many nods to the classics to list individually, and really, that's beside the point. With "The Edge of Glory," LG is paying tribute not to individual artists, but to an entire genre. Still, there are some whose influence stands above the rest, and we've combined them into one handy cheat sheet. Of course, in keeping with her tradition, not all of them come from the 1980s. Because if there's anything Lady Gaga has proven, it's that she refuses to be fenced in. Here's our list:
Bonnie Tyler: Welsh-born belter whose better-known videos (like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero") practically set the standard for the fantastical pop videos of the 1980s. Soft focus, arching crane shots, achingly staged lighting — they're all there, and they're all on display in "Edge of Glory" too.
Blondie, "Rapture": One of the earliest examples of the ethereal '80s (it was released in 1981), the video follows Debbie Harry on a dream-like traipse through the streets of New York City, complete with guest appearances by Fab Five Freddy and a shuffling Uncle Sam (to name just a few). It makes no sense, because it's not supposed to.
Cyndi Lauper: Gaga's good friend and, along with Madonna, perhaps the premier '80s video star, Lauper's classics — be they the good-natured rebellion of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or the moody, arty "True Colors" — both seem like spiritual successors to "Edge."
"Fame": Epochal tale of performing-arts students living and loving in NYC during the early '80s, it's spirit and style have long influenced Gaga's work. With its dance moves and dreamy, freedom-in-the-streets scenes, "Edge" is perhaps the best example of that.
"Flashdance": Prototypical "girl finds escape in dance" film from 1983, it stars Jennifer Beals as a steelworker/dancer who dreams of a better life. Not only are the same sentiments echoed in "Edge," but Gaga pays tribute to the film's most memorable scene — where Beals reclines in a chair and is doused in water — by striking a similar pose outside her apartment building.
George Michael: Before he became known for his various, uh, exploits, Michael was the biggest British pop star of the 1980s, and as such, he churned out some appropriately huge music videos. Two of his biggest — "Father Figure" and "Careless Whisper" — seem to have influenced Gaga with their gauzy, steamy portrayals of late-night life in the big city and, in the case of "Whisper," that balls-out sax wailing.
Michael Jackson: You can't write anything about videos from the 1980s without mentioning MJ, who took the art form to rarely duplicated heights. Usually, his clips were fantastical things, but occasionally, he also got gritty, and it's those moments (videos like "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Billie Jean") that seem to have stuck in Gaga's mind.
"Newsies": The 1992 Disney musical is most notable for its initial "flop" status and its subsequent rebirth as a cult classic. It tells the story of newsboys on strike in New York City, and in classic scenes like Christian Bale's performance of the song "Santa Fe," it takes that struggle to the twisting fire escapes of the city. Sort of like "Edge of Glory," really.
"Rent": Broadway retelling of Puccini's "La bohème," set in the Lower East Side in the early 1990s. As some have noted, Lady Gaga seems to be paying tribute to the choreography of one particular number ("Out Tonight") as she dances on the fire escape.
"West Side Story": One of the best-loved Broadway musicals of all time, "Story" was remade as a film in 1961 and went on to win a whopping 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. As you can expect, there are plenty of street scenes and fire escapes in both the film and the stage show, but perhaps the most famous is "Tonight," where the story's star-crossed lovers profess their love for one another high above the city. Sure, Maria never tears off her Versace silk, but you seemingly cannot film a scene on a fire escape without recalling this classic, and, in "Edge," there's certainly a lot of the former.
Did we miss any influences? Let us know in the comments below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsEmmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen
Jenni "JWoww" Farley's First Day Fall
Getting off to a rough start, Jenni ?JWoww? Farley was spotted earlier today (June 30) as she took a tumble while trying to open the doors to the "Jersey Shore" t-shirt shop that employs her.
The 25-year-old and fellow cast member Sammi were in a hurry to open the store and start their very first day of work before the unfortunate fall.
Once JWoww and Sammi made it inside the Seaside Heights store, the shop's manager realized one "Jersey Shore" star was late for their shift - Vinny Guadagnino.
Vinny, known as the least-flashy of the gang, failed to show up to work following an abrupt and seemingly angry 1am exit from the cast's home the night before.
Shia LaBeouf Tells ?Details? Magazine That He Got Romantic With Megan Fox
Transformers star Shia LaBeouf is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Details magazine and in his coverstory interview he comes clean about a rumor that has been going on for some time now. It was rumored that he and his former Transformers co-star Megan Fox enjoyed a romantic [...]
Lady Gaga's Meat Dress Stays Fresh At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
It's 'definitely one of the stranger pieces' on display, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Jim Henke tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
Oh, that meat dress! Nearly a year after Lady Gaga wore it at the MTV Video Music Awards, the costume made of various cuts of meat that designer Franc Fernandez and stylist Nicola Formichetti put together is still making headlines.
On Thursday (June 16), that dress will join the "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power'' exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where it will sit on display along with Gaga's childhood piano and Armani Prive orbit gown, which she wore to the 2011 Grammys, until February 2012.
"I was talking to Lady Gaga's managers, and this is probably around November [of last year], and basically talked about different things, and we talked about the meat dress and we thought it would be great to add it to the exhibit just because of all the notoriety it has, so that's basically how it came about," RRHOF chief curator Jim Henke told MTV News. "We thought the meat dress would really be cool."
So, how will the folks at the Rock Hall keep it fresh until it wraps up its stint there? "It's going to be in a case and we are putting some canisters in there to control the humidity, and then we have this other canister that soaks up the glutens," he explained. "But it's in a sealed case and we have the gels to control the environment in there."
However, it took some work to get it to the point where it can hang around the Rock Hall along with a number of other high-profile memorabilia without seeming super-gross. Henke explained, "We went back to Franc Fernandez ... ultimately what we decided to do, we sent it to a taxidermist, they put it into a meat locker and then we started working on it and created this [chemical] solution and treated it with that.
"And then they had a body form, and when it was still wet, they put it on the body form and then it dried on there," he continued. "And then they had to do a little bit of painting to bring it back and give it a little bit more color."
Gaga hasn't been shy about making the dress into jerky or wanting to have her extensive wardrobe in a museum, as she shared on "The Graham Norton Show." "I keep everything and dream of having a museum of all my clothes. I have an archive house for all my clothes," she said. "[The dress has] been jerked. It stank. It was fabulous. I never want to talk to anyone at those big celebrity functions because I feel awkward, and it was great — because it stunk, I didn't have to talk to anyone."
Having the dress in the exhibit is quite an honor and it's an interesting piece, but Henke notes this isn't the most bizarre exhibit at the RRHOF. "Definitely one of the stranger pieces," he laughed about the dress, adding, "There are some other weird things. We actually have [pioneering radio DJ] Alan Freed's ashes."
Related Photos Related ArtistsHeidi Klum: August 2011 issue of Glamour
'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Thrills Opening Night Crowds
Robot flick nabs $13.5 million from Tuesday-night screenings.
By Morgan Schwartz
Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whitely in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount
NEW YORK — The "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" red carpet in Times Square on Tuesday evening was packed with fans, stars and possibly a few Autobots eager to see the third installment of Michael Bay's explosive franchise. Theaters across the country were similarly swarming during evening screenings on opening night, with the alien robot flick nabbing $13.5 million in pre-midnight and midnight screenings, according to Deadline.com.
And though the atmosphere in front of the screening that MTV News attended was excited, several in the crowd were cautious about their hopes for the flick. "I've actually had lower expectations since the second one," Joseph Dornoff told us before he walked in. "So, I'm not expecting anything from it."
His friend, Patrick Farace, who has been anxiously waiting to see the third film since he heard of its release, also shared his hope to see "a better plot than the last one, amazing action. I'm excited to see Shockwave — he's the new villain." Judging by the reaction in the audience, "Dark of the Moon" surpassed many people's expectations. Fans clapped, cheered and possibly even shed a tear as the Autobots battled the evil Decepticons in their quest to bring home planet Cybertron to Earth. Although the third film featured the same basic good vs. evil fight peppered with romance as the first two, everything seemed to be bigger in this one.
The battles between Megatron, Sentinel Prime, Bumblebee and Optimus Prime were the clear fan favorite.
"[It's great] when Optimus comes by and just starts ripping everybody apart," said Wesley Arocho after the movie was done. "This action is made even more exciting by the fact that for the first time, audiences got to view it in 3-D."
"The 3-D was great. All the special effects were great," Carlos Barrozi added.
"It was better than past movies. It didn't hurt your eyes. You were able to watch it without wanting to take your glasses off," said Briana Brink-Rivera. Two friends, Mustafa Ahmed and Munawar Ali Mohd, even went so far as to say seeing the epic Chicago action in 3-D was "a dream come true."
Even Sam Witwicky's (Shia LaBeouf) love life seemed to be hotter in the third film. When asked which of Sam's love interests they preferred, newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whiteley or former franchise hottie Megan Fox, brothers Brandon and Bryce McCright responded simultaneously, "Rosie!"
If the response on opening night is any indication, Bay and company can rest assured that they've redeemed themselves after "Revenge of the Fallen." Now, the only question that remains is: Can we expect a fourth?
Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosNirvana?s Nevermind Gets Deluxe Reissue
Nirvana?s memorable 1991 album Nevermind will be reissued in a mega Super Deluxe Edition on September 19. And to further prove just how fast time flies, the deluxe edition marks 20 years after the original was released. Containing four CDs and one DVD, the Super Deluxe Edition will feature previously unreleased tracks, rarities, B-sides, alternate [...]
Beyonc� - If I Were A Boy
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia/Music World Music
- Director: Jake Nava
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Justin Bieber - Eenie Meenie
- Artist: Justin Bieber
- Label: Epic, Beluga Heights
- Director: Ray Kay
- Album: My World 2.0
Charlie Sheen?s Ex-Wife Denise Richards Adopts Baby Girl
Charlie Sheen’s Ex-Wife Denise Richards Adopts Baby Girl
Denise Richards has become a mom for the third time after she adopted a newborn baby girl, whom she named after her late mother. Former [...]
Charlie Sheen’s Ex-Wife Denise Richards Adopts Baby Girl Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Adam Lambert's 'Whole Lotta Love': The Story Behind The Cover
Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsHarrison Ford: ?Shia LaBeouf Is A ?F**king Idiot?
Harrison Ford: “Shia LaBeouf Is A “F**king Idiot”
Actor Harrison Ford had harsh words for former co-star Shia LaBeouf after he criticized their movie “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull”. Harrison Ford, 68, [...]
Harrison Ford: “Shia LaBeouf Is A “F**king Idiot” Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Prince Harry Dating Lingerie/Swimsuit Model Florence Brudenell-Bruce
Prince Harry Dating Lingerie/Swimsuit Model Florence Brudenell-Bruce
Prince Harry has a new girlfriend, a model named Florence Brudenell-Bruce!� Way to go Harry! Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, [...]
Prince Harry Dating Lingerie/Swimsuit Model Florence Brudenell-Bruce Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
KStew's Co-Writing Mother's Movie, K-11
Because right now, this project is her baby!
Kristen Stewart is in this weird limbo of her career. She doesn't have any movies in production at the moment and promotion for Breaking Dawn won't get into gear until at least October. What's a girl to do while her boyfriend is off in Toronto and her big [...]
Kristen Stewart is in this weird limbo of her career. She doesn't have any movies in production at the moment and promotion for Breaking Dawn won't get into gear until at least October. What's a girl to do while her boyfriend is off in Toronto and her big [...]
FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy
Alicia Silverstone: Bear Blu Is "Really Calm"
Actress Alicia Silverstone introduces her baby boy Bear Blu in the pages of the new issue of US magazine. (You can get a sneak peek of the beautiful mom and son on the Web site.)
Born on May 5 with a full head of hair - "crazy amounts," mom reveals - little Bear has so far been a "really calm" baby.
Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian
Hulk Hogan insists he ?never laid a hand? on his ex-wife
The wrestling legend’s former spouse Linda Hogan – who he divorced in 2008 after 25 years of marriage – has claimed in her new autobiography, ‘Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes’, that he had a violent temper that would manifest itself physically when they argued. But the 57-year-old TNA grappler has branded Linda’s [...]
Brooke Mueller Lands 55K A Month & Other News
Maybe the only person ?winning? right now is Charlie Sheen?s ex-wife, who recently landed a court order for over $50,000 a month in child support. This isn?t the good old-fashioned child support we?re used to hearing about. The money will actually be garnished from any wages owed to Sheen from his work on Two And A Half Men. In a major legal victory for Mueller, her lawyers managed to get the insane amount sent directly to her for support of their children. That kind of money actually makes me wonder how much his overall income from the show actually is. If $55,000 isn?t the entire check, how much does he get? Sheesh. Get the details over at TMZ. Is Snooki back with her old Gorilla Juice-head Jionni? It sure looks like it – Too Fab. Check out some photos of the guys from Transformers 3 on the red carpet ? Celebuzz. Sounds like there is some serious drama in Fantasia Barrino?s life ? PopEater. Nicki Minaj always finds a way to get weirder ? Hollywood Hiccups. Did Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox have a secret hook-up? ? Yeeeah! Was Robert Pattinson walking around in his birthday suit on the set [...]
Jennifer Lopez Being Replaced on American Idol?
Jennifer Lopez reportedly still hasn't made her mind up about whether or not she's going to return to American Idol for the 11th season, but sources say that producers are already putting together a backup plan in case she bails.
According to PopEater.com, insiders believe that Lopez, 41, is balking on going back to Idol for a second season, simply to get a pay raise. Though Jen made a cool $12 million for her judging work, her predecessor Simon Cowell was making $35 million per season -- and Lopez may want a bigger chunk of that.
Still, the jury is out on whether Lopez was an asset to Idol's 2011 success or vice versa.
"Idol has resurrected her much-stalled music career," one music exec said, as Lopez's dance hit "On the Floor," burns up the charts. "Likewise, Idol didn't fall apart when Simon left and Jennifer has to get some of the credit for that. But let's also remember the show didn't increase in ratings and that is also thanks to J.Lo."
And Idol bigwigs aren't convinced that it's Lopez who's their show's big draw.
"Right now the star of American Idol is Steven Tyler," a source told PopEater. "Everyone thought after Simon announced he was leaving that [Lopez] would fill the void. How wrong were they? It's all about Steven, who's already signed on for season 11."
Lopez recently told BBC that she was "on the fence" about returning to the singing show, but it looks like the multi-tasking mom may want to make a decision soon. The Idol sources say that producers have already spoken about Shania Twain (who has been a mentor and guest judge on the show) and Shakira possibly filling Lopez's spot.
Michael Jackson - Thriller (Long Vers.)
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy
Lindsay Lohan: Back to Community Service... with Muffins
After spending 35 days confined to her Venice, CA townhouse, Lindsay Lohan is a free woman.
The ?Mean Girls? babe was released from house arrest earlier this morning (June 29) and was later spotted heading out to chip away at her 480 hours of community service.
Carrying a box of muffins to take to the local women's shelter, LiLo said a few quick words to TMZ, as she joyously proclaimed, ""I'm excited to start community service and focus on my work."
Lohan's spokesman, Steve Honig, told the Associated Press that the actress is "very focused" on resuming her community service at a downtown Los Angeles women's shelter as well as cleaning the county morgue.
Last week, the troubled actress - who turns 25-years-old this weekend (July 2) - appeared in court after failing a sobriety test earlier in the month, however, Judge Stephanie Sautner determined that while Miss Lohan did test positive for alcohol, she did not violate her probation due to the fact that a previous judge only required drug and alcohol testing between January 3 - February 25, 2011.
Lady Gaga, Adele And More: Best Albums Of 2011 (So Far)
Foo Fighters, Bon Iver, the Beastie Boys also make Bigger Than the Sound's midyear list.
By James Montgomery
Bigger Than The Sound's Best Albums of 2011 (so far)
Photo: MTV News
Well, we've reached the halfway point of 2011, and if you're a fan of unfortunately named politicians tweeting photos of their bulges, terrorists getting shot in the eye and Austrian strongmen who have a thing for the help, well, congratulations on having the best six months of your entire life.
Of course, for the rest of us, there's been plenty to help pass the time in 2011 — namely, a whole bunch of really excellent albums, from folks you probably know (Eminem, Lady Gaga) and some you more than likely don't (the Weeknd, F---ed Up). But whether they're household names or not, they've all helped make the first 180-or-so days of the year practically fly by — a feat that's pretty amazing considering all the crap that's happened up to this point.
Vote for your favorite album of 2011 in our Newsroom poll!
So, like I've done in previous years, I've compiled my favorite albums of the first half of 2011 — a traditional top 10, followed by some honorable mentions too. If there's something you haven't heard, well, you've still got six months to rectify that. And the same goes for me: If there's an album that I've missed (a definite possibility), I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. So, let's get right to it. Here's my list of the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far):
The Top 10
10. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Mirror Traffic: The elder statesman of erudite rock and good diction has been heading in a jammier direction for years now (on songs like "1% of One," "No More Shoes" and, more recently, the Pavement reunion tour), but thanks to the production work of Beck, he's finally honed those tendencies into an album that's every bit as elastic as his previous efforts, yet oddly focused too. Songs like "Tigers" and "Senator" prove he's still not averse to an angular verse (or in-depth investigations into the sexual proclivities of elected officials), but it's on "28 Forever" — when he warbles, "There's no parade/ I cannot rain on with my poison eyes" — where he finally seems to be coming to terms with his past as an oft-noted sourpuss. Call it clarity, call it maturity, call it whatever: It all makes for the best Malk record in years.
9. Foo Fighters, Wasting Light: The year's best major-label rock record was born out of risk: Dave Grohl eschewed the sanitary confines of the big-bucks studio to record an album in his own garage, on tape, warts-and-all. And then he brought in Nevermind producer Butch Vig to oversee the proceedings. The end result is an effort that positively rips, one equally packed with crackling rockers ("Rope," "White Limo") and muscle-y, medium-rare mopers ("I Should Have Known"). In the process, he not only reinvigorated his band, but set the bar impossibly high for any of his contemporaries. As if they'd have the balls to try something like this.
8. The Weeknd, House of Balloons: Mysterious, majestically paced R&B courtesy of 20-year-old Canadian Abel Tesfaye, whose sensibilities (gorgeously layered atmospherics, keenly placed Siouxsie and the Banshees samples) belie his years. The trope of the troubled loverman isn't exactly new, but rarely are matters of the heart played out as honestly as they are here. A constant cycle of druggy nights, desperate flings and depressing dawns, Balloons makes no apologies, and, really, it doesn't need to. Not when the scenery is this engrossing, this sumptuous. Mood music for increasingly moody times. And, best of all, it's free.
7. Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two: Really, this one could have gone either way. Especially after MCA's battle with cancer forced the Beasties to scrap the first record (and, of course, To the Five Boroughs). But, somewhat shockingly, they delivered an album that's a total blast, a mishmash of boom-bap rattle and pop-culture flotsam that, like all the best Beastie albums, manages to tread the line between highbrow rap and lowbrow entertainment. So even if Mike D did open up a restaurant with Ted Danson, you still believe he's got enough swagger to go toe-to-toe with Nas. And on Hot Sauce, he does both.
6. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues: The folks over at Spin called it "the year's most beautiful album," and they're probably right. Swooning, wide-screen vocal harmonies ebb and expand into the warm, finger-picked acoustics, creating atmospheres that are summery one minute, wintery the next. But it's not all ethereal. In fact, frontman Robin Pecknold spends the majority of the album rooting through problems that are, in fact, very real: finding his place in the world and coming to terms with his disappearing youth. That balance is key to the album's strength. Because for a band that indulges so much in the space of the studio, Helplessness Blues is rarely, if ever, self-indulgent.
5. Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes: Psychoanalytic, somnambulant pop from the prodigiously talented 25-year-old Swede, Wounded Rhymes expands on the themes that she laid out in her stunning debut (2008's Youth Novel) and imbues them with an otherworldly spirit. Not to mention the torchy leanings of the greatest of girl groups (the Ronettes, the Crystals, etc.). So while Li is still preternaturally somber (like on "Sadness Is a Blessing," on which she keens, "Sadness is my boyfriend"), she's also not afraid to get dirty, either, and it's when she's doing the latter — like on the aptly titled "Get Some" — that she truly shines.
4. Lady Gaga, Born This Way: It's not a stretch to call BTW the year's most-anticipated album, and perhaps in a nod to those expectations, Lady Gaga delivered an effort that doesn't leave anything on the cutting-room floor. From the piston-pumping electronics of "Marry the Night" and the tarantula tango of "Americano" to the twitching, "Transformers"-huge techno of "Heavy Metal Lover" and the epic balladry of "You and I" and "The Edge of Glory," this truly is an effort that tries very hard to be everything to everyone. And sure, it's probably too long, but that's sort of the point, isn't it? And if she didn't please everyone, well, she came pretty darn close, didn't she?
3. Bon Iver, Bon Iver: Justin Vernon has done the impossible: follow up a beloved, much-mythologized debut album (you know, the one that was recorded in a cabin) with a record that's just as good — if not better. He's always been one for atmospheres, but never before have those atmospheres been so dense. Or so compelling. Here, he creates a singular, breathless world, building it with layers of echoing instrumentation and his own ghostly falsetto. There are moments where the sun shines through the cracks — a horn crescendo, a silvery sliver of bell — but for the most part, Bon Iver is a mesmerizing trip through a dewy dreamscape. And, in that regard, it's a momentous achievement — even if the last song does sound like Bruce Hornsby.
2. Adele, 21: It's nice when the year's best-selling album also ends up being one of the flat-out best, but, in the case of Adele's 21, we should've seen it coming. After all, she's got the Grammy-winning pedigree. But this time out, she's grown, and become a singer capable of both tremendous power (like on the smash "Rolling in the Deep") and terrifying tenderness too (like on the smashing "Someone Like You"). A roiling collection of breakup ballads and revenge fantasies, there truly is no album quite like 21, and not only is its success justified, but it probably guarantees Adele will only add to her Grammy collection come February. Some things are inevitable.
1. F---ed Up, David Comes to Life: A wrecking-ball sorta rock opera courtesy of Toronto's hardest-working (and, most likely only) six-piece punk collective, David Comes to Life tells the story of a downtrodden factory worker who may or may not have killed his true love. I think. Because, along the way, there's also betrayal, heartache, bomb blasts, fisticuffs and a whole lot of plot-twisting shifts in narration too. Of course, the story behind the album is largely unimportant (if you want to keep score at home, here's a handy guide) especially when the album itself hits so hard. The (multi-multi-multi-)tracked guitars squeal and chug for days, and frontman Pink Eyes' screams are so visceral you can practically feel his blood welling up in your headphones. It's an ambitious, ringing, raging success, the kind of record you'll listen to over and over again, either to try and follow the plotline or just get pummeled by the sheer might of the thing. Either way, you'll enjoy yourself.
Honorable Mentions
Bad Meets Evil, Hell: The Sequel: Reunited with (and recharged by) Royce Da 5'9", Em reminds us that he's still capable of littering the scene with lyrical shell casings, and Nickel Nine matches him shot for shot. Their friendly competition makes for a thrilling listen, and basically everything here burns with varying degrees of intensity — even the track with Bruno Mars.
Bright Eyes, The People's Key: Unjustly overlooked for reasons not apparent to me, Conor Oberst's seventh studio album is a latticework of sonic strips, wide-eyed (yet sorta hazy) ponderances of faith and science and, on "Ladder Song," raw, positively aching ruminations on death. Not as great as some of his earlier works, but close. And that's still better than 95 percent of everything else.
Curren$y, Covert Coup: One of approximately 750 albums he plans to release this year (and not the one that syncs up with "Weekend at Bernie's" either), Coup bubbles along on producer the Alchemist's hazy beats and Curren$y's laconic, chronic delivery. If you couldn't tell, this is the weed-iest album of 2011, by a smoky mile.
Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys: Ben Gibbard finally gets happy, only, y'know, within reason. Because even the sunniest moments are dotted with dark clouds, and ultimately, this is an album that's as much about alienation as anything else. After all, falling in love doesn't fill the emptiness inside; it only makes it more pronounced.
PJ Harvey, Let England Shake: The iconic Brit shape-shifts with seemingly every record she releases, and on Shake, she's reborn as an old-fashioned protest singer. The sad thing is, the subjects she's singing about (conflict, bloodshed, man's unending cycle of self-immolation) are just as timely now as they were 50 years ago.
Portugal. The Man, In the Mountain, In the Cloud: Guys from the same town that put Sarah Palin on the map (Wasilla, Alaska: Population 7,831) more than atone for that fact with an album that's sprawling, psychedelic and crawling with ambition — the latter of which is also a pretty apt description for Ms. You-Betcha's machinations too.
Radiohead, The King of Limbs: Maybe the most divisive Radiohead album of all time (or at least since Hail to the Thief), it may not necessarily rock, but that's because it's not supposed to. Instead, its main focus is creating a world that's atmospheric and amniotic, and even if it doesn't contain guitar solos like "Lucky" or "Just," there's still plenty to give you chills. Just not the chills you're probably used to.
Tyler, the Creator, Goblin: Terrifying meta-commentary or simply the angry rantings of a 20-year-old kid who doesn't know any better? Probably both. Homophobic? Sexist? Clever? Irritating? How about all of the above. It's also visceral, wince-inducing, frightening and sorta funny too. But perhaps nobody does a better job of summing it all up than Tyler himself, when, on the (sorta) hook to "Radicals," he growls, "Kill people, burn sh--, f--- school." Now that's a mission statement.
YACHT, Shangri-La: The new-age dance duo ponder the existence of the hereafter and discover that it may very well exist on earth (or within our own minds). Too bad we're busy destroying both. A postapocalyptic party as foreseen by the Talking Heads and Giorgio Moroder, Shangri-La is as heavy on subject matter as it is on lithe, limber rhythms, so even when things get too heady, you can still let your hips do all the thinking.
Yuck, Yuck: The year's best debut, one that channels the stray slack and sonic stumblings of Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth. And considering it all comes from a quartet of kids too young to remember prime-era indie rock, it's all the more noteworthy. Maybe the stuff can make a comeback.
What did we miss? Share your favorites in the comments!
Related ArtistsMary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
Related ArtistsGarcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Thought She Bombed 'Transformers' Audition
'Dark of the Moon' director Michael Bay called and said, 'You're the girl,' the first-time actress tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
One of the many intriguing stories to emerge from the production and release of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is the casting of new leading lady and first-time actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. In addition to making headlines for replacing Megan Fox as the new "Transformers" "It" girl, the fact that Whiteley comes to Hollywood from the equally glamorous world of modeling has only added to her appeal.
The Victoria's Secret model's acting abilities have already been touted and praised by her co-stars, Shia LaBeouf and Tyrese Gibson, but when MTV News caught up with the newbie, we asked her about the intensity of the audition process.
"I went to the audition and really I knew nothing about the role," Whiteley said. "No one had said anything; it was just a role in 'Transformers,' so I kind of thought it would be an extra part or a cameo or something. I went in a bit blind and also, it was my first-ever audition. I went in completely not knowing what I was doing. I left feeling not confident."
Whiteley didn't have long to wallow in her uncertainty, because a couple days after that audition, director Michael Bay phoned her directly. "He was like, 'Yeah, you're the girl,' " she recalled.
Before landing the big-screen role, Whiteley had dabbled in some amateur acting via school plays and a short film for lingerie company Agent Provocateur, but "Dark of the Moon" was definitely her first real gig.
So has she been bitten by the acting bug?
"Yeah, I've been so lucky because doing this film, I got to try a little bit of everything," she said. "There's something for everyone in it: There's the romance, the comedy, the drama, the action, there's the special effects."
But as to whether we'll see her back on the big screen soon, Whiteley wasn't so sure. "I'm really hoping to do another movie," she said. "I'm working toward that, although I very much hope to stay in the fashion industry; it's my first love. We'll see what happens. I've got no idea."
Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosBritney Spears - I Wanna Go
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
- Director: Chris Marrs Pillero
- Album: Femme Fatale
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)