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Allison Iraheta's Just Like You: The Album Snippet Preview!

Posted 11/12/09 1:11 pm EST by in Music

Dye your hair with Kool-Aid and start joking about cutting, because 30-second snippets of Allison Iraheta's major label debut Just Like You have hit the web. Everybody knows I was less-than-thrilled with the super-poppy, heavily-processed vocals of Iraheta's Max Martin-produced single "Friday I'll Be Over U." But will the rest of her album make me happy? Let's go through these too-short snippets and see.

» "Friday I'll Be Over U"
This.

» "Robot Love"
In this pulsating electro-pop ditty (which samples Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part II"), Iraheta is pissed that her boyfriend is in love with a robot. Whether said robot is an actual lady cyborg or just an iPhone is to be determined. Also TBD? Whether this song will have a discernible melody. We're on track two and I'm already thinking "filler?" Ruh-roh.

» "Just Like You"
Good news: I'm finally hearing Allison's voice without a bunch of studio trickery around it. Bad news: The mid-tempo chorus is as generic as it gets, both melodically and lyrically. Good news again: The verse sounds more promising, where the sassy teen sings about deleting a dude's texts.

» "Don't Waste the Pretty"
Whoever gave Iraheta this bland track should be choked. (Like this!) Did Roxette or Savage Garden write this? Was this left over from a Natalie Imbruglia CD? (It turns out the offending parties are Michael Dennis Smith, Stefanie Ridel, Miriam Nervo and Olivia Nervo.) "Don't waste the pretty on life/ 'Cause soon it's gonna fly on by." How did this new-age feel-good gunk make it on to the Rocker's album?
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Kris Allen's Debut Album: The Preview

Posted 11/9/09 6:20 pm EST by in Music

Being a diehard "American Idol" fan is an emotional roller-coaster. No matter how much you dig a performer on the show, by the time his or her album leaks your fandom has been deflated by less-than-awesome singles and frustrations with how they're being marketed. "Idol" albums are often over-written, over-produced and over-calculated, making the artist feel like studio-bots with little personality. "I'll like the songs on tour, without all the studio crap around it," you say to yourself, trying to save face when deep down you know your favorite new singer laid an egg.

Well, fans of our current "American Idol" can breathe a giant sigh of relief, because AOL premiered Kris Allen's self-titled major label debut this morning and it’s pretty damn good.

I jotted down some notes while listening to the CD for the first time. And MTV News would like me to share them with you. So here we go!

» "Live Like We're Dying"
Y'all know I love the single, which was originally a b-side from the Script, and Team Allen did right by starting the album strong. Besides, any power-pop album that features piano on the opening track instantly gets my seal of approval. (See: New Radicals' Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too.)

» "Before We Come Undone"
Whew! What a massive improvement over the demo I heard over the summer. (It featured an ill-fitting electronic drum track. Did not want.) Reverse guitar and piano parts give the track a really neat unraveling sound, as if the song itself is coming undone along with the rocky relationship Kris sings about. If I have one gripe, it's that I feel like Kris' vocals sound just a smidge behind the beat, as if they decided to increase the track's tempo by a couple beats-per-minutes and forgot to update Kris' track.

» "Can't Stay Away"
Allen's flirty side comes out to play in this white boy funk track. The verses sound like Maroon 5 without the whiny vocals, and the choruses are like Gavin DeGraw with less soul man posturing. Sorority girls: Be prepared to hear this when your frat guy boyfriends make you a new mix.

» "The Truth"
>>Kris' breathy ballad vocals remind me of Richard Marx on this track. Considering I'm a sucker for Marx's schmaltzy oeuvre, this one hooked me early, even if this Pat Monahan/Toby Gad-written song is considerably less cornball than Marx's massive hits. These lyrics really jumped out at me: "While the floors underneath our feet are crumbling/ The walls we built together tumbling/ I still stand here holding up the roof / 'Cause it’s easier than telling the truth." I can see why the Beatles-obsessed Allen chose this song, as the collapsing-house-metaphor recalls "Fixing a Hole."
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Kris Allen's 'Live Like We're Dying' Video Stands Way Above Other 'Idol' Clips

Posted 11/6/09 5:40 pm EST by in Music

"American Idol" winner Kris Allen debuted his first music video today (although he's been the unwilling star of several hilarious/creepy fan-made Kradam tribute clips) and while "Live Like We're Dying" probably won't win any Moonmen at next year's VMAs, it's a big, bold and awesomely expensive-looking first taste of what fans can expect from Kris Allen 2.0. He's no longer "just" an "Idol" winner. He's a musician in his own right, and the video sets him up as a worthy colleague to similarly-minded artists like the Fray, OneRepublic and John Mayer.

The video starts in near-darkness, but as the clip progresses (and as he plays more instruments), the sun slowly rises until the final moments, when a new day has officially dawned. Call me sentimental (and, okay, a crazy fan), but this video perfectly mirrors Kris' "Idol" journey in a deliciously subtle way. He began as a guy with little exposure during the early episodes, but thanks to his earnest performances and winning personality, he ended up being the top dog.

Perhaps I'm reading into it, but Allen could be winking at his naysayers by performing in front of a clock that looks as though it's ticking down from 15 minutes. (It's actually one-minute and fifty seconds, but with the fast-paced editing it's easy to misread it.) Okay, I'm definitely reading into it.

What struck me the most about the video, however, was just how different Kris' debut clip is compared to other "Idol" winners' music video debuts. And that's a good — nay, amazing — thing.

Imagine, if you will, the cheese that would have come with a dramatic interpretation of the song's lyrics (see Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel"). If Team Allen had decided to go the David Cook "Light On" route, poor Kris would have played second fiddle to a subplot featuring actors. Even worse, Kris could have played the romantic lead in a slo-mo melodramatic clip like Ruben Studdard's "Sorry (2004)" and Fantasia's "Truth Is" video. If they had used Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independent" video philosophy, Kris would have had to wear a huge scarf and get lost in a giant house party. And don't even get me started on Taylor Hicks' first "Look! I'm at a jazz club!" video or Jordin Sparks' cheap off-season-at-the-carnival "Tattoo."

Instead, Jive Records and 19 Recordings opened their check books and let Kris do what he does best: Sing, play a bunch of instruments and look achingly sincere while doing so. Holy crap! An "Idol" music video that shows the contestant in their element? That really is a first.

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The Cast Of 'Glee' Are Totally Not Jerks

Posted 11/5/09 5:44 pm EST by in Music, Television

It's always a magical thing when you meet musicians or actors you admire and they turn out to be decent human beings. (We've all heard the horror stories, am I right?) Well, I'm pleased to say that I gave the cast of the hit show "Glee" cast my "Are They Jerks?" litmus test this morning, and they passed with flying colors.

Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn) and Amber Riley (Mercedes) stopped by MTV News to talk about the brand spankin' new "Glee: Music, Volume 1" soundtrack album, which just dropped this week. We snagged them at the tail-end of an intense week-long promo whirlwind, but you'd never know we were their 700th interview, given their bright faces and genuine dispositions. (700 might be an exaggeration. Sue me.)

You'll get to see my interview with the cast soon enough. We touched on everything from Madonna to Joss Whedon to off-screen romance rumors (which the adorably cozy Cory and Lea dodged like pros). Oh, and then there was that one moment when Lea totally geeked out and begged Adam Lambert to duet with her.

So keep your eyes peeled for tons of "Glee" stories in the coming days. Plus, MTV News got its very own slushy facial from a certain someone. Confused? You won't be. Trust me — it's epic.

Special thanks to Cory for following and re-tweeting me on Twitter. Thanks to him, I scored almost 100 new Twitter followers in a matter of minutes.

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Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment: The 30-Second Snippets

Posted 11/3/09 1:40 pm EST by in Music

Stock up on water, hide your children and do not look directly at its bright shimmering light, because 30-second song previews of have hit the Web. Pop music will never be the same!

OK, so there's some hyperbole there. (Blame my inner Glambert for taking over.) So before I start claiming his body parts, let's put on sci-fi lab-coats and break down the song previews in a (somewhat) level-headed manner.

» "Music Again"
The album kicks off with what sounds like will be my favorite Adam Lambert song, penned by Justin Hawkins of the Darkness. It's got "Bohemian Rhapsody" harmonies, an AC/DC-inspired guitar riff and boastful lyrics that have the "Idol" runner-up deservedly planting his freak flag into pop culture's landscape. "There've been many moons before I met you/ And I ain't going nowhere," he snarls. Damn straight! Welcome to the party, Adam. You came just in time. (Bonus: As the snippet fades out, one can hear the rocker sing the phrase "raison d'être." It's my new ringtone.)

» "For Your Entertainment"
The synths that pulsate throughout Adam's single aren't the only things throbbing. Lambert is hot and bothered and he's ready to rough you up. With his music, of course. (Who am I kidding? He's singing about doing it.) It's a straightforward single that doesn't really display his glam rock influences (even if he name-dropped T. Rex and Gary Glitter on Ryan Seacrest's radio show), but nonetheless, it's a super-smart radio-friendly choice for a kickoff single. I just hope I never hear my mom sing it.

» "Whataya Want From Me"
Pink and Max Martin wrote this mid-tempo rocker with a gorgeous hook. We know Kris Allen wrote a song about the pressure and frustrations of living up to the "Idol" crown (see "Let It Rain" off Allen's upcoming debut disc). Lambert could very well be singing about a similar theme. "What do you want from me/ Just don't give up/ I'm working it out/ Please don't give in/ I won't let you down." So far, you haven't let us down, Adam. Just keep doing you.

» "Strut"
Ah, the infamous "Strut." Fans have been buzzing about this song the longest, ever since a description appeared in Rolling Stone. Adam's voice is backed by a chorus of mini-Lamberts as he sings about not wanting to be solo, which is then followed by a short guitar solo. Clever! I'm eager to hear the rest of this track, co-written by Lambert and "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi.
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Tegan And Sara Sing Karaoke To Celebrate Their New Album

Posted 11/2/09 7:05 pm EST by in Music

Karaoke at MTV News is a lot like Tokio Hotel to the greater pop culture landscape. The small group of us who are into it are really into it, and our vocal enthusiasm makes up for the rest of the population's general disinterest.

We've been kicking around the idea of taking an artist or band to a karaoke joint for awhile, but last week our dream became a reality thanks to everyone's favorite Canadian power-pop duo Tegan and Sara, who were in town to promote their awesome new album Sainthood.

The Quin Sisters are known for their sharp personalities and witty banter as much as their unique, infectious catalog of tunes, so it wasn't a huge surprise that they'd be down with our oddball idea of going karaoke-ing at 11 a.m. on a Thursday. What did surprise us, though, was just how deep their karaoke expertise ran.

Tegan and Sara told us they often seek out the local karaoke spot when they're on tour. In fact, they even wrote about an Australian karaoke adventure in a collection of three books they self-published in conjunction with Sainthood. (The book set, titled "On/It/At" can be purchased from their website.)

The Tegan and Sara karaoke rule of thumb is a good one: Make sure you pick a song with an epic hook so that the entire place sings along at the top of their lungs. If you show off your indie cred, you'll flop worse than the movie "Duets." If you stick with a staple and sing it well, you'll be a star. Sara was quick to point out that although I chose to sing Loudon Wainwright III's "One Man Guy" for my "American Idol" audition, it would be a karaoke killer. Duly noted, Miss Quin.

Sadly, Pulse Karaoke didn't have any Tegan and Sara tracks in their collection (though they did offer an unauthorized Adam Lambert demo and Kris Allen's "No Boundaries," so I felt like I was in the mothership). That didn't matter for Tegan or Sara, who were both able to find something awesome to belt. Check out the video to see if the Quin girls stuck to their guns or went on a karaoke tangent.

How awesome was Sara's "Wanted Dead Or Alive"? It was difficult for me to follow that up with an awkward, clumsy, far-too-high-for-me Taylor Swift cover. (In my defense, that was the first time I've tackled that song and the lyrics on screen were slightly delayed. Boooo!)

What's your favorite karaoke jam? Did you dig Tegan and Sara's picks? Let us know below!

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Adam Lambert Defends Album Cover Via Twitter

Posted 10/28/09 3:06 pm EST by in Music

The glittery fall-out from Adam Lambert's campy For Your Entertainment album cover reveal continues. Lambert woke up this morning (after spending part of his evening at the "Michael Jackson's This Is It" premiere), and took to Twitter to defend his artistic vision.

The "Idol" rocker wrote, "Thank you to those who appreciate and understand that the album cover is deliberately campy. It's an homage to the past. It IS ridiculous. For those that don't get it: oh well. Glad to have gotten your attention." He closed with, "Androgyny. Rock n roll."

He's right. The androgynous look and science-fiction influence were both very much a part of the glam rock movement in the '70s, even spilling into the early '80s with New York City-based artist (and personal fave) Klaus Nomi. Lambert's makeup on the For Your Entertainment cover seems more of a throwback to '80s glam rock, however, when bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe made cross-dressing as American a pasttime as baseball and apple pie. It's less androgynous and more drag. I agree with Michael K at Dlisted.com, who snarkily pointed out that Lambert's look is way more Nina Flowers than David Bowie.

I'm still on the fence as to whether I like Adam's album cover. On one hand, I'm stoked that he's making such a bold statement. (Just think of how epic it will be when hundreds of those will be displayed in every Wal-Mart.) On the other hand, if he's truly trying to pay tribute to his glam rock forefathers, I'm not sure he's entirely successful. The execution reminds me of something I'd see on the hood of a car. (Or, even worse, this.)

But head-scratching graphic design is nothing new for "American Idol" album art. As we mentioned last night, the pop culture force has a long history of giving their artists the short end of the CD artwork stick. We premiered part one of our "Top 11 Most Insane Idol Album Covers" flipbook yesterday, and now we are happy to present the conclusion.

Take a break from defending (or bashing) Lambert's CD art and feast your eyes on this:

The Top 11 Most Insane Idol Album Covers Ever, Starring Jim Cantiello

A thousand rounds of applause to digital producer Sohyung Kang for being a Photoshop genius, and for dreaming up this cray-cray idea in the first place!

Which insane album cover is your favorite? How does Lambert's stack up against the other cuckoo "Idol" albums? And how stoked are you to hear Adam's CD when it hits stores November 23? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

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Adam Lambert's Album Cover Reminds Us Of The Most Insane 'American Idol' Covers

Posted 10/27/09 7:09 pm EST by in Music

Adam Lambert revealed his album cover for "For Your Entertainment" and it’s as spectacularly over-the-top and jaw-dropping as his memorable “American Idol” performances. The dude is a walking water-cooler conversation. And by golly, he’s done it again.

In the Tweet that linked to the cover, Lambert wrote, “Glam is back!!!” Judging from this album art, however, I don’t know that I’d say it’s back so much as hanging out at the mall Glamour Shots kiosk. (Will this eye-catching retro look help sell albums? We'll find out when it lands in stores November 23.)

The thing is, “American Idol” has a long history of eyebrow raising album covers. Read More...

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David Archuleta Says Allison Iraheta Has 'Spunk'

Posted 10/27/09 5:09 pm EST by in Music

The David Archuleta outtake chronicles continue!

One of the fun things I learned about the "American Idol" star during our Christmas carol extravaganza is that he is ceaselessly curious. When he wasn't stopping to look at every single bulletin board or framed poster hanging on MTV's walls, he would turn the tables and casually interview me. "Know any good New York City restaurants? What music are you listening to these days? What kind of bird do you have?" (Long story.)

But this line of questioning was my favorite from the day, if only because it sparked us having a brief chat about recent "Idol" rocker, Allison Iraheta.

If you remember, Simon Cowell went out of his way to knock Allison's personality during her "Idol" journey. Despite the fiery-haired rocker delivering some of the best vocals of the season — and displaying more authenticity than any other teenage "Idol" contestant — the cranky Brit would go on and on about how he didn't think she was appearing particularly likable. This insane, illogical and frustratingly recurring talking point led to several angry fist pumps from my living room couch.

Clearly, David Archuleta is on Team Allison with me. His face lit up when he talked about how much "personality and spunk" she has. And when I brought up how adorable it was when she jumped out of her "bottom three" chair to give him a hug when he showed up during an episode, Archuleta smiled and — dare I say it? — blushed.

Cue the "Awwwwwws!"

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David Archuleta's Christmas Sweaters Took Some Convincing

Posted 10/26/09 2:16 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music

Last week, David Archuleta and I serenaded MTV staffers with Christmas carols in celebration of his new holiday album Christmas from the Heart. Needless to say, Archuleta's fans were happier than Ryan Seacrest at a tanning salon. Aside from the expected flailing we received from the Archie-Angels, we got a lot of questions about the Christmas sweaters he and I donned during the shoot. Where did they come from? Is he going to wear that on his upcoming Christmas tour? Did you have to twist his arm to play dress up?

So, by popular demand, here's the sweater song. (Cue Weezer.)

As I mentioned in my recent blog, the "American Idol" runner-up was a sweetheart, but convincing him to wear that silly Christmas sweater involved a little bit of begging.

At the end of our sit-down interview — where we discussed both the Christmas record and his upcoming "more personal" pop album — it was time to get our yule on. Although David knew we were going caroling for the shoot, I'm not so sure he knew it involved props and a specific wardrobe. His defeated "Christmas ... sweaters ..." says it all. (Note the desperation in my voice mere nanoseconds after he sounded less-than-enthused.)

Being the gracious young man that he is, though, it didn't take too much cajoling to convince David to play along. He even added a scarf for flair! By the end of the shoot, Archuleta was so comfortable in the itchy old sweater that he almost left the building still wearing it, along with our microphone. Whoops! (Fun semi-related "Idol" journalist trivia: After a recent interview, Kris Allen left Z-100 wearing Entertainment Weekly's microphone, forcing EW.com's Michael Slezak to race out of the building and chase down Kris' car. Now that I think of it, I'm 99 percent sure Slezak did that on purpose to score an extra couple of seconds with the "Idol" winner. Sneaky!)

It pains me to admit it, but the red and green snowflake sweaters are all mine. Read More...

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