Overwhelming.

I don't know any word that better sums up what Sunday night was like. I have almost 20 years' worth of live MTV events — VMAs, New Year's Eves, Grammy preshows, election nights — to treasure. And yet "Total Finale Live" has to rank up there with the best of them. I think that as much as that has to do with the insane roster of celebs that turned up for our big send-off — proof, if you needed any more, of the enduring impact of this pop phenom — it is also a tribute to the countless former co-workers who came back to join us on this night.

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Other than Chicago or Phoenix, I can't imagine anyplace one would rather be on this historic Election Day than that nucleus of all things political, CNN's Election Center in New York. That's exactly where our MTV News crew was Tuesday afternoon, shooting a segment with correspondent Soledad O'Brien.

MTV News and CNN don't often cross paths, but we are always happy to do so. We recently partnered with the network on our "Night for Vets" concert, and with the youth vote a driving force in what looks to be an unprecedented turnout today, it made sense for us to meet up once more.

I am not sure what I was expecting as we made our way to CNN's fifth-floor newsroom — frantic, frenetic energy, maybe, with the first polls set to close in a few hours? What we got was, you might say, the calm before the storm: a buzz of activity to be sure, but it was controlled, businesslike and, at times, even relaxed.
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So my smile of the day came with the news that Titus Andronicus — that terrifically tortured band, the pride of Glen Rock, New Jersey — have landed a deal with indie heavyweight XL, the folks who bring you Vampire Weekend, Sigur Rós, and a little album called In Rainbows from Radiohead, among others. XL plans a reissue next month of Titus' album The Airing of Grievances, which was previously released on Jersey's Troubleman Unlimited. Hopefully this means wider attention will be paid to a record that deserves to be heard by as many people as possible.

One of my favorite interviews of the year was a summertime sitdown with the Titus guys in a suburban backyard. Hear what they have to say about Shakespeare, Seinfeld, shoegaze and punk — and best of all check out a couple of their rousing tunes. Read more...

Two flamboyant tours stopped in New York City last weekend: Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour and Of Montreal's latest stage show. Both artists share a flair for the dramatic, elevating their concerts to epic theatrical extravaganzas. But there's one major difference: ticket price. The best seats at MSG went for $350, while Of Montreal charged only $23 for general admission at Roseland Ballroom!

So any Madonna fans out there who are strapped for cash, here's why you can — and should! — check out Of Montreal's latest gigs and still get a Madgetastic show for a fraction of the price. Here's a breakdown of which show is better at what:

COSTUME CHANGES!
Madonna: Lots of black. Lots of top hats. Lots of shorts. Also, there's whatever this is.

Of Montreal: Frontman Kevin Barnes dresses like a cardinal! Then, he's a minotaur! He's in a bikini bottom! He's wearing a giant fanny pack! He's covered in fake blood! He's smothered in whipped cream! He's dressed like Prince! Shall I continue?

Advantage: Of Montreal. Half the fun of a Madonna concert is seeing what she's decked out in, but her latest wardrobe is a far cry from the Gaultier-designed Blonde Ambition garb. Stick with Of Montreal's wild and outrageous "WTF ARE THEY WEARING?!?" appeal.
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I know that imposing a concept like animal rights on the 19th century — a time when slavery was still alive and women couldn't yet vote — might be a tad unrealistic. But that was the quandary at which I arrived when my producer Andrew Rowe asked my vegan self to be a part of his piece on the steampunk scene and wear authentic steampunk garb when we shot our standups.

Not that I have a problem with playing dress-up: One look at the annals of VMA history will remind anyone that I have never been sartorially shy, and frankly the whole Victorian thing — the stovepipe hats, vests, long coats, pocket watches — is kind of cool, in the right time and place. No one really dresses up any more, so why not?

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It is a weird thing to me that the single most pursued, watched and written-about celebrity within the "thirty-mile zone" of Los Angeles continues to be a young woman whose most commercially viable days as a pop musician seem to have come and gone. On the other hand, Britney Spears could always make a real musical comeback. God knows unlikelier things have happened in the long, strange journey that has already been her life, and things lately seem to be looking up.

Will Britney show up at the VMAs? Will she perform? Present? Even speak? How will she look? What will she wear? Who will she be with? A rapt nation will have to wait a few more days for those answers. Meantime, I can't help but recall, as I often do every time that she is back on the public's radar, the first time I met Britney — and the entire Spears clan — in the town she put on the map: Kentwood, Louisiana. Read more...

Nothing gets discussion going quicker than proclaiming a band is the best. This week, we make the case for the Hold Steady reigning supreme over all of American rock — but what do you think?

Who is the best rock band in America?

In the voice-over booth, John Norris had his own ideas ...

A wholly unscientific study of what's covering the tops of Lollapalooza-goers...

Generally more vintage tees, less tie dye and headbands (sorry MGMT), way less day glo shades than in NYC. Here's what else is out there.
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A wholly unscientific study of the bottom half of Lollapalooza fans:

60% = cargo shorts (sorry hipsters, they’re not going away)

20% = vintage/thrift store shorts

15% = skinny hipster shorts

5% = 1970s NBA-style short shorts (Dr. J would be proud)

.000000000001% - a kilt

Check out what Lollapalooza-goers are wearing from the waist up.

This place needs its own zip code. Really. It’s been a few years since I was at Lollapalooza, but this place qualifies as a small town within one of America’s biggest cities. Took a full half hour to walk the length of Grant Park this afternoon. Began the day with two sets from very different places, geographically and musically – conscience and hip-hop from Somali musician K’naan, followed by my brothers from the ATL, The Black Lips, delivering plenty of flower punk, and some gobs of spit.

(Watch our video interviews from Chicago, including chats with the Cool Kids and the Black Lips, and check back for more all weekend!)

Speaking of expectorate, you can’t spit at this place without hitting a beer stand. Bud Light everywhere you turn, plus there’s a beer garden this year with a ton of microbrews. Food is another matter. No, really. I hiked half a mile until I came across any food vendors. Very odd. Not sure if they are trying to keep the garbage in one place, but not a good move.

On my walk, I passed Perry’s – Perry Farrell’s dance tent in a grove. Very cool atmosphere – though this early in the day, and without the benefit of, you know, the state of mind that makes dance tents fly, it was a bit subdued. DJ Wally Joy on the ones and twos, and hanging from the trees there were day glo fabrics and spheres, from the man who gave you Porno for Pyros and ENIT. Once a trippy dude, always a trippy dude.

Did someone say trippy? Next on my journey, I encountered “Eat Your Own Spaceship,” a circus tent seemingly operated by none other than those creatures from another galaxy called Oklahoma, the Flaming Lips, who are screening their long-discussed film “Christmas on Mars” here at Lolla. The tent is surrounded by pics of the Lips, and written in Russian, a call to make weed weegal.

Finally, I found a vegan burrito (they are gonna starve these people) and now it’s off to an afternoon and evening chatting with Grizzly Bear, Duffy, CSS, the Raconteurs and more. No Radiohead interview, alas. Thom: If you are reading this, I will be on site till about 11 if you change your mind.

(Watch our video interviews from Chicago, including chats with the Cool Kids and the Black Lips, and check back for more all weekend!)