Nas celebrated the eve of his album release on The Late Show With David Letterman. “Look at this cover, that’s me everynight,” Letterman laughed, poking fun at the Life Is Good album cover, which features a photo of the king of Queensbridge with his ex-wife Kelis‘ wedding dress draped over his lap. Chest puffed out with pride, perhaps for his 10th album, or maybe for precious little girl, Nas hit the stage in a pair of shades and glowing white pants and shoes. He performed his confessional “Daughters” with a live band behind him, and he sure sounded serious when he warned, “When she date, we wait behind the door with a sawed-off, because we think nobody is good enough for our own daughter.” Our hearts melted when, with a smile and a hand over his heart, he punctuated the performance with, “LOVE!” Aww!
Posts By Zara Golden
Last Lap: 50 Cent Shows Love For Frank Ocean
50 CENT SHOWS SUPPORT FOR FRANK OCEAN
Haters be warned that, unless you want a taste of that famous 50 beef, you may want to give the Channel Orange artist a second chance, because 50 thinks that “Anyone that has an issue with Frank Ocean is an idiot.” [MTV]
ARETHA FRANKLIN WANTS TO BE AN IDOL JUDGE
Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are both out, and so Aretha Franklin figures she and Patti LaBelle should have in at the Idol judging table. Why not! [CNN]
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The xx Debut Pretty New Single “Angels”
We’ve been waiting for this! The xx have finally debuted proper “Angels,” a pretty first single off their much anticipated sophomore effort Coexist. Much like their eponymous debut album — and even some of their blockbuster side projects since — the oh-so-delicate love song is a carefully crafted and coy affair. “The end comes to soon, like dreaming of angels,” sings a yearning Romy Madley Croft‘s, before adding a long few beats later, “and leaving without them.” Tantalizing in how spare it is, the song builds slowly to a cluster of drum rolls before it gently decrescendos like an exhale to the close.
Coexist is out September 11th in the U.S. via Young Turks. Enjoy “Angels” above, and check out the album’s cover and tracklist below.
Mumford and Sons Are Set To Return With Babel This Fall
Since their 2007 debut, Mumford & Sons have exploded from London porch-stomping, You Oughta Know artists past into the Grammy nominated, chart-topping, Unplugged playing, movie star marrying, scene-leaders they are today. And all this with just one album, Sigh No More, to their name. To be sure, all these years later we still have those twelve tracks in regular rotation on our iPods. But it’s time that the “Dust Bowl Dance” goes on. Thankfully, the Mumford & Sons have at long last confirmed that a sophomore album is on the way. Babel will hit shelves September 25th and will include twelve new songs to take us into the fall.
Green Day Are Back With “Oh Love”
Like No Doubt, Green Day, too, are back and doing the 90s proud. The pop-punk heroes have a trilogy of albums called ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tre! lined-up for release beginning this fall (September 25th, November 13th, and January 15th, respectively), and today they debuted the first cut from the bunch. “Oh Love” finds the band back in fine form.
This Rob Cavallo-produced single is a bit more produced than some of the band’s earlier stuff, and the punchy-guitars might sound straight classic rock were it not for Billie Joe Armstrong‘s still distinctive — and at times almost pained sounding — voice and trademark angst. “Far away, far away/ waste away tonight/ I am wearing my heart on a noose,” goes the chorus, and you know that Green Day have still got it.
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No Doubt Won’t “Settle Down” With Their New Single
No Doubt don’t want to “Settle Down,” and we are thankful for that! It’s been more than a decade since Rock Steady, but today the band is back with the first single off their upcoming album Push and Shove and they clearly have wasted no time getting back into their grove.
“I’m a rough and tough, and nothin’s gonna knock this girl down,” sings Gwen Stefani on the hook of “Settle Down,” declaring herself back. The bouncy, six-minute reggae-inflected jam should sound right at home on the radio this summer. Particularly so between songs like Maroon 5‘s “One More Night” and Santigold’s “The Riot’s Gone.” As Stereogum’s Tom Breihan wisely points out, “The track echoes Santigold in the same way that Santigold’s music echoes No Doubt.” This is probably so because, in the many years since we’ve last heard No Doubt, the music-scape has evolved to include their influence and their upbeat, dance-hall inspired sound has become popular in pop music. That doesn’t mean we haven’t missed Stefani’s own stylings, though. It’s hella nice to have the originals back on the scene, making fresh music again.
The video, directed by long time No Doubt collaborator Sophie Muller, drops later today. Until then, have a listen below and let us know what you think of No Doubt’s return.
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Mandy Moore Is Working On A New Album With Her Husband Ryan Adams
In the 13 years since her debut, Mandy Moore has taken up acting, gotten married, and — so it seems, with the good influence of her singing/songwriting hubby — grown out of her pop princess days and into a more mature sound. Moore has revealed that she’s at work on the follow-up to 2009′s Amanda Leigh, and that she’s getting help from her Ryan Adams for this next round. As she tells CBS News, the two have “been writing a little bit together” and Adams “has a studio, so I definitely want to make my record there.” The collaboration is more than one of just convenience, though, as Moore also credits Adams with broadening her musical horizons. “There’s tremendous influence right now around the house — from music I’ve been introduced to, and being very happy and in a healthy, happy relationship,” she said. “I think that still garners a lot of material to write about.” Aww! Fueled by more than just the sugary sweet calories of “Candy,” this love-felt return will be something to watch for.
Elle King’s Top 5 Favorite TV Theme Songs
You just heard Elle King‘s “Playing For Keeps,” the outstanding Mob Wives: Chicago theme song. Elle told us, when she swung through our offices ahead of the show’s premiere, that she thinks it’s “so cool” that she has a television theme song of her own, and especially so for “such a gangster show.” She wrote the song for people who might have lost their way, she says, before adding with a wink, “like in the mob. Not that it exists. I’m not saying nothing!”
“Playing for Keeps” easily earns its place with the greats, and so we figured we would have Elle share with us her five favorites from the canon. Amongst them is a classic that she still knows all the words to, another that’s always stuck in her head, and that one has her jonesing for a vampire make-out sesh every time. And then, because she’s a little wild like that, she threw in a bonus 6th favorite. Check it out!
Katy Perry’s 5 Most Death-Defying Outfits
Looks like Katy Perry‘s taste in bra-tops hews not just sickly sweet but, perhaps, life endangering, too! According to The Sun, insurers have voiced concern regarding Katy’s bold sartorial choices. Namely, they are worried about a certain peppermint number (see above) and all its moving parts, because it’s wheels apparently catch her hair and put her at risk for “high level of strain on her neck.” We wouldn’t want that for Katy either, but as far as we are concerned, those few moving parts pale in comparison to some of her more unusual garments past. Nary a household object is safe when Katy Perry is getting dressed, and that we don’t ever want to change. We do, however hope, that she’s keeping safe.
And so we present, Katy Perry’s 5 most death-defying outfits:
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Aerosmith’s 9 Most Legendary Video Heroines
The gents of Aerosmith definitely have something of a reputation. A reputation for wailing guitar riffs, as well as for owning the radio waves with each new single. They’ve got a penchant for rocking hard on stage (and off!), and for dreaming big when it comes to casting their music videos. Earlier this week, they debuted their new Kill Bill-meets-Whip It clip for “Legendary Child,” —their first video in nearly eight years— and sure enough, it’s led by an all-grown up Alexa Vega (who, as a much younger girl, starred in the Spy Kids franchise!). A band may be getting older, but their taste in heroines remains ever as young and as beautiful. Hotties like Alicia Silverstone, Eva Mendes, and even Steven’s own daughter, Liv Tyler, have been starring in their videos for years. So, which of their video vixens reigns supreme? Join along as we break it down for you!
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