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(Credit: Brian Appio/MTV)

Meet the new Amber Pacific. Despite being in existence for most of the last decade, this Seattle-based pop-punk band has gone through some pretty significant personnel changes over the last few years, most notably in the form of vocalist Matt Young.

The band didn't lose its voice for long, though, as Young was replaced with Jesse Cottam, who has fit nicely into the frontman role. With this new blood, the band recorded and released a new album, Virtues, picking up right where the original lineup left off.

Whether it's the absolutely raucous rave up of "Anthem For The Young At Heart" or the pure pop of "The Girl Who Destroys," Amber Pacific makes hook-filled pop-punk for the brokenhearted of the mosh pit.

Virtues is out now, and you can check out music from the album (and the new lineup) at Amber Pacific's MySpace page. In the meantime, get familiar with its older material in the form of the '07 clip for "Fall Back Into My Life."

Tags Amber Pacific, video

Anarbor has had a pretty good year. The Arizona band with a Michigan-referencing name released its full-length album, The Words You Don't Swallow and was named The Favorite of The Freshmen 5 on mtvU. But judging by the video premiere for "Gypsy Woman," the group's luck is about to change.

Set in a room that looks more like a dungeon than a band rehearsal space, "Gypsy Woman" finds Anarbor rocking out while the titular gypsy woman practices some dark magic on the boys, stabbing voodoo dolls with pins and causing all manner of chaos among the band.

Directed by Jesse Eweles, "Gypsy Woman," features some charmingly lo-fi effects and a overall, tattered and ragged vibe that fits the classic-rock feel of the song.

Check out the video below. The Words You Don't Swallow is out now.

Tags Anarbor, video

Taylor Momsen is not a role model. This is not an observation; this is a quote from the young lady herself. Buzzworthy sat down with Momsen along with Ben Phillips, her bandmate from The Pretty Reckless, and had a candid conversation on her music, fame and responsibility (or lack thereof) to her fans.

Momsen claims that music is "the thing that's kept me sane." And based on this interview, you can tell she's not kidding. When asked whether she thinks of herself as a role model, Momsen candidly responds, "I don’t want to be a f***ing role model. I have no intention to be a role model. In fact, I would advise kids not to look up to me. I’m totally out of my mind."

Despite the upfront nature of that proclamation, it comes with a somewhat warmhearted caveat: "The only message that I really preach is find who you are and be yourself."

But that's just the tip of the interview iceberg. Momsen goes on to talk about the origins of The Pretty Reckless, the "unrock/rock" vibe of the Chelsea Hotel (where the band shot their album artwork) and the relationship between her music career and her acting gig on "Gossip Girl."

Check out the refreshingly honest and forthright interview below. The Pretty Reckless' debut album, Light Me Up, is coming soon.

Tags Gossip Girl, taylor momsen, The Pretty Reckless, video

+ Rihanna has some funny things to say about being in charge of Katy Perry's bachelorette party. (ThatGrapeJuice)

+ Check out Taylor Swift's artwork for "Mine," the first single off her upcoming album, Speak Now. (Idolator)

+ "American Idol" is now three judges short. Not only is Simon Cowell gone, but it looks like Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi will follow him out the door. (MTV News)

+ Speaking of "Idol," Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler are the latest rumored replacements for the show's judges table. (JustJared)

+ Justin Timberlake is designing a limited edition William Rast collection for Target. (HollywoodLife)

Tags American Idol, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Kara DioGuardi, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Taylor Swift

No longer a single lady, pop-country belle Carrie Underwood showed off her newly acquired wedding band while performing on "The Today Show" this morning.

Underwood wed professional hockey player Mike Fisher on July 10. Not exactly a "Cowboy Cassanova," right? More of a Canadian Mountie. That said, Carrie looked pretty happy to be Mrs. Fisher as she performed her new single, "Undo It," for the crowd.

Fisher and Underwood honeymooned in Bora Bora and Napa Valley. If I was Kanye West's Twitter account, I'd probably say something like, "Damn, girl! Two honeymoons!? How big was your jet!?" But I'm not, so I'll just say congratulations, Carrie and Mike!

Below, enjoy a video that is no longer applicable to Carrie Underwood.

Tags Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Kanye West, Star Spotting, video

I doubt 50 Cent was asking Chace Crawford for spoilers from the upcoming season of "Gossip Girl," nor is it likely that Crawford was pumping 50 for behind-the-scenes tales about the recording of Get Rich Or Die Trying.

Though both of those scenarios are providing us with no end of amusement, the two were together to celebrate their new film, "Twelve," which held its premiere party last night. In the Joel Schumacher-directed film, Crawford takes the role usually reserved for 50, playing a drug dealer. 50, on the other hand ... well he plays a drug dealer, too. So much for range.

Anyway, the premiere was last night and MTV's cameras were there to catch all the commotion, of which there was a fair amount. President Barack Obama's visit to NYC caused many of the film's stars to be tardy for the party.

Check out the video below. "Twelve" hits theaters on August 6.

Tags 50 Cent, Barack Obama, Chace Crawford, Gossip Girl, Star Spotting, video

The discourse surrounding beverages has always been a constant in hip-hop and R&B. 20 years ago, Snoop and Dre turned the 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor into a rap accessory.

But as the years have gone on and on, hip-hop and R&B have turned their backs on the bargain basement beverages and moved into more refined tastes, espousing the joys of Pino Grigio and rose wine. Which brings us to two of hip-hop and R&B's biggest names blowing up the cocktail of choice for aristocrats suffering from chest colds. Yup, it's Usher, Jay-Z and Ester Dean's "Hot Toddy," from Usher's forthcoming EP, Versus. New Usher EP? Yup, after the success of "OMG" and "Hey Daddy," he's striking while the proverbial iron is still proverbially hot. And with "Hot Toddy," he comes out of the gate strong.

Despite being named after a cocktail of whiskey, hot water and lemon, this track is pretty slick. With a slithering beat courtesy of Polow da Don, Usher spits game at a girl, while Jay-Z spits game to the mirror, mirror on the wall, all while Ester Dean wails in the background.

Check the song out below, along with Usher's "Hey Daddy" video. Drink it up, folks.

+ Listen to Usher, Jay-Z And Ester Dean's "Hot Toddy," here.

Tags Dr. Dre, Ester Dean, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Song You Need To Know, Usher, video

(Credit: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)

This week's MTV PUSH Artist of the Week is the incomparable Florence + The Machine. Both on stage and on record, Florence Welch, along with her band, has been mesmerizing listeners with her theatrical, haunting voice and her atmospheric sound.

While some of you may know Florence + The Machine for their punky single "Kiss With A Fist," much of Florence + The Machine's material is more stately and ethereal, reminiscent of Kate Bush and PJ Harvey.

In the interview clip below, Welch actually goes into detail about the origins of her band's intoxicating sound and how they go about producing it.

Florence And The Machine's debut album, Lungs, is out now.

Tags Florence and the Machine, Interview, Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, PUSH, PUSH: Florence and the Machine, video

+ Diddy, Janelle Monae and Rick Ross are on the cover of Vibe's new "Juice" issue. (Idolator)

+ Check out the first leaked image from Kanye West's "Power" video. (NYTimes)

+ Just a normal, casual day for Christina Aguilera: tank top, hat...Christian Louboutin Engin Spikes 120 pumps. (JustJared)

+ Jessica Simpson is the latest celeb to rumored to be taking over Simon Cowell's "American Idol" judge's seat. (MTV News)

+ Justin Timberlake has made his directorial debut, lensing a tequila commercial. (PopEater)

Tags American Idol, Christina Aguilera, Diddy, Janelle Monae, Jessica Simpson, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Simon Cowell

(Credit: @KanyeWest)

Kanye West was pretty busy yesterday. The MC/producer/blogger/interrupter/genius/pain in the backside woke up, joined Twitter (@KanyeWest), performed at Facebook's offices, tweeted a bunch (mostly about how small his jet was) and then, finally, performed at Twitter headquarters.

In his two appearances at the social networking meccas, West rocked acapella versions of songs from his forthcoming album, which, according to Kanye himself, is not called Good Ass Job.

But even if you weren't one of the lucky social networkers to see a suited-up Kanye rap on top of your cafeteria lunch table (as he did at Facebook), you were able to ride along with him. Literally.

Pretty much as soon as West activated his Twitter account he was making his fans and followers part of the journey, playing the old "Kids In The Hall"/I'm crushing your head" game with his "small as hell" jet and holding 140-character court on topics ranging from covering his Versace sofa in plastic to his preferred mode of drinking water:

Hang on to your goblets, because it's gonna be a bumpy ride. (Again, on a very small jet.)

Kanye West's new album is due out in September.

Tags Kanye West, Star Spotting