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  1. Obsessively blogging about pop music, pop videos, pop stars, and pop culture from inside the MTV headquarters in Times Square. We also have a slight Jonas Brothers problem. And a little fixation with Tokio Hotel.

    Contact us as buzzworthy@mtv.com and follow us on Twitter at @MTVBuzzworthy.

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(Credit: MTV/ Kareem Black)

The Temper Trap are a small band with a big sound from down under. We already gave you the buzz on Temper Trap a while back, but here's a refresher course.

Think U2/Coldplay anthems meet Death Cab subtlety. Their song "Sweet Disposition" has been gathering a lot of steam, appearing on (500 Days) Of Summer soundtrack and popping up on TV all over.

In this MTV Discover & Download interview, Temper Trap talks about their humble beginnings, the various permutations of band names they went through (before they settled on The Temper Trap), and the Melbourne, Australia music scene.

You'll also find out more about their "Sweet Disposition," video, the concept for which  revolves around them playing live... in outer space. Boldly go where no man has gone before, and check out The Temper Trap at Discover & Download. And check out "Sweet Disposition" below the interview.

+ Check out the entire set of The Temper Trap photos here.

Theft -- the name of multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Matt McCartie's musical project -- is perhaps an homage to the epic rock echoings of his Brit-rock influences.

After kicking around in bands for a while, McCartie decided to go it alone, building his own recording studio and recording all the parts for Theft's songs. Not that you'd know it listening to songs like, "Fireworks Explode" and "Never Be The Same," which could easily be mistaken for the British sounds of Coldplay's lilting heart, The Verve's epic sweep, and Oasis' raw edge.

Even if you're new to Theft you might've heard McCartie's music already. His song, "Breathing Underwater" is the theme song to the late DJ AM's new MTV show, Gone Too Far, which examines the devastating effects of drug addiction and offering hope to those willing to accept the opportunity to change their lives. His the Theft song, "Fireworks Explode," became the theme song to season 1 of It's On With Alexa Chung.

You can check out music at Theft's MySpace, follow him on Twitter @theft, and download "Breathing Underwater" here.

The Temper Trap may or may not get big, but damned if they don't already sound big. The Australian band, led by singer/guitarist Dougy Mandagi, makes expansive, propulsive anthems ready-made for arenas and festivals. I will go out on a limb (see me out there/) and say that I haven't heard a band that sound this epic and sprawling and accessible since Coldplay got all "Yellow."

It's been a case of accelerated development for the band. In the last two years they've played the Glastonbury Festival, worked with DJ Shadow and recorded their debut album, Conditions. Check out the video for their beautiful track "Sweet Dispositions" (which calls to mind a holy union of Thom Yorke's vocals and The Edge's guitar sound), which you may remember if you saw the Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-Zooey-Deschanel-sittin'-in-a-tree flick, (500) Days Of Summer.

If Apple FINALLY created their record label -- that's GOT to be up there on the to-do list, right? Somewhere near political sovereignty and establishing its own religion? And shouldn't there be an app for that? -- UK pop singer Gary Go should be its first sign. The guy pretty much wrote Apple's next campaign: You too can be a pop star, with just a few iPhone apps and some angst! And hopefully half as much musical prowess as he's got. Gary, who put out two non-iPhone EPs a few years back, wrote several of his self-titled debut album tracks with just iPhone software. And these days he'll even get on stage and play his iPhone... Seriously -- some 70,000 people at Wembley Stadium just saw him perform on his iPhone.

So, the London-born Gary is clearly a tech geek -- the lyrics of one of his songs consist solely of fan Tweets -- but let's get back to the music: I would liken Gary's melancholy yet grandiose and uplifting brand of pop-rock to Coldplay or James Morrison, and I didn't expect that from Gary's campy stage name alone.

Gary Go and his debut single, "Wonderful," have already picked up steam in the UK, in large part because Gary opened for Take That on their latest tour, which broke the record for fastest-selling UK tour of all time! (And for you boy band fans keeping track at home, we really truly have heard of NO plans to get the Backstreet Boys back to the 2009 VMAs!)

Anyway, speaking of openers, not only did Gary also open for Lady GaGa for several of her concerts, Gary covered "Just Dance" (it's gloomy and acoustic... definitely a new spin!), and he saw GaGa's ... gagas! Gary told the UK's Daily Record:

"She was in the dressing room opposite me and someone shouted to her to come and meet Gary Go. She shouted back that she had no clothes on, but two seconds later she just came to the door with nothing on then quickly threw a little jacket on. It was quite a meeting and she is very attractive. She's a performance artist, so I guess she doesn't have any inhibitions, but it certainly had an effect on me."

I imagine it did, but what better way to be introduced to all that is Lady GaGa? I wonder if she treats all her openers to such a warm welcome?

Watch Gary Go's latest video, "Engines," and watch "Wonderful" after the jump!

Gary Go TV on MUZU.
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If Friendly Fires' "Kiss Of Life" reminds you of the Peter Gabriel song of the same name, it's because they're practically the same song. Though listening to Friendly Fries probably makes you feel less like you're listening to your dad's car trip music. However, I'm confident there's a subset of you that finds listening to Peter Gabriel cool, for ironic Dad-Music purposes, because you're a die-hard Say Anything fan (the move in this case), or because Peter Gabriel pretty much rules. (Which he does.)

Anyway, Friendly Fires -- you've heard them in that Wii Fit commercial -- are very much a British it-band -- so much so that they were just nominated for a 2009 Mercury Prize. Also, lead singer Ed Macfarlane totally sounds like Chris Martin and while both bands shot beach videos (remember Coldplay's "Yellow" video? Chris martin was so SAAAAAAD and COOLLLLLD and DREADFULLY DREARY on the beach! In a hoodie!), Friendly Fires' new "Kiss of Life" video is 1000 times less boo-hoo-I'm-on-the-beach-y. Also, "Kiss of Life" is one of those uplifting, life-affirming anthems like in a "Fields of Gold" way, but also, it lacks that same brand of "Fields of Gold" cheesiness that makes me want to jam one of those extra-long Bic grill lighters into each ear. (Ed Macfarlane also reminds me Richard Ashcroft if Richard Ashcroft hadn't gotten hit by the Unfortunate Bus and survived.)

Also, no matter WHAT you do or where you live, if you find yourself at a pool party this summer, drop the name Friendly Fires. You'll earn cool points IMMEDIATELY, and members of whichever sex you're attracted to will instantly find you 30 percent more attractive. You will be GOING places. Like directly into someone's pants.

Saturday night Trent Reznor announced, live from the Bonnaroo stage, that the Nine Inch Nails performance underway would be the band's last. "It just dawned on me that this is our last show ever in the United States," he said. "Don't be sad. I'll keep going. But I think I'm going to lose my mind if I keep doing this."

Does that mean that Nine Inch Nails are gonna be a world band now? Tuvan throat singers? Mariachis? Nueve Inch Nails? Who knows. For now, all we can be sure of, is that Nine Inch Nails are gonna disappear for a while.

To keep you company while they recharge their batteries (and to shame NIN into coming back for more) here's a brand-new video playlist made up of bands who have threatened to call it quits. Eminem, Coldplay, The Roots, Jay-Z, Diddy and more. What a perfect way to finish the day!

In the same way that it's understood that soap operas will have absurd story lines, people expect music videos to be over-the-top dramatic. Bands are generally in the business of communicating really big feelings, and super evocative music videos certainly help to accomplish that goal. And while a person can only handle so much slo-mo and so many sunset mountainsides, it's those unchecked melodramas that really stick in our minds, spawning everything from torrid one-night stands to Scott Stapp's career.

Last week Cage's "I Never Knew You" reminded us just how much a well-executed video can quicken the pulse. As usual, that got us to thinking... Which other videos reach down your throat, grab you by the heart and hand pump it until you think you're gonna pass out? What are the most compelling videos of all-time? In Buzzworthy's slightly comprehensive list below, you'll find the gut-wrenchingest, unflinchingest (and sometimes cheesiest) videos in recent history, so get close to the Kleenex. This list is not recommended for the infirm or the elderly.

The Cheesiest
+ Creed, "With Arms Wide Open" -- It's hard to believe that this video is actually for real. Watching it again now, I keep expecting a "Wipe that s$#* up" overdub to kick in and relieve the insane self-indulgence. Notoriously wack frontman Scott Stapp literally dodges asteroids at sunset and stands on a mountain with his arms spread, as the cameras circle, as if carried by slow motion eagles.

+ Chicago, "You're The Inspiration" -- Can I get away with describing this video as "difficult to watch?" Handily out-sapping those inscrutable Japanese karaoke videos, it's easier to eat a whole brick of cream cheese than it is to watch this video all the way through. That being said, definitely watch it.

The Saddest
+ Soul Asylum, "Runaway Train" -- The '90s invented that thing where tough-looking dudes enjoy music by standing around looking really sad and tuned out. It's no Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart," but this Soul Asylum video does help the grungers get into character with a sad slideshow of missing children.

+ R.E.M., "Everybody Hurts" -- Hold on! Stop! Everybody hit your breaks! Get up! Get out of your cars! Come on! Put on your little hats! Come on, do it! Dooo it! Come onnn! Little hats! Put your hands over your hearts! Sad break! Saaad break! Awww! (See also: Radiohead's amazing "Just").

The Scariest
+ Depeche Mode, "Wrong" -- Chicago will clog your arteries, but Depeche Mode will stop your heart. This terrifying video combines the edgy uncertainty of Radiohead's "Karma Police" with the supernatural creepiness of UNKLE's "Rabbit In Your Headlights," and comes out with one of the most disturbing videos I've ever seen.

+ The Fray, "Never Say Never" -- An everyday urban cityscape becomes a furious war-zone in The Fray's metaphorical new video. The violence of the uprising represents -- wait for it, wait for it -- the pain of a break-up! DRAMA!

The Darkest
+ Pearl Jam, "Jeremy" -- If you've been taking your MTV regularly like you're supposed to, you know that Pearl Jam recently released a never-before-seen director's cut of "Jeremy," with a much more explicit finish. See what all of Eddie Vedder's diabolical glares were really leading up to in one of grunge's darkest anthems.

+ Kanye West, "Flashing Lights" -- Don't be fooled by the muscle car, the thong-clad bikini girl or the Miami sunset. Don't be fooled by the cheery title, either. In this dead-serious drama, former Playboy playmate, Rita G, isn't stroking Kanye's ego... She's dispatching it to hell.

The Sexiest / Most Cinematic
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+ Calling all cavedwellers: married "Chairman of the Bored" Kris Allen somehow managed to beat truly truly truly glamrageous M.A.C. board member Adam Lambert on last night's American Idol results show. Watch the hilarious 60-second recap! (MTV News)

+ Green Day potentially lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales for refusing to censor their new album so that retail giant Wal-Mart would stock it. Good work, boys. Way to fight "the man." (NME)

+ Speaking of sticking it to "the man," Coldplay announced that they were releasing a FREE 9-song live album as a thank-you to their fans. We know, right? Download it. (Coldplay.com)

+ Bidding has started on a pink dress that was Inspired by Mariah Carey's new fragrance "Luscious Pink" (the dress was also worn by Carey while out to anniversary dinner with hubster Nick Cannon). Good news is that ALL proceeds benefit cancer research foundation Susan G. Komen For The Cure.  (eBay)

+ Making The Band''s D. Woods wasted no time setting the record straight about her feelings toward Diddy and Danity Kane ex-bandmate Dawn Richards. (Bossip)

+ Beyonce is still working her tired "Single Ladies" steez in her new video "Ego." Regardless, she looks hot. (BeyonceOnline)

Ronnie, Duke, Matt, Joey and Jon of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (who were almost called Umbrella Ninjas) are so deadpan sarcastic, that it's really tough to know how much of their Playlibs to take seriously.

For instance, it's totally plausible that they'd want Slash to rip guitar solos on their graves, but are they really as moved by Coldplay as they claim to be? Are they attracted to sumo wrestlers? And, did they really braid their hair and wear backwards pants in middle school? Um ... honestly, I have no idea.

The wisecracking Florida five-piece dropped by MTV the other day to pick up Ronnie's hairbrush, and while they were here, we made them fill in the blanks for us. Watch and learn which videos inspire, arouse and embarrass this band, which recently dropped a three-track acoustic EP titled Shock Session.

Ace Norton, who directed the new Fray video, once said "Give me a bucket of blood and a camera and I'm good to go!" Hell of a motto. One that inspired Fangoria (America's horror magazine since 1979) to describe him as "Someone who truly fits the description of Terrifyingly Gnarly."

So, what is the dude who directed Aesop Rock's zombie-fied "Coffee" video doing behind the reins of The Fray's "Never Say Never," a plaintive piano ballad packing the following awww-inducing lyrics:

"You're the queen of everything/ As far as the eye can see/ Under your command/ I will be your guardian/ When all is crumbling/ Steady your hand."

Basically he's turning their next-gen Coldplay into a suburban apocalypse. Norton uses the fall out around a neighborhood disaster as a metaphor for falsetto-singing frontman Isaac Slade's aching heart. Sparks explode from crumpled cars as panic-stricken civilians sprint down smoke-filled streets among soldiers and cops.

Slade walks calmly through the carnage, ignoring the pouring rain and danger, looking for the woman (played by Gary Unmarried's Jaime King!) who brought his world crumbling down as he pleads with her, "Don't let me go!"

"Never Say Never" sounds super dramatic, right? Well, that's because it is.