MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Crystal Castles

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+ Eminem, the Foo Fighters and Coldplay are confirmed to headline this year's Lollapalooza. Other performers include Buzzworthy faves Lykke Li, Crystal Castles, Best Coast and Kid Cudi, to name a few. (MTV News)

+ Boo! No junk food or ice cream backstage on Britney Spears' Femme Fatale tour! Also on her rider: humidifiers at every arena and Michael Jackson's albums playing repeatedly in her dressing room. (Buzznet)

+ Ugh, we're so sick of all of these perfect photos of Beyoncé. Totally JK. Even in these ads for ridiculous looking headphones, Bey somehow still looks impeccable. (ONTD)

+ The Beastie Boys: the gift that won't stop giving. Listen to their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2, in full, streaming now on their website. (Rolling Stone)

+ The funny men of The Lonely Island aren't just bringing the LOLZ. Their latest album, Turtleneck & Chain , features some seriously heavy hitters: Rihanna, Akon, Justin Timberlake, and Beck, among others. Check out the full track listing here. (Idolator)

+ After recently being named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People, Bruno Mars has another reason to celebrate. His debut album, Doo Wops & Hooligans, was just certified platinum. (Rap-Up)

Tags Akon, Beastie Boys, Beck, Best Coast, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Buzz Bites, Coldplay, Crystal Castles, Eminem, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, Kid Cudi, Lykke Li, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, The Lonely Island

(Credit: Getty Images)

+ Lady Gaga revealed her "Born This Way" single cover art. She appears with horns, tattoos, and no eyebrows. No big deal. (Idolator)

+ Despite the Super Bowl fallout, Christina Aguilera will perform at the Grammys. Alongside Jennifer Hudson, the duo will reportedly sing a musical tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. (Rap-Up)

+ Remember summer? We've got a couple months to go, but start prepping your Lollapalooza outfits -- the list of headliners is rumored to include Eminem, Foo Fighters and Muse. Buzzworthy faves Girl Talk, Best Coast and Crystal Castles are also slated to perform. (Chicago Tribune)

+ We can't sleep because we're so excited for Britney Spears' video premiere of "Hold It Against Me." But for now, indulge in this hot new promo pic of the "Femme Fetale." Be patient, my babies. (That Grape Juice)

+ Garage rock fans rejoice! The Strokes are releasing their comeback single, "Under Cover Of Darkness," for free today, and you know our intensely passionate feelings about free stuff over here. (ONTD)

Tags Aretha Franklin, Best Coast, Britney Spears, Buzz Bites, Christina Aguilera, Crystal Castles, Eminem, Foo Fighters, Girl Talk, Jennifer-Hudson, Lady Gaga, Muse, The Strokes

(Credit: Getty Images)

Lots of times you'll see a collaboration track pop up and think to yourself, "Ugh, who thought this up?" Too often the collaboration is really only there to grab headlines, not to make good music. I'm not trying to sound like, "It's all about the music, maaaan," but it's true.

And yes, this collaboration between electro troublemakers Crystal Castles and The Cure frontman Robert Smith certainly grabs your attention. It's New Wave's new wave paying homage to their artistic forefather. But beyond the headline, it's an incredible track.

"Not In Love" is actually a cover of the original by Canadian New Wave band Platinum Blonde. Crystal Castles originally covered the song on their self-titled sophomore album released this past April. The new version, complete with Smith's trademark pained vocals and swaths of My Bloody Valentine-style feedback, will be released as a single this December.

+ Listen to Crystal Castles and Robert Smith's "Not In Love."

Tags Crystal Castles, Robert Smith, Song You Need To Know, The Cure

So many awesome bands, so little time.

No need to feel totally humiliated because you don't know the difference between The Big Pink and "The Color Purple." If you happen to find yourself at a loss for a knowing retort when your friends start name-dropping bands you've never heard of, DO NOT PANIC. Instead, close your eyes, take a breath and feel free to spitball any of the following insider tidbits on the following "it" bands that give you instant cred. You're so very welcome.

1.) The National: Over the past 10 years, The National has won over hipsters with its Americana-inspired indie-rock and good Samaritans with its pension for political action and philanthropy. Your key talking point: "I was into 'Cherry Tree' way before 'High Violet.' " Watch the video for "Apartment Story" below.

2.) Broken Bells: This supergroup features James Mercer (from The Shins) and Danger Mouse (from Gnarls Barkley). Somewhere, Cee-Lo is pouting in a corner, wearing a dashiki, because he's not in on this innovative indie-pop. Your key talking point: "If 'Garden State' was made today, the song 'The High Road' would totally be on the soundtrack." Watch the video for "The Ghost Inside" below.

3.) Crystal Castles: Not only does singer Alice Glass have the fiercest bowl cut we've seen this side of Joey Lawrence (circa "Gimme A Break!"), but the rest of the band is pretty bitchin', too. These quirky Canadians have successfully created a whole new genre: zombie electro-pop. One listen to "Crimewave" and you'll hear what we mean. Your key talking point: "I have to admit. I was pretty impressed when Toshiba used 'Air War' in that commercial." Watch the video for "Crimewave" below.

+ More videos after the jump.
Read more...

Tags Broken Bells, Cee Lo, Coachella, Crystal Castles, Danger Mouse, Four Tet, Gnarls Barkley, Hot Chip, James Mercer, Jay-Z, justin bieber, Karen O, Liars, MGMT, The Big Pink, The National, The Shins, The XX, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yeasayer

+ At a BMI bash thrown in honor of his #1 hit, "You Look Good In My Shirt," country singer Keith Urban told his wife (Nicole Kidman) "you do look good in my shirt. And out of it!" TMI, much? (People)

+ NME names Crystal Castles' Alice Glass the Coolest Person in 2008. Her reaction? "I'm flattered, thank you, but back in school the people who held themselves in the same regard were also the biggest waste of skin I've ever met." Tell us how you really feel. (NME)

+ M.I.A. may be ineligible to vote in this country. But based on what she wrote on her MySpace page ("For you the words are Obama vs. McCain. For me, it's terror vs. genocide,") we have a feeling she's thinking Ralph Nader. (Spinner)

+ Jessica Simpson tells Cosmopolitan magazine that "If I get married again, then it will be the last time." Good thing, too, seeing as most nuptials nowadays tend to include that tricky "till death do you part" clause. (Usmagazine.com)

+ Did you spend like, two hours in line today waiting to vote? Omigod, so did Fall Out Boy! You guys are, like, total twinsies -- ya know, except for the whole part about being hugely successful pop-punk rockers. And being married to Ashlee Simpson. (MTV News)

+ Meanwhile, get in the voting spirit with this election-themed playlist! Our fave song? Estelle's "American Boy." So topical! (Best Week Ever)

+ And finally: he may be a married man, but Usher ALWAYS knows how to work the ladies. (Rolling Stone)

Tags Alice Glass, Ashlee Simpson, Barack Obama, Crystal Castles, Estelle, Fall Out Boy, Jessica Simpson, John McCain, Keith Urban, M.I.A., Nicole Kidman, Ralph Nader, Usher

Recently, Ethan Kath -- a.k.a. the non-female half of electro pop duo, Crystal Castles -- admitted that he's "really shocked that anyone at all is listening." Meanwhile, we're really shocked it's taken this long for the egotistically-challenged Canadians to start getting mainstream attention. After all, their style (synthesized vocals + Super Mario Brothers) is both relatable and unique. Which could be why "Alice Practice," the accidentally-released vocal practice track that hit the Internets in 2006 and became an overnight MySpace sensation. Now, two years later, they're touring with Nine Inch Nails and debuting their latest sample-heavy single, "Courtship Dating." Why we like it: It's edgy, dark, and encapsulates the three B's: Blondie (think "Heart of Glass"), Bjork and, of course, The Blair Witch Project. It just might inspire you to take your relationship with Crystal Castles to the next level.

Tags Bjork, Blondie, Celebrity, Crystal Castles, Music, Nine Inch Nails, video, Videos

Apparently no one. At least not for $5,000 a pop. If we hadn't been rifling through the dusty digital closet that is eBay while we were supposed to be working, we may have never known that The Cos is auctioning off his Coogi sweaters -- those unforgettably blinding sweaters that made the curmudgeonly Dr. Huxtable all the more huggable on The Cosby Show. While the proceeds go to charity, looks like Cliff's having a tough time finding someone attached enough to the show to cough up $5,000 for the opening bid. Now that asymmetrical "Gordon Gatrelle" designer knockoff Denise made for Theo? That's another story entirely.

Anyway, Dr. Cosby's sweaters got us remembering Coogi and more VIP sweaters, which brings us to...

+ Whiz kid producer Boom Bip, who's got an entire song -- appropriately entitled, "Coogi Sweater" -- devoted to Coogis. (You'll like his stuff if you're into Chromeo, Barcelona and/or Crystal Castles.)

+ Ace Hood and T-Pain's "Cash Flow" video; you can spot a she-Coogi toward the end, when Rick Ross slays while wearing that nearly life-sized gold medallion of his own head.

+ The awesome Leslie Hall has built an entire career devoted to bad sweaters, gold pants and other fashion don'ts.

+ They're probably not Coogi, but a few of the members of New Edition rock some intense knitwear in "Mr. Telephone Man"

+ And, while it's definitely not about a Coogi, we'd be fools not to revisit Weezer's timeless "Undone (The Sweater Song)" video. Plus: watch Weezer's Artist of the Week videos here.

+ Finally: an entire website devoted to Coogi. Thank God.

Tags Ace Hood, Bill Cosby, Celebrity, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Music, New Edition, News, Rick Ross, Style, T-Pain, video, Videos, Weezer