MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Karen O

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+ A rough two-minute snippet of Lady Gaga's new single "Judas" has surfaced. (ONTD)

+ Justin Bieber's rap alter ego Shawty Mane is back, and this time he's tackling Chris Brown's superfast "Look At Me Now." (Neon Limelight)

+ The Experience Music Project museum in Seattle opens its Nirvana exhibit this weekend, "Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses." Fans can indulge in over 1,000 pieces of band memorabilia. (MTV News)

+ Alt/indie musician Santogold is back with a new single, "Go," featuring Yeah Yeah Yeah's lead singer Karen O. We're loving this combo. (Rolling Stone)

+ Just one more reason why we heart Taylor Swift -- the generous singer recently bought her parents a $1.4 million home in Nashville. (PopEater)

+ Wanna get a peek of Kid Cudi behind the scenes? Watch his 20-minute documentary "The Journey Of Mr. Rager." (Idolator)

Tags Buzz Bites, Chris Brown, justin bieber, Karen O, Kid Cudi, Lady Gaga, Nirvana, Santogold, Taylor Swift, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Unless you're talking about Prince, most musical acts sound like somebody else--or at least people try to tell you they do. Like, when Muse started to get attention after appearing on the "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" soundtrack, everyone was all like, "They sound like Radiohead!" And I was all like, "Naw man, no one sounds like Radiohead!" But really, yeah, they do kind of sound like Radiohead.

So in the spirit of "this thing sounds like that thing," I present you the taxonomic breakdown of the musical influences of noise-pop outfit Sleigh Bells, before you can watch them on MTV.com's "Live In NYC" on Monday, Sept. 20.

1. Sleigh Bells Sound Like... Yeah Yeah Yeahs (or The Ting Tings)
Any time you have a band, or in this case a duo, fronted by a woman who can zero-to-60 from a loud, bitchy shout to a sweet, honey-dipped soprano, the Karen O comparisons are going to pour in. And Alexis Krauss, the female half of Sleigh Bells, has a vocal range that ranks right up there with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman and The Ting Tings' leading lady, Katie White. Just check out Sleigh Bells' track "Infinity Guitars" and tell me if you don't pick up on a definite "That's Not My Name" feel.

2. Sleigh Bells Sound Like...M.I.A.
The track list on Sleigh Bells' debut album, Treats, ranges from pretty, straightforward Brooklyn indie pop, like on the dreamy "Rill Rill," to deliriously distorted stomp-clap anthems underscored by hip-hop beats that would find themselves right at home on an M.I.A. track. (That's thanks to the male half of Sleigh Bells, guitarist-producer Derek Miller.) For more on the latter, check out "Run the Heart," which sounds like it's being pumped out of broken computer speakers, and that's totally a good thing.

3. Sleigh Bells Sound Like... The White Stripes
No indie band worth its weight in flannel shirts can succeed without mastery of the lo-fi guitar riff--just ask Jack White. And there's plenty of fuzzed-out guitar lines leading the charge on Treats. Check out "Riot Rhythm" for a bratty jam that sounds like it's making fun of you. Again--a very good thing!

4. Sleigh Bells Sound Like... Björk
Here me out on this one. There is this drum-snap-clap sample on the Sleigh Bell's track "Tell 'Em" that I swear was inspired--if not all out borrowed--from "Jóga," the first single off Björk's 1997 album Homogenic. Anyone?

+ Don't miss Sleigh Bells, Live In NYC, on Sept. 20, streaming live from the Studio at Webster Hall on MTV.com at 10/9c!

Tags Bjork, Eclipse, Jack White, Karen O, Katie White, Live In NYC, M.I.A., Muse, Radiohead, Sleigh Bells, The Ting Tings, The White Stripes, Twilight, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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

Some call it a "bowl cut," others refer to it as a "beach cut," a "chili bowl" or, my personal favorite, the "Moe Howard". However, any way you cut it, that hairdo is a definite hair don't in my book.

Previously known for her blonde pixie coif, model and musician arm candy Agyness Deyn recently appeared with a dark blunt cut at last week's Elle Style Awards in London. Then there's Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer/fashionista Karen O., who put the mushroom hairstyle on the hipster "Maps" ever since she appeared on the cover of her band's self-titled debut EP back in 2001.

Plus, don't get me started on how otherwise-gorgeous gals like Rihanna and Kelly Osbourne look utterly ridiculous they try to embrace their inner mop-top.

Look, unless your name is Randy Constan—otherwise known as "The Peter Pan Man"—then I don't want to see your face framed by a helmet of hair.

Tags Agyness Deyn, Karen O, Kelly Osbourne, Rihanna

Yesterday we admired the creepy interrogation scenes of Rihanna's "Russian Roulette" and the manic, tracking shots and jumpy editing of Vampire Weekend's "Cousins." Now, we continue the countdown of my favorite Buzzworthy music video with this cabaret scene from a galaxy far, far away. The next clip on my list of Buzzworthy's Top Videos of 2009 countdown is...

+ Number 3: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Heads Will Roll"

In this RIchard Ayoade-directed clip (taken from The YYY's It's A Blitz album), Karen O. and her boys are playing a dinner theater that's one part Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" video, one part David Lynch film and one part budget-Werewolf schlock flick.

However, you'll be hard-pressed to pay attention to anything other than Karen O.'s insane bubble-wrap-butterfly-wings and her minimal, hip-shaking dance moves as she commands this lush, disco-rock anthem from the stage.

Related Content MTV's Best of 2009

Tags Karen O, Michael Jackson, video, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Juliette Lewis -- yes, the actress -- goes all dream sequence in the video for her song "Fantasy Bar," from her forthcoming Terra Incognita album with The New Romantiques (The Licks are yesterday's news, if you're keeping score at home).

While her screen stylings are always unique (see her doe-eyed criminals in Kalifornia and Natural Born Killers) her musical persona, though still off-beat, is more recognizable. A pinch of Karen O, a teaspoon of Courtney Love, some Debbie Harry for flavor and a side order of The Dead Weather's Alison Mosshart.

"Fantasy Bar," as you might have guessed, given the song title, is a fantastical affair. Lots of wheeling around L.A. in a whip while wearing Native American headdress; some psychedelic crowd scenes; cue smoke, crawling around and random appearances from dudes dressed like cowboys.

Tags Courtney Love, Debbie Harry, Juliette Lewis, Karen O, video

+ Mariah Carey gave a big "F U" to the R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America) and their silly little Grammys by pushing back the release date of her new album to a day after the cut-off date for it to be considered eligible for this year's awards. Personally, we think she's pulling a bitch move in light of fellow megastar Whitney Houston releasing her new album on September 1st. Nothing like a little competition between two DIVAAAAAAAAAAAAAS, right lambies? (The Frisky)

+It's so wonderful seeing the excitement on Kanye West's face to be out and about with someone as overtly glamorous as Amber Rose (especially in a barely-there bikini, and by "barely-there" we mean linguine-draped meatballs with a leg of lamb. Seriously?? Her body was assembled by spare parts. AND WE LIKES IT.) (The Blemish)

+ New pictures have surfaced of a hotter-than-ever Ricky Martin hanging out on the beach with his angelic one-year-old twin boys. ME ENCANTO! (Socialite Life)

+ Apple now accounts for 25% of total music sales via iTunes. (CNN Money)

+ Oh, and in case you're one of like four people in the world who wasn't annoyed when songs would auto-play on MySpace Music, they've disabled that feature to save a buck or two. (TechCrunch)

+ Be on the lookout for Yeah Yeah Yeah's frontwoman Karen O and MGMT to guest on the new Flaming Lips record, Embryonic. Evidently Karen did her portion of the two songs she recorded right over the phone. (NME)

Tags Amber Rose, Kanye West, Karen O, Mariah Carey, MGMT, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Weren't we just talking about Karen O? We were! But we didn't even break the surface, because not only does she appear on the N.A.S.A. album, she's got a brand-new album and video with Yeah Yeah Yeahs and, predictably, they're SO good. Like breakthrough good. Yeah Yeah Yeahs have always been on our short list, but the new record, It's Blitz, officially promotes them to astronomical new territory.

This new single, "Zero," puts Yeah Yeah Yeahs' old stuff to shame with its effortless confidence and deadly melody. I can throw every adjective I know at you, but I'd just be complicating the simple fact that this song is really, really good. Crazy catchy. You're gonna listen to it 100 times before you realize you're not breathing.

And the video is just as gripping. A surreal nighttime Tokyo -- or is it NYC? Hong Kong? Any city... The world is your stage! -- adventure, it starts with kung-fu movie overdubs and escalates through grocery cart races, street dancing and car stomping to its explosive ticker tape finish. Step past the red curtain and know that you're never coming back.

Tags Karen O, N.A.S.A., Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Four years ago there was a Spike Jonze (duuude, have you seen that Where The Wild Things Are trailer yet?!?!?)-directed  Adidas commercial called "Hello, Tomorrow," that was so aimlessly, supernaturally dreamy, that it was sort of a shame when whatever show you were watching kicked back in. The clip came accompanied by an equally dreamy soundtrack -- a sleepwalker of a song, also called "Hello, Tomorrow," by Squeak E. Clean (Jonze's brother) and Karen O.  The collaboration was such a success that Squeak E. Clean (aka Sam Spiegel) went on to produce Show Your Bones, the second album from Karen's band, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Now Squeak E. Clean has paired up on a more permanent basis with Ze "DJ Zegon" Gonzalez, to form N.A.S.A., but the collaboration doesn't end there. N.A.S.A.'s first record is actually all collaborations. Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon provide ambient background for vocals from an incredibly wide range of performers, including David Byrne, RZA, Tom Waits, George Clinton, Kanye West, Karen O, Santigold, Spank Rock, John Frusciante and many more. Like, very many more.

As for this "Gifted" video, it's directed by Three Legged Legs, a group whose cartoony sci-fi style isn't so far off from Spike Jonze's new project. It's a mind-bending space adventure that perfectly matches the tone and rhythm laid down by super collab Kanye West, Lykke Li and Santigold. Watch "Gifted," right here, and keep an eye out for more brilliance from N.A.S.A.

Tags David Byrne, George Clinton, John Frusciante, Kanye West, Karen O, Lykke Li, N.A.S.A., RZA, Santigold, Spank-Rock, Tom Waits, Yeah Yeah Yeahs