+ Third Eye Blind are still around, in case you're wondering. And they had a new album coming out, but it leaked all crazy-like on the Internets, forcing them to up the release date and repost the album in its correct format. Messy!! (Tripwire)

+ Here's a clip of Vanessa Hudgens talking about making her new movie Bandslam, though is it just us, or does she seemed completely under the influence of SOMEthing (besides AquaNet fumes)? (People)

+ P.S. in case you didn't already know, we're in love with Nelly Furtado. Here's an interview she did with MTV Tr3s recently, talking about the inspiration behind her brand new Spanish-language album Mi Plan. (Blogamole)

+ Teen trashion show Gossip Girl may just have earned some cool points, with Sonic Youth making a guest appearance in an upcoming episode. Hope they're gettin' paaaaaaaid. (Tripwire)

+ Demi Lovato reveals that Paramore's Hayley Williams (only three years her senior) is one of her biggest inspirations. Sooooo cute. (BuzzNet)

+ Here's Katy Perry being all cute and whatnot, gushing over how much she lurves P!nk (her show, her outfits), via Twitter of course! Amen, lady friend! Amen. (ICYDK)

The coffeehouse meets the beach in the easygoing music of boho California-free-spirit Angel Taylor. The closest I can come to classifying her summery sonic melting pot is "the female Jack Johnson," but even that falls woefully short. Her bouncy blend of sleepy reggae, upbeat soul and acoustic pop evokes everything from Third Eye Blind to Sheryl Crow to "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," without actually sounding like any of them. Who do you think she sounds like?

Angel's debut album, Love Travels, got a boost from iTunes, when they named her "Make Me Believe" their single of the week. And it's a fitting match. The breezy go-to track would be right at home in an iPod commercial. The song's success won her opening slots on tour with Adele, Brett Dennen, Brandi Carlile and Gavin DeGraw, among others. Are you impressed yet?

To seal the deal, fall into "Make Me Believe" or any of Angel Taylor's other delicately-plucked perfume daydreams, and keep an eye out for this gently rising talent.

Call it a cop-out, but sometimes it's just better to let bands describe themselves in their own words. To be frank, there's no way I could do This Is Energy's bio justice with my own words. Here, take it from the band:

THIS IS ENERGY is more than a band and music! It is YOU! It is US! It is a Community and a way of life! It is a Journey! It is Living! It is finding what truly makes you happy, and giving it all you got! It is inspiring others to tap into their full potential! It is being someone and doing SOMETHING! It is realizing that each of you are EXTRAordinary! It’s knowing that there is an unlimited supply of goodness on this earth! It’s wanting something so bad, you can taste it! It’s learning that there is absolutely NO ONE or NO THING that can keep you from your happiness! It is proving the people who said you couldn’t do it wrong! There is just YOU!! And YOU are more powerful and capable than you might yet understand! WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN!! This is YOU! THIS IS ENERGY! THIS IS OUR MOVEMENT!!!!! You have 2 choices, BE MOVED or DO THE MOVING!!! Join us and let’s CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE ENERGY MOVEMENT!!!!

See?!?! Don't worry. There's no membership fee associated with listening to This Is Energy, and you don't have to wake up early on the weekends or dress up fancy either. The St. Louis-born, Los Angeles-based twosome compose unforgettable power pop ballads, taking cues from influences as far ranging as Sting and Third Eye Blind. Adam Gardner and Britton Campbell are This Is Energy, and they're on a mission! A mission to set your life on fire with inspiration and... wel ... energy. Obviously. Anyway, this is some majorly compelling stuff. Walls of guitar fuzz, irresistible melodies and crashing, edgy choruses that'd make even Bono proud. Listen!