MGMT have released their album cover for Congratulations. (Andrew Bernard voice: AWESOME!)
Look for it April 13,2010. The cover was designed by artist Anthony Ausgang, also known as Lowbrow.
The band has stated that they would preferred the album to be released without singles so that we can hear it as a whole.
Here’s hoping they are playing Lollapalooza this summer in addition to the rumored headliners of Green Day, Lady Gaga, Soundgarden, The Strokes and the Arcade Fire.
a week too late + a lifetime too early: RIP alexander mcqueen
Alexander McQueen, fashion’s genius maverick, passed away last week on the eve of NY’s fashion week… his death means Lady Gaga, his master label Gucci, and the rest of the world has lost a rebellious fashion icon. McQueen represented the merging of the ridiculous with the sublime, creating amazingly forward-thinking fashion that was reviving the meaning of avant-garde.
It’s 2010 and I still don’t wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy…BUT I MADE THIS GREAT TOP 10 LIST!
I have letting go problems—sue me. Yes I will cling on to all the good of 2009 until February, but that’s because it was a good year to be nostalgic about. In this particular instance of refusal to let go I was tempted to be my truly narcissistic self and write a list of the top ten things I liked about myself in 2009, which would most likely consist of how much i love my music taste…but I guess I threw that into this list too. ANYWAY—it is the 10th day of 2010 and you have had those ten days to grow accustomed to writing the date properly in your header and, without further ado, here is my top 10 list of 2009!
10. Blankets with Arms
THAT’S RIGHT! Snuggies are possibly the greatest invention known to man. I mean, who does not want to have the perfect thing to keep you warm while you read a book in the cold clutches of winter? Plus, “it’s great for sporting events.” The snuggie just can’t be wrong. If you don’t have one then you need to go get one now. Your 2009 wardrobe won’t be complete without it.
9. Team Jon & Kate Plus 8
Enough of your accusatory tones! Jon & Kate are both wrong. I am Team Plus 8. Those children are still caught in the middle of this battle of the sexes. They have done nothing wrong and in their honor I have put them on this list to make up for their horrible 2009. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, then I apologize for the fact that you have been living under a rock. These 8 children did not deserve the 2009 they shared and with luck their 2010 will most certainly be boss!
8. Ezio is the New Altaïr
If you like to be visually stunned and dig conspiracy theories, then you will probably enjoy this franchise as much as I do. I first picked up the original Assassin’s Creed just to play a new game. I’m a huge nerd, but I hadn’t heard of this game at all, despite watching as much G4TV as one can stomach every evening before watching night-time dramas. Needless to say I was largely impressed by Ubisoft’s ability to produce something of more substance than Rayman. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when I threw the second installment into my PS3 and was instantly amazed. Artistically, this game is something that few other games have achieved in the past. And as far as gameplay, there are hours of achievements to unlock and plenty of storyline to uncover. Whether you play to critique or play to have fun pick up this franchise ASAP because this is the game of 2009 and who knows what will happen with the franchise in 2010?
7. Disturbia Forever?
Nope! In case you missed it, the above stars aren’t together anymore. However they both make my top 10 for two reasons. 1) With his outburst, Chris Brown showed me…if no one else…how screwed up this country is: apparently, not only can a man beat down a woman, but then he can still win the hearts of teenage girls. However, 2) with her new album “Rated R,” Rihanna shows that she is not defeated and is not so easily kept down. Rihanna is a strong woman and is the role model that young women need in this world. She is not one of my favorite artists, but with her fourth album in four years she has become a force to be reckoned with and a leader in her own life. For that, she is stronger than Chris Brown’s fists ever will be and 2009 will be the year women learned how to be stronger than any man.
6. I Was Once on Team Edward…
THIS DOES NOT MEAN I AM TEAM JACOB! It just means that I’m Team Taylor…I am not the average fan of the Twilight Saga because the writing is horrible and the series editor is even worse. However, I do enjoy the occasional mockery screening of the films. I was pleasantly surprised this go around at how far Taylor Lautner has come from his role as Shark Boy. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with his body and boyish looks. I justify myself with the reminder that I should only be a senior in high school and not a freshman in college. If Lautner looked like this in 2009, then I wonder what he will look like in the summer 2010 release of Eclipse…
5. Lea Michele, Spring Awakening is so 2008!
This new show is my latest addiction and, let me tell you, it is by far one of the best! If you aren’t aware of this craze, then I hope you were doing something worthwhile with your Fall 2009 television season and I also hope that you catch up in enough time for Spring 2010 when it returns. This show pretty accurately depicts what my life is like…in my head. Breaking out into song and dance to a current pop hit or a nice standard is everything that I think life should be and it is also everything that is Glee. Yes, the storyline is dramatic and unrealistic enough to rival Degrassi, but it is fun and something that most people can probably identify with on some level. Keep an eye on this show because if Lea Michele has anything to say about it, then I’m sure there will be some reference to Spring Awakening in the next half of the season…and who doesn’t love the Mama Who Bore Me reprise?
4. All of the Boys and All of the Girls are Begging to If You Seek A-HER!
You got it right! It’s the one and only Britney Spears! You’ve known and loved her since she was 17, so why stop now? 2009 has marked the return of the self-dubbed Princess of Pop and she has shown that she will never give up in the face of adversity. This past year she has produced hit after hit and we have all been spectators at her Circus. Most recently, she has released her new single 3 and what she will do next is anyone’s guess. Keep any eye out!
3. We Baracked the Vote!
FINALLY! Welcome to the 21st century, America; you’ve caught up! We have elected our 44th President of these United States of America AND he is African American! What a year! Let me first say that I truly believe Michelle Obama is secretly running the show. Secondly, let me say that this spot on the list belongs less to Barack himself and more to the American public. The level of thought and open-mindedness that has been apparent in this past election is something to be proud of. The nation is not afraid to elect the best person for the job and has proven that not everything is about race. Obama has given us a great 2009, but what I think we all want to know is what his plans are for 2010.
2. Now Put Your Hands Up!
The Single Ladies songstress is still here and her 2009 blew us away. She started a dance craze, had several hits, and ended with a collaboration with the world’s next big star. We all want to know what B will do next, but in the meantime we should focus on what she has done. She has given ladies and gay men and anthem that will last years until her next album like she previously did with her biggest hit off of her last album, Irreplaceable. In 2009, Beyoncé gave many new stars a taste of what a veteran can turn out, but she also gave way herself to new trends and she will be starting off her 2010 with some experimental collaboration with THE star of the year.
1. I’m Her Biggest Fan; I’ll Follow Her Until She Loves Me!
Undoubtedly it has been the YEAR OF GAGA! Whether we like it or not Stefani Germanotta has left an incredible impression upon our culture. Her crazy fashion sense and nonsense lyrics have become part of what we expect to see on E! every other night and her performances are no less stunning. She has had the courage to do what no one else has in years, not only pushing the envelope, but throwing it across the table. And she is not just a musician, she is an artist. This can be seen in her music videos, which she herself writes the treatments for, and her clothing, which is designed by her design team, the Haus of Gaga. Nothing Gaga does is reproduced or stolen. She is unique and America loves this. The proof of this is that she broke records in 2009, being the first person to ever have four number one hits off of a debut album. And with the help of producer, RedOne, Gaga’s fifth single, Bad Romance, is her fifth number one hit. This past year she was successful with two album releases, The Fame and The Fame Monster, its successor, which further develops Gaga’s musical aesthetic. Many would argue that she has shown two sides of her, but I would say that she has shown us one side of her that is multi-faceted. She is no different from one album to another, but she is still discovering herself as an artist as we continue to discover her. In this upcoming year, she seems to be focusing on collaboration—at the end of 2009 she teamed up with Beyoncé to deliver the Video Phone Extended Mix music video and she is currently in the process of developing the music video for another collaboration with B off of The Fame Monster, Telephone. There is no doubt in my mind that Lady Gaga will continue to stun and astound, so keep an eye out for her in all of her crazy garb and all of her nonsense lyrics. Until next time, RA RA-AH AH AH, ROMA ROMA-MA, GAGA, OH LA LA!
a very serious retrospective
Happy New Year! So. Dear old Scotty has been urging us for some time now to put together a “top ten” list looking back on 2009. I have spent a very serious amount of my break considering what sort of list to write. Some ideas included top ten albums that dropped in 2009 (too cliche and I think we’d all have the same list) and the top ten Christmas gifts we could all do without (I really, really hate Kindles and those new toy fake hamster things for kids are ridiculous; seriously? If my roommates and I can keep a hedgehog alive in a Trinity College dorm I think a suburban mother can handle a real hamster)… but I think I’m going to go with the simple and say here are five (ten is too big and everything I like about 2009 is either already on this blog or super embarrassing) things that got my attention last year.
5. Walt Whitman stars in Levi’s commercials?
I was a little bit creeped out and annoyed when Levi’s first started airing these commercials towards the end of the year, mostly because it resulted in my little sister’s Facebook friends changing their status to Whitman quotes and giving the credit to a denim company… but, oh well, I have decided to deal with that heart-wrenchingly sad cultural reflection and admit that these commercials are, well, kind of genius. Who doesn’t want to be a thin, tan, wide-eyed child making out with multiple people around a campfire and running through the ocean spray in a flickering black and white filter? Levi jeans still are way too long for me but I want them now, I do, I do.
4. Gilt Groupe & Rue La La own my 11 to noon time slot.
I know that I am way behind on this but, really, really?! Betsey Johnson dresses for $24, $600 purses discounted to $100, not to mention the army of up and coming designers (see the instantly sold-out Mara Hoffman sale from two months ago) and tested and true geniuses like Vera Wang, Marchesa, and Valentino… 2009 was the year of me living by the alarm on my cell phone to check the designer presales and sample sales on the swanky Gilt Groupe and Rue La La web sites. Style whores, beware, I’m sure you’re already all members but you have to be invited… just one more addition to the allure of these sites. So ladies, next time you see some leggy blonde on the long walk and hate her not only for her calves but for her Fendi sunglasses… relax, she probably didn’t pay full price.
3. And my high school love endures through another year…
I don’t even remember the first time I heard anything by Bright Eyes; Conor Oberst and his first, most well-known and well-hated band has pretty much been a ubiquitous part of my life ever since I was (barely) old enough to understand his references to sex, drugs, and that hallowed, dark depression… This is something I’ve allowed to slip into the back of my mind as I get older but the love is still there, and was absolutely rekindled with Conor’s second grown-up album, Outer South, which he recorded with his Mystic Valley Band and released in April of last year. It’s the ultimate summer driving record, with fun throwback tracks like “Air Mattress.” Of course we can’t escape Conor’s (yes, we are on a first name basis) introspection but he has grown up a lot and this album really is a winner.
2. Burberry gets more and more delicious!
Yum! Ever since Christopher Bailey took over as creative director of Burberry we are seeing less and less of that over-used Burberry check that seems to overwhelm every single scarf my mother owns. We hardly see any of it in this spring ad campaign, and ooh it just gets better when Emma Watson joins the party looking absolutely stunning and not at all like bushy Miss Granger. I love when labels manage to undergo change while still remaining classic and elegant; that what Burberry’s always been about and even if we see a touch of grunge in these greenhouse campaigns, the label cleans up so nice with Watson as its covergirl and I am drooling over those damn trench coats all over again.
1. Lady Gaga is brilliant.
Move on over, Conor Oberst, because I have a new obsession and her hair isn’t greasy and I don’t think she will cry after we make love. When her first singles hit the frats and my roomies and I blasted “Poker Face” in the car at the beginning of her rise to super-stardom I knew she was fun- but I am absolutely stunned and amazed by how Lady Gaga has transformed from the “cherry cherry boom boom” little blonde of her single “Eh Eh” to a full-fledged monster. I don’t want to hear it: the bitch is hot, and whether or not you love her or hate her she has absolutely grabbed your attention this year. She finally proves that a pop artist can actually be an interesting person (even if interesting means crazy), she does whatever she wants and if you hear her earlier stuff and even “Speechless” on the new album, she can belt it out pretty well too. She’s already headlining her own tour and has modeled for Vogue… and while we are on the subject of fashion, I think Gaga is empowering women and men to wear what they want and to stop being afraid of couture. Some of her looks really are out there but they are also easy to spot on any catwalk during fashion week… should I stop now? Let’s just say that Lady Gaga made 2009 more fun for me and if the old lady in the Cadillac judges me while I sing “Bad Romance” at a stoplight, well, so be it. It ain’t gonna stop in 2010.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! If you haven’t heard this little slice of Christmas music, then take a listen here to “Christmas Tree.” This is one of my new favorite holiday songs from one of my favorite musical artists. Lady Gaga successfully makes Christmas sexy with her musical peers Space Cowboy and Flo Rida. In the year of Gaga it only seems right that she would have a Christmas song. Enjoy!
completely shameless 
A million thanks and kudos to Pat on Pop Tarts Suck Toasted for doing what I have wanted to write about but haven’t had the balls to actually post on here for months.
