Rabu, 29 Juni 2011

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Lady Gaga, Adele And More: Best Albums Of 2011 (So Far)

Posted: 29 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT

Foo Fighters, Bon Iver, the Beastie Boys also make Bigger Than the Sound's midyear list.
By James Montgomery


Bigger Than The Sound's Best Albums of 2011 (so far)
Photo: MTV News

Well, we've reached the halfway point of 2011, and if you're a fan of unfortunately named politicians tweeting photos of their bulges, terrorists getting shot in the eye and Austrian strongmen who have a thing for the help, well, congratulations on having the best six months of your entire life.

Of course, for the rest of us, there's been plenty to help pass the time in 2011 — namely, a whole bunch of really excellent albums, from folks you probably know (Eminem, Lady Gaga) and some you more than likely don't (the Weeknd, F---ed Up). But whether they're household names or not, they've all helped make the first 180-or-so days of the year practically fly by — a feat that's pretty amazing considering all the crap that's happened up to this point.

So, like I've done in previous years, I've compiled my favorite albums of the first half of 2011 — a traditional top 10, followed by some honorable mentions too. If there's something you haven't heard, well, you've still got six months to rectify that. And the same goes for me: If there's an album that I've missed (a definite possibility), I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. So, let's get right to it. Here's my list of the Best Albums of 2011 (So Far):

The Top 10
10. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Mirror Traffic: The elder statesman of erudite rock and good diction has been heading in a jammier direction for years now (on songs like "1% of One," "No More Shoes" and, more recently, the Pavement reunion tour), but thanks to the production work of Beck, he's finally honed those tendencies into an album that's every bit as elastic as his previous efforts, yet oddly focused too. Songs like "Tigers" and "Senator" prove he's still not averse to an angular verse (or in-depth investigations into the sexual proclivities of elected officials), but it's on "28 Forever" — when he warbles, "There's no parade/ I cannot rain on with my poison eyes" — where he finally seems to be coming to terms with his past as an oft-noted sourpuss. Call it clarity, call it maturity, call it whatever: It all makes for the best Malk record in years.

9. Foo Fighters, Wasting Light: The year's best major-label rock record was born out of risk: Dave Grohl eschewed the sanitary confines of the big-bucks studio to record an album in his own garage, on tape, warts-and-all. And then he brought in Nevermind producer Butch Vig to oversee the proceedings. The end result is an effort that positively rips, one equally packed with crackling rockers ("Rope," "White Limo") and muscle-y, medium-rare mopers ("I Should Have Known"). In the process, he not only reinvigorated his band, but set the bar impossibly high for any of his contemporaries. As if they'd have the balls to try something like this.

8. The Weeknd,House of Balloons: Mysterious, majestically paced R&B courtesy of 20-year-old Canadian Abel Tesfaye, whose sensibilities (gorgeously layered atmospherics, keenly placed Siouxsie and the Banshees samples) belie his years. The trope of the troubled loverman isn't exactly new, but rarely are matters of the heart played out as honestly as they are here. A constant cycle of druggy nights, desperate flings and depressing dawns, Balloons makes no apologies, and, really, it doesn't need to. Not when the scenery is this engrossing, this sumptuous. Mood music for increasingly moody times. And, best of all, it's free.

7. Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two: Really, this one could have gone either way. Especially after Ad-Rock's battle with cancer forced the Beasties to scrap the first record (and, of course, To the Five Boroughs). But, somewhat shockingly, they delivered an album that's a total blast, a mishmash of boom-bap rattle and pop-culture flotsam that, like all the best Beastie albums, manages to tread the line between highbrow rap and lowbrow entertainment. So even if Mike D did open up a restaurant with Ted Danson, you still believe he's got enough swagger to go toe-to-toe with Nas. And on Hot Sauce, he does both.

6. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues: The folks over at Spin called it "the year's most beautiful album," and they're probably right. Swooning, wide-screen vocal harmonies ebb and expand into the warm, finger-picked acoustics, creating atmospheres that are summery one minute, wintery the next. But it's not all ethereal. In fact, frontman Robin Pecknold spends the majority of the album rooting through problems that are, in fact, very real: finding his place in the world and coming to terms with his disappearing youth. That balance is key to the album's strength. Because for a band that indulges so much in the space of the studio, Helplessness Blues is rarely, if ever, self-indulgent.

5. Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes: Psychoanalytic, somnambulant pop from the prodigiously talented 25-year-old Swede, Wounded Rhymes expands on the themes that she laid out in her stunning debut (2008's Youth Novel) and imbues them with an otherworldly spirit. Not to mention the torchy leanings of the greatest of girl groups (the Ronettes, the Crystals, etc.). So while Li is still preternaturally somber (like on "Sadness Is a Blessing," on which she keens, "Sadness is my boyfriend"), she's also not afraid to get dirty, either, and it's when she's doing the latter — like on the aptly titled "Get Some" — that she truly shines.

4. Lady Gaga, Born This Way: It's not a stretch to call BTW the year's most-anticipated album, and perhaps in a nod to those expectations, Lady Gaga delivered an effort that doesn't leave anything on the cutting-room floor. From the piston-pumping electronics of "Marry the Night" and the tarantula tango of "Americano" to the twitching, "Transformers"-huge techno of "Heavy Metal Lover" and the epic balladry of "You and I" and "The Edge of Glory," this truly is an effort that tries very hard to be everything to everyone. And sure, it's probably too long, but that's sort of the point, isn't it? And if she didn't please everyone, well, she came pretty darn close, didn't she?

3. Bon Iver, Bon Iver: Justin Vernon has done the impossible: follow up a beloved, much-mythologized debut album (you know, the one that was recorded in a cabin) with a record that's just as good — if not better. He's always been one for atmospheres, but never before have those atmospheres been so dense. Or so compelling. Here, he creates a singular, breathless world, building it with layers of echoing instrumentation and his own ghostly falsetto. There are moments where the sun shines through the cracks — a horn crescendo, a silvery sliver of bell — but for the most part, Bon Iver is a mesmerizing trip through a dewy dreamscape. And, in that regard, it's a momentous achievement — even if the last song does sound like Bruce Hornsby.

2. Adele, 21: It's nice when the year's best-selling album also ends up being one of the flat-out best, but, in the case of Adele's 21, we should've seen it coming. After all, she's got the Grammy-winning pedigree. But this time out, she's grown, and become a singer capable of both tremendous power (like on the smash "Rolling in the Deep") and terrifying tenderness too (like on the smashing "Someone Like You"). A roiling collection of breakup ballads and revenge fantasies, there truly is no album quite like 21, and not only is its success justified, but it probably guarantees Adele will only add to her Grammy collection come February. Some things are inevitable.

1. F---ed Up, David Comes to Life: A wrecking-ball sorta rock opera courtesy of Toronto's hardest-working (and, most likely only) six-piece punk collective, David Comes to Life tells the story of a downtrodden factory worker who may or may not have killed his true love. I think. Because, along the way, there's also betrayal, heartache, bomb blasts, fisticuffs and a whole lot of plot-twisting shifts in narration too. Of course, the story behind the album is largely unimportant (if you want to keep score at home, here's a handy guide) especially when the album itself hits so hard. The (multi-multi-multi-)tracked guitars squeal and chug for days, and frontman Pink Eyes' screams are so visceral you can practically feel his blood welling up in your headphones. It's an ambitious, ringing, raging success, the kind of record you'll listen to over and over again, either to try and follow the plotline or just get pummeled by the sheer might of the thing. Either way, you'll enjoy yourself.

Honorable Mentions
Bad Meets Evil, Hell: The Sequel: Reunited with (and recharged by) Royce, Em reminds us that he's still capable of littering the scene with lyrical shell casings, and Nickel Nine matches him shot for shot. Their friendly competition makes for a thrilling listen, and basically everything here burns with varying degrees of intensity — even the track with Bruno Mars.

Bright Eyes, The People's Key: Unjustly overlooked for reasons not apparent to me, Conor Oberst's seventh studio album is a latticework of sonic strips, wide-eyed (yet sorta hazy) ponderances of faith and science and, on "Ladder Song," raw, positively aching ruminations on death. Not as great as some of his earlier works, but close. And that's still better than 95 percent of everything else.

Curren$y, Covert Coup: One of approximately 750 albums he plans to release this year (and not the one that syncs up with "Weekend at Bernie's" either), Coup bubbles along on producer the Alchemist's hazy beats and Curren$y's laconic, chronic delivery. If you couldn't tell, this is the weed-iest album of 2011, by a smoky mile.

Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys: Ben Gibbard finally gets happy, only, y'know, within reason. Because even the sunniest moments are dotted with dark clouds, and ultimately, this is an album that's as much about alienation as anything else. After all, falling in love doesn't fill the emptiness inside; it only makes it more pronounced.

PJ Harvey, Let England Shake: The iconic Brit shape-shifts with seemingly every record she releases, and on Shake, she's reborn as an old-fashioned protest singer. The sad thing is, the subjects she's singing about (conflict, bloodshed, man's unending cycle of self-immolation) are just as timely now as they were 50 years ago.

Portugal. The Man, In the Mountain, In the Cloud: Guys from the same town that put Sarah Palin on the map (Wasilla, Alaska: Population 7,831) more than atone for that fact with an album that's sprawling, psychedelic and crawling with ambition — the latter of which is also a pretty apt description for Ms. You-Betcha's machinations too.

Radiohead, The King of Limbs: Maybe the most divisive Radiohead album of all time (or at least since Hail to the Thief), it may not necessarily rock, but that's because it's not supposed to. Instead, its main focus is creating a world that's atmospheric and amniotic, and even if it doesn't contain guitar solos like "Lucky" or "Just," there's still plenty to give you chills. Just not the chills you're probably used to.

Tyler, the Creator, Goblin: Terrifying meta-commentary or simply the angry rantings of a 20-year-old kid who doesn't know any better? Probably both. Homophobic? Sexist? Clever? Irritating? How about all of the above. It's also visceral, wince-inducing, frightening and sorta funny too. But perhaps nobody does a better job of summing it all up than Tyler himself, when, on the (sorta) hook to "Radicals," he growls, "Kill people, burn sh--, f--- school." Now that's a mission statement.

YACHT, Shangri-La: New-age dance duo ponder the existence of the hereafter and discover that it may very well exist on earth (or within our own minds). Too bad we're busy destroying both. A postapocalyptic party as foreseen by the Talking Heads and Giorgio Moroder, Shangri-La is as heavy on subject matter as it is on lithe, limber rhythms, so even when things get too heady, you can still let your hips do all the thinking.

Yuck, Yuck: The year's best debut, one that channels the stray slack and sonic stumblings of Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth. And considering it all comes from a quartet of kids too young to remember prime-era indie rock, it's all the more noteworthy. Maybe the stuff can make a comeback.

What did we miss? Share your favorites in the comments!

'Transformers 3' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 29 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT

Before watching 'Dark of the Moon,' check out our handy guide.
By Eric Ditzian


Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount

Before the second "Transformers" even hit theaters, director Michael Bay was already saying no to a third installment — or at least one that would hit theaters in 2011. It was back in February 2009, a full three months before the release of "Revenge of the Fallen," that Bay said there was no way he'd helm a third "Transformers" flick (later titled "Dark of the Moon") and get it into multiplexes little more than two years later.

"I would like to take a year off," he told us at the time.

But whaddya know? Bay not only ended up agreeing to whipping together the 3-D flick in time for this year's Independence Day weekend, but Paramount ended up shifting the release to June 29 (June 28, if you count the many 9 p.m. showings). How did we get to this point? To understand that transformation — to learn everything there is to know — we'll have to travel back to mid-2009: Hop aboard our "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" cheat sheet:

Reworking the Bay-hem
By October 2009, coming off the poorly reviewed but $836 million-grossing "Revenge of the Fallen," Bay had cleared up the release date issues and announced that preproduction on the next film had begun. Increasingly, it appeared as though the new movie would be the first "Transformers" to get a 3-D release. "We're literally in the middle of that. There's no definitive answer," producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told us about the chance for 3-D.

But the news about 3-D took a backseat to a rather shocking casting move in May: Megan Fox would not be returning to the franchise. She and Bay had previously shared a contentious creative partnership (remember when she compared him to Hitler and he called her immature?), but suddenly the two had parted ways. Possible replacements for Fox included Brooklyn Decker and Gemma Arterton, but the job eventually went to Victoria's Secret model, and Hollywood newbie, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

"I think there's positives and negatives to her not being [in the movie]," LaBeouf told us about Fox. "It's awesome that we get the discovery again. I think when everybody's vetted and everybody's been through these wars, then that discovery of the first film is nonexistent. It's kind of beautiful in that we get a new set of eyes, a fresh set of eyes for the audience to vibe with. So you get the discovery again, which is something that wouldn't happen if Megan came back."

New "Moon"
Filming kicked off on the still-untitled film last summer. It wouldn't be until the fall that it officially got a title. And the reason for that moniker wouldn't become clear until December, when the film's teaser trailer popped up online. It didn't feature LaBeouf or Huntington-Whiteley — or any of the stars, for that matter — but it did make clear the story would be tied into the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The trailers that followed, one 30-second spot during the Super Bowl and a second official trailer that dropped April 28, didn't help explain the film's storyline any further, but did continue to tease Bay's famous action sequences and the new gorgeous girl.

About That New Girl ...
Speaking of the lady in question, who admitted recently she thought she bombed her initial audition, Huntington-Whiteley's co-stars Tyrese Gibson and LaBeouf assured us that the first-time actress has a lot more going on than just a pretty face.

"Rosie is going to surprise a lot of people," Gibson said. "I have to go on record and say that she did not replace Megan Fox. She's a brand-new character; her name is Carly in the movie."

"She completely owns her sexuality," LaBeouf added. "Which I think helps, especially on a movie like this where it's a blanket summer movie and there are certain requirements of a woman in a summer movie."

Rising to Meet Technical Challenges
Director Bay entered new territory on this third installment by doing away with his preconceived notions and shooting the film in 3-D, which, according to him, forced him to deal with a whole new set of filming challenges.

"It's hard with my style of shooting and taking [a camera] and strapping it to guys who are skydiving off buildings and helmet cams," he said. "It's a technical nightmare. You don't even want to tell your viewers how technically complicated this stuff is."

On the other side of the technical spectrum is the amount of wirework required of the actors for the various stunts and action sequences. The specifics behind why the wirework proved to be so difficult, aside from the obvious hanging around, became very clear when LaBeouf, Gibson and Huntington-Whiteley offered a detailed (and highly entertaining) explanation of the various body parts that get pinched during the process.

"Yeah, I don't like the wires," LaBeouf admitted to MTV News. "Really, you can ask any man."

"All the things cut into the wrong places, put pressure on the wrong bits," Huntington-Whiteley added. "Whatever it does to a man, it also does to a woman."

"Thank God I have a bigger ass so when you put the harness on, the ass is able to help you stay away from the front part," Gibson explained. "It kind of balances things out a little bit. When your ass is flat and you have to have it going over the front, it is a bad day in America."

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Greyson Chance Gets Revenge In 'Unfriend You' Video

Posted: 29 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT

Clip, which premiered Wednesday, is first single from Hold On 'Til the Night.
By James Dinh


Greyson Chance
Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Don't let Greyson Chance's tender age fool you: this Internet sensation-turned-teen pop star has had his share of heartbreak. However, he knows exactly how to overcome the perils of teenage love, as displayed in the new clip for his single, "Unfriend You," which premiered Wednesday (June 29) exclusively on MTV and MTV Hits.

In the clip, Chance becomes distressed while looking at photos of himself and his former girlfriend (played by teen starlet Ariana Grande), and soon discovers her cozying up to a jock-like replacement. Ready for some kind of break, the 13-year-old singer/songwriter turns to his loyal group of friends in the visual for the heartbreak tune, attending an age-appropriate house party filled with dancing, ping pong and, of course, silly string.

In between the festivities, he meets a girl, who seemingly removes all ex-girlfriend woes. Chance takes the fun outside when he and the rest of the house party pay a visit to his former flame's house, covering it in toilet paper, all before showing off his new gal pal.

MTV News caught up with the budding star on the video's Los Angeles-based set, where he gushed about partaking in some on-camera teen mischief. "It's been so much fun already shooting it," he said. "We got to TP this house ... This is just more things leading up to the record, so I'm really excited for it."

As for why the YouTube phenomenon felt the heartbreak tune was fitting as the lead single off his debut album Hold On 'Til the Night, Chance explained, "I think 'Unfriend You' is an amazing record because, one, it's a breakup song, which breakup songs are always fun, and two, it's referencing social media, especially in this day and age, I think it's very important to reference social media in music."

Fans who can't stop listening to "Unfriend You" might find a similar liking to the rest of the singer's new LP, which drops August 2, since it also deals with the trials of heartache. "When I was writing this record, and especially when I was in the studio cutting 'Unfriend You,' I was heartbroken, so it felt good to express myself through the music and through the art of it," the singer explained.

Share your review of Greyson Chance's new video in the comments below!

'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Premiere Marks 'Graduation Day'

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 06:57 AM PDT

'I wish I could have worn one of those funny hats, dude,' Shia LaBeouf jokes to MTV News at NYC debut.
By Josh Wigler


Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Shia LaBeouf attend the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" premiere in New York City
Photo: Getty Images

Mark your calendars, boys and girls: June 28, 2011, is officially "Transformers" Day in New York City, as announced at Tuesday night's red-carpet premiere of "Dark of the Moon," the third (and potentially final) installment in Michael Bay's robot-smashing, record-obliterating blockbuster trilogy.

On one hand, it was an event packed with more excitement and enthusiasm than a downtown Chicago brawl between Optimus Prime and his Decepticon rivals. On the other, it was bittersweet.

"It feels like graduation day, you know?" Shia LaBeouf told MTV News about his feelings on the night of the premiere. "I never went to college. I spent all of my college years on the set. This is my graduation. I wish I could have worn one of those funny hats, dude."

But even LaBeouf was able to make light of the situation. Asked what he'd wear underneath his graduation gown, he laughed: "Nothing. A unitard. A leopard unitard and a graduation hat."

For Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the Victoria's Secret model making her acting debut and replacing former leading lady Megan Fox in the process, this was the crowning achievement of an already-breathtaking experience.

"It's blowing my mind to be here right now," she said of the premiere, which took place in a packed stretch of New York's famous Times Square. "I'll never, ever forget the last couple of weeks. It's been a dream come true. You see all of your hard work paying off. Look at all of these amazing people that [came out to] support this movie. It's really humbling."

Humbling (and probably overwhelming) isn't a surprising reaction, considering the presence of hundreds upon hundreds of "Transformers" fans holding signs like "I <3 Bumblebee" and "Shia, It's My Birthday!" in the crowd. For actor Ken Jeong, who's making a big leap from his "Hangover" comedy roots into the significantly more action-oriented "Transformers" universe, his experience wasn't just humbling, but mind-blowing.

"It's out-of-body," he said. "I can't really even process it right now. I make my living doing comedies — lately nude scenes in R-rated comedies — so for me to have a part in this movie in any capacity is truly one of the greatest moments of my career."

For months, those involved with "Dark of the Moon" have proudly declared their third "Transformers" film as the very best in the series. And on the night of the premiere, the stars maintained that sentiment.

"We worked really hard to deliver a full experience, and I think Michael pulled it off," producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said. "The third act in this movie is the best third act of the series. It did two things: One, the scale is off the charts. But the human beings also have a purpose to them that we were never able to accomplish before. I think that emotional identity with the characters and the way we didn't have that before [is great]."

Tyrese Gibson, returning to the series for a third time as special-ops soldier Epps, had to tip his hat to Bay as well. "Michael Bay, if you're looking at this interview, you're not the emotional type at all, but I'm proud of you, sir," the "Fast Five" star said. "You really, really delivered on this, man. Believe it or not, Michael on this one was very in tune with the fans. He was on the Internet, reading all of the comments and everything that went down with 'Transformers 2.' Compliments to the chef, man. He really, really delivered."

For Bay — who, like Shia, says that this is his last go with the Autobots — the night was something of a send-off as well. But it was just the final night in a long leg of goodbyes, as the "Transformers" crew has traveled to Germany and Russia and now back to the good old US of A to bid adieu to the "Moon."

"We've been traveling the globe, but this is what we came for," Bay said. "This is really fun. Yes, you do get tired, all right, but this is awesome. This is a moment in life you can't [miss]. It's fun."

But even if this might be the last time Bay and LaBeouf get together for a grand "Transformers" event such as this, there's at least one person — the new kid on the block, as it were — who's ready to keep going.

"I'd love to do another film!" Huntington-Whiteley enthused. "Making this movie, we had such fun. It's the hardest I've ever worked and probably ever will work. It's hot, it's dirty, it's sweaty, it's exhilarating. I've been around the best comedians and the best actors in the business. The best director and the best crew. They all became my family, and I thank them very much for supporting me."

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Beyonce Takes Fans Inside 'Year Of <i>4</i>' In MTV Special

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 03:16 AM PDT

Queen B takes fans behind the scenes of the year spent making her new album in special airing Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé in her "Year of <i>4</i>" special
Photo: MTV

Beyoncé released 4 on Tuesday (June 28), and she's taking fans behind-the-scenes of her new album in the MTV special "Beyoncé: Year of 4," set to premiere on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and BET, and at 7:30 on VH1 and Palladia (encore presentations will air later on MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams).

The special was filmed during Beyoncé's year off, as she set out to discover what she wanted next in her career. It kicks off as B wraps up her I Am Tour, and finds herself at a crossroads before eventually giving into her mother's advice to take some time off.

"My life was award shows and tour buses and hotels and it kind of goes by so fast ... I couldn't even hear it anymore," she says of her whirlwind schedule. "I'm just thinking about the next shoot ... the next video ... the next tour."

Fans are with Queen B as she travels, hangs out with family, friends and husband Jay-Z, and takes time to reflect on her crazy successful career. "I never even realized I needed a year off," she later says. "And I never realized I don't know how to take a year off."

During this reflective time in her life, Beyoncé also began working on her most eclectic album to date, mixing genres and styles to make 4. The special also takes a look at her career as she takes charge of her business. "It was very risky for me to set out on my own," she says. "Sometimes we don't reach for the stars, sometimes we are satisfied with what people tell us we're supposed to be satisfied with, and I'm just not going for it."

4, B's fourth solo album, is a mix of sassy uptempo tracks like the lead single "Run the World (Girls)," soft ballads like "1+1," as well as sassy midtempo songs like "Best Thing I Never Had." She worked with producers and artists like The-Dream, Kanye West and Andre 3000 for the release.

"Being able to take viewers behind the creative curtain of one of the world's most amazing and talented artists, Beyoncé, in the lead-up to her album release is a pure thrill," Van Toffler, President, MTV Music Group, LOGO and Film, said in a statement. "This honest and intimate special provides her audience and fans a rare opportunity to witness a true, musical genius at work and the stories that defined and inspired her incredible new album."

Tune in to "Beyoncé: Year of 4," airing Thursday, June 30, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and BET, and at 7:30 p.m. on VH1 and Palladia. Encore presentations follow on MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.

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'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Trailer Premieres

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 06:35 AM PDT

First sneak peek at Tom Cruise's fourth 'Mission' teases death-defying stunts.
By Kara Warner


Paula Patton and Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

If there is one thing we can count on from Tom Cruise in a "Mission: Impossible" movie, it is mind-blowing action and stunt sequences. From his first foray into the spy-tastic world of Ethan Hunt to his fourth, the upcoming "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," Cruise has been one-upping himself in the stunt category. And judging from the first official trailer, which was released Tuesday evening (June 28), his work on the fourth "Mission," directed by "The Incredibles" helmer Brad Bird, is no exception.

The trailer opens with the ominous words of Tom Wilkinson, whose character name we have yet to learn, essentially laying out the nuts and bolts of the plot.

"An hour ago, a bomb blew up the Kremlin," he says, as footage of the Kremlin blowing up appear onscreen. "The president has initiated Ghost Protocol, the entire IMF has been disavowed," he explains of Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) spy organization. "Now, I've been ordered to take you to Washington where they will hang the Kremlin bombing on you and your team, unless you were to escape after assaulting Brandt and me," says Wilkinson, shown seated in a car with Brandt (played by Jeremy Renner) and Hunt. "But if any of your team is caught, they'll be branded as terrorists."

"So what happens now?" Hunt asks.

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it," Wilkinson begins, recalling the series' famous line before being cut off so he won't spoil the plot entirely (although, if were to guess, the mission is probably to prove his team's innocence in the Kremlin bombing). His words are followed by a series of quick cuts that showcase and introduce the various castmembers, potential villains, etc. Renner as Brandt, Paula Patton, a serious-looking Josh Holloway, Cruise as Hunt in a series of wardrobe changes ranging from dapper formal wear to more rugged leather.

Then we see snippets of those famous Cruise-brand action sequences: car chases, underwater escapes, machine-gun fire, hand-to-hand combat, lots of running, more fighting and martial arts, more running, and plenty of spy-associated breaking and entering, which all leads up to a potential character reveal about Brandt.

"Who are you really, Brandt?" Hunt asks, in a scene where the two characters apparently come to blows.

"We all have our secrets," Brandt responds. "Don't we, Ethan?"

Cue the famous bars of Lalo Schrifin's "Theme From Mission: Impossible," which plays over Hunt looking out over Dubai, standing on the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. This is followed by a quick cut to a previous scene wherein tech master Benji Dunn (played by Simon Pegg) shows Hunt how to use a pair of fancy gadget gloves, which we soon see help him scale the Burj.

"You're not going to make it!" Brandt yells to Hunt, who is climbing and jumping up and around the side of the building.

"You're not helping," Hunt says, before the final shot, which shows the superspy repelling away from the Burj with a rope, which he loses midair and looks to plummet to the ground. Fade to black and the film's official titling.

Cruise's wife, Katie Holmes, told MTV News recently that she was privy to a sneak peek of the film and that it's "amazing." "The movie is going to be very cool and intense and the best 'Mission' yet."

First-time live-action director Bird echoed Holmes' sentiments, adding that Cruise did a lot of the craziest and most dangerous stunts himself.

"It's big and it is crazy," he said. "I think the craziest thing is that [the stunts] are real they're not digital. That's Tom Cruise on the tallest building in the world, he's doing all that stuff," Bird said of Cruise's death-defying stunts. "People won't believe it, but we shot it in IMAX so it's there for everyone to see."

Check out everything we've got on "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Diggy Simmons' 'Copy, Paste' Is 'Anthem' For Innovators

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:23 AM PDT

Diggy talks to MTV News on set of Phil the God-directed video.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kelly Marino


Diggy Simmons
Photo: MTV News

Diggy Simmons fancies himself an originator, and his first official single, "Copy, Paste," is a toast to the young rapper's individuality. MTV News caught up with the son of Rev Run on the set of the song's video in L.A.

" 'Copy, Paste' is just for people that are original, people that are innovators, people that just do their own thing," he said. "I feel as though that I'm a person like that myself, so just making a theme song or an anthem for people that are like that."

The video, directed by Phil the God, features Diggy in a lab, tied up with tubes. The young rapper bypassed making a run-of-the-mill, club-set rap video.

"It feels great working with Phil the God, that's the director that did 'Made You Look' with me; he did 'What They Been Waiting For' and 'Shook Ones.' Those are like my three viral videos that I did when I was doing my mixtapes, and he just came up with the best treatment," Diggy told MTV News. "It just feels right: We have a great connection. We'll hop on the phone and talk about ideas, the things I want to do, the things he wants to do, and just get hyped off of each other's energy, and the best will come out of that."

After making his stamp in the mixtape game with the 2010 DJ Premier-hosted Past, Presents, Future and Airborne, the 2011 XXL Magazine freshman is putting the finishing touches on his yet-untitled Atlantic Records debut album. While there is no release date set, Simmons estimated he is about 85 percent done.

He also revealed that the previously leaked, Bruno Mars-assisted "Click Clack Away" won't make the LP's final track list. Diggy promised some "great features," but insisted the album will focus primarily on him.

"A lot of it is me: There are only a few features, though, but there are features that fit the songs perfectly," he said. "I don't really go based off of, 'Oh, I like this artist, let's do a song with them.' I like doing that, but the way this went was, 'Oh, he would sound great on this hook, let's do it.' Otherwise, it's all me."

What do you think of Diggy Simmons' new single? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

CyHi The Prynce To Drop By 'RapFix Live'

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 03:34 AM PDT

Kanye West signees CyHi and D'Banj will talk about the G.O.O.D. life Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
By Rob Markman


CyHi the Prynce
Photo: MTV News

It's been a great year so far for "RapFix Live," and this Wednesday we keep our good streak going. Joining Sway on the "RFL" couch this week will be Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music signee CyHi the Prynce.

The Atlanta MC will chop it up with Sway about his relationship with Mr. West, touring and his upcoming debut album, The Hard Way Musical. In fact, CyHi's labelmate Big Sean, whose own Finally Famous debut dropped on Tuesday (June 28), gave his buddy some advice about prepping his first album.

"You know, I was talkin' to Big Sean and he was tellin' me, 'It's hard to clear those samples,' " CyHi told MTV News recently. "I know my samples are like — man, them people are gonna be like, 'Boy are you crazy?' "

Keeping with the G.O.O.D. Music theme, this week's live-stream episode of "RapFix Live" will also feature Kanye's newest recruit, Nigerian rapper D'Banj. While he may be new to the States, the international talent won an MTV Europe Music Award in 2007 and several MTV Africa Music Awards. On June 8, D'Banj tweeted his excitement, writing, "Just like yesterday myself and my brother did Tongolo. 7yrs later Mo' Hits signs with Good Music. Best birthday gift ever. God thank u."

"RFL" will also catch up with legendary "YO! MTV Raps" host Fab 5 Freddy and take a tour through his New York City art gallery.

Don't miss to CyHi the Prynce, D'Banj and Fab 5 Freddy on "RapFix Live," streaming Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com.

Lady Gaga Unveils Panda Alter Ego On Japanese TV

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:16 AM PDT

'Gagapanda' jokes she's 'been eating a lot of bamboo this week' before revealing plans for 2012 tour, having babies and more.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga appears on the Japanese talk show "Sukkiri"
Photo: Sukkiri

Lady Gaga is currently in the planning stages for her next tour. After wrapping up her epic Monster Ball run earlier this year, Gaga teased her plans on a Japanese talk show on Tuesday (June 28).

"All over the world and I'm already planning," she said of the trek, which she expects to kick off at the top of 2012. "I'm so excited I can't even go to sleep at night."

Gaga appeared wearing a black-and-white dress, with her hair done up in two buns and her eye makeup painted in two panda-like circles. "I really like pandas," she told the hosts of her look, adding, "pandas have paws, and I always tell my fans to put their paws up. I've been eating a lot of bamboo this week," she joked. (Shortly after the appearance, the singer even began referring to herself as Gagapanda on Twitter.)

She then played a little game called "Yes or No," where she was asked questions about her popularity on Twitter, her love of cooking, her clothes and more. She later elaborated on some of the topics. "My dream is to continue to make music and tour and do as much as I can to give as much back to my fans," she said. "Personal dreams? I suppose one day I'll have panda babies."

Gaga owned up to having one major fear, however. "The only thing I really get scared of is missing out on moments with my family 'cause I travel so much, so I call my mom and dad every day," she said. Asked whether she was scared of ghosts, Gaga said, "No, we can be friends." She went on to add, "I love Japanese monster movies. I actually believe in ancestors. I have a lot of family in my past like my Aunt Joann and my grandfather that have passed on and I talk to them."

What do you think of Gaga's panda-inspired look? Tell us in the comments!

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'Transformers' Director Michael Bay Calls 3-D A 'Technical Nightmare'

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 02:15 AM PDT

'I've slowed down my style on this one,' he tells MTV News of adjusting to 3-D for 'Dark of the Moon.'
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Michael Bay on the set of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Toward the end of February of last year, as James Cameron's "Avatar" was crossing the $700 million mark at the domestic box office on its way to a record-shattering worldwide total, "Transformers" director Michael Bay was still not convinced that 3-D was the true future of popcorn moviemaking.

"I've seen some tests that look great on other movies. I just want to see how it looks on my footage... in terms of a lot of real stuff coming out of the frame, real dirt, real complicated little particles coming towards the lens," he said at the time by way of revealing that he was considering a 3-D treatment for the third installment of his alien robot franchise.

The fact that he'd even arrived at such a testing phase is a credit both to Cameron and "Transformers" exec producer Stephen Spielberg. "Jim Cameron, he's like, 'Mike, you got to do it in 3-D,' " Bay told MTV News recently. "Stephen Spielberg, he says, 'Michael, you should do this in 3-D,' and I'm like, 'I don't know about the technology.' "

In the end, Bay became convinced that the tech was solid. For "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," he shot, by his own estimation, 60 percent of the finished film using 3-D cameras, another 15 percent consisting of all-digital 3-D shots and 25 percent footage converted from two dimensions to three. And while the director remains happy with the results, he did not mince words in talking about the challenges of working with 3-D cameras.

"It's hard with my style of shooting and taking [a camera] and strapping it to guys who are skydiving off buildings, and helmet cams," he said. "It's a technical nightmare. You don't even want to tell your viewers how technically complicated this stuff is."

To accommodate the limitations of a 3-D presentation, Bay ended up adjusting his often-kinetic approach to filmmaking. "I've slowed down my style on this one," he explained. "There are longer shots, there are evolving shots, some shots are 45 seconds long, where you're going in and through things. Where people say, 'Oh, I can't watch action with 3-D,' it's where 3-D was done poorly and your eye goes in and out, and if it jumps fast, it's when you get bad 3-D, because it screws with your head. Shot by shot, we're transitioning the viewer. You can really feel the action in this. It's much more experiential."

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Alicia Keys Marvels At 'Incredible' Wax Figure

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 01:14 AM PDT

'Look that's my chin! That's my jaw!' songstress tells MTV News of her Madame Tussauds likeness.
By Jocelyn Vena


Alicia Keys unviels her wax figure at Madame Tussauds in New York City
Photo: Getty Images

NEW YORK — Alicia Keys famously sang about the "spirit of New York" on her hit song with Jay-Z, "Empire State of Mind." Now the New York native is part of an exhibit with that name at Madame Tussauds in Times Square, and she couldn't be prouder to have her wax figure stand alongside those of Regis Philbin, Woody Allen and Frank Sinatra.

"I actually think it's really, really good!" she raved to MTV News about the likeness. "I was looking close up: It's like my eyebrows are for real, and it's like my eyes are for real, and the bone structure of my chin, like, 'Look, that's my chin! That's my jaw!'

"It's incredible. It's really incredible, and I think it's so cool to be a part of the New York City part of the exhibit," she added. "I was born and raised here, this is my home, so it's so perfect."

It's a particularly big day for Keys, as it was just announced she's producing the Broadway play "Stick Fly." Keys said she can't believe she has her hand in something that will be playing on the Great White Way.

"The piece is really about this beautiful African-American family in Martha's Vineyard, and it is so deep," she said of the play by Lydia R. Diamond. "It's about all the secrets that families have, and it's funny. What I love about it is it bypasses everything, and it's all about family."

The singer, who is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her breakout album Songs in A Minor, says that, as a New Yorker, getting on Broadway is living the dream. "Broadway is something that's played an integral part in my life. It's been something that I've experienced my whole life," she said. "I've always wanted to be a part of it. You haven't seen this family before on Broadway. It's universal and at the same time unique."

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Daniel Radcliffe Dedicates Trevor Project Hero Award To 'Real Heroes'

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 12:32 AM PDT

'Harry Potter' star earns honor for being an inspiration to LGBT youth.
By John Mitchell, with reporting by Tami Katzoff


Daniel Radcliffe attends the Trevor Project benefit in New York on Monday
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Daniel Radcliffe took a break from his successful turn in Broadway's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and the press tour for the final "Harry Potter" film to accept the Trevor Project's Hero Award at Monday night's Trevor LIVE gala in New York.

"The fact that I'm able to help with something like this makes me very, very proud," Radcliffe told MTV News at the event. "It's a huge honor, and it's lovely of them to give it to me. I'll say it again later, but the real heroes are the people who are staffing those call centers and picking up the phones saving lives every single day."

The Trevor Project Hero Award recognizes individuals who serve as an inspiration to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Previous recipients of the prize include Nathan Lane, Vanessa Williams and Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black ("Milk").

Founded by the filmmakers of the Oscar-winning 1994 short film "Trevor," the Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization that offers support to sexual minority youth. The group's 24-hour suicide prevention hotline, available at (866) 4-U-TREVOR (488-7386), offers those experiencing emotional difficulty dealing with their sexuality someone to talk to and endeavors to foster safe and inclusive environments in homes and schools.

"It's incredibly important because all over the country there are many young people who are going through incredibly difficult times coming out or accepting who they are or coming to terms with who they are," Radcliffe said of the Trevor Project. "And it's wonderful that compassionate, brave people work at the Trevor Project and are ready to take calls 24 hours a day to help those people."

Radcliffe has been involved with the Trevor Project since 2009, appearing in public service announcements for the group's prevention hotline and speaking out in support of LGBT youth. Radcliffe has called his work with the Trevor Project "one of the most important, if not the most important, thing that I'm associated with."

Last year, the actor told MTV News that supporting gay rights is "something I've always been quite passionate about ... and now I am in a position where I can help an amazing thing like the Trevor Project."

Asked about the recent passage of marriage-equality legislation in New York, Radcliffe said, "The more widespread equality is the more young people growing up [who can] look to an older generation and see gay men getting married and having families, the more it just looks like a normal part of life.

"The more it becomes something run-of-the mill and ordinary, in a way, the better," Radcliffe added. "Because then there's no reason they should grow up feeling that they're in any way different or that their difference should separate them from their peers."

The politically aware actor is currently promoting "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," the eighth and final "Potter" film. To honor the end of the historic film franchise, visit the MTV Movies Blog to participate in the "Harry Potter" World Cup and vote for your favorite character from the films.

'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon': The Reviews Are In

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 11:01 PM PDT

Michael Bay's summer blockbuster has critics praising his deft handling of eye-popping 3-D.
By Eric Ditzian


Sentinel Prime in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

As even Michael Bay has admitted, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" had almost nowhere to go but up after the writers' strike-affected, audience-alienating previous installment.

And insofar as Bay and company had something to prove — and to improve — this time around, they've succeeded. While "Dark of the Moon" isn't currently the highest rated film in the franchise, according to the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator, the general consensus among critics is that the new 3-D flick is best of the "Transformers" bunch.

That's not to suggest reviews have been universally positive; many have been as brutal to the film as the film's robots have been to certain American cities. Reviewers have taken issue with poor plotting, weak characters and brain-scrambling action set pieces. But then there are a slew of reviewers utterly onboard with what Bay has created, celebrating some of the finest 3-D visuals since "Avatar" and a story that is the most fully fleshed out of the series. For those opinions and others, take a deep dive into the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" reviews.

The Story
"A sweet prologue (marred only by a phony-looking digital JFK) recounts the war for Cybertron and the real reason behind the U.S.-Soviet space race of the 1960s. Cut to the present where Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) struggles to find his first post-college job, while the Autobots led by Optimus Prime and the U.S. military's NEST team led by Lt. Col. Lennox (Josh Duhamel) work in tandem to take out the remaining Decepticons around the world. However, the evil 'bots eventually get the upper hand and begin an invasion to conquer the Earth with Chicago as Ground Zero in this final war between the Autobots/humans and Decepticons. There's more going on, but for the sake of spoilers we'll keep it at that. Transformers: Dark of the Moon definitely has more of a plot than either of its predecessors. There are genuine stakes this time." — Jim Vejvoda, IGN

The 3-D
"[For] the first time since 'Avatar,' I am going to recommend that you find the biggest and best 3-D theater you can find and buy yourself a ticket, because 'Transformers: Dark Of the Moon,' especially seen in IMAX 3-D, is an overwhelming sensory experience. The sound mix alone is more exciting than anything in the billion-dollar-bore of 'Pirates 4.' This is gigantic action we've never seen before, and Bay's reaction to shooting and cutting his film for 3-D is to get better at what he does. It raised his game, and as a result, I feel like we just saw a dare thrown down by one of Hollywood's biggest action specialists: 'Top this.' — Drew McWeeny, HitFix

The Comparisons
"Bay's hammering technique works, in a commercial sense. Executive producer Steven Spielberg is the richer for it. But it's telling to compare any good minute in Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds,' for example, with any of the 153 minutes in 'Dark of the Moon.' The former, which isn't even Spielberg at his best, offers the thrill and the uneasy, complicated spectacle of destruction you get from a first-rate entertainer. Bay's endless love of nastiness and chrome and aggression offers less. And that's the only 'less' about it." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

The Characters
"All that matters is the long, slow slog to the Chicago-set, theater-rattling finale, which seems to last about four hours. That's not a compliment, by the way. There's so much potential in a Transformer, which can, after all, transform into anything. But Bay misses every opportunity to make something interesting out of his characters; instead, he's content to spend his enormous budget on grinding destruction so generic and visually convoluted, it's often hard to tell who we're supposed to be rooting for." — Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

The Final Word
"More than either of the previous films, this 'Transformers 3' feels like an ultra-violent version of the two-dimensional cartoon it's based on. I think I'm almost alright with that, when it's done this well, in this kind of summer blockbuster. We'd probably all be happier watching another movie like 'Inception,' but as long as those movies still get made, I guess there's nothing wrong in sitting down with a 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,' once in awhile." — Josh Tyler, Cinema Blend

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Lil Wayne Says <i>Sorry For The Wait</i> With New Mixtape

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 01:29 AM PDT

Weezy apologizes for Tha Carter IV delay, in Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman


Lil Wayne
Photo: Joe Scarnici/ WireImage

Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables

Headliner: Lil Wayne

Mixtape: Sorry for the Wait

Key Cameo: Lil B, is the only confirmed guest so far.

Real Spit: Nobody likes album delays. Lil Wayne is well aware of this fact. SO, to make up for the multiple pushbacks of Tha Carter IV, Weezy will be dropping a new mixtape, aptly titled Sorry for the Wait, in the coming weeks.

"The mixtape is called Sorry for the Wait, and it's because [manager Cortez Bryant] pushed the album back so, sorry for the wait," Weezy told Shaheem Reid in outtakes from an interview for XXL's July/August issue.

At the time of the interview, which took place on June 13, the Young Money CEO revealed that he was only three songs deep on Sorry but was in back in mixtape mode and planned to include guests like Lil B on the project. According to Wayne, the tape will be formatted in a similar way to his 2009 project No Ceilings and will feature the lyrical dynamo rapping over other artist's tracks.

The tactic allows Wayne to jump on songs that he didn't get the chance to, in an attempt to put his own stamp on them. "Yeah, it's gonna be just like No Ceilings, taking the f--- over a n---a's beat. You know what it is, killin' n---as sh--," he said. "Make a n---a pissed, mad as a mother----er he ain't call me to get on that mother----er originally. Like, 'F---, if I'd have took this n---a call this n---a's song wouldn't be hotter than mine!"

As it stands now, Tha Carter IV is scheduled to drop August 29 after being pushed back from its May and June release dates.

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RZA Joins Cast Of 'G.I. Joe' Sequel

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 08:49 AM PDT

Wu-Tang Clan member will play martial arts character Blind Master.
By Gil Kaufman


RZA
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

When the "G.I. Joe" sequel gets under way, fans will see an almost all-new cast that not only includes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson but could also feature Wu-Tang Clan rapper/producer-turned-actor RZA.

The beatmeister will play a martial arts expert named the Blind Master, who once trained Joe commandos Snake Eyes and Jinx (Elodie Yung of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In addition to returning star Channing Tatum, another potential new face will be D.J. Cotrona, currently appearing on the TV show "Detroit 1-8-7." Both RZA and Cotrona are in negotiations to join the movie, which is being directed by Jon Chu ("Justin Bieber: Never Say Never").

" 'Joe' is something I've loved since I was a kid," Chu confessed to MTV News when word of his possible involvement first leaked earlier this year. "My era was 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' 'G.I. Joe' and 'Transformers.' When 'Joe' changed their theme song from the old-style 'Go Joe!' to 'Got to get tough, go Joe!' that was the era I was in. Those are the fun, glory years that I remember."

Cotrona is slated to play a character named Flint, one of Joe's soldiers best known from the 1980s comics for his signature shotgun and beret.

The mainstream flick is one of the most high-profile popcorn movie roles to date for RZA, who has previously appeared in films such as "Due Date," "Kill Bill," "Funny People" and "American Gangster." He recently wrapped work directing the martial arts movie "The Man With the Iron Fists," in which he co-stars with Russell Crowe and blaxploitation icon Pam Grier.

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Eminem Taps Sway For Shade 45's New Morning Show

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:50 AM PDT

MTV News correspondent kicks off 'Sway in the Morning' on Sirius XM next month.

David Cook Jokes He's Still 'Bothered' By Simon Cowell Nightmare

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 10:23 PM PDT

'This one kept me up a lot of nights,' Cook tells MTV News of recording brand-new This Loud Morning.
By Jim Cantiello


David Cook
Photo: MTV News

It's been more than three years since David Cook won the seventh season of "American Idol," but the TV show that launched his career resurfaced, in his sleep no less, while he was working on the brand-new This Loud Morning.

"There was a dream last year where I auditioned for 'Idol' again," Cook told MTV News. "I got in front of Simon Cowell and he reamed me and I didn't make it. For some reason, that bothered me a little bit."

There are no songs on This Loud Morning titled "Snarky Brit (How Could You Say No to Me?)," but the Kansas City, Missouri, rocker insists his album was inspired by his nighttime adventures into the subconscious, or perhaps the lack thereof. "I've never immersed myself in a record as much as I immersed myself in this one," Cook said. "That's not to say that I was phoning it in on the nine [albums, including eight pre-'Idol' indie releases] I did before this. But this one especially, I never had problems sleeping because of records, and this one kept me up a lot of nights.

"The other [recurring] dream was something about being chased by a witch and I hid in the vents of my childhood home. I got issues, man," Cook sighed. For the record, Cook clarified that the witch was from "The Wizard of Oz"; no flying monkeys were present, however. "Usually, those strange dreams occur when I eat late," David said he finally discovered.

Cook's This Loud Morning hit stores on Tuesday (June 28), courtesy of 19 Recordings and RCA Records.

What do you think of David Cook's nightmares? Have you ever had a dream about Simon Cowell? Leave a comment below!

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Drake Goes Home Alone In 'Marvins Room' Video

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:34 AM PDT

Drizzy gets rejected and drowns his sorrows in brand-new clip.
By Rob Markman


Drake (file)
Photo: Mike Coppola/ Getty Images

It's one thing to hear Drake sing about lost love and rejection, but to see it is a different story entirely. In the video for "Marvins Room," Drake tosses back drinks at a party full of women and goes home alone, while a drunk-dial conversation coupled with his regretful lyrics seem to explain why he failed to close the deal.

The clip, which was released at 3:46 a.m. on Drizzy's October's Very Own blog, starts off with a woman dressed in a T-shirt and panties on the phone, talking about her night, in which she hopped from club to club. "Hello, yeah I just walked in," she says pacing her living room before lying down on a leather couch. Drake sits on the other end of the line, seated in the back of his Maybach, listening.

The beat drops and Drake starts his first verse seated at the bar in a lounge. Partygoers mingle and dance around him, but the Toronto native throws back shot after shot to chase the bottles of beer that he sips on. Clearly inebriated, Drizzy first flirts with a girl standing at the bar. After he whispers something in her ear, the young lady walks off uninterested as the rapper swivels his head to watch her strut away.

Undeterred, Drizzy hits the dance floor pushing up on a second female, who also blocks his advances. The scene cuts back to the pants-less cutie who is still sprawled out on her couch breathing into the phone, "Are you drunk right now?"

The answer is clearly yes: Drake's drunken state is visually depicted by a spinning camera that moves in and out of focus as he makes his way across the dance floor to the bathroom where he continues to croon. The track then slows down to a crawl, repeating Drake's refrain, "I'm just sayin' you can do better."

Maybe she can, but not tonight. The video snaps back, the song's pitch is corrected, the video comes to a close, and Drake tells the woman on the phone, "You're not gonna come? Guess I'm about to just kick it here then." Cue the cold shower.

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