MTV News |
- Lil Wayne, Red Hot Chili Peppers Lead Most-Anticipated Albums
- Tom Felton Predicts Snape Will Win 'Harry Potter' World Cup
- Evanescence's 'What You Want': Hear A Preview!
- Heidi Montag Teases 'Shocking Alliances' On 'Famous Food'
- Rupert Grint Talks 'Harry Potter' World Cup Chances
| Lil Wayne, Red Hot Chili Peppers Lead Most-Anticipated Albums Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:51 AM PDT Drake, Blink-182, David Guetta, Evanescence and 'American Idol' alums also expected to drop new music in 2011 second half.
The record industry finally had some good news to report in the first half of the year thanks to some incremental positive growth as a result of strong album sales from Lady Gaga, Adele, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. But with six months left in 2011, the returns could bulge even further if even half of the albums left on label rosters see the light of day. Release dates have constantly shifted and some aren't even on schedules yet, but the second half of this year promises new releases from Lil Wayne; Kanye West and Jay-Z; Dr. Dre; Evanescence; Joe Jonas; last year's chart slayers, country trio Lady Antebellum; dance master David Guetta; and original "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson. Here's a breakdown of the most anticipated albums on tap for the rest of the year (with the caveat that some release dates could and likely will change). Hip-Hop Another record that's been pushed around more than LeBron James in this year's NBA finals is Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV. Weezy's given us a preview of his latest opus with "How to Love," which is already a hit on iTunes, and the latest due date for the fourth installment in the Carter series is August 29. Fans are also looking forward to Rick Ross' God Forgives, I Don't album, the major-label debut from Jay Electronica, 50 Cent's long-gestating new effort, and another disc that's been bubbling under for more than a year, Game's The R.E.D. Album, which could finally hit shelves on August 23. Game has promised to have formerly estranged mentor Dr. Dre back in the pocket on that one, and speaking of the good doctor, the reclusive studio genius may finally release his near decade-in-the-making Detox disc this year. Maybe. Almost equally salivated over is Drake's second studio effort, Take Care, which is slated to hit on October 24. Fans have already gotten a taste of what to expect from the recently released track "Marvins Room," which followed another song that may make the cut, "Dreams Money Can Buy." B.o.B has made it clear that he's not packing a bunch of flashy features on the follow-up to his gold-certified debut, The Adventures of Bobby Ray. What we don't know yet is when, exactly, it will drop. Also look for new albums from Akon and Nas. Pop/Country/R&B Jonas Brothers singer Joe Jonas steps out with his dance-inspired solo debut, Fast Life, in September, and Mary J. Blige gets help from Kanye, Swizz Beatz and Stargate on My Life II, The Journey Continues (also due in September). "Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert is working on his "dream" album as the follow-up to his 2009 debut, with help from such songwriting pros as Ryan Tedder, Nikka Costa and Sia. Hoping to get something in stores this year, oft-thwarted former Pussycat Dolls singer (and "X Factor" replacement judge) Nicole Scherzinger is planning to unleash her latest solo album, Killer Love, before year's end, with assists from RedOne, Jim Jonsin, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. And it's probably a long shot, but long-dormant reggae popsters No Doubt are nearly done with their first album in a decade, which may see the light of day before 2011 is out. Also slated for this year: Fiona Apple, former "American Idol" champs Kris Allen and Kelly Clarkson, Santigold, ex-Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland (Here I Am, July 26) and electronic beatmeister David Guetta's Nothing But the Beat (August 30), which features contributions from Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj, Taio Cruz, Ludacris, will.i.am, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Akon, Jennifer Hudson and Sia. Rock Speaking of face-smacking, veteran funk-rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers have the usual collection of heavy grooves on tap for I'm With You, their Rick Rubin-produced album due out on August 30. Another lifer, Lenny Kravitz, also ends a self-imposed hiatus that day with his latest, Black and White America, and after reuniting in 2009, punk-poppers Blink-182 swear we'll get new music from them before summer is out. We're still not sure exactly what Coldplay's new album is really about, but we know they'll probably be playing some of the tunes from the still-untitled effort this summer at Lollapalooza. And that the paint-splashed video for the first single, "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall," is packed with the kind of uplifting, positive vibes we've come to expect from the group. Also on tap: The Great Escape Artist, the first new album in eight years from alternative godfathers Jane's Addiction; the first independent label effort from Wilco, The Whole Love (September 27); the solo debut of former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump; another chunk of hot metal from Mastodon; an album-length collaboration between Metallica and punk icon Lou Reed; the long-anticipated third album from professional train wreck Amy Winehouse; and the first listen to fellow former FOB member Pete Wentz's new band, Black Cards. What albums are you most looking forward to in the second half of 2011? Let us know in the comments! |
| Tom Felton Predicts Snape Will Win 'Harry Potter' World Cup Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:51 AM PDT 'Everyone loves Snape. He has the greatest story of the lot,' actor tells MTV News.
No matter how you feel about the mean-spirited Draco Malfoy, actor Tom Felton is well aware that the character he's played for 10 years garners mixed reactions from die-hard "Harry Potter" fans. "Either people loved him or loved to hate him," Felton told MTV News during a sit-down chat in preparation for the release of the wildly anticipated "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."
Even Felton himself has conflicting feelings about how people react to Malfoy. "It's weird — I never quite know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that Draco is generally ... a pleasantly accepted character," the star said, adding, "I always find it weird when 6-year-olds' parents say, 'You're his favorite character!' I'm always like, 'I'm not sure if I should be. I'm not sure that reflects your great parenting skills!" But that doesn't mean the MTV Movie Awards winner didn't want his character to win the ongoing "Harry Potter" World Cup. For weeks, "Harry Potter" fans have participated in the bracket game, which will declare the best character in the saga. While Felton's Draco did make it very far in the tournament before being bested by Final Four competitor Sirius Black ("That's a little unfair, I think — don't you?" the 23-year-old pondered to MTV's Josh Horowitz), it wasn't quite far enough to take the whole thing. "I'm bitter about not making it to the final post, but at the same time, I'm very grateful. It's awesome," the actor said. See the full bracket and vote! Still, Felton, despite being voted out, was more than willing to play along in the World Cup. When asked whom he thinks should advance past the Final Four (Hermione Granger vs. Severus Snape, Sirius Black vs. Ron Weasley) and win the whole thing, the actor said, with no hesitation, "Snape." He continued, "Everyone loves Snape. He has the greatest story of the lot, I think, where you don't know which he's going to be the whole way." While the "Harry Potter" World Cup picks the best character in the series, not just the final film, Felton still thinks Snape takes the cake. "He has a beautiful ending, doesn't he?," Felton asked, adding, "I didn't expect that at all. It's so nice to see this hard character Snape turn into this soft shell of a man." In short, by Felton's prediction, Severus Snape is "gonna take the crown, man." Whether you agree or disagree with Felton's pick, you can still vote throughout the day on Monday, July 11. Then, the winner of the "Harry Potter" World Cup will be announced later that evening during MTV's live stream of the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" red-carpet premiere in New York. We're streaming live from the red carpet at the New York premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" on Monday, July 11, at 4:30 p.m. ET. Visit MTV.com to watch interviews with the stars and see the winner of the "Harry Potter" World Cup announced live. Tweet your questions for the cast @MTVNews using the hashtag #AskPotter. Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." Related Videos Related Photos |
| Evanescence's 'What You Want': Hear A Preview! Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:51 AM PDT MTV News gives fans a preview of the band's comeback single.
It's been nearly four years since Evanescence have released a single, and during that time, it appeared very likely they'd never release another. But on Monday (July 11), the wait — and all the drama that surrounded it — finally came to an end, because Evanescence are officially back, with a roaring new single called "What You Want." Last week, MTV News traveled to Nashville's Blackbird Studio, where the band were putting the finishing touches on their upcoming, self-titled album (which their label, Wind-Up Records, just informed us is now due October 11 — one week later than previously reported), and they gave us an exclusive first listen at a handful of tracks, including "Want." And now, we're going to give you a sneak peek.
Frontwoman Amy Lee had previously described the song as being "really different" from anything in the band's back catalog, and, as you can tell, she wasn't kidding. "What You Want" is most definitely a departure, quite possibly the heaviest song Evanescence have ever made. The guitars buzz like a hornet's nest, the drums are pounding and primal, and the strings (arranged by Beck's dad, David Campbell) swell and stab. Throw in a positively massive chorus and Lee's vocal pyrotechnics, and you've got a song that's powerful enough to shake rock radio to its very foundation. And that's pretty amazing, considering its simple roots. "[Bassist] Tim [McCord] and [guitarist] Terry [Balsamo] and I wrote that song at my house in New York. We were just jamming, like, recording demos, and obviously the song has grown a lot since then, with everyone else," Lee told us. "For me, it was — and I need to remember this, so I can apply it in the future — it wasn't trying so hard to be some epic, massive chorus. I was just doodling around on the piano and the guys were like, 'Do that. Whatever you just did, that's an awesome melody.' And I was like, 'Really?' Sometimes you just need your friends to be like, 'Do that!' " Though it came from humble origins, "What You Want" deals with heady concepts, a trait that's readily apparent throughout Evanescence's new album. "It's about freedom — that's definitely a constant theme on the record — but, it's like Evanescence, and me, and my relationship with the music and the fans, and coming to that [realization] of 'This is what I'm supposed to do ... I want to do this,' " Lee said. "And when it says, 'Remember who you really are,' that's exactly everything you could assume it means." For the time being, Evanescence fans are just going to have to make do with a snippet of "What You Want" (the full single is set to premiere in early August, Wind-Up said). But rest assured, you're going to be hearing the song a lot in the near future, because, as Lee said, it's not just the band's comeback single, it's also the beginning of a mission — one Evanescence are taking very seriously. "I feel like, not that I'm trying to do what's important for the music industry, I'm doing what I want — we're doing what we love. But, at the same time, it's so refreshing for us to play music that we want to hear," she explained. "It rocks, and not that there's nothing going on that does, but less and less; that's definitely not what's dominating the airwaves. And it would be so amazing and it's totally our dream to have that happen for us; not even just for us, but, like, we want to hear rock music again. "I think that, as a band, we're really strong," she continued. "Everybody's just playing at the top of their game right now, they're just putting it all in ... and it was, like, that mentality the whole time we were working. Like, whatever it takes to make the most amazing thing possible." What do you think of the "What You Want" sneak peek? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos |
| Heidi Montag Teases 'Shocking Alliances' On 'Famous Food' Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:51 AM PDT 'I'm like, 'OK, let's keep it professional!' ' the 'Hills' alum recalls thinking on her new VH1 show.
On Sunday night, Heidi Montag made her return to the reality TV world on VH1's latest entry into the genre, "Famous Food."
On the show, Montag competes against other celebrities to open up a restaurant in Los Angeles that would be called, as the title says, Famous Food. The show's cast includes famed call girl Ashley Dupre, Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul and Juicy J, "The Bachelor" star Jake Pavelka, "Sopranos" actor Vincent Pastore and feisty "Real Housewives of New Jersey" alum Danielle Staub. What may surprise viewers, though, is which of the celebs end up becoming friends ... and then some. "There were some shocking alliances, a little too close for some people," Montag dished to MTV News. "I'm like, 'OK, let's keep it professional!' And really just people I would never expect [to make alliances, did]." Of course, that might sound like a pretty shocking statement coming from Montag, who while on MTV's "The Hills" married Spencer Pratt, the hit reality show's biggest bad guy. But that's all history. These days, Heidi's focused on showing fans her business savvy. "It was really important for me and very exciting to win a potential partnership at the end of the show," she said of wanting to take the prize, which is a stake in the restaurant. "I'm very excited to be a part of the show," she added. "And I knew it was going to be a great experience and something different, very different from anything I've ever done." Did you catch "Famous Food"? Tell us what you thought in the comments! |
| Rupert Grint Talks 'Harry Potter' World Cup Chances Posted: 10 Jul 2011 03:45 AM PDT 'I'm still in it? No way!,' actor tells MTV News.
Forget the NCAA Tournament: This is the bracket to end all brackets. For weeks, Harry Potter fans — in preparation for the saga's final installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," opening in theaters on Friday — have been participating in our "Harry Potter" World Cup, which will determine who is the best character in the series, as chosen by you.
And after thousands of votes and some major upsets in just about every seed (Harry's out!), we are down to the Final Four. There's the headstrong Hermione Granger vs. the redemptive Severus Snape and the rogue Sirius vs. the beloved Ron Weasley. MTV's own Josh Horowitz announced the exciting news to Mr. Weasley himself, Rupert Grint, to which the actor happily responded, "I'm still in it? No way!" While Grint isn't sure of his chances of taking the whole Cup should he end up going against Hermione or Severus in the final round ("I don't think I could do that — I mean, Snape is a great character," he told us), the 22-year-old is honored simply to have made it this far. "It's amazing. It's quite touching really," Grint said of the "Potter" and, more specifically, Ron Weasley fans. See the full bracket and vote! In fact, the Cup has given the "Potter" cast the chance to see how relentlessly devoted the fans are to the series and the characters. "It's the only time you're kind of aware of how important these films are to people," said Grint of events like the Cup or premieres, where devotees wait out for days and scream out for their favorite stars. While rabid fanbases may scare off some stars of popular sagas, Grint only has the fondest feelings for those who have made the "Harry Potter" films part of their lives for the past decade. As he put it to MTV News, "It's great. I'm going to miss it all, really." Join the club. "Harry Potter" fans will get the chance to determine whether Ron Weasley will go to the next round as voting for the Final Four continues through midnight. Then, the final showdown in the World Cup starts immediately at 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday, July 11. The winner of the "Harry Potter" World Cup will be announced later Monday evening during MTV's live stream of the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" red-carpet premiere in New York. We're streaming live from the red carpet at the New York premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" on Monday, July 11, at 4:30 p.m. ET. Visit MTV.com to watch interviews with the stars and see the winner of the "Harry Potter" World Cup announced live. Tweet your questions for the cast @MTVNews using the hashtag #AskPotter. Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." Related Videos Related Photos |
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