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You know that old-fashioned expression "slow and steady wins the race"? The "Vice Guide to Everything" guys obviously don't. Their very first episode took us to Yemen, Naples and Detroit, jumping from an anti-American movement in the Middle East to a dude running a strip club out of his parents' basement. They also went ahead and recruited the Black Lips--best known for their moody lyrics/OMFG live shows--for the soundtrack.

Not familiar with the Atlanta-based punk rockers? We've got 10 reasons why you should be. Read on to hear guitarist Cole Alexander give his thoughts on Snooki, eugooglize Kurt "Inventor of Grunge" Cobain and explain why The Pope probably wouldn't be their biggest fan, then watch the BL's latest video, "Cold Hands," after the jump.

Your shows are so insane--you've gotten kicked out of venues, had tour dates canceled and come close to getting thrown in jail. Wikipedia's accused you of urinating onstage, flashing the crowd and setting your guitars on fire. Is it fair to say you're a little more hard-core than Justin Bieber?
Actually, we have been thrown in jail, several times--but most of the time, we're sweet guys. And I don't think it's fair to compare who's more hard-core 'cause I'm sure Justin has a hard-core side that lives within. He just doesn't know it's there, or hides it deep inside his subconscious.

Paying for CDs is expensive. Tell us why fans should shell out cash for your upcoming album.
I say burn it--and if you really like it, then buy it. You can always use the art packaging for a coffee coaster.

You wake up in Seaside Heights with a backpack full of Axe body spray, Ed Hardy shirts and Lysol disinfectant. Who would you take to the Smush Room at the "Jersey Shore" house?
What's the Smush Room!? Are you asking which one I'd [have sex with]? Hmm, the only female cast member whose name I know is Snooki, and I know I don't want to smush with her. I don't have cable so I've only seen the show, like, twice, but I heard President Obama secretly likes it. I am pretty excited about "The Vice Guide to Everything"--I think it will be a little more sophisticated than "Jersey Shore," but in a still-belligerent way that everyday teenage youth can appreciate.

Finish this sentence: If Kurt Cobain were alive today, he'd probably...
Play music less loud and snotty. I've always thought if Kurt had done another album, he would have abandoned the stereotypical grunge sound--it was getting tired by the time he died. So he might have wanted to try something a little more folky, maybe something with a quainter, indie vibe. Maybe even a little less screaming. I heard he had vocal chord damage by the end so less screaming might've helped.

You guys have been making music together for more than 10 years now. Aren't you sick of each other yet? And if not, why not?
We get sick of each other sometimes--I guess that's natural--but we must have some redeeming qualities [since] we have stayed together this long. Some great bands I like have imploded cause the chaotic people who play in them self-destruct. It's funny that chaos is what makes them so great, but it is also what kills them.

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Tags Almight Defenders, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Beck, Cole Alexander, Demi Lovato, Gnarls Barkley, Jersey Shore's Snooki, Justin Bieber, Kurt Cobain, Los Saicos, Miley Cyrus, Music, Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, Portishead, Prince, Sheryl Crow, Soundtrack Spotlight, The Black Lips, The White Stripes, Video, Warpaint, Wu-Tang Clan

Whoever thinks baseball's still the national pastime hasn't set foot in Abilene, Texas--or seen a high school football stadium packed with 15,000 screaming fans. Or heard an entire town erupt after star running back Herschel Sims scored the game-winning touchdown. Yep, watching the "World of Jenks" season finale last night, all we could think was how much Herschel's life reminded us of an episode of NBC's "Friday Night Lights." So what do the Abilene Eagles and the Dylan Panthers have in common? Well, those shiny state championship rings, of course--and the best football soundtracks since "Varsity Blues".

Forget about Jock Jams. When you've got Herschel's cool confidence (and steely determination), you don't need "Pump Up The Jam"--or worse, your high school marching band's rendition of "Four Minutes"--to get the adrenaline flowing. Instead, get into the right headspace by popping in something a little softer before kickoff. No, we're not talking about swiping your girlfriend's Regina Spektor CD--just download a few tracks from La La Land, the latest release from Canadian indie rock trio Plants and Animals.

"P&A, who?" you say? Well, just think of them as the Herschel Sims of Montreal's underground music scene--you know, rising local stars with the potential to become The Next Big Thing. Hot off the success of their debut full album, Parc Avenue, Plants and Animals are all about remixing classic rock beats into something you might hear at a Brooklyn loft party. The result? Moody tracks like "Undone Melody" and "Fake It" (both featured on last night's "WOJ"), which sound like they were written by Radiohead, produced by Bob Dylan and performed by The White Stripes.

So what's our advice to all you wannabe playas? Get into a pre-kickoff groove (à la Herschel) with a cool but upbeat track like P&A's "American Idol," keep the momentum going by rockin' out to "Tom Cruz" at halftime, then help console the other/losing team by playing "Bye Bye Bye" (off Plants' debut LP) as they exit the field. Oh, and then put away those boring game reels and check out Plants and Animals' latest music video, "The Mama Papa." It's our hands-down pick for Play of the Week.

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Tags Bob Dylan, Herschel Sims, Music, Plants and Animals, Radiohead, Regina Spektor, Soundtrack Spotlight, The White Stripes, Video

Photo: Yutsai

Vanessa "VV" Brown isn't the first Brit to set her sights on the U.S. music charts, but this gal's got more than just a record deal and a dream. Already a sensation in the U.K. (she's the biggest thing in France since pommes frites), VV's taking her retro indie act stateside, touring with Maroon 5 and Pink, and working on her music 362 days outta the year--give or take an hour. And while it can be a lonely road to the top, the model-slash-singer-slash graphic artist is determined to show America what we've been missing. Yesterday, VV gave "World Of Jenks" fans a little taste of her talent, and we gotta tell ya: Girl's givin' Amy Winehouse a run for her money.

In fact, it may seem like VV's got it all figured out already. At 27 years old, the 5-foot-11-inch beauty (she just landed a Marks & Spencer campaign, FYI) writes all her own songs and plays more instruments than a high school marching band. Still, as we saw last night, having legions of fans at home doesn't always translate into crossover success (despite what Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen and Duffy might tell you). Which is why VV's thrown herself into overdrive, spending all her time practicing, promoting and perfecting her music, and leaving behind friends, family and local stardom--with no guarantee of a big return.

So does VV Brown have what it takes to lead the next British Invasion? We asked, you answered and nearly 70% of you predicted she'll be lighting up the U.S. charts in no time! Check out this rising star in action by watching her video, "Shark in the Water" (psst, you might've already heard it on "The City"!), plus keep your eyes peeled for her 2011 North American tour dates, hear what she really thought about Jenks and listen to her debut album, Travelling Like the Light, on Rhapsody.com!

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Tags Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, Music, Soundtrack Spotlight, Video, VV Brown

Photo: Chic & Artistic

Some girls spend a lifetime planning their dream wedding. Fortunately for Dave, Michelle wasn't one of them. Within 72 hours of meeting his bride-to-be, "The Buried Life"-er walked out of a Vegas wedding chapel with a smile on his face -- and a legally binding marriage license in his hand. It may not have been a deeply meaningful courtship, but we'd still like to offer the happy couple our heartfelt congratulations. Cheers to the newlyweds! You deserve an "A" for spontaneity -- and two thumbs up for your superb taste in Brit electro-pop music.

In between biting our nails (and wondering "will they or won't they?") during last night's "Buried Life," we couldn't help but appreciate the strains of Dan Black's patented 'wonky pop' seeping through our television screen. Trippy, surreal, hypnotic and bizarre, Black's got a knack for mashing up the unmashable -- borrowing beats from hip-hop, pop and electronica, and revolutionizing them with his high-pitched, genre-bending vocals (think Robin Thicke meets Smashing Pumpkins, with a pinch of Beck). So what's the wily Brit doing with four tracks on Dave's wedding soundtrack? Yeah, we don't know, either. (But as far as first dance songs go, we'll take Black's slick, trance beats over "Wind Beneath My Wings" any day of the week.)

The good news? You don't need to get married in Vegas to enjoy the musical stylings of Mr. Black. Although the London-born, Paris-based music artist (and former painter!) is still best known for his feud with the Notorious B.I.G. -- the rapper's estate balked at "HYPNTZ," his edgy 2008 cover of "Hypnotize" -- Black's debut album, UN, helped propel him into the mainstream. Natch, he's way more famous overseas (Black's song, "U + Me =" became a UK iTunes sensation and his single, "Pump My Pumps," was tapped for Lacoste's European campaign), but his inventive style (and all-around awesomeness) are already earning him a fanbase here in America. In addition to lighting up the "TBL" soundtrack (he's had six tracks so far this season), Black earned two 2010 VMAs nods for his video, "Symphonies" (check out the Kid Cudi remix!) and is currently wrapping up his North American tour.

So be like Dave and embrace the unknown by marrying a complete stranger watching the music video for Dan Black's dance track, "Alone," then peep two versions of his (one-time Biggie-inspired) single "Symphonies" after the jump.

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Tags Beck, Dan Black, Kid Cudi, Music, Notorious B.I.G., Robin Thicke, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundtrack Spotlight, The Buried Life's Dave, The Buried Life's Michelle, Video

Every week on "World of Jenks," we step out of our comfort zones and spend the night in someone else's shoes. Thanks to Andrew (and his omnipresent camera crew), we've gotten a fly-on-the-wall look at everything from autism to activism, and a newfound respect for that which we don't understand. And since this is a show about opening our eyes and pushing past our boundaries, it's only fitting that the soundtrack would force us to stop, listen and question everything we thought we knew about music.

Case in point, U.K. imports Mumford & Sons. Sure, they call themselves folk rockers (y'know, like Simon & Garfunkel), but these guys are nothing like the old timers gathering dust in your parents' vinyl collection. For starters, they're young (i.e., early to mid-20s), they like to dress up (think Fall Out Boy, only British), and, most refreshing of all, they've all got serious talent. Soundwise, they remind us of Dispatch--a freshman year rite of passage--but with more of a bluegrass flavor (and none of that nasty, behind-the-scenes breakup biz). Plus, unlike some overly auto-tuned pop stars we know, all four band members can sing AND play an instrument, and they'd sooner die than be caught lip-synching on "SNL."

Even better? While they're not doing this for the fame (they just like making awesome music, OK??), it looks as though Mumford & Sons are starting to get some well-earned recognition. Their catchy, acoustic-heavy single, "Little Lion Man," (off their 2009 debut EP, Sigh No More), is currently No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative Song Chart (though you might remember it from the "WOJ" promos), and they've had tracks on "Grey's Anatomy" (love) and "Lone Star" (R.I.P).

So forget what you think you know about folk music and give these guys a shot by checking out their official website and watching the "Little Lion Man" music video below. Oh, and don't blame us if Mumford & Sons make you a convert. (For the record, we've heard Simon & Garfunkel and, well, your parents might be on to something.)

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Tags Dispatch, Fall Out Boy, Grey's Anatomy, Lone Star, Mumford & Sons, Music, Saturday Night Live, Simon & Garfunkel, Soundtrack Spotlight, Video

What a long, strange two-and-a-half decades of music-making it's been! From the grunge rock-inspired flannel shirt movement to the popularization of gangsta rap, we've seen everything from Bret Michaels to the Backstreet Boys to the Black Eyed Peas. And in honor of MTV's Top Pop Group kicking off next week (September 11th, 9pm!) we've decided to take you on a short but semi-educational stroll down pop culture memory lane.

First there was the early-mid 80's, characterized by awkward techno-infused pop (think Devo's "Whip It" and Soft Cell's "Tainted Love"), linebacker-esque shoulder pads and Madonna in her pre-Kabbalah/I-heart-conical-bras phase.

Then it's onto the late 80's, a decade marked by hair bands (like Journey and Motley Crue) surgically enhanced one-gloved wonders (hint, hint, Michael Jackson), and the emergence of the compact disc, (or "CD").

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Related Content Top Pop Group

Tags Music

With MTV's Top Pop Group kicking off in less than two weeks, we figured it was time to round up a list of our all-time favorite pop princes and princesses. So here, in no particular order, is a list of the six musical acts who once had us shelling out our hard-earned allowances for a newfangled technological marvel commonly known as the "CD."

New Kids on the Block - These guys were the first -- and, some say, the best -- boy band racket in town. They had it all: the moves, the girls and, of course, the over-the-top merchandising (NKOTB lunch boxes, action figures and onesie pajamas? Seriously??) Yeah, we're gonna ignore their unsolicited comeback and focus on the happier times instead. As in, the days when Donnie Wahlberg was actually considered "the famous one."

Backstreet Boys - Remember when Paris Hilton had her heart broken by Nick Carter? Neither do we! But it, like, totally happened. That said, we'll best remember the Backstreet Boys for embodying all the classic b-band characteristics: the matching outfits, the cheesy choreography, and the requisite "edgy" one (who wore weird hats and had crazy highlights and appeared to the pseudo-rebellious mainstream teenybopper).

The Spice Girls - Before she was the lovely/robotic Victoria Beckham, you knew her as Posh Spice, the girl best known for never smiling, wearing ridiculous clothes and mugging for the camera. (Apparently, some things never change). And despite embracing "girl power," you never did figure out what the hell "Wannabe" was really about. Although you did (eventually) stop coveting Scary Spice's abs...around the same time you found out she got knocked up by professional babymaker Eddie Murphy.

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Related Content Top Pop Group

Tags 'NSync, Ace of Base, Boyz II Men, Lists, Music, New Kids on the Block, The Backstreet Boys, The Spice Girls

Breaking: Heidi Montag has stepped into a time machine and accidentally come back as Cyndi Lauper, circa 1985! Either that or an American Apparel store (tragically) exploded on The Hills star. How else to explain why the normally fashion-forward pop singer is suddenly rocking a skintight leotard, neon tights and dangerously crimped hair?

Well, turns out Heidi didn't whip out the flux capacitor after all -- she's just getting into character for her new 80's-inspired video, "Overdosin.'" And since we know you want to see what Heidi looks like in her lucky legwarmers -- and a shiny Olivia Newton John onesie -- we suggest you tune in today at 1pm, when the future Mrs. Pratt premieres the vid on her website, HeidiMontag.com.

Meanwhile, have a listen to her controversial new song (Kidding! She's "overdosin'" on love, people!) and then check back this afternoon and tell us what you think of Heidi's new music vid.

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Tags Heidi Montag, Music

• Heidi and Spencer are angling for a primetime TV wedding. (NYDN)

• Meanwhile, if you liked "Fashion," you'll love Heidi's new single! (Best Week Ever)

• A behind-the-scenes look at Audrina's pre-premiere primping ritual. (Audrina's blog)

• Guess which Hills star might be adopting a third-world orphan! (E! Online)

• Lo is belatedly pissed at Audrina for calling her "super bitchy" three months ago, or whenever last night's episode was actually filmed. (Usmagazine.com)

• Of course, maybe that's because she's sick of being portrayed as the villain. (LA Times)

• If Lauren ever decides she's done with The Hills, Heidi and Spencer are ready to take over full headlining responsibilities. (People)

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Tags Audrina Patridge, Heidi Montag, Lauren Conrad, LC, Lo Bosworth, Music, Reality Check, Spencer Pratt

Remember that episode of Real World: Hollywood when Will told Bri that she needed to ditch the tongue ring in order to jump-start her singing career? Well, it turns out, he was wrong. Ever since she collaborated with Alex from The Calling, Brianna's music has been on the up and up. We saw her light up the stage at Canal Room last month, and now the reality star-turned-chart topper has gone and scored herself a top twenty iTunes hit. (Tongue ring and all).

Anyways, check out the video to "Summertime" here -- and if the track sounds familiar, that's probably cause you already saw her laying it down on this season's Real World.

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Tags Bri, Brianna, Music, Video