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The National’s ‘MTV Live’ Set Debuts Monday — Watch A Sneak Peek Now!

Band’s Webster Hall concert will premiere on MTV.com on Monday. By James Montgomery The National’s Matt Berninger Photo: Scott Gries/MTV They are, unquestionably, one of the best bands in New York City (if not all of the world), so earlier this month, when the National took their impressive stage show over to NYC’s Webster Hall for a surprise gig, MTV had to have its cameras there. The end result was, much like all National sets, a compelling, cathartic bust of high-collar angst, and on Monday, you can see for yourself, when “MTV Live: The National” premieres on MTV.com. Shot on five cameras, the set features the band tearing through material from their last two albums, 2007’s Boxer and last year’s High Violet, and five of those songs — “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “Afraid of Everyone,” “Conversation 16,” “Fake Empire” and “Terrible Love” — are featured on “MTV Live.” “We’re not that concerned with reproducing the record version of a song live. … Just playing onstage in front of people in a room changes the way a song feels, changes the way we perform it,” frontman Matt Berninger said before the taping. “The adrenaline kicks in, so I think live we are more reckless and ramshackle and probably louder and faster.” And he wasn’t kidding. The National’s set was plenty loud (and plenty fast), and fans can watch the entire thing build to a boil — and subsequently bubble over when Berninger threw himself into the spastic audience during “Terrible Love” — starting Monday, with the premiere of “MTV Live: The National” on MTV.com. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Related Artists The National

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The National’s ‘MTV Live’ Set Debuts Monday — Watch A Sneak Peek Now!

Kim Sozzi Ready To Release Self-Titled Second Album

Dance hitmaker calls ‘Little Bird’ Annie Lennox cover ‘a standout track.’ By Adam Stewart Kim Sozzi Photo: MTV News She’s an original Jersey Shore girl. She didn’t need to GTL or puff-her-poof before taking the stage at the legendary D’Jais nightclub in Belmar, New Jersey. All she needed was great music and her loyal fans. Kim Sozzi has always seemed to have a knack for that true Jersey Shore vibe. Growing up in Long Island, New York, and getting her start in the club scene, Sozzi is one of dance music’s most-iconic vocalists. Through various projects, labels and collaborations, she has maintained her position as one of underground dance music’s most-sought-after hitmakers, and after two years, is set to release her second studio album, the self-titled Kim Sozzi . While no official release date has been set, Sozzi assured MTV News that the album is complete and ready to go. “It’s totally different from my dance [music] and my previous singles,” Sozzi said. “I wanted to do something a little more mainstream. Hopefully my dance fans are going to follow me over, but if not, I have plenty of classic Kim Sozzi songs on the album.” After releasing “Rated R,” the album’s first single, back in December, Sozzi is gearing up to release the second track, “Little Bird,” a cover of the Annie Lennox classic. “I love, love, love this record. It came out great,” Sozzi gushed. “The guys from Beatport actually did the production. They did a killer job. This is definitely going to be a standout track on the album … It’s totally a song for the fans.” Produced by former Beatport staffers Brad Roulier and Shawn Sabo, known as Manufactured Superstars, “Little Bird” shows Sozzi at her best. With her distinctly sexy swagger and stunningly soulful vocal prowess accompanied by clean and crisp production from the Denver duo, this little birdie seems geared to fly up the charts. Sozzi has been a magnet for producers since she burst onto the scene back in 2001 with the epic Sound Factory NYC anthem “Feelin’ Me,” produced by Hex Hector and Jonathan Peters. She was launched almost instantly on a path to chart success, becoming a go-to for dance producers and topping the Billboard dance chart several times. In 2004, she joined the production quintet Mynt, which pumped out classic dance smashes such as “How Did You Know?” “Stay” and “Still Not Sorry.” To the dismay of their fans, the group split up in 2006 amid what many speculated were creative differences. “It’s tough because when you’re working with producers, it’s a double-edged sword,” Sozzi explained. “It’s great because you have these built-in people working around the clock and playing and producing, but then you also have everyone wanting to be the star, so it’s definitely a bit tricky. “But luckily, since parting ways, we are all friends again, which is nice, but I always wanted to be a solo artist, so I’m happy we did it amicably. It sounds like a divorce, but it kind of was.” Rich “DJ Riddler” Pangilinan , a well-known DJ/producer and former Mynt member, shared a similar sentiment regarding the split, saying he’s also glad the past is behind them. “It’s no secret that there were some differences in opinions on that project and some feelings were hurt on both sides,” he said. “It took some time to mend those fences, however, we were friends before that project, and we stayed friends after. “If there was one thing that I regret about that project it is that we never really got to do another album. I think that with what we both know now, we could come up with something very special.” Whether or not a Mynt reunion would ever be in the cards, Sozzi is keeping her eyes and ears open, always seeking to make moves and pair up with the hottest names in dance music. “I would love to work with deadmau5, David Guetta. I’m a big fan of Kaskade; I’ve been trying actually to get Ryan to work on one of my tracks. There’s so many great people doing great music and great tracks that I would like to work with.” Are you awaiting the release of Kim Sozzi’s next album? Tell us below!

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Adele Says 21 Has People Thinking ‘I’m Sort Of A Manic-Depressive’

But the British sensation, whose album hits stores in the U.S. on Tuesday, says she just writes somber songs. By James Montgomery Adele’s 21 Photo: Columbia Records Adele is sitting 29 floors above Times Square, eyes tilted toward the ceiling as a makeup artist dabs away, lamenting her early morning (she performed Friday, February 18, on the “Today” show) and laughing that her handlers are trying to kill her. “I’m not allowed any caffeine, because it dehydrates the throat, and I had laryngitis about a month and a half ago, so I’ve had to cut all these things out to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she smiles, turning her head toward her publicist. “So I had to get up at 10 to 4, go over to the [‘Today’] studio, and while everyone else was drinking their delicious black coffee, everyone was doing Starbucks runs, and I was asking for hot water. It was so boring.” And it’s a bit of a shame that Adele, now 22 and two years removed from her upset wins at the 51st Grammy Awards , is being denied coffee, because she certainly needs it. On Tuesday, she’ll release her sophomore album, the jaw-dropping 21 (so named because it reflected her very tumultuous 21st year on earth) here in the States. Thanks to a tidal wave of critical acclaim — and stirring singles like “Rolling in the Deep” — she has already been tipped as the year’s can’t-miss act. She recently filmed an episode of VH1’s “Unplugged,” and in May, she’ll launch a full-blown tour of the U.S. But for right now, she’s enjoying the moment (even without caffeine), delighting in the reviews she’s gotten here in the U.S. (“In the States, even a bad review is like a five-star U.K. review,” she laughs) and trying very hard not to believe the hype — which, if you know anything about her, is a lot easier than you might think. “I think people think I’m, like, sort of a manic-depressive. I think they think I’m very somber and very moody and take myself very seriously, but I think that’s just because [of] the kind of records I write,” she says. “But also, like, everyone is a bit moody and somber sometimes, just that I write about mine, so therefore it’s magnified. I’m no more depressed than any other 21-, 22 year-old-girl when someone leaves them, you know?” And it should be noted that she has absolutely no problem discussing that depression, which came at the end of a relationship with a man “who meant everything to her” and influenced just about every aspect of 21, from kiss-offs like “Deep” and “Rumour Has It” to heartbreaking album-closer “Someone Like You.” “Well, I wrote that song because I was exhausted from being such a bitch, with ‘Rolling in the Deep’ or ‘Rumor Has It,’ ” she laughs. “I was really emotionally drained from the way I was portraying him, because even though I’m very bitter and regret some parts of it, he’s still the most important person that’s ever been in my life, and ‘Someone Like You,’ I had to write it to feel OK with myself and OK with the two years I spent with him. And when I did it, I felt so freed.” Empowered by that freedom, she was able to return to her (relatively) normal life, one that, despite the accolades and the chart-topping success back home in the U.K. (and most of Europe), she says isn’t all that different from any other 22-year-old’s existence, despite what you might have gathered from her music. “Whenever I meet anyone, whether it’s someone I’m working with or a fan or something, they can never link me with the person they think I am,” she says. “But I like that. I’m 22, I’m sarcastic, very boisterous and cheeky. I like to have a bit of a joke.” Are you looking forward to Adele’s new album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Adele

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Adele Says 21 Has People Thinking ‘I’m Sort Of A Manic-Depressive’

Britney Spears’ ‘Hold It Against Me’ Video: Fans Weigh In!

MTV News captures all the excitement around the premiere of Britney’s ‘HIAM’ clip. By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Vaughn Schoonmaker Britney Spears in her “Hold It Against Me” music video Photo: Jive As soon as Britney Spears’ music video for “Hold It Against Me” debuted on Thursday night, fans’ reactions were fast and immediate. Readers quickly began commenting on the stories posted on MTV.com, and MTV News even stopped by the New York City nightclub Splash to get find out the opinions of fans who were attending the club’s official viewing party. Clubgoers, some in their best Britney gear, gathered in the packed nightclub to get the first taste of the sleek, dark Jonas

Arcade Fire’s Album Of The Year Grammy Stuns Publicist

Merge Records’ Christina Rentz recalls her awards-show experience. By James Montgomery Arcade Fire at the 2011 Grammy Awards Photo: Getty Images As the week draws to a close, many still can’t believe Arcade Fire managed to trump Eminem and Lady Gaga to win Album of the Year at Sunday’s Grammy Awards . And if you’re one of those who are still coming to grips with the upset, well, you’re not alone. Turns out, even the band’s publicist can’t believe it. In fact, on Grammy night, she had made peace with the fact that Arcade Fire seemed destined to go home empty-handed. In a new Billboard.biz story, Merge Records’ publicist Christina Rentz writes that, after watching her band go 0-for-2 during the Grammy’s pre-telecast awards (they lost both Best Alternative Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals to the Black Keys), she was resigned to the belief that the band would lose Album of the Year, too. In fact, she thought Eminem had it sewn up. “The production value was amazing, and it was incredibly exciting to be in the room. When Eminem came onstage and blew the roof off the place, I thought we were sunk for sure,” Rentz wrote. “But Jamie [Beck, Merge’s retail director] had been saying all weekend that we were going to win. She gave me very good reasons why, but I still didn’t think it was possible. As the night wore on, she persisted in her certainty, but it wasn’t until Eminem won Best Rap Album that I felt the familiar sweaty palms again.” When Album of the Year was announced, her feelings of nervousness quickly changed to jubilation — much to the consternation of those seated around her. “Barbra [Streisand] announced the Album of the Year: ‘And the Grammy goes to … The S-S-S-S-Suburbs ? We began screaming and jumping as our section emptied out with people muttering under their breath, ‘Who is Arcade Fire?’ ” she wrote. “The band accepted the award then immediately set up for their second song, with Win [Butler, the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter] putting his Grammy on top of an amp so he could pick up his guitar … my favorite moment of the evening! “They could not stop smiling and neither could we. Together, we had accomplished something pretty incredible and hopefully inspired musicians everywhere not to compromise when it is important.” And afterwards, having bested Eminem for the night’s biggest award, Rentz and Beck did what any newly minted Grammy winner would do: They partied hard. In their own way, of course. “We then phoned our label manager Stacy ‘Spott’ Philpott and said, ‘Holy crap, what do we do now?’ ” she wrote. “I still don’t fully know the answer, but at the time, it seemed like the best thing we could do was to get in our red Mustang, throw the top down, drive to the after-party to hug our friends in Arcade Fire, high-five their manager Scott Rodger and then get back to work on Tuesday, the release date for two new albums from Telekinesis and East River Pipe.” Were you surprised by Arcade Fire’s win? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos The 2011 Grammy Awards Show Related Artists Arcade Fire

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Paramore Plan To Release New Music This Summer

Hayley Williams says band will hit the studio after wrapping South American tour in March. By James Montgomery Paramore’s Hayley Williams Photo: MTV News Paramore just launched their much-discussed run of South American shows (their first gigs since the departure of Josh and Zac Farro in December) and now, it seems they’re getting to something else they spent a whole lot of time talking about since the Farros split: making new music. In a new interview with AOL Music , frontwoman Hayley Williams said she and her remaining Paramore mates were already making studio plans and are “hoping to record a batch of songs to release over the summer.” That announcement echoed sentiments she expressed to MTV News in December, when Williams made it clear that not only were they already writing new tunes , but that they would “definitely” be releasing some of them in 2011. And the last time we checked, “the summer” was definitely part of 2011. Williams also identified one track, “In the Mourning” — a demo of which she posted on her blog in January — as a song Paramore are focused on finishing and releasing, plus a handful of other new tracks too. Those songs would precede a brand-new album, which the band is also making plans to begin work on. “We definitely do want to release [‘In the Mourning’],” she said, “And some other ones before we put out a record.” Paramore wrap their run of shows — which feature guitarist Taylor York’s brother Justin and drummer-to-the-stars Josh Freese filling in for the Farros — in early March, but there’s no word on where (or when) they plan on to record the new songs, or how they’ll release them. A spokesperson for the band’s labels, Atlantic/ Fueled By Ramen, could not be reached for comment about Paramore’s plans by press time. Are you excited to hear new music from Paramore this summer? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Paramore: The Complete Interview Related Photos Behind The Scenes With Paramore Related Artists Paramore

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Britney Spears’ Manager Teases Her Next Single

‘It is a monster,’ Larry Rudolph tells MTV News about ‘Hold It Against Me’ follow-up. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Photo: Jive With a little more than a month to go before the March 29 release of Britney Spears ‘ Femme Fatale, we spoke to her longtime manager, Larry Rudolph, on the same night her eagerly anticipated “Hold It Against Me” video premiered . Rudolph revealed to MTV News during our “HIAM” live stream on Thursday night that fans will likely hear another new song before the album — executive-produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke — comes out. “We have a second song that I think we’re gonna end up putting out before the album drops,” he teased. “I can’t say with 100 percent certainty, but I think we probably will. But we’re talking about it now and it is a monster. It really is.” Rudolph has been by Brit’s side since the beginning of her career, and he predicted that if fans love “HIAM,” then they’re in for a real treat with the next song. “I don’t think I’ve been this excited about releasing a Britney single in many, many years,” he added. “It’s that good. That’s all I’m gonna say about it at the moment. I haven’t heard a final mix of it, but I should get it in the next day or two. So far, what I’ve heard is just extraordinary. It really is amazing. Her fans will be very happy with it. I’m trying hard to get it out before the album comes out.” Spears teased some upcoming promotional plans for the album last week during a Twitter Q&A . “I’m doing a lot of promo,” she said. “There will be some major announcements in the next few days.” She added, “I’m thinking about the tour right now and I would [love] to visit a lot of places I didn’t get to go to on my last tour.” What did you think of Britney’s “HIAM” video? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos MTV First: Britney Spears’ ‘Hold It Against Me’ Premiere Related Photos Britney Spears’ ‘Hold It Against Me’ Pop-Culture References The Sexiest Moment From Every Britney Spears Video Related Artists Britney Spears

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Britney Spears’ Manager Teases Her Next Single

Radiohead’s The King Of Limbs: A Minor Masterwork

Band releases their darkly atmospheric eighth studio album Friday, a day ahead of schedule. By James Montgomery Radiohead’s Thom Yorke Photo: John Shearer/ Getty Images Radiohead’s last album, 2007’s In Rainbows , was a very major affair. From its pay-as-you-wish, set-the-industry-ablaze rush release to its scattershot sonics — all clicky drum tracks and doomy guitars and keening electronics — it was exactly the kind of thing you’d expect from arguably the best (and certainly the most mercurial) band on the planet. It was an event. Their new album, The King of Limbs , which was announced Monday and then showed up unexpectedly in fans’ in-boxes on Friday (February 18) morning — one day ahead of schedule — is, by comparison, a decidedly minor effort. It was not preceded by a single “Death of the Music Industry” think piece , instead, it just sort of came out early, for reasons that, at the time of this writing, have yet to really be explained. (A press release states simply, “With everything ready on their Web site, the band decided to bring forward the release, rather than wait.” Oh, OK then.) Even a planned stunt set to take place in Tokyo’s Hachiko Square was scrapped at the last minute, due to security fears. And perhaps all of that is fitting, especially when you consider that sonically, Limbs is assuredly the most minor thing Radiohead have ever done, a dour, insular, downright atmospheric thing that, from the skittering, jazzy fractals of opening track “Bloom” to the slowly decaying guitars and pitter-pat drums of closer “Separator,” works very hard at creating a mood … one that is part amniotic, part pastoral, yet all washed over in a gauzy, dreamlike haze. It is not an immediately gratifying listen, and it most certainly does not rock. Rather, it reveals itself to you gradually, in layers, at it’s own deliberate pace. Like the early parts of Kid A, Limbs makes a conscious decision to bury the guitar work of Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien deep in the mix, slowly building steam instead on a pastiche of wavy electronic pulses, the clicking drum work of Phil Selway and the ominous bass playing of Colin Greenwood (especially on “Morning Mr. Magpie” and the roiling, dank “Little by Little”). The thing is, those guitars never really show up — to the best of my knowledge, there’s not a single solo on the whole album — or when they do, they’re of the ringing acoustic type (the genuinely pretty “Give Up the Ghost”). Instead, large portions of the record are dedicated to crystalline, echoing tracks like “Feral” and “Lotus Flower,” which, when coupled with Thom Yorke’s still-lithe (though heavily coated) voice, create the effect of standing alone in a forest clearing at midnight as the fog begins to roll in. And in a lot of ways, I suspect that’s probably exactly what Radiohead were going for on The King of Limbs, which takes its name (in part at least) from the oldest tree in Europe , a knotty, slightly terrifying thing deep in England’s Savernake Forest. From the snippets of recorded birdsong that show up repeatedly (and provide the backbone to “Give Up the Ghost”) to the mossy, wet atmospherics that drip off nearly every song, it is about as close as Radiohead will ever come to releasing genuine field recordings. There is a damp musk to the album, a foreboding sense of inevitability. Like being lost in a dense forest, the light slowly fading, the path becoming increasingly choked. It is a claustrophobia that previously only existed in nature, a kind that is becoming rarer and rarer as we humans carry our ugly sprawl to each corner of the globe. And that idea is just as terrifying as being stranded in a forest — if not more so. Which is why, though it’s a minor album, The King of Limbs is still a major accomplishment — evoking emotions that powerful and primal isn’t exactly easy to do. Related Artists Radiohead

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Eminem’s Shoots ‘Space Bound’ Video With Porn Star Sasha Grey

Em’s upcoming Joseph Khan-directed clip will feature the adult actress/ ‘Entourage’ star as the rapper’s love interest. By Jayson Rodriguez Eminem on the set of his “Space Bound” music video Photo: Eric Ford / On Location News Eminem is no Vincent Chase, but the rapper — sans entourage, save for a security team — recently shot a video for “Space Bound” that co-stars porn actress-turned-thespian Sasha Grey . The latest clip for a track from the Detroit MC’s his Grammy-winning comeback album, Recovery , was directed by Joseph Khan and was shot over three days in Los Angeles. Photos from Eminem’s “Space Bound” video shoot. “Space Bound” follows the Khan-helmed “Love the Way You Lie” video, and like that Rihanna-assisted visual, this one also features an intense love storyline. Em and Grey — who appeared on HBO’s “Entourage” last season as the love interest of lead character Chase (portrayed by Adam Grenier) — play a pair of star-crossed lovers, which relates to the lyrics of the Jim Jonsin-produced song. “We touch, I feel a rush,” Em raps on the track. “We clutch, it isn’t much/ But it’s enough to make me wonder what’s in store for us/ It’s lust/ It’s torturous/ You must be a sorceress/ ‘Cause you just did the impossible/ Gained my trust/ Don’t play games, it’ll be dangerous/ If you f— me over/ ‘Cause if I get burnt/ I’ma show ya what it’s like to hurt/ ‘Cause I’ve been treated like dirt before ya/ And love is ‘evol,’ spell it backwards, I’ll show ya.” Jonsin, who also has produced songs by Beyonc

Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ Is Fastest-Selling Single In iTunes History

Song has sold more than 1 million downloads in five days. By Gil Kaufman Lady Gaga Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Lady Gaga is starting to make this look too easy. Every time Mother Monster releases a new single or video, she smashes some kind of previous record. Apple’s iTunes announced on Friday (February 18) that Gaga’s “Born This Way” is now officially the fastest-selling single in the history of the iTunes store. And while Apple has historically declined to give out any sales figures for iTunes, it broke with protocol in a statement announcing the record, saying that “Born This Way” has hit #1 in all 23 countries with iTunes stories and sold more than 1 million tracks in just five days. The feat tops a stellar week for Gaga, which included the single shooting straight to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while becoming the 1,000th song to lead the list in its 52 year history. “It is a tremendous honor,” Gaga told the magazine about reaching the chart milestone. “To be the 1000th no. 1 on Billboard … I would be silly not to say this is the greatest honor of my career. … I am so humbled and so honored and overwhelmed by the reception to ‘Born This Way.’ [It] has been so life-changing for me as an artist, and between Billboard and the international number ones and the radio numbers. … I couldn’t be more blessed to have the fans that I have.” The first single from Gaga’s upcoming album of the same name, due out on May 23, has also opened in a major way at radio, rushing onto the Billboard Radio Songs airplay chart at #6 with a first week audience of more than 78 million, giving Gaga the highest opening for a song since the chart began incorporating all radio formats in 1998. Related Photos Lady Gaga’s Grammy Night Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ Is Fastest-Selling Single In iTunes History