This past Thursday, the West Coast was given a gift of epic proportions. The Veronicas, Australia’s superstar female twin pop duo, performed a one-night only exclusive event at The Viper Room in Los Angeles to showcase songs from their eagerly anticipated upcoming album.

Best known in the United States for their singles “Untouched” and “4Ever,” The Veronicas played to a sold out crowd of fans dying for a taste of the girls’ new material.

While I was unable to attend the show (due to a rude case of “I live in New York and can’t afford airfare”), watching fan videos posted online after the concert got me hyped for the new record in borderline unhealthy ways.

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DEMITRIA DEVONNE LOVATO, YOU TALENTED RASCACIELO.

Disney Queen (and soon to be full-fledged pop sensation if she keeps this shit up!) Demi Lovato took to the stage of the VH1 Do Somethin’ Awards this week to perform her smash hit single, “Skyscraper.” And do you know how she did?

IT WAS FUCKING AMAZING. THAT’S HOW SHE DID.

Though visibly nervous, the 18-year-old chanteuse completely and utterly slayed the first ever live performance of her newest single, hitting every single note while perfectly emoting with the same shaken-but-not-stirred conviction as the original studio recording. It was just absolutely fantastic!

And do you know what happens at the end, Muusers? DO YOU EVEN FUCKING KNOW WHAT SHE DOES?!

SHE RISES FROM THE GROUND LIKE A GOT. DAMN. SKYSCRAPER.

I mean…what more can you ask for? Really? Really. Brava, Demi…BRAVA!

“Skyscraper” was released on July 19. (iTunes)

Okay, so watching Lady Gaga waxing jazzy while playing “You & I” for her first 2011 VMA promos didn’t do much to get my rocks off, but her latest promo–which premiered during tonight’s Jersey Shore–is nothing short of hot, haute, hot!

Set to the tune of “Government Hooker” and “Heavy Metal Lover” (my two favorite tracks off of Born This Way, no less!), the clip finds the snarling vixen doing a bit of a mini-career retrospective at first: Going from button-up geek (Fame era Gaga with that lightning bolt!) to studded leather Born This Way chic after a brief seven seconds in Heaven (with Satan, I must assume).

From there on, Gaga gets her glam roaring full speed ahead in this unforgivably filthy romp filled with blood, fire and foot-high stilettos…oh, and a snatched weave in hand of course!

And just as with Brit Brit‘s phenomenal VMA promo, there appear to be some artistic comparisons drawn: Is that a clipping of pop art icon Andy Warhol laid on top of Miss Gagz? I think so! Ever the humble artiste, that one.

Me likey, me likey Mademoiselle Germanotta! I just wish there were an actual dirty pony getting hosed down, you know? Oh well. Can’t have everything…

OR CAN YOU.

The MTV VMAs will air this Sunday, August 28.

Garbage are coming back with power, power!

On Monday, the band tweeted a photo of the divine, flaw-free Miss Shirley Manson in a recording booth with the skin-tingling caption: “Three more weeks to go………”

But…three weeks what? Until a single? A tour announcement? An album release date?! Then, taking to Twitter, the band cleared up the confusion:

Hi everybody, just to be clear- we have about three more weeks of recording left to finish the album- then mixing, then mastering, etc..And we can’t wait for you to hear it! But it’s still going to take some time… We’ll tell you what’s going on right here…

Finishing the new album! Yes! Amazing!

Just minutes ago, the band-members decided to get sneaky again and upload a (slightly nauseating) 13-second spin ’round the studio set to the sound new music on their Facebook page, and from what we can hear in the sparse few seconds…it sounds fucking AMAZING.

Crashing drums, guitars and ruthlessly searing electronica–and we haven’t even heard Miss Manson’s vocals yet! Gagging.

Can’t they just release the full clip? I’m dying! I don’t know who’s behind Garbage’s Facebook page, but I say: PUSH IT. Make the beats go HARDER! In the meantime, let’s relish in this remembrance of what we’re waiting on below…

So amazing.

This is required listening: You can now stream ten tracks from Will Young‘s fifth studio album, Echoes, at his Facebook until Sunday.

I’ve just listened all the way through once and I’m already obsessed. Gorgeous disco beats, lush electronica…I can easily deem this a favorite of the year. Full album review to come upon release…

Echoes will be released on August 22 in the UK. (iTunes UK)

This is very good news!

Nicole Scherzingimmegimmegimmeamanaftermidnighter‘s second US single will be “Don’t Hold Your Breath,” the 100% MuuMuse Approved, 1# UK smash single from her forthcoming debut studio album, Killer Love.

From the official press release:

Global superstar Nicole Scherzinger debuted her video for new single, “Don’t Hold Your Breath,” this week to US fans. The track is now available for download and is the second single from the former Pussycat Dolls lead singer’s upcoming solo album Killer Love, set for a November release on Interscope Records.

“Don’t Hold Your Breath” is already a huge hit in the U.K. It debuted at the #1 spot on the UK National Chart, and also hit #1 on both the Combined Singles Chart and Digital Download Chart. The video, directed by Rich Lee (Black Eyed Peas, Eminem), has racked up more than 18 million views overseas.

No word yet on whether she’ll be actively promoting the single stateside she did with “Right There” or if this will remain a soft digital release, but let’s hope we get a few performances before US X Factor premieres this Fall.

EDIT: LOL J/K, she’s totes promoting it! The singer JUST appeared on Live With Regis and Kelly this morning to perform the track. WATCH HER PERFORMANCE RIGHT NOW!

“Don’t Hold Your Breath” is a major smash of a song that deserves some equally major recognition…let’s see some chart action, Scherzy Baby!

And let us never forget the legendary video, which taught us all a valuable lesson about plumbing and window installation.

“Don’t Hold Your Breath” was released on August 16. (iTunes)

NAVY!

Princess RiRi‘s got another certified smash on her hands: “Cheers (Drink to That),” the Avril-sampling sixth overall single off of Ri’s sensational fifth studio album Loud, has just leaped from #50 to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, as well as #18 on the Billboard Pop Songs. That’s another Top 40 hit for Rihanna–and she hasn’t even begun to promote the single yet!

As one of the album’s breeziest moments, “Cheers” is poised to be the perfect end-of-summer anthem. Plus, it’s got a great little self-empowerment message that’s all the rage with the kiddies (and Top 40 radio) these days: Life’s too short, so don’t let the BAHSTAHDS get you down!

In conclusion, a quick pop quiz: That Rihanna reign will let up…

A. Tomorrow
B. Next Week
C. Next Month
D. Next Year

Answer: NONE OF THE ABOVE BECAUSE IT JUST WON’T.

…and to no one’s surprise in particular, it is literally 100% perfect.

Biophilia will be released on September 26. The Biophilia App is now available. (iTunes)