ABOVE: Is this Gossip Girl starlet the next Courtney Love, or just another Avril Lavigne?
In a recent photo, Gossip Girl star/aspiring musician Taylor Momsen looks strikingly similar to musician/actress Courtney Love.
Of course, being 16 and resembling a fairly haggard 45 year old might not be a compliment.
At any rate, the teen star is attempting to branch out by shifting away from the world of shallow teen TV drama and into the world, of, well, slightly-less-shallow pop-rock.
In fairness, Momsen and her band, the Pretty Reckless, are light years ahead of most of the other celebri-teen albums by dance-pop nightmares like Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens (anyone seen the commercials for Bandslam? Ugh) and Brooke Hogan–not to mention GG co-star/Cobra Starship collaborator Leighton Meester.
Momsen is offering a free pair of tracks online: “Zombie” (Better than the Cranberries track, but not as cool as the King Khan & BBQ song of the same name) and “He Loves You.”
LISTEN: The Pretty Reckless
MORE Girl Talk:
GOSSIP: Miley Cyrus Stalker: We’re Secretly Engaged
GIRLS ROCK: Free NYC Concert-Blondie, Pat Benatar, the Donnas
SINGLE AGAIN: Jonas, Girlfriend Break Up. Fans Cheer?
FASHION: Katy Perry VS Green Day
Ryan M says...
08.19.09 1:54 pm
WHAT are you talking about, “just another Avril Lavigne?”
Avril has CLEARLY proven her staying power, as she has an insanely large fanbase still to this day.
You are the epitome of ridiculous attempts at pop culture journalism.
Karen added...
One of those singers is a music industry puppet singing song written by committee.
The other is a (nutty) rock star.
There’s a difference.
08.19.09 1:58 pm
Ryan M says...
08.19.09 3:31 pm
Go ahead and research every song Avril has performed, and let me know how many she has written versus how many have been written for her. Once you actually do your research, you will find that she has undoubtedly written songs on her own, as well as collaborated with other writers on many. That is not to say that every single song has been touched by her, but she has had mounds more input with her music than you give her credit for.
I’ll give you a head start since you clearly have no idea: Nearly her entire soon to be released fourth album has been written primarily by her.
Some journalists form articles based on fact of the matter.
Some journalists form articles based on personal opinion.
Sadly, you are the latter.
Kar says...
08.19.09 8:13 pm
Taylor Momsen of the band “The Pretty Reckless”, has claimed to love Avril Lavigne and her music, so to say she is not inspired by Avril would be a mistake. Avril’s first two albums have many in depth songs, that don’t get radio play, but anyone listening to them can tell Avril is not you typical shallow pop rock star.
Kara says...
08.19.09 10:59 pm
The problem with the assumption of “record industry puppet” with Avril is proof, who is this “record industry person” are you talking about former manager terry mcbride from nettwerk? the same manager behind other manufactured artists like coldplay, sarah mcglauglin? it’s not his job to tell artists how to sound or look, it’s up to them.
Courtney love has worked with some of the a committee of producers as well like once in producer micheal bemborn (soundgarden) check out the credits on holes “celebrity skin” true the lyrics are courtney’s but the music is handled by a committee ex. “reasons to be beautiful” 5 people are credited with writing love, erlandson, auf der maur, zadorozny and caffey. On Avril’s “nobody’s home” Avril wrote lyrics, ben moody music not unlike courtney former band hole. Speaking of ben moody, years ago he talked about perceptions of Avril of being a “music industry puppet” saying he didn’t understand why people had that perception as she was a real songwriter who wrote “catchy pop hooks”.
If Avril was a puppet, do you think they would go “you should say motherf—– in your song it’ll get played on top 40 radio if you did”? or you should slouch during interviews because it’ll make you look representable? or “you should do a pop dance song with pink streaks, because it’ll earn browny points with critics”? She’s constantly changing in terms of style and taste.
Kara says...
08.19.09 11:20 pm
Btw bandslam has gotten fantastic reviews on “at the movies” it got two “see it’s” saying it was nothing like high school music and that the highschool characters were real people not stereotypes ie. dumb jock etc. The reason I bring this up is about the whole idea of perception.
I’ll add one more point, I understand your next “Avril lavigne” in terms of knockoffs ie. kelly clarkson, ashlee simpson, fefe dobson, lillix, skye sweetnam, demi lavato, miley cyrus, katy perry etc. in that it may/may not be coming from a pure place in terms of a quick way to make a buck, but they too should be dealt on a case by case base not just “all pop rocks are the same” motiff.
sam says...
08.20.09 1:00 am
f— you……..
sam says...
08.20.09 1:04 am
sorry
avril is good girl
she is pretty and lovely
but I want f— hers……..
Top NYC Concerts 9/18-9/20: Punky Girls and Noisy Boys | Music Vixen Blog says...
09.18.09 2:52 pm
[...] hand at a solo career. Her youthful punkiness made her the perfect pick for a recent appearance on Gossip Girl that paired her with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore for a cover of a Ramones classic. She’s fun, [...]