Fronted by Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen, NYC’s The Pretty Reckless combines killer lyrics with seriously spirited guitar riffs on the debut album, "Light Me Up." Momsen’s voice is a perfect accompaniment to the band’s solid alt-rock sound – adding a feminine and yet dangerous edge to the music. Momsen, who is just 18, wrote all the songs on the album, with the band’s lead guitarist, Ben Phillips. Their breakout hit, "Make Me Wanna Die" caught the attention of hard-rock loyalists everywhere, while the ballad "You" (see its rather sensual official video here) took care of the layer of fans more interested in sentimental values. Their second EP, "Hit Me Like a Man," is set to be released on March 6th and will feature three new songs and two live songs from their "Light Me Up" tour. – Jen Mergott
