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Welcome to Buzzworthy's "The Week In Pop," where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests, TV performances by your favorite pop stars and more (so you don't have to).
We've been talking and talking about our PUSH artist of the week, Alabama Shakes. On Tuesday you can hear what makes this group worthy of all the buzz when they release their debut album Boys & Girls. Also on Tuesday, M. Ward releases A Wasteland Companion. While it's M. Ward's seventh solo album, his other half on She & Him, Zooey Deschanel, makes an appearance. Gotye's internet-frenzied "Somebody That I Used To Know" brought him worldwide attention, though he's been making music and earning accolades for a decade. Gotye brings his jazzy, sample-loving compositions to "Saturday Night Live," and we end the week with a new reality series: "Wilson Phillips Still Holding On" premieres on Sunday.
Check out this week's album releases and television show music guests below.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
Tuesday, April 10
+ Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls: This rocking quartet blew me away during one of their shows at SXSW. From the gritty soulful singing-to-howls of frontwoman Brittany Howard, to the band, who deftly deliver bluesy, rollicking stomps, this young group crafted an impressive debut, and one that will likely make several "Best Of" 2012 lists.
+ Monica, New Life: It's an apt title for Monica's new effort, with songs like "It All Belongs To Me," which showcases her revisiting a past collaborator, Brandy, with a new song and new attitude. The 12-song release also features her collab with Wale, "Take a Chance."
+ M. Ward, A Wasteland Companion: There's a bittersweet undertow on his seventh solo album, with a look back lyrically and musically ("There's A Key," "Clean Slate"). Within the reflection, yearning and poignancy there's also some bounce, such as on "Primitive Girl" and "Sweetheart," a retro-romping duet with Zooey Deschanel, the She from their She & Him project.
Check out more new album releases and upcoming TV appearances and performances after the jump.
+ BASSNECTAR, Vava Voom: The DJ/producer takes us on a sonic genre-blending adventure through 11 chest-rattling, dance-commanding concoctions. The album opens with the title track, a sorta dubstep/hip-hop hybrid that features Lupe Fiasco. There's also "Pennywise Tribute" in the form of a remix, and the staccato rhythms of a ping-pong game percolates in the appropriately named "Ping Pong."
+ Florence + The Machine, MTV Unplugged: Recorded in the historic Angel Orensanz Center, the release was culled from Florence Welch's "MTV Unplugged." She traverses early work acoustically like "Dog Days Are Over" along with new material like "Only If For A Night." Josh Homme duets with her on their cover of Johnny Cash and June Carter's "Jackson." The deluxe version includes a DVD of the performance and three bonus tracks.
+ Dead Sara, Dead Sara: Though the foursome may be new, the sound on their debut album can hover in the classic rock realm, with singer Emily Armstrong's tough, metal-tinged style and the band's searing melodies and rhythms on "Weatherman." They're versatile, too, taking things into the sweeter/softer realm on "Dear Love."
+ NEWSIES, Original Broadway Cast Recording: With Disney's "Newsies" recently hitting Broadway, the original Broadway cast recording is available via iTunes; the physical release is May 15. In addition to songs in the original Newsies film, there are brand-new songs in the stage version and on this release.
TV SHOW APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES
Monday, April 9
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Kat Graham
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Tennis
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Esperanza Spalding
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- LL Cool J
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Pulp
"The View" -- Carly Rae Jepsen
"Live With Kelly" -- the latest "American Idol" voted off DeAndre Brackensick
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Cee Lo Green
"Smash" -- "Understudy"
"The Voice" -- Live Performance, Week 2
Tuesday, April 10
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Eric Turner featuring Lupe Fiasco and Tinie Tempah
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- White Rabbits
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Slash
"Conan" -- M. Ward
"Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Bonnie Raitt
"The Voice" -- Live eliminations, four go home
Wednesday, April 11
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Imagine Dragons
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Kaiser Chiefs
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Neon Trees
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- The Civil Wars
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- The Ting Tings
"The View" -- Trisha Yearwood
"Live With Kelly" -- Monica and Brandy
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Ellie Goulding
"American Idol" -- Seven finalists compete
Thursday, April 12
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Trisha Yearwood
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Alabama Shakes
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Feist
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- The Shins
"Daily Show" -- Esperanza Spalding
"Conan" -- Arctic Monkeys
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Karmin
"American Idol" -- One of seven voted off
Friday, April 13
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Taylor Momsen and the Pretty Reckless
"Late Show With David Letterman -- Bonnie Raitt
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Far East Movement
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- The Fray
Saturday, April 14
"Saturday Night Live" -- Gotye is the musical guest.
Sunday, April 15
"Wilson Phillips Still Holding On" premieres on the TV Guide Network.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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