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Welcome to Buzzworthy's "The Week In Pop," where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests and TV performances by your favorite pop stars and more (so you don't have to.)
This week, we are treated to all the best hits over more than a decade from pop-queen and girl from the block, Jennifer Lopez. Make sure to watch her "Goin' In" video premiering on Wednesday at 7:50 p.m. ET. There's also a battle of the synth bands this week, and everybody wins. Passion Pit releases Gossamer, which chronicles frontman Michael Angelakos working through personal struggles; last week he also announced July tour date cancellations "to work on improving my mental health" via Passion Pit's website. This week, Purity Ring make their stellar full-length debut with the synth-poppy Shrines, The Gaslight Anthem drop their fourth album of rousing anthems (watch them play "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" Friday) and metalheads Slipknot also drop a "best-of" compilation. The weekend kicks off with No Doubt performing live during "Good Morning America" and Hot Chelle Rae on "Today" Friday.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
+ Jennifer Lopez, Dance Again...The Hits: This is J. Lo's first greatest hits album, and it spans her work from 1999 on through today. It includes classics cuts such as "Love Don't Cost A Thing," a Track Masters remix with Styles P and Jadakiss for "Jenny From The Block," and her current hits "Goin' In" with Flo Rida and "Dance Again" featuring Pitbull. Her Pitbull-assisted megahit, "On The Floor," also makes the set. Other guest collabs and remixes come by way of Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Fabolous and Ja Rule. The Deluxe Edition includes three bonus tracks and a DVD with 11 music videos of her hits.
+ Passion Pit, Gossamer: Singer Michael Angelakos told MTV News their sophomore album was very personal, saying "Everything on the record's true, everything happened to me, I'm the one that made the mess and everyone else had to clean up around me." So where "Take A Walk" sounds like a bouncy political tune, it's actually about specific family members. "I'll Be Alright" plays like a codependency cautionary tale in reverse, pleasingly juxtaposed in a synth-swathed buoyancy. Even the slow jam "Constant Conversations" incites a soulful, hip-swaying groove. Dance yourself to catharsis.
+ The Gaslight Anthem, Handwritten: The Jersey boys return with another great album of fist-pumping straight-up rock 'n' roll anthems on their first album for new label Mercury Records. Brian Fallon's tales of driving, loving, losing and dying are delivered with his passionate grit-dusted vocals, with plenty of searing, soaring strutty guitar lines and "whoa-oh-oh," "Sha la la" and "Hey-ey-ey" shout-alongs. From the raucous "45" and the excellent "Howl" distilled into 2 minutes of awesome, to the wistful and reflective "National Anthem," it's a perfect soundtrack for a road trip or arena-level rock-out.
Check out more new album releases and upcoming TV appearances and performances after the jump.
+ Purity Ring, Shrines: The Canadian duo craft dreamy, slithery synth pop that juxtaposes sweet with a dose of spice and dash of hip-hop rhythms in this killer full-length debut. Singer/percussionist Megan James' cute delivery cuts deep lyrically. "Let it seep through your sockets and earholes/ into your precious fractured skull," she sings in a soft lilt on "Lofticries." Her visceral intensity lingers atop multi-instrumentalist Corin Roddick's lush, shimmering soundscape. Also check out "Fineshrine" and "Belispeak."
+ Slipknot, Antennas To Hell: The group's had many lineup shifts along the way, and their founding bassist Paul Gray passed away in 2010. This 19-song Best Of collection marks the ending of one chapter into their next in a way. It spans their career, from the first song on their eponymous debut to hits such as "Spit It Out" and "Left Behind." The Special Edition includes an additional 17 live tracks from their live performance at 2009's Download Festival in Donington Park, England.
TV APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES
Monday, July 23
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Rufus Wainwright
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Aretha Franklin
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- The Head And The Heart
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- R. Kelly
Tuesday, July 24
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Jay Sean
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Nas
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Beach House
"Conan" -- The xx
Wednesday, July 25
"MTV First" -- Jennifer Lopez Featuring Flo Rida "Goin In'" premieres at 7:50 p.m. ET on MTV
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- The Lumineers
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Trey Songz
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Wilco
"Conan" -- Tennis
"The View" -- Pistol Annies
Thursday, July 26
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Rick Ross
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- No Doubt
"Conan" -- Flo Rida
"The View" -- Flo Rida
Friday, July 27
"Good Morning America" -- No Doubt
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Joss Stone
"Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" -- Joss Stone
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- The Gaslight Anthem
"Live With Kelly" -- guest cohost Rob Thomas
"Today" -- Hot Chelle Rae
Photo credit: Passion Pit's Facebook
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