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, it's Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y's How Fly mixtape birthday, and they're giving us the gift of new mixtape Live In Concert. #HappyBirthdayToUs! I'm adding another awesome Swedish act, Niki And The Dove, to my infinite list of reasons why I want to go to there. The duo release their impressive Instinct debut album stateside on Tuesday. Also, Rob Zombie curates remixes of his work on Mondo Sex Head (I don't even know what that means... but it's provocative). The popular CD compilation series, Now, releases two albums brimming with star power, and "American Idol" season seven runner-up David Archuleta drops his third album. The week ends spectacularly with Olympic Closing Ceremony, which features rumored performances by Ed Sheeran with One Direction. Meanwhile, there are reports Spice Girls, The Who, George Michaels, Emeli Sandé and Take That will perform.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
+ Wiz Khalifa And Curren$y, Live In Concert: We like when artists mark musical anniversaries with more music. Aug. 9 is Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y's third anniversary of their popular mixtape, How Fly, and to celebrate they're giving us tunes. "We did that all in 48 hours. We probably would've done it in less time, but I was on crutches getting from the couch to the booth," Curren$y said of the seven-song set on "RapFix Live." "When me and him work, there is never a structure to it," he added. "So, some stuff might be 11 minutes; some songs might be 30 seconds. But in that 30 seconds, you would've got like two hours' worth of game."
+ Niki And The Dove, Instinct: The Swedish electro duo featuring Malia Dahlstromm and Gustav Karlof release their first album, which may sound familiar as it houses several of their singles that have been ruling the blogosphere the last couple of years. Instinct is an apt name for their debut. The two have an instinctual understanding of electro-pop's most appealing elements: percolating dance beats, catchy refrains and evocative lyrics -- with added indie edge via Malia's cool, lissome vocals. Fans of the gothy, icy beauty of Fever Ray, The Knife and Zola Jesus will dig this addictive album. Highlights include "Tomorrow," "The Gentle Roar" and "DJ, Ease My Mind."
+ Rob Zombie, Mondo Sex Head: He's gearing up to play the "Twins of Evil" tour with Marilyn Manson and Korn, where the trio promise animatronic robots and other spooky theatrics in September, but for now the rocker releases his latest effort: a remix album. He's been playing the remix game through several albums long before EDM was a catchphrase, having released Super Sexy Swingin' Sounds back in 1996. Here, Rob handpicked the tunes to be remixed. Check out the 20-year-old "Thunder Kiss '65," which gets a fresh take via J Devil (aka Korn's Jonathan Davis). Also listen to Photek's seven-minute spin on "Living Dead Girl."
Check out more new album releases and upcoming TV appearances and performances after the jump.
+ David Archuleta, BEGIN.: It seemed like kind of a rough last year or so for "American Idol"'s season 7 runner-up. In early 2011, Archuleta was dropped from Jive Records roster after his sophomore album, 2010's The Other Side of Down, didn't perform to expectations. He's back with his third album, and maybe third time's the charm? The cover album includes his takes on Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," U2's "Pride (In The Name Of Love)," Sarah McLachlan's "Angel," R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts," and an original.
+ Various Artists, Now 43: That's What I Call Music: There's a reason this series has been around for 43 installments: They know how to curate the hottest songs of the moment into one CD. Case in point: the first track is Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe." There are 20 songs total with high-charting hits from Katy Perry ("Part Of Me"), Justin Bieber ("Boyfriend"), David Guetta featuring Sia ("Titanium"), Demi Lovato ("Give Your Heart A Break"), Usher ("Scream"), Maroon 5 ("Payphone") and more.
+ Various Artists, Now That's What I Call Party Anthems: So, you're about to throw a party, right? But you still have to clean, buy some chips and pick out a killer outfit, and you still haven't made the playlist for the night. The producers of this CD must've had you in mind when they compiled these 18 tunes. From (obvious pick) opening tune "Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock)" by LMFAO to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance (Skrillex Remix)," the set will get your guests moving.
TV APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES
Monday, Aug. 6
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- The Lumineers
"Conan" -- Norah Jones
Tuesday, Aug. 7
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Melissa Etheridge
"The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" -- The Imagineers
"Chelsea Lately" -- Blake Shelton
"Conan" -- Grouplove
Wednesday, Aug. 8
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Sixpence None The Richer
"Conan" -- Ziggy Marley
Thursday, Aug. 9
"Chelsea Lately" -- Wiz Khalifa
Friday, Aug. 10
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Delta Rae
Sunday, Aug. 12
"Olympic Closing Ceremony" -- reported performances include Spice Girls, The Who, George Michael, Emeli Sandé and Take That. Rumored performances by Ed Sheeran and One Direction.
Photo credit: Curren$y's Instagram
