‘The Great Gatsby’ Soundtrack, She & Him Albums Drop; Vampire Weekend Hit ‘SNL’ On Saturday

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, Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film The Great Gatsby, the soundtrack produced by Jay-Z and featuring an all-star cast, is released. Also, She & Him, comprising Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, drop Volume 3 (Zooey hits "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Live With Kelly And Michael" on Tuesday; She & Him perform on Friday's "Late Show With David Letterman"). Meanwhile, 98 Degrees return after more than a decade with 2.0 (catch a double dose of them on "VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan" on Tuesday AND Friday; they also hit Tuesday's "The View" and Friday's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno"). Additionally, Fitz And The Tantrums (they're on Wednesday's "Jimmy Kimmel Live") and Little Boots both release sophomore albums, and Yuna and X Ambassadors each drop an EP. On TV, "Rihanna 777," the documentary about Rihanna's whirlwind tour, airs on Fox tonight, and the week wraps with Vampire Weekend performing on "Saturday Night Live."

"The Great Gatsby" soundtrack, She & Him, 98 Degrees, Fitz And The Tantrums, Little Boots, Yuna + X Ambassadors release albums; Vampire Weekend hits "Saturday Night Live" in the Week In Pop.

NEW ALBUM RELEASES

+ Various Artists, Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film The Great Gatsby: Produced by Jay-Z, the soundtrack for director Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" film features reworkings of modern tunes with a flapper twist as well as originals that tip both Jazz-era vintage and contemporary, mirroring Luhrmann's film treatments. Songs tie in with the literary classic's themes or characters, like Jay-Z's "100$ Bill." Check out Emeli Sandé's take on Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," Beyoncé and Andre 3000's unusual cover of Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black," Bryan Ferry's reworking of Roxy Music's "Love Is The Drug," and Jack White's scorching U2 cover, "Love Is Blindness." Amidst the roaring '20s party vibe (like on the Fergie, Q-Tip and Goonrock collab "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody"),  gorgeous ballads by Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machinethe xx, and Sia capture the essence of the novel's tragic love foundation.

+ She & HimVolume 3: Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward's retro pop approach that they've honed since they formed She & Him in 2006 remains the main ingredient on their third album. The AM radio, breezy, and bittersweet vibe flavors both Zooey's originals and their covers, with some meticulous arranging and production from Ward. Zooey penned 11 of the 14 songs. The originals -- such as the swinging "I've Got Your Number, Son," the longing "I Could've Been Your Girl," and single "Never Wanted Your Love" -- brim with charm. Covers include Blondie's "Sunday Girl," Jeff Barry's "Baby," and Harry Noble's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me."

98 Degrees2.0: Nick Lachey and company reunite with their first new studio album in 13 years with 2.0, and they haven't lost a step on their vocal harmony. To wit, listen to "Girls Night Out," where 98 Degrees sing about their appreciation of observing girlfriends having fun at the club. The guys slow things down for the breakup lament of "Lonely," where they have the #sadz so bad they "keep calling and hanging up" on their exes. Given that three of the four are married with kids (Nick and Vanessa Minnillo just had their first child), we'll guess the song is from past experiences. The set also includes acoustic versions of their hits "Because Of You" and "Invisible Man."

Check out more new album releases, upcoming TV appearances, and performances after the jump.

Fitz And The TantrumsMore Than Just A Dream: For the Los Angeles sextet's sophomore full-length album, they still tip to the retro-loving soul found on their Pickin' Up The Pieces, like on "Get Away," but they also venture into other genres. There's an '80s vibe on songs such as "Out Of My League" and the rollicking "The Walker"; the strutty "Spark" blends a variety of genres. Founder/lead singer Michael Fitzpatrick also shares more space with Noelle Scaggs, whose vocals are more prominent on songs like "Last Raindrop" and "The End." It's a wise new direction as Scaggs' vocal interplay is one of the band's best features.

Little BootsNocturnes: For Victoria Hesketh's (aka Little Boots) sophomore album, she dips her electropop toes into disco and house. Nocturnes doesn't offer material that sounds as immediately straight-up pop-catchy as "Remedy" and "New In Town" from her debut album, Hands, though "Crescendo" and "Satellite" come close. The grooves and hooks of her new tunes delight instead in textured, slick production from DFA Records co-owner Tim Goldsworthy, like with the video game-styled bleats in "Confusion," the synth-funk of "Shake," and the disco-fied "Beat Beat."  Also check out the moody and hypnotic "Motorway," the house-flavored "Every Night I Say A Prayer," and watch the video for the discotheque (and roller rink)-tipped "Broken Record."

+ YunaSixth Street: MTV Iggy's 2011 Best New Band finalist Yunalis Zarai's new EP houses five summertime chilling songs, which can be downloaded for free via Refinery 29 and Verve/Universal Records. Listen to the Malaysian beauty's sweet "I Wanna Go," which was produced by Incubus' Mike Einziger. Also check out "Let Love Come Through," which features rapper Kyle, and the swinging "Right Again."

+ X AmbassadorsLove Songs Drug Songs: Buzzworthy Obsession X Ambassadors (formerly Ambassadors) release their second EP, which was executive produced by Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds with additional production from Alex Da Kid. The Brooklyn-based alt-rock group's six song set features "Stranger," which was co-written by Reynolds, and also check out "Unconsolable."

TV APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES

Monday, May 6
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan" -- Cyndi Lauper & Billy Porter, K. Michelle
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- James Blake
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Fall Out Boy
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Rod Stewart
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Steve Martin & Edie Brickell
"Last Call With Carson Daly" -- Gold Fields
"Conan" -- Keith Urban
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Psy
"Rihanna 777" -- Rihanna's tour documentary airs on Fox.
"The Voice" -- "The Knockout Round, Part 1." Featuring coaches Adam Levine, Shakira, Blake Shelton, and Usher with advisers Pharrell Williams, Sheryl Crow, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, and Hillary Scott.

Tuesday, May 7
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan" -- 98 Degrees
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Zooey Deschanel, Pistol Annies, Todd Rundgren
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Patty Griffin
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Goo Goo Dolls
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- The Breeders
"Last Call With Carson Daly" -- The Neighbourhood
"Conan" -- Iron & Wine
"Chelsea Lately" -- Michael Bublé
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Zooey Deschanel
"The View" -- 98 Degrees
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Lady Antebellum
"The Voice" -- "The Knockout Round, Part 2." Featuring coaches Adam Levine, Shakira, Blake Shelton, and Usher with advisers Pharrell Williams, Sheryl Crow, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, and Hillary Scott.
"Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life" -- Episode 3 of Ke$ha's documentary series airs on MTV at 11 p.m. ET.

Wednesday, May 8
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan" -- Michael and Kevin Bacon
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Natalie Maines
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Emeli Sandé
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Fitz And The Tantrums
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Lady Antebellum
"Last Call With Carson Daly" -- Metz
"Conan" -- Marina & The Diamonds
"The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" -- Ben Dukes
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Harry Connick Jr.
"The View" -- Pistol Annies
"The Wendy Williams Show" -- Ciara
"American Idol" -- Top 4 finalists get the chance to compete again after no one was eliminated last week. Featuring judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj, and Keith Urban.

Thursday, May 9
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan" -- Lady Antebellum, Martin Harley
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Shakira, Tom Jones
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- will.i.am
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Lady Antebellum
"Last Call With Carson Daly" -- Purity Ring
"Conan" -- RNDM
"The View" -- Josh Groban
"American Idol" -- Results show, one finalist is eliminated. David Cook performs. Featuring judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj, and Keith Urban.

Friday, May 10
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live With Carrie Keagan" -- 98 Degrees
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- She & Him
"Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- 98 Degrees
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- LL Cool J
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Rod Stewart
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Shakira

Saturday, May 11
"Saturday Night Live" -- Vampire Weekend are the musical guests.

Photo credit: Warner Bros/Watertower Music

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