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, Bruno Mars releases his sophomore album (catch him on "MTV First" on Tuesday and "The Big & Best of 2012: A Year End Celebration Presented by T-Mobile" on Wednesday at noon ET where he'll be joined by Miguel, Carly Rae Jepsen, Metric, and many more), and The Game drops his fifth record (he's also been busy starring in "Marrying The Game" on VH1; today he stops by "VH1's Big Morning Buzz"). Meanwhile, Big Boi releases Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors (he and Kelly Rowland hit "The View" Tuesday), Green Day completes their trilogy, and Interpol marks the 10th anniversary of their debut. Plus, "Glee" gets into the holiday spirit, Boys Like Girls drop their third album, and Taylor Swift premieres her "I Knew You Were Trouble." video exclusively in an "MTV First: Taylor Swift" special on Thursday. The week caps off with the annual "VH1 Divas," featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland, Jordin Sparks, Ciara, and more, with tributes to Whitney Houston and Donna Summer. Adam Lambert hosts.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
+ Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox: Bruno Mars has been in demand throughout 2012, and this week's no exception. He hits "MTV First" on Tuesday and "The Big & The Best of 2012" Wednesday this week in tandem with his album release. In addition to his singles ("Young Girls" and "Locked Out of Heaven"), "Treasure" sounds like an instant fan fave with its feel-good funkified pop style, he explores reggae on "Show Me," and we finally have an explanation for the gorilla on the album cover. "Gorilla" is a smoky, soulful, sexed-up song about "making love like gorillas." Also check out the old-school ballad "If I Knew."
+ The Game, Jesus Piece: Game's been releasing several free songs during his weekly Sunday Service music series, and one of them, "Hallelujah" with Jamie Foxx, also appears on Jesus Piece. "It's kind of like a 2012 Chronic album, if you will. I'm on it and I'm on it a hell of a lot, but I got a lot of features," he told MTV News. In fact, Game flies solo on only one ("Heaven's Arms") of the standard edition's 13 songs. The foreboding title track features Kanye West and Common, and other guests include Meek Mill, 2 Chainz & Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Trey Songz, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and many more.
+ Big Boi, Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors: Although Big Boi's OutKast cohort Andre 3000 isn't on Big Boi's Vicious, he told "RapFix Live" that any rumored beef is untrue. "I gotta tell you, man, that's my brother... People want an OutKast album so bad, they'll just try to stir up something, but you can't never break that bond." Besides, he has plenty of other guests to be excited about on his new set. Listen to a preview of "Mama Told Me" with Kelly Rowland. Also, check out his ATL ode "In the A" featuring T.I. and Ludacris. The eclectic guest list includes Wavves, A$AP Rocky, Little Dragon, Kid Cudi, and more.
Check out more new album releases, upcoming TV appearances, and performances after the jump.
+ Green Day, ¡Tre!: ¡Tre! serves as the final installment of Green Day's ambitious trilogy. While the preceding ¡Dos! perused their garage rock side, ¡Tre! is more reflective, opening with the horn-punctuated, sweeping retro ballad "Brutal Love." It sets the tone for the contemplative vibe that continues elsewhere on the 12-song set, like on the romantic "Missing You" and "Amanda." They turn it up for the peppy "99 Revolutions" the multi-suite rocker "Dirty Rotten Bastards," and their "Sex, Drugs & Violence," which in retrospect might seem like a bit of foreshadowing for Billie Joe Armstrong's rehab stint. Also featured is their "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2" track, "The Forgotten."
+ Interpol, Turn On The Bright Lights: 10th Anniversary Edition: The post-punk revivalists' debut was a breath of fresh, artsy air when it dropped 10 years ago, and an integral one for the first decade of the aughts. With its dark, melodramatic minor-key undertow, affecting songs like "PDA," "Hands Away," and "NYC" painted a somber, reflective worldview that was highly influential for years to come. For the reissue, the album is remastered and a second CD includes demos and B-sides. The DVD comprises music videos and concert footage.
+ Glee, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 3: For their third installment, McKinley High's Glee Club offer their renditions of holiday classics like "White Christmas," "Jingle Bell Rock," and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," which are featured on their forthcoming holiday episode. The set is also packaged with four additional tunes not slated for the show, including "Silent Night" and "Joy to The World."
+ Boys Like Girls, Crazy World: Earlier this year, the Massachusetts-based quartet released an EP teaser for this debut album of the same name. In addition to "Be Your Everything," "Life Of The Party," and "The First Time" from the EP, the full-length Crazy World houses eight more songs, including the celebratory, poppy "Red Cup, Hands Up, Long Brown Hair," the piano-driven ballad "Leaving California," and the midtempo "Cheated."
TV APPEARANCES AND PERFORMANCES
Monday, Dec. 10
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Colbie Caillat, The Game
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Of Monsters And Men
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Chuck Leavell
"Colbert Report" -- Diana Krall
"Conan" -- Jack White
"The View" -- Jason Mraz
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Richard Marx
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Fergie
"The Voice" -- "Top 4 Semi-Final Performances," featuring coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton, and advisers Billie Joe Armstrong, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, and Rob Thomas
"Michael Bublé: Home For The Holidays" -- Featuring Michael Bublé, Carly Rae Jepsen, Blake Shelton and Rod Stewart on NBC.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 on MTV
"MTV First: Bruno Mars" -- Bruno Mars performs "Locked Out Of Heaven" at 7:55 p.m. E.T.
Tuesday, Dec. 11
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Adam Lambert, Richard Marx
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Awolnation
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Sarah Jaffe
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Colbert Report" -- Audra McDonald, Elvis Costello
"Conan" -- Graham Parker & the Rumour
"The View" -- Big Boi & Kelly Rowland
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Lifehouse
"The Voice" -- "Semi-Final Results Show," featuring coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton, and advisers Billie Joe Armstrong, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, and Rob Thomas
Wednesday, Dec. 12 on MTV
"The Big & Best of 2012: A Year End Celebration Presented by T-Mobile" -- The eight-hour live program will feature Miguel, Bruno Mars, Carly Rae Jepsen, Grace Potter, Metric, alt-J, Thompson Square, First Aid Kit, Dustin Lynch and more, beginning at 12:00 p.m. E.T. at BigAndBestOf2012.com
Wednesday, Dec. 12
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Alex Clare
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Grizzly Bear
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Atlas Genius
"Colbert Report" -- Michael Stipe
"Chelsea Lately" -- Adam Levine
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Florida Georgia Line
"The Talk" -- Jason Mraz
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Ashanti
"The X Factor" -- "Top 4 Finalists Perform," featuring judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid, and Britney Spears
Thursday, Dec. 13 on MTV
"MTV First: Taylor Swift" -- Taylor Swift premieres her "I Knew You Were Trouble" video at 4:40 p.m. E.T.
Thursday, Dec. 13
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Lifehouse, Bow Wow
"Anderson Live" -- Christina Milian
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- J.D. McPherson
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- Dan Deacon
"Colbert Report" -- Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, Sean Lennon
"Conan" -- Ryan Adams
"The View" -- Rickie Lee Jones & Ben Harper
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Usher
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Colbie Caillat
"The X Factor" -- "Live Results," featuring judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid, and Britney Spears
"MTV First: Taylor Swift" -- Taylor Swift will premiere her "I Knew You Were Trouble." video on MTV
Friday, Dec. 14
"VH1's Big Morning Buzz" -- Jon Bon Jovi, Christina Milian
"Late Show With David Letterman" -- Carrie Brownstein, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- Pentatonix
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" -- Martha Wainwright
"Live With Kelly And Michael" -- Jackie Evancho
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" -- Justin Bieber
Saturday, Dec. 15
"Saturday Night Live" -- Paul McCartney is the musical guest.
Sunday, Dec. 16
"VH1 Divas" -- Featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland, Metric, Jordin Sparks, Ciara, and more, with tributes to Whitney Houston and Donna Summer. Adam Lambert hosts.
"The Big & Best of 2012: A Year End Celebration Presented by T-Mobile" goes LIVE at 12 p.m. ET on 12/12/12. Watch at BigAndBestOf2012.com for eight hours of live performances from stars like Bruno Mars and Miguel, special editions of "RapFix Live" with Ma$e and A$AP Rocky, "Big Morning Buzz Live," "MTV After Hours" with Norman Reedus, "You Oughta Know," surprise guest appearances, prize giveaways and much much more!
Stick with MTV as we count down the Best of 2012, including the Best Songs of 2012, Live Performances, Movies and EDM Videos of the year.
Photo credit: Atlantic Records
