On The Shelf: Tomorrow’s New Releases Revealed Today

Welcome to On The Shelf, Idolator’s weekly look at the coming torrent of record releases. Looking over the roster of albums being released tomorrow, we realized one thing: next week’s chart may be another one in which the all-important mom demographic rules the roost. After the jump, we look at tomorrow’s offerings from Josh Groban, Keith Urban, and Mickey Avalon, as well as two compilations of recent pop hits.

Josh Groban, Awake The artist: Oprah Winfrey’s favorite pop-classical crooner. The sound: Schmaltzy popera, mostly, although there is an electro-tinged track featuring mtvU darling Imogen Heap. The first in line: Winfrey devotees who wish Groban was their son.

Keith Urban, Love, Pain, & the whole crazy thing The artist: Aussie cowboy currently cooling his heels in rehab. The sound: Slick, radio-ready pop with a hint of twang. The first in line: Country-music devotees, ladies who wore “Team Nicole” shirts during the Cruise-Kidman bust-up.

Mickey Avalon The artist: Skinny, tattooed, foul-mouthed ex-junkie rapper with a MySpace page. The sound: A raunchier version of the white-guy rap that was all over alt-rock radio in 1998. The first in line: If you wish the Fun Lovin’ Criminals would put out another record, this dude is for you.

Various Artists – Now 23 / Laguna Beach: Summer Can Last Forever The artists: Justin, Hilary, Jessica, and more TRL favorites. The sound: Now snags the songs that are currently slipping down the Billboard Hot 100, while the Laguna collection goes for the rock end of the spectrum with +44 and Dashboard Confessional. The first in line: Carpoolers who hate commercials.

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