Pop phenoms Backstreet Boys return this week with “Black & Blue” (Jive), the follow-up to the group’s 1999 release, “Millennium.” To help launch the new album, the quintet is currently in the midst of a worldwide promotional blitzkrieg that will culminate with several high-profile New York City appearances on Tuesday (11/21).

Last Thursday (11/16), after performing at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Backstreet Boys boarded a private plane and began a 100-hour journey around the globe that includes promotional appearances on six continents. The whirlwind trip culminates with the group’s arrival in New York City on Tuesday, where the boys are scheduled to appear at Times Square’s Virgin Megastore and sign CDs.

Following the record signing, the group plans to throw an invitation-only bash at an undisclosed New York City location at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The party coincides with a satellite-broadcast performance special that will be shown in the entertainment departments of Wal-Mart stores and online via an exclusive webcast at WalMart.com.

In addition to airing the special broadcast, Wal-Mart stores and Walmart.com will also sell exclusive special editions of “Black & Blue” that include the bonus track, "What Makes You Different, Makes You Beautiful," which the group will perform during the special broadcast.

While in New York City, the group is expected to reveal its touring plans for 2001.

The video for “Shape of My Heart,” the first single from “Black & Blue,” is currently No. 1 on MTV’s “Total Request Live” program.

* * *

“Songs from an American Movie, Vol. Two: Good Time for a Bad Attitude” (Capitol) is the new release from Everclear [ tickets ], and is the group’s second album of new material this year. In July, the group released “Songs from an American Movie, Vol. One: Learning How to Smile.”

When Backstreet Boys lay claim to New York City’s Times Square Virgin Megastore on Tuesday afternoon (11/21), they will be following Everclear, which is slated to conduct a record signing at the same location at midnight on Monday night (11/20), according to the group’s official website. A second record signing is set for Tuesday afternoon (11/21) at a Long Island, N.Y., record store.

Meanwhile, on Nov. 28, the group plans to throw a belated album release party in its hometown of Santa Monica, Calif. The group will perform a private concert at Santa Monica Pier’s Arcadia club; the first 400 fans in line for the event will be admitted to the show, which will also be aired as a live webcast, according to the band’s official website.

Everclear has three subsequent live performances lined up in December at various radio festivals. Those shows are scheduled to take place on Dec. 2 in Chicago, Dec. 8 in Philadelphia and Dec. 9 in Denver, according to the group’s website.

* * *

Nine Inch Nails [ tickets ] follows-up its 1999 release, “The Fragile” (Nothing), with “Things Falling Apart.” The 10-track disc consists primarily of what the album’s official website describes as “various manipulations of songs from ‘The Fragile’ recording sessions.” That translates into eight remixes of tunes featured on “The Fragile,” and two previously unreleased tunes: an original recording titled “The Collapse” and a cover of Gary Numan’s “Metal.”

“The Fragile,” a 2-CD set, was released in September of last year, and has sold over 2 million copies, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Nine Inch Nails spent most of 2000 on tour in support of the release.

* * *

Erykah Badu [ tickets ]’s sophomore effort, “Mama’s Gun” (Motown), hits stores this week. The album features the hit single “Bag Lady,” which is currently No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles Chart, a spot the track has held for seven weeks, according to Badu’s official website.

Badu is scheduled to participate in two online chats to mark the release of the new album. The first is set for Monday (11/20) at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on MSN.com, and the second for Tuesday (11/21) at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on BET.com, according to Badu’s website. The singer is also slated to appear on “The Tonight Show” on Nov. 30.

A tour in support of “Mama’s Gun” is set to begin sometime next year.

* * *

Sir Elton John [ tickets ] has taken the recordings from his two-night stand at New York City’s Madison Square Garden last month and turned it into “One Night Only: The Greatest Hits Live” (Universal). The 17-track disc contains live versions of some of John’s most popular singles, including “Yellow Brick Road,” “Rocket Man,” “Crocodile Rock” and “Candle in the Wind.” A companion television special is scheduled to air on CBS on Dec. 1, according to John’s website.

Last week, the first date of a widely rumored tour featuring John and fellow pianist-singer-songwriter Billy Joel was confirmed. More dates are expected soon, according to various sources.

* * *

Other new releases: