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The Chart Show: Hozier crosses over, climbs to #1

by Mark Wheat

October 02, 2014

Hozier
Hozier snags the top spot after announcing his first Twin Cities date at First Avenue on Feb. 20.
Courtesy of the artist

Our new #1 this week, Hozier, is seemingly set to be the biggest breakout star of the year. Like Lorde last year, he's "crossing over," meaning he's won over fans across a multiple range of platforms and tastes. "Jackie and Wilson" off his self-titled album shows his bona fides with fans of old soul (it's a reference to his love of Jackie Wilson) while "Work Song" made #1 on Billboard's Emerging Artists Chart just 24 hours after Taylor Swift tweeted, "It's the perfect song."

Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win tickets to Pixies' show at the State Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 11!

alt-J are the highest new entry on the Chart with "Left Hand Free" a week after their sophomore album released. This Is All Yours went straight to #1 in the UK, but Pitchfork suggested that it was a massive "sophomore slump" and gave it a 4.0 rating.

Spoon bounce back with the second charting song from their new album They Want My Soul, "Inside Out." They stopped by last week to record a Theft of the Dial with Jill Riley of The Current's Morning Show. Britt Daniel and Rob Pope of the band played new artists like King Krule and classics like Them and Buzzcocks!

Field Report hail from Madison, WI and have timed the release next week of their new album Marigolden album perfectly to fit with the beautiful autumn weather here in the upper Midwest! Some songs like "Home (Leave the Lights On)" directly reference the climate while others talk about the "general silliness of male sexuality," explains frontman Chris Porterfield to A.V. Club.

Doomtree tumble 10 places this week but they have big news involving a different 10: Blowout X! This will be bigger and better than ever — 10 events in eight days — and it's the last one ever!? Yesterday P.O.S., Dessa, Mike Mictlan and Sims stopped by our studios and explained they want to wipe the slate clean and start new Doomtree traditions in 2015.

Lucinda Williams stays at #17 where she debuted last week but Bill DeVille says that she's anything but stuck with her song craft: "During much of her career, it seems like she overthought her albums. With this one, she has more of a devil-may-care attitude. It's almost as if she said, 'Here are my 20 songs; hope you like it!'" Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone is our Album of the Week.

Robert Plant climbs six places this week and is getting some rave reviews for his live shows, within which there are several Led Zep tunes! Our friends at NPR streamed his show at the Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, N.Y. last Sunday and Bob Boilen called it, "Just brilliant."

Rave reviews poured in over the weekend for Lizzo and Caroline Smith's two night stand at First Avenue, too. I found out why they work for me: they have the same birthday, April 27, which is three days before mine. Us bulls stay together! Check out Vita.MN's cover story and interview with the dynamic duo.