The Chart Show: The New Pornographers have just the ticket to reach the top
by Mark Wheat
April 06, 2017
The New Pornographers have climbed to the top this week, just as Brian Oake picked this track as his DJ Pick of the Week.
Arcade Fire are inducted for the first time in nearly three years. This is their eighth induction putting them at No.3 on the All-Time Hall Of Fame Chart behind The Black Keys and Dawes. Hippo Campus make it in for the sixth time and the Old 97's make it in for the very first time with a little help from Brandi Carlile.
Fleet Foxes just announced a massive world tour in support of the Crack Up album coming June 16. The itinerary includes a stop at The Palace Theater on Sept 30.
John Legend has a little help from his friend Brittany A. Howard of Alabama Shakes on the highest new entry. It's interesting to note that there are three "duets" with featured female powerhouse vocalists on the chart — that's a first! Chance the Rapper, Miguel and Kamasi Washington are also on Legend's new album, and he celebrated International Piano Day last week with a performance on a railway-station platform in London!
Alt-J released the second song from their Relaxer, which drops June 2, called "In Cold Blood."
Ron Gallo makes his debut on our Chart at No.17. Imagine having these guys as your wedding band: Ceremony is in your backyard, festivities end in a cake fight with the bride taking over lead guitar duties. That's the video!
Middle Kids have just ended their USA support gig with Cold War Kids, and after a few sold-out shows back home in Australia, they're going back into the studio to finish a full-length album. They did a great in-studio with us just before SXSW.
Valerie June's new album, The Order of Time, drops this Friday, along with a ton of others. This Friday will be the biggest release day of the year so far! Tune in on Friday nights when I try to play as many of those new releases as possible, and see what NPR thinks of Valerie's new record.
Conor Oberst has slipped a few places this week, but Bill DeVille gives Oberst's new Salutations high marks as our Album of the Week, comparing it to Dylan and The Band.