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The Chart Show: A Trifecta of Returning Minnesotan Artists

Glen Hansard
Glen HansardCourtesy of Anti-

by Mark Wheat

March 01, 2018

Interesting to see First Aid Kit hold onto the top spot for a second week, while similar artists Lissie and Brandi Carlile fell down our chart as the rush of MGMT fans came to win tix! Our friend Greg Kot of 'Sound Opinions' did a great job writing about the new First Aid Kit album 'Ruins' which came after the sisters "divorced" themselves from each other for awhile.

CHVRCHES jump thirteen places this week as they steadily unveil details of their forthcoming 'Love Is Dead' which appears to feature Matt from The National and is produced by Greg Kurstin.

Greta Van Fleet slip down one place but are featured in a regular NPR feature this week. 'Heavy Rotation' is a list of songs that are popular on public radio across the country made by DJ's from some of our sister stations. This month they asked me to contribute and I brought the rock!

MGMT crash in as the highest new entry at #4 this week ahead of their show at Myth on Thursday. They just released a bizarre video for the song, which was originally 'Me and My Girl', before they deemed it too boring.

Courtney Barnett is back at Number Eight, with the first song from her just announced new album, 'Tell Me How You Really Feel' which will be out May 8. She just covered another famous Aussie band INXS, to support same sex marriage which was just made legal down under.

Dessa was kind enough to come to our UBS Forum on Sunday night to explain how her new album 'Chime' was made. It's our Album of the Week and she performed several songs from it and spoke to Toki Wright, the host of our new Hip Hop Show 'Wright About Now' which starts TONIGHT at 10pm.

Another beloved Minnesotan band is back too, after Trampled By Turtles took just over a year away from touring. The title of the new album 'Life Is Good On The Open Road' suggests that they are looking forward to getting out there again! It comes out on May 4 and they have already sold out two shows at The Palace Theater that week!

Sylvan Esso storm back on to our chart at #13 only three weeks after they debuted the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with help from Amber Coffman from Dirty Projectors and Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner.

And making it a trifecta of big returns for Minnesotan artists jeremy messersmith wins our hearts again with 'Purple Hearts' released on Valentine's Day, yet a tad less optimistic than his ukulele tunes were last year!

Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win a pair of passes to An Evening with Glen Hansard at the Palace Theatre on March 17, 2018!