The Chart Show: Franz Ferdinand's ballad arch-dunks the Chart
by Mark Wheat
September 27, 2013
As the seasons turn, so does the chart! Five new entries this week: Some expected; the highest new entry goes to Arcade Fire's "Reflektor" in its first week on the ballot — a song that guest vocalist David Bowie apparently threatened to steal?! Some surprises; Phosphorescent's second appearance. Their first song was a slow-burning hit, but love for "Ride On/Right On" is immediate, making Phosphorescent one of our biggest new discoveries. They're touring through the south right now but have already sold out two of four shows in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the end of the year.
Neko Case also gets some love for her second single off her new album. She'll play two shows at First Avenue Oct. 16 and 17. Remember to wear your Neko-designed Current T-shirt, one of our past thank-you gifts for being a member of Minnesota Public Radio. Speaking of thank-you gifts, here are the details of the upcoming Live Current Vol. 9!
Our regular thank-you, the CD of the Week, is Elvis Costello and The Roots' Wake Up Ghost; an unlikely collaboration that works beautifully. You can read about how the album came together here. Arctic Monkeys' AM will be our CD of the Week next week, and there's lots of surprising influences to it: a little Black Sabbath, Mud and TLC!??!
The celebration of Har Mar Superstar Day continues as he returns to complete the new entries, but we lost Savages after only one week, Poliça after two, Beck after a respectable seven, and we had two inductees to the Chart Show Hall of Fame.
No change at the top, but Alt-J might be a threat next week along with Arcade Fire. Number 1 Franz Ferdinand will be in town at the new Skyway Theater Oct. 9.
There was a little loss of love for HAIM this week, but if you want to get first listen of Days Are Gone, we're streaming it in full here.
Finally on a sad, yet uplifting note: Dessa's tour bus was burgled last weekend, but fans donated more than $30,000 to help her and the band get back on the road. Read the deets here.