The Chart Show: Ryan Adams, Hozier soar to the top ahead of Twin Cities gigs
by Mark Wheat
September 25, 2014
Ryan Adams tops the Chart on the back of being our Album of the Week. Jim McGuinn suggests in his review of the self-titled album that Ryan has a deep connection with another recently re-energized rocker, Tom Petty.
Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win tickets to Lucius' show at First Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 7!
Tom also gets a mention in the NPR review for Lucinda Williams' new double album, Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone, which you can now stream in full. She debuts at #17 with "Burning Bridges," one of her best songs that "frames daily existence as a scrappy and likely unwinnable dogfight between good and evil."
Beck is back, too, new at #13. He kicked off a week of celebrating George Harrison on Conan this week covering the mighty "Wah-Wah." A fundraiser happening this Sunday in Los Angeles for Sweet Relief, a charity which helps musicians struggling with illness or disability, will feature more musical heavyweights covering George's work including the Strokes, Brian Wilson, Flaming Lips and...Weird Al?!?!
For the very first time on our Chart at #20 is Leonard Cohen, one of Canada's preeminent poets, a musician and for a while an inhabitant of a Zen Buddhist monastery. He turned 80 years old on Sunday and celebrates this week by releasing Popular Problems, his second new album since returning from his retreat to the world stage and to much acclaim.
Hozier leaps ten places and announced a bunch of shows including a Feb. 20 date at First Avenue, following his first USA tour this fall that has completely sold out! His full-length debut release Oct. 7 and he'll perform on Saturday Night Live on Oct 11.
The Black Keys tumble 14 places this week, threatening their Hall of Fame induction, perhaps?! But they did shine a little light on an underated Scottish songwriter, Edwyn Collins, who used to front Orange Juice in the early '80s, by covering his best known song "A Girl Like You" on the Tonight Show.
OK Go did tumble all the way off the Chart just as they would have been inducted to the Hall of Fame. Chet Faker lost his grip after only one week. He stopped by The Current to record an in-studio last week.
A trip that is going to be off the charts was announced this week, London Beat! You can join me next April for a trip around the city's most famous musical haunts! Cheers!