The Chart Show: Sleater-Kinney make their Chart Show debut, Decemberists see a big boost
by Mark Wheat
December 11, 2014
The only new entry this week is Sleater-Kinney's "Bury Our Friends" off their forthcoming No Cities to Love which releases Jan. 20, 2015. It's been nearly 10 years since they put out their last album. Many thought there would never be another. Singer and guitarist Carrie Brownstein even joined the ranks of us radio staff writing the NPR Music blog Monitor Mix, so it was appropriate Sleater-Kinney gave their first interview upon their return to our national colleagues.
Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win tickets to Brandi Carlile's New Year's Eve gig at the Varsity Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 31!
The War On Drugs return to the Chart this week at #19, but when the year-end polls of the international music media are collated and tallied they might well be right at the top! Q Magazine, Paste and iTunes made it their #1 album of 2014, Stereogum made it #2, and it came in at #3 on NME's list. Where will they land on The Current's Top 89 countdown? Get ya votes in!
The Current staff have collated their year-end lists together. First Aid Kit's Stay Gold wound up on top followed by Beck, Benjamin Booker, Jack White and Spoon. First Aid Kit climb five spots this week on the Chart.
The Decemberists have the biggest jump this week landing at #4. Their new album What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World releases Jan. 20, 2015 and they're already close to selling out their show at Northrup on March 24 with opening act Alvvays who are also playing a show this Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Turf Club. Be on the lookout for their debut — it's getting a few mentions on many year-end lists.
Damien Rice moves up this week. My Favourite Faded Fantasy, his first album in eight years, is our Album of the Week. In his review of the record, Mac Wilson says it changes how he sees Damien who he had always written off as "dormcore" along with David Gray, Howie Day and Guster!
Foo Fighters' drop two spots this week. Their HBO series Sonic Highways just concluded last week and in an interview with NME, frontman Dave Grohl reveals that the series was condensed into eight hours from over 1,300 hours of footage.
Father John Misty moves up two spots with "Bored in the U.S.A.," the first song released from his new album which will release early next year. This week he debuted another song off I Love You, Honeybear with a homemade video that he and his wife Emma recorded on an iPad.