The Chart Show: Our #1 emulates Emmylou!
by Mark Wheat
February 01, 2018
Spoon and Dessa are both inducted to the Chart Hall of Fame for the sixth time putting them at #15 and #16 respectively on our All Time Hall of Fame Chart. MGMT get their first induction and they're playing Myth on March 2 in support of the new album which is released on February 9.
Brandi Carlile returns to the top spot, after being the very first #1 of the new year. She was part of an all-star tribute to Emmylou Harris at a pre-Grammys show in NYC, which included Valerie June, Keb Mo, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Steve Earle.
The War On Drugs are up to #4 after walking away with the Grammy for Best Rock Album. Bruno Mars was officially the big winner, but Kendrick stole the show with his performance.
Greta Van Fleet continue their steady climb up the charts to #5, amazing for the first song The Current has played from a brand new band who appear to have come out of nowhere! Last week Robert Plant gave them his blessing, and Looch explained why it's certainly OK for them to sound like Led Zeppelin, "Well, what isn't a rip off?!":
First Aid Kit are the highest new entry this week, after playing a sold out show Tuesday night at The Palace, which they allowed us to stream.
The hard working Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats are back at #8. It's the first track from their new Tearing At The Seams album which will be out March 9.
Karin Dreijer, the woman behind the Fever Ray project has been giving some extraordinarily frank interviews about Plunge the new album from this Swedish woman who is also one half of the band The Knife. Listen for the discreet use of an air horn siren in the song "To The Moon And Back" at #15 this week! Her music is designed to ask questions about the prevailing meanings of gender, pleasure and the patriarchy.
Before Will Toledo had gained traction and financial success with his Car Seat Headrest project he'd self-recorded Twin Fantasy in 2011. Now his new album will have the same name, but the songs have been re-recorded and in some very interesting places the lyrics have been 'updated', subbing in Frank Ocean for Dan Bejar for example. Is that woke or what?
Speaking of which, The Decemberists have just worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda, on a new project to tape 'Hamilton' tunes that didn't make the show. They also sold out the first night at The Palace so they added an additional night on April 7.
Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters at the Orpheum Theater on February 22, 2018!