I’m just gonna lay it all out on the table: country music sucks. Oh, there are qualifiers (there are always qualifiers). Before you collectively leap down my throat, let me list them for you: I am aware that country music used to be fairly awesome. So there’s no need to remind me that Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson exist; I’m keenly aware of them and have nothing but respect for their art. “Jolene”? “The Gambler”? “The Devil Went Down to […]
Popblerd’s New Release Report 7/10/12: Zac’s Back!
The Zac Brown Band needs money to maintain their beards, so they are releasing a new album this week. Read on to find out what else is new in stores and online!
Popblerd!’s 2010 Grammy Preview: Country
Hey Folks, I can’t say I’m the world’s foremost authority when it comes to country music. So this year, I farmed out the prediction process to my buddy Matt Bjorke, who runs Roughstock.com ! Matt, who has guested on the Blerd Radio podcast in the past, is THE man when it comes to country music, and I thank him for helping me out and offering his take on the country categories this year. Take it away, Matt!! 2010 was considered by […]
Chart Stalker 10/21/10: The Weezy Bounce
After a run of three consecutive number one albums coming from the country genre, the streak is broken by Lil Wayne. The New Orleans rapper’s latest effort, “I Am Not a Human Being”, bounces from #16 to #1 in its third week on the chart. The reason for this jump? After two weeks as a digital exclusive, “Human” was officially released on disc. Over 125,000 people scooped it up-not a huge number considering Weezy’s recent past, but when you take […]
Chart Chat 10/14/10: His Name Was Toby
Country music continues it’s stronghold on the Billboard album charts this week. For the third consecutive week, the genre scores a chart-topping debut. This week’s chart-topper is the latest record from Toby Keith. Everyone’s favorite Dixie Chick-basher scores the #1 album with “Bullets in the Gun”. Unfortunately, it also starts with what’s probably the lowest total for a chart-topper in October EVER, scanning just under 71,000 units. Nevertheless, Toby follows Kenny Chesney (now #2) and Zac Brown Band (#5) to […]
Chart Stalker 10/7/10: The Yee-Haw Edition
Guess what type of music people are still buying? Ding Ding Ding!! Country music! Kenny Chesney becomes the second straight country act to debut at #1 on the national Billboard charts. His latest effort, “Hemingway’s Whiskey”, starts with 183,000 units. It replaces Zac Brown Band’s “You Get What You Give” at the top of the chart. The Grammy winning band’s sophomore effort slides two spots to #3 this week. Guess what other type of music people are apparently still buying? […]
Another Billboard Nail-Biter: Chart Stalker! 9/30/10
In the red corner, an upstart country band who won the 2009 Grammy for Best New Artist. Representing for the peeps who like a little bit of Jack Johnson with their Kenny Chesney, we have…the Zac Brown Band! In the blue corner, a group of funk/rock pros whose lead singer has finely chiseled cheekbones and unbelievably sculpted hair! The Grammy winner for Best New Artist of 2004…Maroon 5!! It was a close race for the top of the Billboard charts […]
Chart Chat 9/23/10: Linkin Park and Trey Songz In A Photo Finish!
1,005 units separate this week’s #1 and #2 albums in one of the closest races for the top spot in history. The eventual victor? Rock giants Linkin Park score the top spot with 241,000 units sold of their fourth studio album, “A Thousand Suns”. While that sum is healthy, it is cause for alarm considering that LP’s last album, “Minutes to Midnight”, debuted with triple that sum just three short years ago. Linkin Park’s sound has gradually evolved over the […]
New Release Report 9/21/10: Wanna Get Your Hands All Over Maroon 5?
I’m scared of the new Maroon 5 album, “Hands All Over” ( purchase on Amazon mp3 ). The first single, “Misery”, seemed like the height of laziness to me. If you stuck “This Love” and “Makes Me Wonder” in a blender, the result would be “Misery”, and despite the critical arrows that seem to get slung Adam Levine and co.’s way, they’re definitely better than that. However, no less an authority on music than Popdose’s Grand Poobah Jeff Giles Y’all has deemed M5’s third studio effort, “Hands All Over”, […]
Chart Chat 6/24/10: Thank Drake Now!!
Rapping/singing Canuck Drake slams into the top spot on this week’s Billboard 200 album chart with a vengeance. “Thank Me Later” scores 2010’s biggest week for a debut album, with 447,000 units sold. It’s the third overall biggest week for an album this year, following the first weeks for the latest albums by Lady Antebellum and Sade. A couple more interesting things to note: in just one week, Drake practically equals the entirety of what his introductory EP “So Far […]
Chart Stalker 6/16/10: Aguilera Fail? Lil Jon FAIL!!!!
Please join me in welcoming the “Glee” cast back to the #1 spot on the Billboard album charts. The “Journey to Regionals” EP, which arrived on the same day that the hit show aired it’s season finale, claims the top rung on this week’s Billboard 200 with an impressive 152,000 units sold. It’s the third “Glee”-related album to top the charts in the past eight weeks, which has got to be some kind of record. Right behind it is the […]