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Pop Rock Nation

Author: Pop Rock Nation

  • But Isn’t John Bonham Dead??

    OK, folks, seriously.
    I love Led Zeppelin-really, I do.
    But what’s the big hubbub over this reunion concert? (For those who don’t know, the three surviving members of Zep are performing in the U.K. at a tribute concert for the late Atlantic Records honcho Ahmet Ertegun).
    First off-it’s not like they haven’t had reunions before. Remember Live Aid? (where Phil Collins subbed on the drum kit for the dearly departed John Bonham…best rock drummer of all time IMHO). What about the Page & Plant acoustic album and tour in the mid-Nineties?
    And is it really a “reunion” when one of the members is deceased? If Paul and Ringo went on a tour today as The Beatles, it wouldn’t be the same, would it??

  • High School Musical-Something Like A Phenomenon?

    So, everyone knows about record sales being in the crapper…yadayadayada.
    But the fact is…people are still running in to buy certain things. It’s just that phenomenons are fewer and further between.
    This week, the High School Musical 2 Soundtrack marks it’s fourth consecutive week on top of Billboard’s Album Chart, with sales at a very healthy 170,000 copies. It’s sold nearly 1.5 million copies in four weeks. This comes after the soundtrack to the first movie sold over 4 million copies and was the top selling album (not soundtrack, mind you…over all album) of 2006.
    It’s still in the Top 40 18 months later.
    Me, I’m not a Disney channel watcher. I can’t vouch for why this is so successful, especially in light of failed past Disney projects (anyone old enough to remember The Party back in the early Nineties?) AND the fact that albums by members of HSM’s cast have either underwhelmed or flopped miserably (Vanessa Hudgens is the only cast member to go Gold on her own). It might be because it’s a family movie and a family soundtrack, and the best-selling albums historically have been albums the entire family can listen to…or at least are kid-friendly (see: Carrie Underwood, Nickelback, et. al.).
    Of course, there might be a little extra hubbub nowadays since the news popped about the nudie pictures of Ms. Hudgens. The fact that the news appeared not to affect sales at all speaks to how trivial the whole deal is (she’s 19…get real people!). My main curiosity is…how long is this juggernaut going to last? And how long is Disney going to continue to milk this? Because if these albums continue to sell, I can see High School Musical: The 10-Year Reunion coming to a store near you in 2016.
    Here are this week’s Top Ten albums (courtesy of Billboard Communications)
    1. High School Musical 2 Soundtrack: Various Artists
    2. The Dutchess: Fergie
    3. Hannah Montana 2 Soundtrack: Meet Miley Cyrus: Miley Cyrus
    4. The Altar & The Door: Casting Crowns
    5. Bone Palace Ballet: Chiodos
    6. Hairspray Soundtrack: Various Artists
    7. Now That’s What I Call Music 25: Various Artists
    8. All The Right Reasons: Nickelback
    9. Back To Black: Amy Winehouse
    10. Minutes To Midnight: Linkin Park

  • Can’t Tell Kanye Nothin’

    With August having been such a dreary month for new music, it’s nice to see this week’s release schedule so power-packed, with new albums out from hip-hop heavyweights Kanye West and 50 Cent, as well as a new set from country heartthrob Kenny Chesney. Folks are headed to the record stores in droves this week, as it looks like the top three will debut with a total close to 2 million albums combined. And more than likely, the folks who are running in to buy one of the three albums will find something else worth picking up, which is a good thing. The industry needs some excitement like this.
    1st day projections have West handily defeating his challengers with what will be the biggest first-week total of the year. Graduation” has already sold almost Gold in one day. The best thing about it? Kanye’s not some fly-by-night pop sensation. He’s a legitimate talent-although truthfully, he’s probably not as talented as he thinks he is! That said, having purchased and listened to Graduation several times already, he’s made a damn good album. Considering he’s also contributed to two other solid hip-hop releases this year (Common and Talib Kweli) and you’ve got the rarity of a critically acclaimed artist who happens to sell records in quantity as well! What a concept!!
    Check out these websites: http://www.kanyewest.com/
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