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  • Billboard Changes Chart Methodology: The Michael Jackson Rule?

    Billboard announced this morning that they are revising their chart methodology so that older albums can appear on the Top 200 album chart. Previously, albums were removed from the chart after 2 years (which was changed to 78 weeks fairly recently).

    This will result in some significant changes to the make up of the album chart. Particularly when it comes to albums that are perennials, like Bob Marley’s “Legend”, or to use a more recent example, Guns ‘n Roses’ “Greatest Hits”. It’s hard not to imagine that this change was spurred on by recent sales by Michael Jackson and The Beatles. There was an uproar last year when MJ’s 25th anniversary “Thriller” wasn’t allowed to chart even though it would have debuted at #2. After Jackson’s death in June, several of his albums spiked in sales, led by “Number Ones”, which would have placed at #1 for a couple of weeks had it not been for the chart rule. More recently, a bunch of Beatles reissues were prevented from charting, even though several would have placed in the Top Twenty.

    This rule will hurt some new artists, who would get a boost just for the simple fact that their album charted. It will also limit the amount of turnover on the chart, as I guarantee you will see some titles on that list for years at a time. But I think that if you’re going to publish a chart featuring the top selling albums in the country, it should actually be a chart of the top selling albums in the country, release date be damned.

    What do y’all think?

  • Aerosmith Without Steven Tyler? REALLY??

    Hey Kids! Happy Monday!

    Remember that thing I posted a week or so ago about the members of Sublime replacing Brad Nowell and trying to continue as Sublime even though the guy that gave the band its’ identity was now gone? Well, looks like we might have to test that theory out again even though the band member in question is not dead.

    Rumors are floating around that Steven Tyler has decided to leave Aerosmith, the band he has fronted since Biblical times. While the reasons behind Tyler’s alleged departure are unclear, he has had a rough go at things lately, battling hepatitis, presription drug addiction and falling off of a stage during an aborted summer tour. Additionally, it’s been five years since the band released an album.

    So, now I have two questions. First question-is Steven Tyler actually contemplating a solo career? I mean, the guy’s in his sixties. Shouldn’t he have considered this…maybe 15 years ago when Aerosmith was at it’s peak? Would a Steven Tyler project really sound that much different from an actual Aerosmith album?

    Question #2 is what happens to the band? Guitarist Joe Perry has said that Aerosmith will continue with a new lead singer, and I have to say, that idea doesn’t rank very high on any list of good ideas. While Steven Tyler’s importance to Aerosmith isn’t as strong as Brad Nowell’s importance to Sublime, it’s pretty safe to say that in terms of the band’s public image, Tyler is 75%, Perry is 25% and no one gives a hot steaming shit about the rest of the band. I don’t think fans would go for it. So, maybe it’s time for both parties involved to hang it up?

  • I Can’t Quit You Ray!: Mr. Lamontagne Live in Boston

    I’m sure you guys are all aware of the cliché saying “I’d sit and listen to him sing the phone book”. There are very few people I can say that about…Al Green, Michael Jackson, Jeff Buckley…another artist on that list is our own Ray LaMontagne. I’d wanted to see Ray for ages, and I finally got the chance last night at the Wang Theatre in Boston.

    The man definitely delivered. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and a harmonica (and that soulful voice of his), he had the capacity audience in the palm of his hand for the entire night. He performed selections from all three of his albums (including hits like “Trouble”, “Shelter”, “Let it Be Me” and a reworked version of “You Are the Best Thing”, and covered songs by everyone from Townes Van Zandt to The Bee Gees (by way of Nina Simone). Although Ray has a reputation for being quite shy and withdrawn, he turned out to be surprisingly funny, cracking jokes with the audience about everything from the huge cowboy hat he was wearing to the quite vocal adulation of some of the male members of the audience.

    This guy is a fantastic talent and an absolute must-see. If you ever have the opportunity to check him out, do not hesitate!!