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Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Mike Jones

  • Chart Chat 5/7/09: Chillin’ Like Bob Dylan

    dylanSurprising no one, Bob Dylan makes his second straight entry at the top of the Billboard charts with his latest album “Together Through Life”. The album scans just under 125,000 units in it’s first week. The remainder of the chart is pretty mellow, with a couple of baby bands (Playing for Change and Heaven & Hell) debuting at #10 and #8, respectively, and the remainder of the Top 10 remaining relatively static.

    Lady GaGa continues her upward momentum, as “The Fame” rises to #5 this week with a 1% increase to 40K scanned. With 775,000 copies having crossed record store shelves (or the virtual equivalent), GaGa should be crossing Platinum territory very soon.

    “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” continue to drive sales, as three of the four biggest increases of the week are due to performances on those shows. Taylor Hicks’ “The Distance” re-enters the chart at #180, with a 148% increase over the previous week’s sales. Robin Thicke and Jamie Foxx also make big increases, and Foxx’s “Blame It” single reaches a new peak on the singles chart, landing at #2 behind The Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow”.

    The biggest drop of the week comes from Depeche Mode, whose “Sounds of the Universe” falls from 3-18 on a 73% decrease to 22,000 units. However, this week’s epic fail has to go to Mike Jones (who??). The Texan rapper, who scored platinum sales several years ago with his debut, “Who is Mike Jones?” can only manage a #12 debut with his latest album, “The Voice”, which opens with a weak 25K.

    Next week, expect Ciara and Chrisette Michele to challenge for the #1 spot. Ciara might have an edge due to the fact that she’s performing on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. The week after that, the real fireworks start, as Green Day’s album will hit the charts, followed by Eminem a week after that.

  • New Release of the Week 4/28/09: Bob Dylan’s “Together Through Life”

    dylan

    I’ve got no problem admitting that I’m not the world’s biggest Bob Dylan fan. While I think he’s an ace songwriter, there are very few people I can think of whose singing I enjoy less. It seems to have gotten worse as he’s gotten older. Some people (Joni Mitchell) get better as singers as they age. Mr. Zimmerman? Not so much. Anyhow, the guy’s a legend no matter how you slice it, and he has a new album called “Together Through Life” out today. Given the slow release schedule, this could very well become Dylan’s first #1 album debut EVER. I smell an early front-runner for Grammy’s Album of the Year.

    Elsewhere…

    Ben Folds Ben Folds Presents: University a Cappella : True story. I have my iTunes on in the background, and as I was researching this album, a Ben Folds song just randomly came on. It’s like my computer can read my mind! Then again, the song that came on was “Fired”, so maybe I shouldn’t count on my laptop as a crystal ball yet-at least I hope not.

    Anyway, this is a pretty interesting piece. Ben got a bunch of college students to sing his songs acappella. You can get a little taste of what to expect here.

    Ben Lee The Rebirth of Venus: Folds’ sometime partner in The Bens (along with Ben Kweller, who unfortunately, does *not* have an album coming out today, “The Rebirth of Venus” is the latest effort from the former child prodigy. Why Ben Lee has never caught on in the States is one of music’s great mysteries. He’s a fantastic songwriter who can write a killer hook, and he’s got a sense of humor besides. Maybe he just goes over peoples’ heads.

    Mike Jones The Voice: Who? Mike Jones

    WHO?? MIKE JOOOOOONES

    Remember back when Texas rap was gonna be the next big thing? There was this guy, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, and a couple of others. None of them have careers anymore! Ha!! Anyway, after a million and one delays and a much too long gap in between albums, Jones is back. Can he salvage what’s left of his career? I’m betting “no” here, but I’ve been wrong before. Not many times, mind you, but I’ve been wrong before.

    OK-I was kidding with that last comment. My ego’s not that big-yet.

    Urban Mystic GRIII: Old Skool 2 Nu Skool: When I first heard of this guy, I thought he was one of those space-cadet R&B singers, like Maxwell, you know? Come to find out this guy’s just Jaheim with even more hood cliche added. His first album (which I think was self titled) was one of the biggest pieces of shit I’ve ever heard before (and I’ve listened to a LOT of music). For those of you who care, he has a new album out today. That said, if this interests you at all, I have to question your taste in music.

    As always, get your full list of new releases here.