Rolling 2006 US Charts Thread

(*not that I can find anywhere on the Billboard online site that will tell me what the difference is between a downloaded song and a downloaded track)

Teen-rock (I guess) bands on the Billboad charts this week that I never heard or heard of before, and that I'm vaguely curious about:

THE FRAY - Who have a song with the intriguing title "Over My Head (Cable Car)" at #64 on the singles chart, so maybe they're from San Francisco? Also their album is at #110.

PLUMB -- "One woman rock act Tiffany Arbuckle," #177 on album chart.

FLYLEAF - #140 on album chart, and, judging from a photo elsehwere in the issue, they have a female singer.

Has anybody out there heard any of these bands? What sound they like?

>For Immediate Release
March 15, 2006

MATISYAHU DEBUTS AT #4 ON BILLBOARD 200
WITH NEW ALBUM ‘YOUTH'

With Sales Of 119,000, ‘Youth,' Finds Matisyahu The Only Artist With Two Albums Currently In The Billboard Top 40

‘Youth' Captures #1 Spots On Top Internet Albums Chart, Digital Albums Chart And Reggae Chart As ‘Live At Stubb's' Lands at #3 On Reggae Chart

Outside the top ten, there's reasonable climbs for 'Beep', 'Walk Away' and, er, 'Jesus, Take The Wheel'. Having peaked at #13 'Stupid Girls' slips for a second consecutive week, this week's #22.

New in the 50 - Matisyahu brings the great stuff kids go for at #28 from #61 last week, and Chamillionaire climbs from 57 to 36. Most intriguing one, though perhaps mainly from a British perspective, is Rascal Flatts at #49 with 'What Hurts The Most', the song that ex-S Club lead singer Jo O'Meara attempted to launch her solo career in the UK with last year. Over here, it peaked at #13 then vanished without trace. Its American progress may be slightly more successful, you'd reckon...

The big news for me this week is The All-American Rejects' "Move Along" shooting to #32, it's easily one of the best rock singles of the year so far (and much better than "Dirty Little Secret") and it's nice to see it pick up after a slow start. I hope it peaks as high as DLS did, making the AARs one of what, six rock bands this decade with more than one top ten hit? Nickelback, Creed, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park and Green Day are the only other ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Sean Paul going to #1 is sorta unexpected but a pleasant enough surprise, it's a pretty scorching single. Daniel Powter really worries me at #2 though, I dunno if I can take him and Blunt going to #1 within the same month. Is this a genuine White Guys With Pianos and Guitars takeover or what?

E-40 sold 93,000 not 50,000. But it still should have sold better.

He's the new Connels!

I don't understand how this one is so mega-successful, though. Maybe it's just because I don't have a roommate anymore to play it on guitar, but I felt like I heard Blunt all the time when it was threatening the #1, I think I've maybe heard Powter twice. Is it just me? Are other people out there feeling the Powtermania?

In other news, Norah Jones's band the Little Willies is a top ten country album, and there is some band called Hinder at #137 on the album chart who I never heard of. Is "Hinder" prononced with a long or short "i"? Also climbing up the Heatseekers chart are heretofore unbeknownst to me Aqualung. Do they sound anything like Jethro Tull?

Speaking of Arctic Monkeys, though--up to #24 on the MR Charts, and album up ten to #32 in the album charts. Could be a start.

Aqualung. Oh... Christ. No, no they don't. They/he are/is a British singer-songwriter type. Who had a top ten hit over here in September 2002 off the back of a car advert, which was... OK. He then got to #37 with the better-than-average Brighter Than Sunshine and hasn't really done that much sales-wise over here at all... What have you lot done to deserve him?

Gwen Stefani's "Luxurious" leaped from #85 to #33 on the R&B charts and is the greatest airplay gainer. I was kinda under the impression that it was done with its run, especially considering that she'd moved on to her next single, and even that one was on the tail end of its run. "Crash" is barely hanging on at #100 on the pop chart.

my local hip hop/R&B station has been playing the Zone 4 remix of "Luxurious" featuring Ludacris in the last few weeks, so maybe other stations are starting to play that one too, which would make me happy since I like it way more than the original (which I never ever heard on R&B radio).

Does Lifehouse count as a rock band? Also Three Doors Down and Santana.

Rihanna's not ascending as quickly as I hoped/anticipated. Then again, same was true of "1 Thing" last year.

Speaking of Lifehouse--how the hell is "You and Me" still on the charts? I don't even remember being that inundated with this song when it was big, who could possibly still be listening to it now? Does prom season now last all year or something?

Double-figure clambers for 'Move Along' (16 from 32), Knickers Back (23 from 42), Teddy Geiger (31 from 44) and The Fray (37 from 48).

NEW IN THE 50: TI rides the crap hat wave to #39, I can quite possibly guess what Saving Jane sound like at #47, Rob Thomas is still around at #48, and after what seems like a fair old while but is somehow only 4 weeks, Panic! At The Disco are the all-American #50.

is it just me, or does that seem sort of insane?

And that Saving Jane song "Girl Next Door" is in my Worst of 2006 list already. Dreadful, every cliche of songwriting and production and bored-indie-hurtness vocal delivery. Might as well have been a commercial for a dish detergent or a crumbling cheese. And yeah, they sound exactly like their name. Wasn't there another, similar band a couple years ago called Marry Me Jane? Yawners.

"Beep" is already starting to stall. #1 would be a lofty ambition at this point.

24 Blondie Vs. The Doors Rapture Riders

Has anyone heard this? Interested in reactions.

Three songs debut in the 50 - Shakira & Wycliffe's Jeans are #41, Ne-Yo has another single that involves him being a drip at #42, and Toby Keith takes 13 weeks to get to #48. Because he's a man.