Indie Dispatches: Straight From the Chart
Sharon Jones' New Album Enters Top 200 Its First Week
Last week saw another independent label release break into the ‘big boy charts’ with the Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings album I Learned the Hard Way scoring a #15 spot in the Billboard Top 200 with over 20k in sales in its first week. The interesting twist to the story is that the album is on Daptone Records, a label that could be seen more as a cottage operation rather than one of the more storied independent labels. The big winner for the year so far in the indie-label chart story however, has been Merge Records, which has had not one, but two new releases hit the top five in 2010. First with the Spoon Transference album back in January and most recently She and Him’s Volume Two. And that list doesn’t include the highly anticipated third album from the Arcade Fire that is reportedly due out this year. Could that end up being the North Carolina label’s first ever number one album?
Less than a decade ago the thought of an indie release cracking the charts in general, let alone the Top 10, was a pipe dream. Even pre-eminent artists on labels like Sub Pop or Matador in the 90’s barely scraped into the Top 100 – a reason for great celebration at the time. It seems like up until recently the only ranking an independent release could have was in Heatseekers or the tinpot Billboard Indie Chart, but all that has seemingly changed when even the Local Natives album on tiny Frenchkiss Records can hit the Top 200. While it is true independent label sales have seen a slump, and it is as hard as ever for the indies (like majors) to sell records, the drop has in some ways not been as cataclysmic as that of the Big Four. Maybe it can be attributed to the indies’ dedication to their community of buyers, where the fans seem more invested in the artists, or maybe it has just been a policy of good releases and reasonable prices. But most likely it is the fact that many independent labels have simply continued to consistently put out great music. Whatever the reason, it seems like in 2010 the kids are alright…
- Cool Hand Luke
02.24.10SXSW 2010: Who to Watch Pt. 1
Danger Mouse & James Mercer are Broken Bells @ SXSW Kick Off Show
Recently SXSW announced that their kick-off show on March 17th will be presented by NPR Music and will feature indie icons Spoon, Broken Bells (the uber-duo featuring Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse and The Shins’ James Mercer), as well as Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, The Walkmen and Visqueen… Every year the festival features a wide array of artists; from up-and-comers, to established artists, to “unknown” potential breakout acts -it’s a mixed bag. We thought it was timely to pick out some of the artists who should be on your Austin calendars this year in part 1 of SXSW Who To Watch…
Brooklyn’s Cymbals Eat Guitars are making SXSW stops as they cross the country on their headlining tour with support from Bear in Heaven and Freelance Whales. With recent features and nods in Pitchfork, NY Times and NME to name a few, be sure to find ‘em at the Alternative Press, Dickies/Filter and WOXY parties among others… Lots of curiosity around fellow Brooklynites Das Racist who exploded online last year and have become infamous for their antics – at one of their recent shows instead of performing they simply popped on the Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique, leaving fans confused and us impressed… L.A. local Lex Land has had a #1 iTunes folk album, has played live on KCRW and can belt out a version of the Habanera from Bizet’s “Carmen” better than any opera singer you can name… You may know the young Swedish pop-singer Miss Li whose ridiculously infectious song “Oh Boy” is in the new Volvo car commercial, she’s at the Victorian Room at the Driskill on Saturday… Other internationals to keep an eye on include Manchester’s Ten Bears and kiwi pop-rockers Kingston. Stay tuned for part 2…
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