Sales
1. John Mayer "Born and Raised"
Sales this week: 65,432
Percentage change: -70
Weeks on: 2
Cume: 285,370
I love the opening cut, "Queen Of California":
Goodbye cold
Goodbye rain
Goodbye sorrow
And goodbye shame
That’s the L.A. experience. Leaving the oppression behind for a land of opportunity. And the track sounds as fresh and optimistic without being dumb as the sounds emanating from Laurel Canyon forty years ago, without being a retread.
Unfortunately, the rest of the album is in the same groove. I wish John could do what those seventies artists did, be mellow and rock on the same album.
Alas, his fans don’t mind. These are pretty good numbers for someone who’s been on a self-imposed hiatus. Not that I know why.
Oh, I understand the health/throat issues, those are unfortunate. But I saw no reason for Mayer to fall on his sword. Despite the wimpiness of half his music, Mayer’s been on the cutting edge, he’s been inventing the social/online/new publicity paradigm. He did a cruise before everybody got onboard, and even had his own TV show and "Esquire" column. And he was playing with the interviewer in "Playboy" and all of the nuance got lost on the cutting room floor. So he was pilloried. Unjustifiably so.
As for him being self-centered/narcissistic… Hate to tell you, but they all are, that’s what it takes to be successful.
But the real story here, the reason I’m writing at length, is because of Mayer’s comment re Taylor Swift’s song "Dear John" in "Rolling Stone". Unlike me, I thought Mayer had the good sense not to comment. But now he’s broken his silence. One could say he’s doing so to help sell his record, but the tonality is such that he seems really hurt. "Humiliated" is a strong word to use.
But what’s most interesting to me is the impact this will have on Taylor Swift.
In case you didn’t notice, like that old Pursuit Of Happiness song, she’s an adult now. Shirley Temple was cute as a kid and a nonstarter when fully grown. That confessional bite you in the ass game Taylor played as a youngster just doesn’t go down that well as an adult.
I can take it. My main problem with Taylor Swift writing about me is the fact that she couldn’t take it. Hell, if I wanted to respond to the hatred coming into my inbox I wouldn’t have time to do anything else. It goes with the territory. Never feels good, but Bob Dylan had it right…
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society’s pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he’s in
"It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)"
So now the onus is on Ms. Swift. Mayer put the hot potato in her lap. He didn’t sling any dirt, and said quite honestly that if she had a problem with him, he never got an e-mail or a phone call. The way human beings communicate. Hell, don’t we all hate hearing about our foibles from third parties? As for she being nineteen and innocent… Give me a break, it takes two to tango. Mayer is a well-documented lothario/ladykiller, if Swift didn’t know what she was in for, she’s got a clone who does all the writing and performing.
Expect Swift to blink. Because she’s sensitive. She’s not gonna double down, not after being called out.
And she lost in all her categories at the CMT Awards last night, hell, she didn’t even go, she watched the Kings.
And that’s totally fine with me. The CMTs are a joke.
But we’ll only be interested if Swift gives us new music that’s straight and from the heart and not vindictive, yet still honest. I’m not sure she has it in her.
But we’ll find out.
2. Adele "21"
Sales this week: 57,840
Percentage change: +4
Weeks on: 67
Cume: 9,264,442
The game here is to diminish expectations for what comes after.
And not to wait until this album drops off the chart to release new music.
As for being too soon, that window has already closed.
Many people have still not heard "21". It’s this generation’s "Tapestry". She’s the anti-star. Even if she ends up the new Alanis Morissette, this one album was enough. And really, Adele’s had two already, Alanis really only had one.
4. One Direction "Up All Night"
Sales this week: 41,433
Percentage change: +12
Weeks on: 12
Cume: 739,186
In case you missed the memo, One Direction’s video outsold Mayer’s album. They sold 76,000 copies of their DVD "Up All Night: The Live Tour".
And the only people who truly care are the little girls with crushes and the oldsters getting paid.
This is boy band mania, nothing more, nothing less. We’ve seen this movie before and we’ll see it again.
But what’s most interesting is the generation buying it. One not beholden to the old norms of MTV and overpriced CDs. Who in the music business is going to follow the new audience, throw out the CDs and play on their level?
14. Eric Church "Chief"
Sales this week: 15,073
Percentage change: -2
Weeks on: 45
Cume: 839,586
He’s selling what used to be Nashville’s stock in trade… Authenticity.
But with everybody on the country chart a fake, ass-kissing, megachurch-going sellout, Church looks like Bob Dylan.
Maybe his success will beget more of him.
But that would require all those naysayers complaining the game is phony and rigged to actually get inside and take over the empty carcass that country music has become.
18. Jack White "Blunderbuss"
Sales this week: 13,716
Percentage change: -27
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 284,036
He just can’t write a memorable song. I love the penumbra, the vinyl, the viewpoint. But I just don’t want to go home and put on his records. Isn’t there anybody in his camp who can tell him to go for greatness with his songwriting?
Jack is for fans only. The fact that he’s the poster boy for mainstream media’s new music business model does not change what’s in the grooves. Unlike Adele, you can’t spread Jack’s music far and wide.
You can shoot the messenger now.
22. Of Monsters And Men "My Head Is An Animal"
Sales this week: 12,042
Percentage change: -35
Weeks on: 9
Cume: 168,617
This is both a testimony and a condemnation of radio. The reason this album is number 22 is because of radio. But if radio meant anything, if it wasn’t a circle jerk perpetuated by the players in it and dependent upon it, Of Monsters And Men would be far bigger. Hell, in the heyday of MTV the band would be gigantic.
There’s something here. It ain’t completely clear.
Is Of Monsters And Men a fad or here to stay?
Ask Mumford & Sons, which is using its success as a springboard to stretch and change the paradigm, to excite its audience.
Please read this:
This excitement is about music, not about grosses. It’s been such a long time since live has been anything but complaints you can’t get an overpriced ticket. Mumford & Sons is trying to increase its longevity by using its newfound power to titillate and bond with the audience.
Funny, for all its innovation, you don’t see Radiohead doing this.
And you certainly don’t see the old farts doing it.
Play to your active fans. Satiate them. They’re your best bet for spreading the word.
49. Garbage "Not Your Kind Of People"
Sales this week: 7,704
Percentage change: -65
Weeks on: 3
Cume: 49,151
Proof that press doesn’t sell records.
Is there anybody truly excited about the return of Garbage? An incredible first album that the band couldn’t even follow up, which is why they went away.
You can work the intermediaries, but that does not mean the end players, the public, those who count, will care.
Press doesn’t buy music or tickets. Please play to those who care.
And it’s all been print. The music has had no footprint.
Then again, without the media campaign, this album would have been completely dead on arrival.
53. Katy Perry "Teenage Dream"
Sales this week: 7,297
Percentage change: +1
Weeks on: 93
Cume: 2,226,888
There’s so much to hate here. Then again, she’s not playing to me.
But she doesn’t stop playing to those who care.
Perry’s a star, and she’s acting like a star. Not complaining. Constantly in your eye. Releasing new music off album cycle. She’s doing everything right, she’s a twenty first century diva.
And she’s the anti-diva. She’s accessible. Little girls believe if she stopped by their house they could go into their mother’s closet and have a blast playing dress-up.
Do you go away from your regular friends? Of course not, you talk and text constantly. Now that stars are creatures of the public, it’s best to get in bed with the public. Katy does that so well. I applaud her for it.
74. Zac Brown Band "You Get What You Give"
Sales this week: 5,520
Percentage change: +7
Weeks on: 89
Cume: 1,502,913
It’s not hit dependent. It’s about Zac’s bond with his audience, delivering. Not hits so much as an overall music experience. Zac doesn’t have the charisma or looks of Eric Church, but he’s even more of an outlaw, yet winning at his own game.
