It’s one of the most stagnant Top 20s of the NACC 200 that we’ve seen in a long, long while. We honestly can’t recall a time there were eight records in the Top 20 that were 10+ weeks old. The Top 4 on the chart all stand pat from where they were last week as well. That’s great news for English sextet, The Cure, Their 14th LP (and first in 16 years), Songs Of A Lost World (Fiction/Capitol), enjoys a second week at #1 and does so in a grand way. Not only do they build a lead that is nearly seven times as big as it was over the #2 record last week, but they collect more points than any #1 album has enjoyed going back to April. They also score the NACC Hat Trick by rising 2-1 at NACC NEXT and spending a second week atop the NACC Non-Comm Chart.
For the second time in four weeks there are no new albums reaching the NACC Top 10. And with one album landing both the most-added and highest-debuting album, it gives us a chance to highlight a couple other records we normally wouldn’t be able to. The first comes from New York duo Phantogram, formed in 2007 by pre-school friends Sarah Barth and Josh Carter. Performing originally under the name Charlie Everywhere and releasing two EPs, the duo changed their name in 2009. Since then they’ve released five LPs, including their latest, Memory Of A Day (Neon Gold/Avenue A). They step ahead 14-11 this week (the biggest climber within the Top 20) in search of their first NACC 200 Top 10.
Another album we normally wouldn’t be able to feature is the second-biggest climber on the chart this week. It comes from London-based quartet Friedberg. The group is named after the Austrian town their lead singer Anna Wappel (known professionally as Anna F) was born in. After a decade as a solo artist, Anna F formed Friedberg in 2019 and they’ve received heady praise like The Guardian’s description as the “coolest dance punk this side of LCD Soundsystem.” Their debut LP, Hardcore Workout Queen (Clouds Hill), sails from 155-32 on the NACC 200 this week.
Last week’s most-added album from Nottingham’s Cai Burns is off to a smashing start on the NACC 200 this week. Recording under the name Blood Wizard, he has released two albums including his latest, Grinning William (Sad Club), in addition to the two albums he’s recorded with his band Kagoule. His latest effort leaps from 195-44.
That aforementioned album taking most-added honors and scoring the biggest debut of the week comes from Josh Tillman aka Father John Misty. The Maryland-born musician began his career in Seattle in 2001, but currently resides in Los Angeles. He recently reached #1 on NACC Singles with one of the advance tracks from his sixth album under this moniker (he has another eight LPs as J. Tillman). This album collects 74 Top 10 Adds and simultaneously debuts at #19 on the NACC 200 this week. The album is an immediate Top 10 at NACC Non-Comm as well where it debuts at #8.
Tunde Adebimpe may seem like a new name, but we imagine you know him much better as the lead singer of TV On The Radio. The musician, actor, director, and visual artist has recently signed with Sub Pop and announced his debut solo album, due next year. First single, “Magnetic,” rises 2-1 at NACC Singles this week. Just two singles crack the NACC 200 Top 30 Adds Chart this week. Tops among them is London trio Mary In The Junkyard. Their new single, “This Is My California,” follows an EP released earlier this year and helps to announce a string of UK tour dates. Heavy Moss also land on the adds chart this week.
