THIS WEEK IN SOUNDSCAN: CHICKEN-WHAT?

This week in Soundscan, supergroup Chickenfoot shifted a ridiculous number of records. I’m baffled too. Elsewhere, Iron Maiden had a solid debut and bands like Nickelback, Hollywood Undead, Shinedown, Slipknot, and Metallica continued on with business as usual.

4 CHICKENFOOT – CHICKENFOOT
This week: 79,300
Cume: 131,092

That’s a damn big number, but the real story is that in its second week on the charts the record is up 53% from last week. When does this EVER happen these days? Can I get a collective “What the Fuck???” In the rock radio vortex that is NYC, these guys could have a monster radio smash and I wouldn’t know it… do they? Because the admittedly strong reputations of the band members are not, I don’t think, enough to move this kind of tonnage alone.

15 NICKELBACK – DARK HORSE
This week: 24,336
Cume: 2,027,417

Thank you, Nickelback, for continuing to fund poorer Roadrunner artists.

21 SHINEDOWN – SOUND OF MADNESS
This week: 17,483
Cume: 524,527

Still listening to this great album a year after release.

34 IRON MAIDEN – FLIGHT 666 ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
This week: 13,274 (debut)

I’m actually surprised it didn’t sell more. Probably because this figure doesn’t count DVD sales, and most sensible people would just buy the DVD to get the full package.

50 HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD – SWAN SONGS
This week: 9,874
Cume: 418,748

Get used to that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach, because these guys are going to be around for a while.

60 MARILYN MANSON – HIGH END OF LOW
This week: 8,947
Cume: 74,628

Third week on, sinking faster than Marilyn Manson’s career.

71 DREDG – PARIAH THE PARROT THE DELUSION
This week: 7,492 (debut)

That’s an alright debut for Dredg, I think? Curious how it stacks up against their others.

112 DISTURBED – INDESTRUCTIBLE
This week: 4,505
Cume: 1,019,534

Recently crossed the platinum threshold, and it’ll keep going. Unfortunately, this album still has a single or two left in it.

116 METALLICA – DEATH MAGNETIC
This week: 4,432
Cume: 1,779,888

Look at that, almost double platinum. Sheesh.

154 SLIPKNOT – ALL HOPE IS GONE
This week: 3,404
Cume: 788,477

Almost platinum. Consistent sellers. Good for them!

161 DEVIL WEARS PRADA WITH ROOTS ABOVE & BRANCHES BELOW
This week: 3,310
Cume: 57,883

That’s 3,310 more records than this suck-tastic band should’ve sold this week.

Elsewhere, on the “Top Hard Music” charts….

29 HALESTORM – HALESTORM
This week: 2,604
Cume: 28,329

I likee.

30 HEAVEN & HELL – THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
This week: 2,584
Cume: 59,034

Warner’s gotta be really disappointed in this number, no? Extremely weak for a band with such a great legacy. Probably would’ve sold more if it said “Black Sabbath” on it.

43 LACUNA COIL – SHALLOW LIFE
This week: 2,188
Cume: 52,007

Century Media, on the otherhand, has gotta be super-thrilled with this.

44 MASTODON – CRACK THE SKYE
This week: 2,408
Cume: 102,487

I think this one’s right about at the same sales number that Blood Mountain topped out at. Not sure, though.

59 CKY – CARVER CITY
This week: 1,713 –
Cume: 18,769

I tried listening to this album thinking, “Hey, I’ll give ’em a fair shot.” It blows.