NEILSTEIN SOUNDSCAM: MOTORHEAD, CROWBAR, AND, UH… MR. BIG

Once again, the only hard rock and metal albums shifting units* are classics, red state rock, and greatest hits packages. Just look at this screen cap from this week’s Top Hard Music chart:

With all due respect to Avenged Sevenfold, Times of Grace and All That Remains — the only bands with newish albums on that list with some level of modern metal legitimacy (whether you like those bands or hate ’em) — the above screen cap is proof that album sales are not just tanking, but taking a vertical nosedive straight into oblivion.

In any case, all wasn’t lost last week. Motorhead and Crowbar made decent debuts, while Red continued their dominance. And, uh… Mr. Big.

Top Hard Music Chart

1 RED – UNTIL WE HAVE FACES
Last week: 15,901
Cume: 51,424

Red State.

5 MOTORHEAD – WORLD IS YOURS
Last week: 7,003 (debut)

I have no idea how this stacks up against past Motorhead releases — nothing compared to their heyday, I’d imagine — but for a self-released record where everything is profit, 7,000 units is really pretty good.

16 CROWBAR – SEVER THE WICKED HAND
Last week: 3,526 (debut)

Same as above with regards to past releases, but I’m curious to know whether this number meets E1’s expectations or not. [UPDATE: A press release informs us this is Crowbar’s biggest first week number ever! Congrats! -Ed.]

53 TIMES OF GRACE – HYMN OF A BROKEN MAN
Last week: 1,804
Cume: 17,766

Nothing to say about this band/album that I didn’t already say last week.

85 ALICE IN CHAINS –  ALICE IN CHAIN’S GREATEST HITS
Last week: 1,219
Cume: 890,929
86 ALICE IN CHAINS –  LIVE
Last week: 1,216
Cume: 186,237

I’m baffled to see these two on the charts, having come out so long ago. Maybe their label purchased an AIC endcap or ran a special? Either way, as much as I love AIC — they’re one of my favorite bands ever — that live album blows goats. I remember being SO disappointed when I bought it new. I’d much rather see Unplugged up on these charts again.

91 MR. BIG – WHAT IF…
Last week: 1,152 (debut)

Apparently not very many people want to be with Mr. Big anymore.

-VN

* These charts include both physical and digital albums sold, and generally count 10 single track downloads as equivalent to one album.