Chris “dennisobell” Molanphy, our resident chart guru, looks at the upward, downward, and lack of movement on this week’s Billboard charts:
You can’t kill Leona Lewis, you can only make her stronger. For the first time in 30 years, a song returns to the No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s Hot 100 after being evicted twice. Love her or hate her, Ol’ Dead Eyes is back.
As unusual as Leona’s threepeat is, the more interesting moves this week are made below the No. 1 spot, in part because it looks like the songs we may be hearing during car-radio season are hitting the charts now. That includes big debuts by the unsinkable Chris Brown and heartthrob Jesse McCartney, a first-time appearance by new British “It” girl Duffy, and a huge move on Modern Rock by a certain gang of veteran geek-rockers trying to regain their cred.
Weezer’s new single, the not particularly aptly titled “Pork And Beans,” can now be streamed on the band’s Web site. “Timbaland knows the way to rush the top of the charts/ maybe if I work with him I can perfect the art.” More »
The latest eponymous Weezer album is already being touted as “The Red Album” in keeping with a now color-coded tradition. Guess “The Periwinkle Album” will be easier to remember in 20 years than “Another One Where Rivers Makes Us Feel Awkward And Everyone Complains About Matt Sharp.” More »
Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo has been hinting that he plans to publish his memoirs for some time now, but perhaps the delay is understandable considering the backlog of material: “I’m still working on most every day and I really enjoy it…Right now I have eight volumes sketched out.” More »
MTV writer wants to know why he’s no longer moved by the (new) work of one Rivers Q. Cuomo, Esq. Idolator writer occasionally finds himself wondering same thing. “It is because both of you are no longer 20-years-old,” you say. Perhaps. But is that it entirely?
Our thanks to the tipster who sent along this MP3 of “Pig,” a track purportedly taken from Rivers Cuomo’s latest demo CD. More »
Rivers Cuomo and Weezer have filed suit against Miller Brewing Company for the use of the band’s name in a 2004 Rolling Stone ad. More »
