Rock Sweep: February 9, 2013...






Welcome back to part two of this week's "chart sweeps", where I sample the new music making its way on to the weekly music singles charts in Billboard magazine. This time out it's the latest on rock radio.

On the aggregate Rock Airplay chart, Muse remains at #1 for an eighth non-consecutive week with "Madness".

The top entry is by Tennessee alt-rock group Paramore with "Now" at #39 from their upcoming self-titled fourth album. Since the Rock Airplay chart has been around (as "Rock Songs"), they have gone to #20 twice with "Ignorance" and "Brick By Boring Brick". Since then their two founding members Josh and Zac Farro left, (truthfully) accusing of the label making the band just a front for lead singer Hayley Williams. And this semi-reggae-ish track is sorely missing the musicality of the brothers. Grade: C


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While Muse stay on top, they also come in at #42 with "Panic Station". Grade: B+


Meanwhile, over on the Modern Rock/Alternative chart, Muse is still on top for an amazing 18th week with "Madness", tying its own record with "Uprising" and one week away from tying the Foo Fighters' "Pretender" for most weeks ever at #1 on that chart.

The top debut on this format at #25 is the Airborne Toxic Event with "Timeless". In 2008 the group took "Sometime Around Midnight" to #4. Grade: C


The aforementioned "Now" by Paramore is the other new song at #37. They have had five top-10 hits on this format, with "Misery Business" going to #3 in 2007.

On the Mainstream Rock format, there's a big shakeup, as Soundgarden drops from the top to #7 while Danish metalheads Volbeat claim the #1 spot with "Heaven Nor Hell", their second chart-topper after "Still Counting".

The sole new entry is by an A-list collection of alt-rockers from the documentary Sound City: Real To Reel. With Slipknot/Stone Sour's Corey Taylor, Foo Fighters/Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, and Kyuss' Scott Reader, they jump in at #38 with "From Can To Can't". When this song began I really thought it was a cover of the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". The film documents the history of the iconic and sadly shuttered studio in Los Angeles. Grade: B+


On the Triple-A (adult album alternative, or "hipster-rock") radio, the Lumineers regain the top spot for a fifth non-consecutive week with "Stubborn Love".

The single debut this week is by British soul-rock singer Michael Kiwanuka, who went top-10 on the chart last year with "I'm Getting Ready". He's back at #36 with "Tell Me A Tale" from his excellent debut album Home Again. By far my pick of the week. Grade: A


On the harder-edged "Active Rock" format, Volbeat remain on top for a second week with "Heaven Nor Hell", as the aforementioned "From Can to Can't" is the highest entry at #34.

The other debut is by L.A. heavy metal group In This Moment with "Adrenalize", from their fourth album Blood. It follows the title track which was their top-10 breakthrough on this chart. With Maria Brink on vocals, they are one of the "hardest" female-led metal bands around. Grade: B-



Lastly, on the "Heritage Rock" format chart, Three Days Grace reign for a 14th non-consecutive week with "Chalk Outline".

The sole debut at #25 are Boston-area heroes Aerosmith with "Street Jesus" from their Music From Another Dimension album. The first single, "Legendary Child", made the top-20 on this list last year. Grade: B-


That does it for the rock side of the house....I'll be back in an hour and a half with the latest on R&B radio. Rock on!





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