Album Sweep: December 21, 2013 - Part One...

Hey gang, it's time to kick off the first half of this week's "album sweep" sampling the records reaching the Top 200 Albums chart in Billboard magazine. As always, I've included links to buy anything you see when possible, but please show some holiday love to an indie record store!

The top-selling album of the week is the second box set from Garth Brooks to reach the #1 spot as Blame It All On My Roots climbs from #3, selling almost 150,000 copies...

The highest debut on the chart this week is the eighth studio album from Britney Spears, and while Britney Jean has been getting press on its lower-than-normal showing at #4 (her lowest peak to date unless it rises), it did sell over 100K this week, which is rare in this singles-heavy world. Not to say that the craptacular "Work Bitch" first single only attracted club queens who won't pay for music, but you have to consider Garth made #1 with a six CD/2 DVD set costing only $24.95. Nonetheless, six of Brit's 8 albums reached the top, with Femme Fatale doing it the most recently in 2011..

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Country singer Jake Owen arrives at #15 with his fourth album Days Of Gold. His last set, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, was his first to make the top-ten at #6 two years ago...

NBC brought back the live musical with The Sound Of Music starring Carrie Underwood, and while her acting chops may have gotten a bit of scorn, there's no denying her vocal work, and the soundtrack to the show arrives at #17. I hope the success spells more of this on television..

The late Latin pop singer Jenni Rivera's 1969-Siempre: En Vivo Desde Monterrey: Parte 1 becomes her best showing ever at #25...

R&B newcomer Sevyn Streeter debuts at #30 with her first EP, Call Me Crazy...But....

After a break of 11 years, which sadly saw the death of singer Brad Delp, arena-rock group Boston is back at #37 with their sixth album Life, Love & Hope. Four of its tracks have Delp's vocals. Four of the band's records reached the top-10, with both Don't Look Back and Third Stage going to #1...

Metalcore band A Day To Remember rocks in at #47 with their fifth effort Common Courtesy. Their last, What Separates Me From You made it to #11 in 2010...

Chicago adult album alternative station WXRT's compilation ONXRT: Live from the Archives 15 comes in at #62. It has tracks from the Lumineers, Churchill, The Postal Service and more..

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That's all for the first half of the new crop..out of these eight the two I'd recommend first are the Boston and Jake Owen sets...

I'll be back for round two tomorrow...