Rock Sweep: April 5, 2014...

Round two of this week's 'chart sweeps' is up, tracking the songs making the charts in Billboard magazine, and this time out I've got the latest rock songs on the radio...

On the main Rock Airplay chart, the Arctic Monkeys stay on top for a sixth week with "Do I Wanna Know?"...

The high debut at #45 is from alt-rock trio Sir Sly, with their first charting hit "Gold". The song, which drops to #33 in its seventh week on the Modern Rock chart, bears a passing resemblance to the Neighbourhood's "Sweater Weather" with its echoing disaffected vocals and bright background harmonies and piano touches...

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Another song moving up the Modern Rock list, "Cardiac Arrest" from the Californian group Bad Suns, comes in at #48. It's up to #27 on the former chart. And yes, it seems like the sonic equal of the 1975's "Chocolate", with the lead's high-tenor vocals and skip-funk backbeat...

Nashville-based pop/rock outfit Wild Cub drop in on the main list at #49 with "Thunder Clatter", which also goes down a notch to #22 on the Modern Rock chart. You know you've got a good sound when Bose uses the track for their commercial...

The final entry on the main rock airplay chart at #50 is already in the top-10 on the Triple-A format. It's singer/songwriter Ray Lamontagne with "Supernova", the first single and title track from his upcoming album. I've been a fan of Ray's music since his awesome debut "Trouble" almost ten years ago, and while this doesn't tread any new ground (in fact it veers in John Mayer territory) it's a pleasant recall of early 80's jangly soft-rock. He previously made it to #34 here with "Beg Steal or Borrow" in 2010 (another personal fave)...

And now on to the rock radio format charts...

On the Mainstream Rock radio panel, The Pretty Reckles stick around at #1 for a third week with "Heaven Knows"...

Kyng, a hard rock band from Southern California, score their third hit at the format with "Electric Halo". They previously went to #30 with "Falling Down".  This one puts them in the neo-Alice In Chains vein of rock...


Utah's contribution to post hardcore alt-rock, The Used, push in at #39 with "Cry", the first taste of their upcoming sixth studio album Imaginary Enemy. They have quite a following, with their last four reaching the top-ten on the albums chart, and they took "Blood On My Hands" to #37 on this format in 2007. Of course this follows the soft-loud sung/screamed rager millions of dumped boys (and girls) crave for these days, but it's definitely worth at least a listen. It definite works for teens who don't want to get too "dangerous"...

Meanwhile, on the Alternative/Modern Rock chart, "Do I Wanna Know?" holds tight for a tenth week on top...

Leaping in at #30 is the follow up to the former #1 MR hit "Come A Little Closer" by Cage The Elephant, "Take It Or Leave It". The Kentucky band is still at #8 in its 33rd week with the former single. They have racked up six top-ten singles in this format, no doubt helped by the way they deftly weave garage rock earthiness with funky bass and percussive overtones, and it's my "Rock Pick of the Week"...

New Zealand Grammy-darling Lorde returns at #40 with the fourth single from her Pure Heroine album, "Glory And Gore". I was with a friend last week as this album was playing in a record store, and he noticed how all the songs sound alike. I can't really dispute that, it seems like the album is one long stream of consciousness, though once you permeate the drum loops and synths her lyrics are a piercing look at a coming-of-age girl without the emo or the ditz.

Lastly, on the Triple-A (adult album alternative, or "hipster rock") radio, Beck lands his first #1 on this format with "Blue Moon"...

Singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson channels her inner Palin with her tribute to Robert Palmer in the video for "Girls Chase Boys", which enters at #27. She previously went all the way to #2 in this format back in 2009 with "Maybe". The fun single, catching on the Sara Bareilles-style quirky fun vibe, is also climbing the adult top-40 radio list as well. It's starting off to be my alt-pop chick song of the year so far as yet...

American Idol winner Phillip Phillips is back at #28 with the first single from his upcoming sophomore effort, "Raging Fire". He's been one of the few Idols to break successfully from the songbird mold, and he's had two #1 hits on this format, with "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone". This upbeat lite-rocker fits in with the Fray and Mumford alike...

The last debut at #29 is by the Hold Steady, with "Spinners". Five years ago they went a notch higher with "Sequestered In Memphis". This new one is chock full of 90's style jangly guitars - this wouldn't have been out of place with the Gin Blossoms and Sister Hazel (that's a compliment)...

I'll be back in an hour and a half with the latest on R&B radio....Rock on!