Rock Sweep: September 13, 2014...

Round two of this week's "chart sweeps" is up, checking out the latest songs to make the radio charts in Billboard magazine, and this time out it's the newest on rock radio...

On the main Rock Airplay list, Vance Joy holds at #1 for a fourth week with "Riptide"...

Modern Rock band Fitz & The Tantrums are still up at #13 with their hit "The Walker" after 37 weeks (and even moving up a notch this week), and their next single "Fools Gold" comes in at #41. I'm a big fan of the Tantrums, and this one should rise to the top echelon as well, and it's my "Rock Pick of the Week"...

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Outlandishly eccentric heavy metal outfit Slipknot preview their upcoming fifth studio album 5: The Grey Chapter with "The Devil In I" at #50. It's their first to make this list since the aggregate chart's inception in 2009. If you take the song apart from their usually-disturbing visuals, it's a capable emo-metal headbanger that's best asset is Corey Taylor's vocals...

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

On the Mainstream Rock radio panel, The Pretty Reckless score their second straight #1 hit as their "Messed Up World" (on their album as "Fucked Up World") leaps from #4 to #1, while the aforementioned Slipknot track rockets on this chart at #21...

Another hot heavy metal band, Five Finger Death Punch, take their second single from the first volume of their Wrong Side Of Heaven and the Righteous Side Of Hell series, "Wrong Side Of Heaven", to #29 on the chart. The first, "Lift Me Up", went to #1, as did "Battle Born" from the second volume. The video's theme of our treatment of our war veterans is extremely commendable, no matter what you think of our goverment's policies. Especially with its links to help at the end. We've got to do better.

The fourth single from hard rock act Pop Evil's Onyx project, "Beautiful", moves in at #33. The first three, "Trenches", "Deal With The Devil", and "Torn To Pieces" all made it to #1. This is high-sheen metal, but not sure if it'll go to the top, but it should make top-10...

Dance-punk vets Death From Above 1979 cross over to this format at #36 with "Trainwreck 1979". It's up at #21 on the Alternative list...

Fuel follows up their #30 hit "Soul To Preach To" with the track at #40, "Cold Summer". Fans of the band (and the naughties-style post-grunge) won't be disappointed, though the rather somber lyrics do not match this video, which seems like someone remade a lost David Lee Roth clip...

 Meanwhile, on the Alternative/Modern Rock chart, "Riptide" rules for a fourth week, while Fitz and The Tantrums shake in at #34...

Psychedelic garage rock band Cage The Elephant's third single from Melophobia, "Cigarette Daydreams", comes in at #37. It follows "Take It Or Leave It", which climbed to #12 here (and currently is big on Triple-A, where it is at #30). I think the band isn't getting the fair shake they're due, I adore their current set...

 Broods, a brother/sister indie-pop duo from New Zealand, enter at #40 with "Mother & Father". They previously peaked at #25 with "Bridges". This one (and their debut album) has a great sound, though I saw them on one of the late-night shows and they suuuuucked (her voice was wrecked)...

Lastly, on the Triple-A (adult album alternative, or "hipster rock") format,  Milky Chance hangs in on top for a fourth week with "Stolen Dance"...

The Head and The Heart land at #28 with "Let's Be Still", the title track from their second album, which has already sent "Shake" and "Another Story" into the top-ten on this chart. This is a nice dreamy respite but not as strong as the previous two...

 
 The other new entry at #29 is Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini with "Let Me Down Easy". It matches the rank of his other single to make the chart, "Candy" from 2009...

 I'll return in an hour and a half with the latest on R&B radio...