The movie might not even be in theaters yet but the soundtrack for the vampire movie ‘Twilight’ has snatched the top spot on the Billboard charts from rock icons AC/DC. The soundtrack has sold around 165,000 copies last week. 29% of which, or 48,000 were digital downloads. The soundtrack for the movie scored the second biggest digital download week for a soundtrack since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking album download sales in 2004. The biggest digital week honor goes to ‘High School Musical 2’ back in August 2007 when the soundtrack sold 62,000 downloads in a week. If the soundtrack is any indication, the movie ‘Twilight’ is going to be huge!
Universal Republic Records’ rock band 10 Years landed a Top 15 debut on Billboard’s Top Album chart this week, coming in at #12 with their new album Division. The new CD also grabbed the top spot on iTunes coveted rock page and currently sits at #7 on the Top Albums. It also garnered the #1 spot on the Top Hard Music Chart, #2 on the Top Alternative Album Chart and #3 on the Top Current Rock Album Chart rallied by their soaring hit single “Beautiful.” The single was launched at radio in early February and was the #1 Most Added single at Alternative and Active Rock radio.
The video for the new single has also garnered wide acclaim, with the clip taking a swipe at both celebrities and paparazzi in the current Gotcha game of celebrity journalism. 10 Years has also earned a place on one of 2008’s most anticipated summer tours, joining mega-rockers Linkin Park on their 5th annual rollout of the Projekt Revolution tour, which kicks off on July 16 at the Tweeter Center in Boston, MA. 10 Years will share the Revolution stage with multiple other bands on the raucous trek, including metal icons Atreyu, Hawthorne Heights, and Armor For Sleep. The 24 city trek hits multiple major U.S. cities in July and August, including New York City on July 22, Washington DC on July 27, Atlanta on August 3, and Chicago on August 16, winding up in Houston Texas on August 24 for the final Projekt Revolution event at the Cynthia woods Mitchell Pavilion.
Critics have cited no let-down in the momentum10 Years established with the across-the-board fan response they received with their previous album The Autumn Effect, which spawned the hits “Wasteland” and “Through The Iris.” “Wasteland” was hailed by the rock, video, and digital world as one of the decade’s breakthrough rock singles, setting career highs for the band as it reigned for more than a year on the rock charts. The song notched the #4 spot on the year-end Active Rock chart, and pulled off a hat-trick of #1 citations at Active Rock, Billboard’s Modern Rock chart, and in the Alternative Rock format.
The new album, Division, was produced by acclaimed production veteran Rick Parasher (Pearl Jam, Nickelback, Soundgarden. Rob Zombie, among others), and recorded during what the band
has described as ‘an intense creative process.’ Songs on Division include “Just Can’t Win,” “Drug of Choice,” “11:00AM (Daydreamer),” and “Focus,” among others. The latter song was co-written by guitarist Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots’ fame.
Formed in 2002, members of 10 Years are longtime friends, gaining notoriety with their independent release Killing All That holds You, and signing on with Universal Records in 2005.
Tokio Hotel stormed the Billboard album charts with SCREAM, the band’s first U.S. full length to date. Landing at #5 and #6 on the Alternative Albums and Rock Albums charts respectively and in the top 40 of Billboards Top 200 it is safe to say – Tokio Hotel have more than arrived.
In their next step in U.S. domination, Bill, Tom, Georg and Gustav, will find themselves in millions of living rooms as their ballad, “Monsoon,” is released as downloadable content for Rock Band!
If Tokio Hotel have it their way, they’ll be back in the States this August rocking out live for fans old and new. Keep up-to-date on tour information and the latest news in the world of Tokio Hotel at www.tokiohotel-us.com!
About Staind:
In the past decade, Staind has had four No. 1 singles at mainstream rock radio, seen six more singles break the Top 10, and watched their last three albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart. The group has earned their place as one of the most successful rock bands of the new millennium, with four major-label studio recordings and a highly anticipated new release due later this summer. Staind’s music and core sound remains timely and relevant, as the group’s primary focus has always been songwriting over fashion and the latest trend.
Chris Cornell went on the record with Billboard.com that he really liked David Cook’s rendition of ‘Billie Jean’ on American Idol last week – especially because he did it first. In his interview, the rocker admits that the Idol wannabe “sang it great” but then adds that “it was literally a note-for-note take on what I came up with.” And they say Cook is an original. While Chris was given credit for the innovative arrangement on the show, Idol’s imitation also pays Chris off as his cover of ‘Billie Jean’ has jumped to #12 on iTunes. And by the way, Doxology was finally given credit for their version of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ which Cook also sang.