iTunes Chart Watch: Pearl Jam Scores #1 Album With Backspacer

So let it be written, so let it be done.  My pen is mightier than your sword.  I predicted Pearl Jam would top the albums' chart and so they have.  I will only use my powers for good… like on the singles chart.

Let's stick with albums for the moment, though.  Pearl Jam's Backspacer is indeed the #1 this week, followed by Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3.  Three Days Grace gets a #3 debut with their Life Starts Now album.  I had to look them up.  I've heard the name but couldn't place them until I saw the dreaded words "Canadian Rock Band."  Now to our Canadian friends, I know many fine bands have come from your fine land.  All countries have rock bands they need to apologize for.  I just happen to find Nickelback and all their friends the most egregious offenders of taste at this particular moment.  Canada needs to take a lap for Three Days Grace.  They run until I'm tired for Nickelback. 

The "Monsters of Folk" supergroup, a collaboration of indie emo wonderkids, got their side project into the Top 10 as did Muse with The Resistance.  I've only listened to a little bit of Muse and wasn't overwhelmed.  They open for U2 on Tuesday in Atlanta, where I shall also be.  We'll see if they can make me a believer in the live setting.

I suppose we should now look at the singles, but I don't want to.  Kanye West is going to have more time to work on his next single, as will Lady Gaga.  Their tour got canceled before it began.  Karma.  The only new development is that Taylor Swift has been punted for Carrie Underwood.  There are those who might call that an upgrade.  I call it a distinction without a difference.

iTunes' top 10 selling singles of the week ending Sept. 28, 2009:

1. "Party In the U.S.A." – Miley Cyrus
2. "Whatcha Say" – Jason DeRulo
3. "I Gotta Feeling" – Black Eyed Peas
4. "Paparazzi" – Lady GaGa
5. "Down" – Jay Sean
6. "Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)" – Jay-Z
7. "Run This Town (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West)" – Jay-Z
8. "Cowboy Casanova" – Carrie Underwood
9. "Forever" – Drake, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Kanye West
10. "Use Somebody" – Kings of Leon

iTunes' top 10 selling albums of the week ending Sept. 28, 2009:

1. Backspacer – Pearl Jam
2. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
3. Life Starts Now – Three Days Grace
4. Church Music – David Crowder Band
5. The Boy Who Knew Too Much – MIKA
6. Draw the Line – David Gray
7. Daisy – Brand New
8. Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
9. The Resistance – Muse
10. War is the Answer – Five Finger Death Punch