Howdy...

I've thought of a few things since last week's rant. One, during a drunken 4th of July record spinning party, a dear friend reminded me that there was one other zeitgeist artist besides the late King of Pop -- Kurt Cobain. I should've thought of that. Thanks Mark. This relates, somewhat, to the second thing I failed to mention: A big HUZZAH! to Dinosaur Jr. topping our chart. Farm is one hell of a record... And seeing them and Sonic Youth taking prime slots on our chart is like a dream come true for my high school self. Gimme Indie Rock!

This weeks chart is interesting as well. No surprise that Wilco's excellent new album, Wilco (The Album), topped our chart. It's a blast -- and way better than Sky Blue Sky. Side one kills and Side two is a grower. Do check it out.

As for the rest: Levon Helm is back and killing it, while MJ makes his posthumous presence felt. Crazy. Plenty of other goodness as well, particularly Pheonix and Bitte Orca, which is one of my favorite records of the year.

Right now that top spot belongs to Sonic Youth. You're a fool to miss them on tour. They're playing in
Birmingham on Sunday and I couldn't be more thrilled. You should also keep your eyes peeled for Birmingham's own Vulture Whale. Their latest self-titled gem is easily in my top ten for 2009. They're looking for some in-store love, too, so if they're coming close then you should give them a holler. Travis Morgan (travmo@gmail.com) from their record label, Skybucket, can give you a hand. The label's excellent catalog can be attained through RED.

HEY: We're still wrapping up CIMS' August programs. Hit up me and Liz (liz@cimsmusic.com) for info. Some details are attached.

Oh yeah: And Twisted Sister... What the fuck?!?

Onward,

-- jim.

CIMS TOP TEN DEBUTS:

1 MAXWELL BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT SBME/COLUMBIA
2 SON VOLT AMERICAN CENTRAL DUST UMGD/ROUNDER
3 JAYHAWKS MUSIC FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY: SBME/COLUMBIA
4 DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS LIVE FROM AUSTIN TX NEW WEST
5 ALL TIME LOW NOTHING PERSONAL HOPELESS RECORDS
6 AGAINST ME! ORIGINAL COWBOY FAT WRECK CHORDS
7 RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE HOMETOWNS SADDLE CREEK
8 DISCOVERY LP XL
9 BOWERBIRDS UPPER AIR DEAD OCEANS
10 CAGE DEPART FROM ME DEFINITIVE JUX/TVT

THE CIMS 200:

TW LW Artist Title Label
1 D WILCO WILCO (THE ALBUM) WEA/NONESUCH
2 D HELM,LEVON ELECTRIC DIRT EMM/VANGUARD
3 D TWISTED SISTER STAY HUNGRY WEA/ATLANTIC
4 3 SPEKTOR,REGINA FAR WEA/SIRE
5 1 DINOSAUR JR. FARM JAGJAGUWAR
6 5 JACKSON,MICHAEL THRILLER-25TH ANNIVERSARY EDIT SBME/EPIC
7 D JACKSON,MICHAEL NUMBER ONES SBME/EPIC
8 7 GRIZZLY BEAR VECKATIMEST WARP RECORDS
9 D JACKSON,MICHAEL OFF THE WALL SBME/LEGACY
10 D MOBY WAIT FOR ME EMM/MUTE
11 2 MARS VOLTA OCTAHEDRON WEA/WARNER BROS.
12 9 SONIC YOUTH ETERNAL MATADOR
13 10 PHOENIX WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX GLASSNOTE
14 54 JACKSON,MICHAEL THRILLER SBME/LEGACY
15 28 JACKSON,MICHAEL ESSENTIAL MICHAEL JACKSON SBME/LEGACY
16 D KILLSWITCH ENGAGE KILLSWITCH ENGAGE WEA/ROADRUNNER
17 8 MATTHEWS,DAVE BAND BIG WHISKEY & THE GROOGRUX KIN SBME/RCA
18 12 IRON & WINE AROUND THE WELL SUB POP
19 D BJORK VOLTAIC WEA/NONESUCH
20 17 GREEN DAY 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN WEA/REPRISE
21 13 MOS DEF ECSTATIC DOWNTOWN RECORDS
22 55 JACKSON,MICHAEL BAD SBME/LEGACY
23 23 KINGS OF LEON ONLY BY THE NIGHT SBME/RCA
24 27 EMINEM RELAPSE UMGD/INTERSCOPE
25 4 YORN,PETE BACK & FOURTH SBME/COLUMBIA
26 11 DIRTY PROJECTORS BITTE ORCA DOMINO
27 14 HOOD,PATTERSON MURDERING OSCAR (& OTHER LOVE RUTH ST RECORDS
28 18 EARLE,STEVE TOWNES NEW WEST
29 19 BLACK EYED PEAS E.N.D. (ENERGY NEVER DIES) UMGD/A&M
30 16 TORTOISE BEACONS OF ANCESTORSHIP THRILL JOCKEY
31 24 DYLAN,BOB TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE SBME/COLUMBIA
32 26 COSTELLO,ELVIS SECRET PROFANE & SUGARCANE UMGD/CONCORD
33 21 HARRISON,GEORGE LET IT ROLL: THE SONGS OF GEOR EMM/CAPITOL
34 22 GOD HELP THE GIRL GOD HELP THE GIRL MATADOR
35 D THOMAS,ROB CRADLESONG WEA/ATLANTIC
36 33 ST. VINCENT ACTOR 4AD
37 15 ROBISON,CHARLIE BEAUTIFUL DAY DUALTONE
38 35 JACKSON,MICHAEL VOL. 1-GREATEST HITS HISTORY SBME/EPIC
39 D JEREMIH JEREMIH UMGD/DEF JAM
40 25 SNIDER,TODD EXCITEMENT PLAN YEP ROC
41 6 DREAM THEATER BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS WEA/ROADRUNNER
42 D JACKSON,MICHAEL DANGEROUS SBME/LEGACY
43 31 CASE,NEKO MIDDLE CYCLONE ANTI/EPITAPH
44 40 LEWIS,BLACK JOE & THE HONEYBEA TELL 'EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS! UMGD/LOST HIGHWAY
45 37 YEAH YEAH YEAHS IT'S BLITZ Artist
46 48 OBERST,CONOR & THE MYSTIC VALL OUTER SOUTH MERGE
47 20 SUNSET RUBDOWN DRAGONSLAYER JAGJAGUWAR
48 30 CHICKENFOOT CHICKENFOOT REDLINE ENTERTAINMENT
49 29 BINGHAM,RYAN ROADHOUSE SUN UMGD/LOST HIGHWAY
50 34 INCUBUS MONUMENTS & MELODIES SBME/EPIC
51 46 CLEAVES,SLAID EVERYTHING YOU LOVE WILL BE TA MUSIC ROAD
52 36 DEER TICK BORN ON FLAG DAY PARTISAN RECORDS
53 44 MGMT ORACULAR SPECTACULAR SBME/COLUMBIA
54 39 SPINNERETTE SPINNERETTE ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT
55 172 BUILDERS & THE BUTCHERS SALVATION IS A DEEP DARK WELL EMM/GIGANTIC
56 D SUICIDE SILENCE NO TIME TO BLEED EMM/CENTURY MEDIA
57 42 RANCID LET THE DOMINOES FALL EPITAPH RECORDS
58 105 JAROSZ,SARAH SONG UP IN HER HEAD EMM/SUGAR HILL
59 143 AWAY WE GO SOUNDTRACK SBME/RCA
60 D JACKSON,MICHAEL INVINCIBLE SBME/EPIC
61 38 AMOS,TORI ABNORMALLY ATTRACTED TO SIN UMGD/UNIVERSAL RECORDS
62 50 CAMERA OBSCURA MY MAUDLIN CAREER 4AD
63 62 CLAPTON,ERIC & STEVE WINWOOD LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN WEA/REPRISE
64 43 EELS HOMBRE LOBO: 12 SONGS OF DESIR VAGRANT
65 D WU TANG CHAMBER MUSIC KOCH RECORDS
66 45 SILVERSUN PICKUPS SWOON DANGERBIRD RECORDS
67 52 FLEET FOXES FLEET FOXES SUB POP
68 110 HARPER,BEN/RELENTLESS7 WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES EMM/VIRGIN
69 74 ADELE 19 SBME/XL/COLUMBIA
70 58 MILLER,RHETT RHETT MILLER SBME/SHOUT ENT.
71 59 PASSION PIT MANNERS COLUMBIA/3 ENT.
72 57 WHITE RABBITS IT'S FRIGHTENING TBD RECORDS
73 233 KREKEL,TIM ORCHESTRA SOUL SEASON PROGRESSION MUSIC
74 66 NELSON,WILLIE/ASLEEP AT THE WH WILLIE & THE WHEEL BISMEAUX
75 69 FLATLANDERS HILLS & VALLEYS NEW WEST
76 76 METRIC FANTASIES METRIC MUSIC INTERNATIONAL
77 78 LADY GAGA FAME UMGD/INTERSCOPE
78 D JEFFERSON AIRPLANE VOLUNTEERS: THE WOODSTOCK EXPE SBME/LEGACY
79 90 BON IVER FOR EMMA FOREVER AGO JAGJAGUWAR
80 D JACKSON,MICHAEL HISTORY PAST PRESENT & FUTURE SBME/COLUMBIA
81 53 LEMONHEADS VARSHONS THE END RECORDS
82 63 COLVIN,SHAWN LIVE WEA/NONESUCH
83 68 GOMEZ NEW TIDE ATO
84 73 CAGE THE ELEPHANT CAGE THE ELEPHANT RED INK
85 120 WARD,M. HOLD TIME MERGE
86 D MATT & KIM GRAND ONE LABEL
87 D PAISLEY,BRAD AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT SBME/SBMG NASHVILLE
88 D WINTER,JOHNNY JOHNNY WINTER: THE WOODSTOCK E SBME/LEGACY
89 49 STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB INDEPENDENT LABEL GROUP
90 82 MASTODON CRACK THE SKYE WEA/REPRISE
91 98 MARTIN,STEVE CROW: NEW SONGS FOR THE 5-STRI UMGD/ROUNDER
92 95 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION DOMINO
93 117 BUCKLEY,JEFF GRACE AROUND THE WORLD SBME/LEGACY
94 51 DECEMBERISTS HAZARDS OF LOVE EMM/CAPITOL
95 118 YUSUF ROADSINGER (TO WARM YOU THROUG UMGD/HIP-O RECORDS
96 136 BOOKER T. POTATO HOLE ANTI/EPITAPH
97 132 MAJOR LAZER GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE...LAZER DOWNTOWN RECORDS
98 188 JACKSON 5 BEST OF JACKSON 5-MILLENNIUM C UMGD/MOTOWN
99 32 R.E.M. RECKONING UMGD/UNIVERSAL RECORDS
100 67 GOATWHORE CARVING OUT THE EYES OF GOD METAL BLADE
101 79 BIRCH,DIANE BIBLE BELT EMM/S-CURVE RECORDS
102 137 BIBIO AMBIVALENCE AVENUE WARP RECORDS
103 142 BEIRUT MARCH OF THE ZAPOTEC POMPEII RECORDS
104 182 HEARTLESS BASTARDS MOUNTAIN FAT POSSUM
105 65 NUTINI,PAOLO SUNNY SIDE UP WEA/ATLANTIC
106 84 DOOM BORN LIKE THIS LEX RECORDS
107 109 CRACKER SUNRISE IN THE LAND OF MILK & SAVOY JAZZ
108 187 WAITS,TOM SWORDFISHTROMBONES UMGD/ISLAND
109 D OBITUARY DARKEST DAY EMM/CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
110 71 AU REVOIR SIMONE STILL NIGHT STILL LIGHT OUR SECRET RECORD COMPANY
111 72 AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT UMGD/ISLAND
112 115 IZIBOR,LAURA LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD WEA/ATLANTIC
113 128 MY MORNING JACKET CELEBRACION DE LA CIUDAD NATAL JUNKETBOY
114 139 TAKING BACK SUNDAY NEW AGAIN WEA/WARNER BROS.
115 134 KRALL,DIANA QUIET NIGHTS UMGD/VERVE
116 157 PLANT/KRAUSS RAISING SAND UMGD/ROUNDER
117 214 FLEET FOXES SUN GIANT EP SUB POP
118 47 FUTURE OF THE LEFT TRAVELS WITH MYSELF & ANOTHER 4AD
119 56 DARKEST HOUR ETERNAL RETURN VICTORY RECORDS
120 81 RADIOHEAD IN RAINBOWS ATO
121 107 BAT FOR LASHES TWO SUNS EMM/ASTRALWERKS
122 121 U2 NO LINE ON THE HORIZON UMGD/INTERSCOPE
123 152 HARVEY,PJ & JOHN PARISH WOMAN A MAN WALKED BY UMGD/ISLAND
124 141 YEAH YEAH YEAHS IT'S BLITZ! UMGD/INTERSCOPE
125 168 COHEN,LEONARD LIVE IN LONDON SBME/COLUMBIA
126 181 JACKA TEAR GAS MB RECORDINGS
127 173 BYRNE/ENO EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL H TODOMUNDO/OPAL
128 D WOODEN BIRDS MAGNOLIA BARSUK RECORDS
129 151 KASABIAN WEST RYDER PAUPER LUNATIC ASYL RCA/RED INK
130 179 LAMONTAGNE,RAY GOSSIP IN THE GRAIN RCA/RED INK
131 189 MARLEY,BOB & THE WAILERS LEGEND UMGD/ISLAND
132 D CLAYPOOL,LES OF FUNGI & FOE PRAWN SONG RECORDS
133 D JOPLIN,JANIS JANIS JOPLIN: THE WOODSTOCK EX SBME/LEGACY
134 70 311 UPLIFTER SBME/VOLCANO
135 94 ALVIN,DAVE & THE GUILTY WOMEN DAVE ALVIN & THE GUILTY WOMEN YEP ROC
136 101 METHOD MAN/REDMAN BLACKOUT 2 UMGD/DEF JAM
137 114 DEPECHE MODE SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE EMM/CAPITOL
138 116 NOFX COASTER FAT WRECK CHORDS
139 126 GIRL IN A COMA TRIO B.C. BLACKHEART RECORDS
140 122 SUNN O))) MONOLITHS & DIMENSIONS SOUTHERN LORD
141 144 ALLEN,LILY IT'S NOT ME IT'S YOU EMM/CAPITOL
142 154 DEAD PREZ & DJ GREEN LANTERN PULSE OF THE PEOPLE INVASION/TVT
143 174 AUERBACH,DAN KEEP IT HID WEA/NONESUCH
144 215 PETER BJORN & JOHN LIVING THING ALMOST GOLD RECORDINGS
145 D VASELINES ENTER THE VASELINES SUB POP
146 60 J DILLA JAY STAY PAID EMM/NATURE SOUNDS
147 83 GINUWINE MAN'S THOUGHTS WEA/REPRISE
148 119 YOUNG,NEIL FORK IN THE ROAD WEA/REPRISE
149 130 BEATLES ABBEY ROAD EMM/CAPITOL
150 153 DEERHUNTER RAINWATER CASSETTE EXCHANGE KRANKY
151 198 MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA MEAN EVERYTHING TO NOTHING SBME/COLUMBIA
152 193 LED ZEPPELIN MOTHERSHIP WEA/RHINO
153 D GREEN,AL GREATEST HITS FAT POSSUM
154 D ACE HOOD RUTHLESS UMGD/DEF JAM
155 77 VNV NATION OF FAITH POWER & GLORY ANACHRON AMERIC
156 91 AGGROLITES IV HELLCAT/EPITAPH
157 96 TING TINGS WE STARTED NOTHING COLUMBIA/3 ENT.
158 113 EASY STAR ALL-STARS EASY STAR'S LONELY HEARTS DUB EASY STAR RECORDS
159 127 NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA MERGE
160 162 DEVIL MAKES THREE DO WRONG RIGHT MILAN
161 213 BLACK KEYS ATTACK & RELEASE WEA/NONESUCH
162 222 JACKSONS DESTINY SBME/LEGACY
163 232 STEVENS,SUFJAN ILLINOIS ASTHMATIC KITTY RECORDS
164 D WILSON,CHARLIE UNCLE CHARLIE SBME/ZOMBA LABEL GROUP
165 D SLY & THE FAMILY STONE SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: THE WO SBME/LEGACY
166 86 DARK WAS THE NIGHT (RED HOT CO DARK WAS THE NIGHT (RED HOT CO 4AD
167 103 GUZMAN,JOEL & SARAH FOX CONJUNTAZZO GUZMAN FOX RECORDS
168 135 PLACEBO BATTLE FOR THE SUN VAGRANT
169 131 IRON MAIDEN FLIGHT 666-SOUNDTRACK SBME/LEGACY
170 158 WILCO YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT WEA/NONESUCH
171 180 JONAS BROTHERS LINES VINES & TRYING TIMES UMGD/HOLLYWOOD
172 183 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE OPEN DOOR EP WEA/ATLANTIC
173 204 SPINAL TAP BACK FROM THE DEAD A2M
174 206 VOIVOD INFINI RELAPSE RECORDS
175 245 SHE & HIM VOLUME ONE MERGE
176 239 MARLEY,ZIGGY FAMILY TIME TUFF GONE WORLDWIDE
177 D WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM BLACK CASCADE SOUTHERN LORD
178 D ONCE SOUNDTRACK RED INK
179 D JACKSON 5 NUMBER 1'S UMGD/HIP-O RECORDS
180 D BAND OF HORSES EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME SUB POP
181 D AC/DC BLACK ICE IMORT
182 D WIDESPREAD PANIC HUNTSVILLE 1996 WIDESPREAD RECORDS
183 D HALESTORM HALESTORM WEA/ATLANTIC
184 D KEEP YOUR SOUL: TRIB DOUG SAHM KEEP YOUR SOUL: TRIB DOUG SAHM EMM/VANGUARD
185 D CALLAHAN,BILL SOMETIMES I WISH WE WERE AN EA DRAG CITY
186 D MAINO IF TOMORROW COMES WEA/ATLANTIC
187 89 PARACHUTE LOSING SLEEP UMGD/UNIVERSAL RECORDS
188 140 SOUNDS CROSSING THE RUBICON ORIGINAL SIGNAL
189 138 SWIFT,TAYLOR FEARLESS UMGD/UNIVERSAL RECORDS
190 148 PEACHES I FEEL CREAM XL
191 146 VAMPIRE WEEKEND VAMPIRE WEEKEND XL
192 164 HORRORS PRIMARY COLOURS XL
193 178 MARIA,IDA FORTRESS ROUND MY HEART MERCURY RECORDS
194 175 MRAZ,JASON WE SING WE DANCE WE STEAL THIN WEA/ATLANTIC
195 201 BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW EATING US CHICAGO INDEPENDENT
196 209 COALESCE OX RELAPSE RECORDS
197 250 LEWIS,JENNY ACID TONGUE WEA/WARNER BROS.
198 D EARLE,JUSTIN TOWNES MIDNIGHT AT THE MOVIES BLOODSHOT
199 D HILSON,KERI IN A PERFECT WORLD... UMGD/INTERSCOPE
200 D OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS COCONUT ROCK EIGHTEENTH STREET LOUNGE
CIMS Top 200 sales chart by StreetPulse, Inc All Rights Reserved

CIMS' TOP VINYL TOP 50:

TW LW Artist Title Label
1 D WILCO WILCO (THE ALBUM) WEA/NONESUCH
2 5 YEAH YEAH YEAHS IT'S BLITZ Artist
3 2 WILCO YOU NEVER KNOW/UNLIKELY JAPAN WEA/NONESUCH
4 1 MODEST MOUSE AUTUMN BEDS SBME/EPIC
5 Ð TWISTED SISTER STAY HUNGRY WEA/ATLANTIC
6 3 DINOSAUR JR. FARM JAGJAGUWAR
7 10 GRIZZLY BEAR VECKATIMEST WARP RECORDS
8 6 DIRTY PROJECTORS BITTE ORCA DOMINO
9 12 GOD HELP THE GIRL GOD HELP THE GIRL MATADOR
10 17 GREEN DAY 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN WEA/REPRISE
11 Ð MOBY WAIT FOR ME EMM/MUTE
12 7 CASE,NEKO MIDDLE CYCLONE ANTI/EPITAPH
13 9 TORTOISE BEACONS OF ANCESTORSHIP THRILL JOCKEY
14 41 ST. VINCENT ACTOR 4AD
15 28 SPEKTOR,REGINA FAR WEA/LONDON/SIRE
16 34 WAITS,TOM SWORDFISHTROMBONES UMGD/ISLAND
17 4 GREEN DAY KNOW YOUR ENEMY WEA/WARNER BROS.
18 13 DEERHUNTER RAINWATER CASSETTE EXCHANGE KRANKY
19 22 MGMT ORACULAR SPECTACULAR SBME/COLUMBIA
20 33 BEATLES ABBEY ROAD EMM/CAPITOL
21 44 IRON & WINE AROUND THE WELL SUB POP
22 74 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION DOMINO
23 Ð PHOENIX WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX GLASSNOTE
24 8 YORN,PETE & SCARLETT JOHANSSON RELATOR/I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO D WEA/RHINO
25 21 FLEET FOXES FLEET FOXES SUB POP
26 29 SONIC YOUTH ETERNAL MATADOR
27 56 EARTH RADIO LIVE SOUTHERN LORD
28 Ð BLACK EYED PEAS E.N.D. (ENERGY NEVER DIES) UMGD/A&M
29 Ð BJORK VOLTAIC WEA/NONESUCH
30 18 SUNSET RUBDOWN DRAGONSLAYER JAGJAGUWAR
31 24 WILCO YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT WEA/NONESUCH
32 25 NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA MERGE
33 37 RADIOHEAD IN RAINBOWS ATO
34 40 WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM BLACK CASCADE SOUTHERN LORD
35 50 SPECIALS SPECIALS EMM/VIRGIN
36 61 SPINNERETTE SPINNERETTE ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT
37 Ð EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY ALL OF A SUDDEN I MISS EVERYON TEMPORARY RESIDENCE LTD
38 Ð DYLAN,BOB HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED SUNDAZED RECORDS
39 Ð KINGS OF LEON ONLY BY THE NIGHT THE CONTROL GROUP
40 Ð SILVERSUN PICKUPS PIKUL DANGERBIRD RECORDS
41 19 HOOD,PATTERSON MURDERING OSCAR (& OTHER LOVE RUTH ST RECORDS
42 39 YEAH YEAH YEAHS IT'S BLITZ! UMGD/INTERSCOPE
43 42 FLEET FOXES MYKONOS SUB POP
44 48 RADIOHEAD OK COMPUTER EMM/CAPITOL
45 49 MONKS BLACK MONK TIME LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
46 59 PAVEMENT BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS: NICENE C MATADOR
47 65 DYLAN,BOB TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE SBME/COLUMBIA
48 70 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE STRAWBERRY JAM DOMINO
49 85 RADIOHEAD BENDS EMM/CAPITOL
50 76 STEVENS,SUFJAN ILLINOIS ASTHMATIC KITTY RECORDS
CIMS Top 50 vinyl sales chart by StreetPulse, Inc All Rights Reserved

Onward,

-- jim.