CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 1/22/26

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Hey Everyone,

Once again, things are heavy in Minneapolis. I know it is a very disturbing situation on many of our minds, because community is the heart of what we all do. There is a lot of noise out there right now, which is why it is so important to stay engaged with the members of our communities near and far.

I like to use the CIMS Chart as an opportunity to highlight and share exciting and positive things happening with our stores, but in the spirit of true journalism, it is important to have those first-hand accounts from our community when things are not so good as well. 

This week, I am sharing a letter from Jim Novak & Electric Fetus, a member of our CIMS community.
 


CIMS friends
 
Our city is going through some real shit right now, but I am still hopeful.
 
Our shop closed Friday in solidarity with other local businesses, and tens of thousands of Minnesotans peacefully marched without incident through our downtown area in -10 temps.  It was a proud moment that shows the resilience of our city.
 
All of that went to shit on Saturday with the murder of Alex Pretti by federal agents, just over a mile from the store.  Dawn was at Glam Doll Donuts across the street from that spot 30 minutes before the murder and all was calm at that point.  One of the first circulated videos showing the murder was from inside that shop.  
 
Within minutes, hundreds of Minnesotans were on the scene demonstrating and surrounding the federal agents, who refused crime scene access to our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, despite the BCA getting a judge-signed search warrant for the area.  (The BCA is our state's gov't org (independent-ish) that investigates things like police shootings.)  
 
Shortly thereafter more federal agents entered the area, and they extracted the other agents with the use of flashbangs and chemical irritants like pepper spray and other mystery chemicals.  One of their flashbangs went through a car window and set it on fire, which was put out by MN citizens and the Mpls Fire Dept.  
 
One of our former staff was helping people get out of the way during the extraction (blocks away from the murder) and was sprayed in the face by federal agents.  She was immediately assisted by her neighbors and is doing OK now.
 
Governor Walz mobilized our national guard to create a "Vehicle Exclusion Zone" around the area, which included our store.  Steph and Aaron closed the store at 1:30pm due to airborne chemical irritants and incoming national guard presence.  National guard troops were stationed on every intersection around the exclusion zone from early evening through about 12:30am with a Humvee and multiple squad cars in front of our store.  I don't believe there were any incidents.

Sunday, we opened for business as usual, and had a normal-ish day sales-wise.  Many customers commented they “had to come” and needed a place “to feel normal”.  

Today we are closed as usual on Mondays and are reflecting/discussing how best to move forward as members of our community and as a small business.  

Lots of our friends are reaching out asking how they can help us and our neighbors, so here’s what you can do:

  • Support our local non-profits:

  • Support your local non-profits

  • Donate blood, and encourage your staff to do so

  • And one more thing you can do is share your ideas with us—things are moving fast and it’s a bit like drinking from a fire-hose of ideas at the moment.  Special t-shirts/food and clothing drives/voter registration drives/etc.  It’s all coming at us at the moment.
     

What’s worked for you and your store?  We’d love to hear your thoughts, and unfortunately your city may be next so sharing ideas is important.

We are holding strong and are hopeful for better days ahead.  

Love from MN,
Jim, Dawn, Aaron, Steph, Bob and the Fetoids
 


Thank you for reading.

Here are the charts.
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 1/1/26

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Hey Everyone,

Happy New Year! As we all step into the new year ahead of us, I hope yours is off on the right foot.

We are just getting into it over here, so not tons to report yet, but I do have one important thing to put on your radar: RSD Summer Camp 2026 dates. Consider this your save-the-date for this year's conference. We will return to our beloved city of New Orleans and the Hotel Monteleone, and our dates are July 27th- 31st.

There will be more details coming soon so if you are not already on our Summer Camp mailing list and you want to receive updates and information about the conference, please sign up here: bit.ly/SUMMERCAMPINTEREST.

Okay, let’s do this 2026!

Here are the charts,
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 12/18/25 + YEAR END LISTS

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Hi Everyone,

As we close out another year and head into the holiday season, we want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who worked with us.

This year was a huge milestone as we celebrated 30 years of CIMS. Congrats to our stores. I raise a glass to our organization and everyone along the way who has been a part of making this journey possible. Thank you for your support throughout the years, and here is to many more!

I look forward to working with you all in the new year.

Have a wonderful holiday, and til then, here are the charts and some of our personal favorite albums this year.

Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

ANDREA PASCHAL
CIMS/THINKINDIE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


Andrea’s Favorite Albums of 2025  (in no particular order)

Pulp- More
Rosalía- Lux
Florence and the Machine- Everybody Scream
Geese- Getting Killed
Drop Nineteens- 1991
Polo & Pan- 22:22
Stereolab- Instant Holograms on Metal Film
Alabaster de Plume- A Blade because a blade is whole
Saya Gray- Saya
Berlioz- Open this Wall (this came out in 2024) but it was still one of my most listened to albums of 2025

LIZ BOGER
CIMS SALES & MARKETING


In no particular order:

Wet Leg/ Moisturizer
Japanese Breakfast/ For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
Cardi B/ Am I the Drama?
Royal Otis/ Hickey
Haim/ I Quit
Balu Brigada/ Portal
Pool Kids/ Easier Said Than Done
Sombr/ I Barely Know Her
UFO/ UFOs (just a single, but it’s my fav song of 2025 and I can’t leave it off 🙃)

BLAKE WIMBERLY
CIMS/THINKINDIE SECRETARY OF WAR


Paul St. Hilaire- w/ The Producers (Kynant)
Chaos In The CBD- A Deeper Life (In Dust We Trust)
Barker- Stochastic Drift (Smalltown Supersound)
Stereolab- Instant Holograms On Metal Film (Warp)
J. Albert- Return To Sender
Unspecified Enemies- Romance In The Age of Adaptive Feedback (Numbers)
Johnny Nash- Once Was Ours Forever (Melody As Truth)
Al Wootton- Calvinist Hospitality (TRULE)
Red Axes- Promo Only 1 - WFSB Re-Edit (Jolly Jams)
kingkon2k11- Last Dance Before Dawn (Golden Triangles)

ASHLEY VASKE
CIMS/THINKINDIE ACCOUNTING

 

Favorite 2025 Albums:

Poliça- Dreams Go
The Cure- Mixes of a Lost World
Other Lives- Volume V
Florence + The Machine- Everybody Scream
Coeur De Pirate- Cavale
Haim- I Quit
Car Seat Headrest- The Scholars
Polo & Pan- 22:22
FKA Twigs- EUSEXUA
Ken Pomeroy- Cruel Joke
Neko Case- Neon Grey Midnight Green
Mdou Moctar- Tears of Injustice

SCOTT REGISTER
THINKINDIE A&R


For the first time since we began sending these lists out, I am doing something different from the Reg’s Baker’s Dozen I normally submit. Knew I was in trouble this go-round when I could reel off 15 albums that I immersed myself in this year. So, I'm taking a more traditional route and naming my Top 25 (in no particular order, but the first 10 -15 would be on a smaller list if I cut it down. Thanks to the music makers for giving the world a place to escape to, where they can connect to the world and gain perspective.

Rosalia - Lux - Columbia Records
Ken Pomeroy - Cruel Joke - Rounder Records
Kathleen Edwards - Billionaire - Dualtone
The Swell Season - Forward - Masterkey Sounds & Plateau Records
Florence & The Machine - Everybody Scream - Polydor/Republic Records
Pete Droge - Fadeaway Blue - Missing Piece Records
Geese - Getting Killed - Partisan Records
Wednesday - Bleeds - Dead Oceans
David Lowery - Fathers, Sons & Brothers - Cooking Vinyl
Brandi Carlile - Returning To Myself - Interscope/Lost Highway Records
James McMurtry - The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy - New West Records
Rachael Yamagata - Starlit Alchemy - Julian Records
Emily Hines - These Days - Keeled Scales
S.G. Goodman - Planting By The Signs - Thirty Tigers
Mavis Staples - Sad And Beautiful World - ANTI-
Wet Leg - moisturizer - Domino Recording Company
Andy Stochansky - Poetry Of Birds - ENCI Records
The Belair Lip Balms - Again - Third Man Records
Chance Pena - When I Change My My, I Don't Mean It - Columbia
Ben Kweller - Cover The Mirrors - The Noise Company
Royal Otis - Hickey - Ourness/Capitol
Tom Smith - There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn't There In The Light- PIAS
Waylon Jennings - Songbird - Son Of Jessi
The Autumn Defense - Here and Now - Yep Roc Records
Lera Lynn - Comic Book Cowboy - Self-Released

RUSSELL COTHRAN
THINKINDIE SALES & MARKETING


26 For 25
Pulp- Spike Island
Tame Impala- End Of Summer
Mark Pritchard/Thom Yorke- This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice
Phiz- i lost my fkin mind/ If I Had Known
Tunde Adebimpe- Magnetic 
Momma- I Want You
FKA Twigs- Hard
The Dears- Tomorrow & Tomorrow
Clipse- Chain & Whips
Sharon Van Etten- Idiot Box
Tennis- Weight Of Desire
Hamilton Leithauser- Knockin’ Heart
Haim- Relationships
Tycho/Paul Banks- Boundary Rider
Geese- Taxes
Ethel Cain- Fuck Me Eyes
Sophia Stel- Everyone Falls Asleep In Their Own Time
Nine Inch Nails- As Alive As You Need Me To Be
Saya- Thus Is Why
2Hollis- Flash
Hannah Cohen- Earthstar
Wolf Alice- The Sofa
She’s Green- Graze
Idles- Rabbit Run
Guided By Voices- Lucy’s World
Ben Kweller/Flaming Lips- Killer Bee

Top Albums 
Pulp- More
The Dears- Life Is Beautiful Life Is Beautiful Life Is Beautiful
Clipse- Let God Sort Em Out
Tame Impala- Deadbeat
Stereolab- Instant Holograms On Metal Film
Nation Of Language- Dance Called Memory
Sharon Van Etten- Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory
Mark Pritchard/Thom Yorke- Tall Tales
Tyler, The Creator- Don’t Tap The Glass
Tunde Adebimpe- Thee Black Boltz
M-83- Resurrection OST
Nine Inch Nails- Tron: Ares OST
Tennis- Face Down In The Garden

JOHNNIE SHANEYFELT
THINKINDIE WAREHOUSE


Hudson Freeman- is a Folk Artist
Geese- Getting Killed
Justin Bieber- SWAG
Justin Bieber- SWAG II
Tyler Childers- Snipe Hunter
BigXthaplug- Take Care
Deftones- Private Music
Between The Buried And Me- The Blue Nowhere
Mk.gee- Two Star and The Dream Police (2024)
Cameron Winter- Heavy Metal (2024)

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 11/27/25 + Black Friday

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Hey Everyone,
 
Here are the charts for the week. The debut chart reflects the CIMS Black Friday best sellers.

Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 11/20/25

in

Hey Everyone,
 
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends, and a successful Black Friday!

Here are the charts,
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic

CIMS WEEKLY CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 10/30/25

in

Hey Everyone,

Last week, Brandi Carlile celebrated the release of her first solo record in five years, on Lost Highway Records with her pals, our very own Easy Street Records.

On street date, she packed out Easy Street in her hometown of Seattle. She then got in the Easy Street van, which was her old touring van (she gifted it to Easy Street during the pandemic), and they went to all her favorite spots the following day, selling records from the back of the van. After that, it was on to NYC for a stunning performance on SNL. On Nov 8, she will be performing with Soundgarden Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction! World Tour Announced! Madison Square Garden 2nd night just announced!

CIMS and Easy Street have a long history with Brandi that goes back to the beginning, and she was our 2020 RSD Ambassador. 

Returning to Myself was:
#1 on the CIMS Debut charts last week
#1 on the CIMS Top 200 this week
#1 rock/ alternative record 


Truly an example of not forgetting where you came from...seems like the perfect album title for this one.


CIMS loves you, Brandi!
Andrea

CIMS CHARTS: WEEK ENDING 9/25/25

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Hi Everyone,
 
Cardi B is back and she lived up to her new album title by bringing the drama coast to coast last week to do events at indie retail for her new album, I am the Drama. There were events at Looney Tunes and Fingerprints in the CIMS roster, and DBS Sounds and Spin Me Round. This was all part of a well-executed rollout plan that landed her at the #1 spot on the Billboard charts (and the CIMS chart as well). Cardi B is the first female rap artist in music history to have back-to-back #1 debuts (7 years apart), selling over 200,000 albums the first week (according to Luminate).
 
Congrats to these stores and the WMX crew for pulling off some amazing fan-engaging events, and to all involved for including indie retail as the place to be. This once again proves the important role indie retail plays in the artist ecosystem and being able to take an album to #1.
 
Okurr! Here are the charts,
Andrea

Andrea Paschal
Executive Director
Coalition of Independent Music Stores
ThinkIndie Distribution
3738 4th Terrace North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: 205.595.1932 x.208
Fax: 205.595.1938
Email : andrea@cimsmusic.com
cimsmusic.com
#cimsmusic