Hozier Debuts at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums
The Irish singer-songwriter reigns with his debut full-length. Plus, chart action from vets Weezer, Sixx: A.M. and Nickelback.
Irish singer-songwriter Hozier (aka, Andrew Hozier-Byrne) crowns Top Rock Albums and starts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with his self-titled full-length debut album. The 24-year-old launches with 58,000 copies sold (with 88 percent from digital sales), according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set also opens atop the Folk Albums chart.
Hozier Gains Following With ‘Church’
Anticipation of the release has been building since Sept. 2013, when Hozier posted the video for “Take Me to Church,” a statement against gay discrimination in Russia. The video became a viral hit, racking up 14 million global views to date. “Church” leads off the new set after appearing on 2013’s Take Me to Church EP, which reached No. 1 on Heatseekers Albums in May. The track reaches a new peak on Hot Rock Songs, lifting 6-3 as the Streaming Gainer, also breaking into the top five of Rock Airplay (6-5). A new track, “From Eden,” debuts at No. 23 on Adult Alternative Songs, where “Church” led the week of Aug. 16.
Weezer‘s ninth studio album Everything Will Be Alright in the End starts at No. 2 on Top Rock Albums with 34,000 sold. The new set also launches at No. 2 on Vinyl Albums (3,000 vinyl copies sold) and No. 5 on the Billboard 200, the band’s highest rank on the latter list since its third self-titled album (aka, The Red Album) started at No. 4 in 2008.
Alright is the alt-rock band’s first new studio set since 2010’s Hurley, which peaked at No. 3 on Top Rock Albums with 45,000 first-week copies sold. The new set’s lead single, “Back to the Shack,” lifts 15-13 on Hot Rock Songs; earlier this month, it became Weezer’s eighth Alternative Songs top five.
Hard rock band Sixx:A.M., led by Motley Crue founding member Nikki Sixx, notches its second No. 5 title on Top Rock Albums and second No. 1 on Hard Rock Albums with Modern Vintage; those positions match the career-best ranks set by 2011’s This Is Gonna Hurt. The new set starts with 17,000 sold and at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. This Is Gonna Hurt began at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 (with 30,000).
Nickelback Joins Republic Records
On Mainstream Rock Songs, Nickelback notches its eighth No. 1, and first in five years, as “Edge of a Revolution” rises 2-1. The band had last led with “Something in Your Mouth” in 2009. Dating to the group’s first No. 1, the 13-week topper “How You Remind Me” in 2001, Nickelback ties Linkin Park and Shinedown for the second-most No. 1s. Three Days Grace leads with 11 in that span.
Additional reporting by Gary Trust.
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