Wednesday, November 18 2009

by Andrew Miller

Unitshifter

Black Friday, November 13 2009, has proved to be the lucky tipping point for local drum n bass outfit Shapeshifter. In three short days since the Christchurch band’s new album The System Is A Vampire went on sale, it outsold all-comers to claim the top of the Official NZ Album Chart.

It was a close battle but Shapeshifter knock the Foo Fighters’ Greatest Hits to fourth while seeing off a sales increase for the late Michael Jackson’s This Is It movie soundtrack.

It’s also a case of fourth time lucky as they gain their first #1 set. Five years back the Riddum Wise LP marked a modest #33 start. 2006’s Soulstice gave them their previous high tide mark of #4, while Shapeshifter Live, recorded in their hometown of Christchurch, saw them reach #6 last time out in 2007.

The System Is A Vampire becomes the sixth local album to top the chart this year and the fourth of those to open in the penthouse. It’s 2009’s 27th #1 album in all.

Jason Rules The Singles Chart

Whatcha Say sees Jason DeRulo ascend to the Singles Chart penthouse, ending the Ke$ha’s five-week reign. The cut becomes just the 10th #1 single of 2009 and is the second Jason to top the ton this annum (Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours being the other, back in January/February).

However, there’s a batch of big movers waiting to take their shot at #1 next week. Former US #1 Owl City’s Fireflies makes the biggest jump, 27 slots to #3, while new TV show Glee makes its presence felt with a 19-place gain to #16 with Don’t Stop Believin’. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’s Empire State Of Mind also look set for higher honours, jumping 12 to #13.

The New Single

#36 J.Williams featuring Erakah - Your Style

Joshua Elia Williams has racked up an impressive chart run since his first appearance in September last year. This week he lands a fifth hit single with this week’s sole new entry, Your Style, at #36. All five tracks feature on his #5 album Young Love. The biggest hit to date has been the #5 Ghetto Flower from earlier in the year, while last time a duet with sister Lavinia, Stand With You, hit #6.

The New Albums

#1 Shapeshifter - The System Is A Vampire

See story above.

#7 Robbie Williams - Reality Killed The Video Star

While former Take That member Robbie Williams opens at #1 in Australia and #2 in his UK homeland, Reality Killed The Video Star slips in at #7 here. That’s a seven-place improvement, however, on his last album, the #14 Rudebox in 2006. The new issue’s lead track Bodies made #30 a few weeks back. Williams has five #1 albums in his 11-title chart haul here.

#13 Queen - Absolute Greatest

Eighteen years back Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury passed away, and this week the band land their sixth hit compilation here. Absolute Greatest is their 24th on our charts, new at #13. Their run now extends to 33 years nine months since A Night At The Opera opened their account and the first of their four #1 albums. Some 22 of their tunes have hit the Singles survey. Bohemian Rhapsody remains Queen’s biggest hit here, their sole #1 single here enjoying two runs during a 45-week stay on the charts (28 weeks in 1976, 17 weeks in 1992).

#16 Creed - Full Circle

Back after a five-year hiatus, Florida-formed Creed returns with #16 Full Circle. The Scott Stapp-led group has placed all their albums Top10 here thus far, including a career-best #1 debut set My Own Prison 10 years back.

#18 Daniel O’Donnell - Peace In The Valley

Irish crooner Daniel O’Donnell is a double debutant this week. In a stroke he gains his highest charting album here at #18 with Peace In The Valley, beating last year’s #19 Together Again with Mary Duff and giving him a fourth appearance. Meanwhile, over on the DVD list O’Donnell’s Hope And Praise arrives at #3.

#20 Bon Jovi - The Circle

New Jersey formed Bon Jovi, named after leader Jon, mark 22 years from their New Zealand dual #1 debuts - Slippery When Wet long-player and Livin’ On A Prayer single. Their album tally now numbers 13, The Circle breaking a two-year drought on the local chart. Although the band has charted 14 hit songs they’ve not registered on the Singles list since 1995.

#33 Nirvana - Live At Reading

Last week former Nirvana Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters topped the survey with their Greatest Hits comp. While that title dips to #4, Nirvana land a second entry in the 21st Century with Live At Reading fresh at #33 while the companion DVD debuts at #8. It’s their first in five years and in all the Seattle natives have inked eight albums and six singles. One of each format topped the chart here - MTV Unplugged In New York (albums) and Smells Like Teen Spirit (singles).

ENDS