Christine and the Queens

Kurt’s Top 100: September 13, 2015

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Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me” makes it a sixth week at the top, as the rest of the top five holds steady. Just below, Walk The Moon holds at #6 with “Shut Up And Dance,” which enters its second year on the chart: having debuted on September 14, 2014, this is its 53rd week charting. Also notable: it has yet to leave the top ten, having debuted at #9 and ascended to #1 in twenty-one weeks.

Finish Ticket gets the two highest debuts this week, with “Color” in at #18 and “Scavenger” not far behind at #30, along with two more entries in the lower half of the chart. They beat out new tracks from Rachel Platten, Christine and the Queens featuring Tunji Ige, Pentatonix, and a pair each from Maddie & Tae, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Troye Sivan.

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76 independent artists to watch following SXSW 2015

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While many people flocked south to Austin, Texas last week for this year’s South By Southwest festival, which showcases more than two thousand artist performances alongside label presentations, technology reveals, and discussion panels, some of us had to settle for attending Couch By Couchwest from home. I spent the past week digging through a spreadsheet of 2,121 artists who were slated to play during SXSW 2015, and after whittling down the list and listening to 622 of them, I have selected 76 independent acts that warrant further attention now that the festivities have ended. Read a short blurb on each artist below along with a prime track among their discography, or skip ahead to the full playlist on SoundCloud by clicking here. Continue reading “76 independent artists to watch following SXSW 2015” →

Kurt’s Top 100: March 22, 2015

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It’s a quiet week as a whole on the chart, thanks mainly to my preoccupation of digging through artists who played at SXSW in Austin this week. Very little movement occurs within the top twenty, save two entries by Christine and the Queens and Kelly Clarkson. Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” makes a big jump of 36 positions to land at #40, and Sam Hunt (“Take Your Time,” 77-46) and The Veronicas (“You Ruin Me,” 95-64) each score 31-position jumps. The week’s highest debut belongs to Martin Luke Brown, who returns at #75 with “Take Out Of Me,” the title track from his upcoming EP. Delta Rae debuts another album preview track, as do AIR BAG ONE with their debut track “1992” and Of Monsters And Men with new single “Crystals;” Kelly Clarkson’s “Second Wind” also appropriately makes a re-entry at the bottom of the chart.

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Kurt’s Top 100: March 15, 2015

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The top ten is stagnant save its bottom spot, which is newly occupied by Carly Rae Jepsen’s “I Really Like You.” For the second week in a row, Christine and the Queens have the highest debut: this time, “Saint Claude” enters at #34. The Chainsmokers and Great Good Fine OK have the biggest mover with “Let You Go,” up 38 spots to #42, followed by CAFUNÉ’s “Instant Crush” (up 23 to #75) and Kelly Clarkson’s “Someone” (up 20 to #38). In the bottom quadrant of the chart, eight more debuts are led by Rachel Platten, Sam Hunt, and Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato.

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