Christian Album Sales – Week of 3/6/12

We’ve got a break from the CCM and gospel dominance this week. Fireflight debuts at #51 with their latest album, their best ever. Here is the female rock band’s chart history:

Unbreakable – 2008 – N/A
For Those Who Wait
– 2010 – #96
Now – 2012 – #51

Rapper Flame also debuts at #67. As best I can tell Flame’s albums have been hitting the Christian charts for many years but this is his first to debut in the overall Top 200.

Also, last week I missed the debut from Kutless at #36, their first album inside the top 40 after ten years of work. Kutless’s charting history:

Kutless – 2002
Sea of Faces – 2004 – #97
Strong Tower – 2005 – #87
Hearts of the Innocent – 2006 – #45
To Know That You’re Alive – 2008 – #64
It Is Well – 2009 – #42
Believer – 2012 – #36 (14,000)

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Christian Album Sales – Week of 2/21/12

It’s pretty much all gospel and CCM artists on the chart right now. These genres are not my personal favorites but I am glad for their successes. No notable debuts made the Billboard 200 this week. Here is the selected summary:

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Christian Album Sales – Week of 2/14/12

Last week Hillsong United popped out another CD. They put out a CD almost every year, and I don’t have time to try to look up sales data on all those albums, but I do at least have Billboard ranking for some of them:

All of the Above – 2007 – #60
[a_CROSS//the_EARTH] :: Tear Down the Walls – 2009 – #21
Aftermath – 2011 – #17
Live In Miami – 2012 – #71

The new album doesn’t seem to have debuted as well as some recent ones from Hillsong United, but a glance at the track listing shows it to be mostly or possibly all old songs, which may be a factor.

We also have a debut from Audrey Assad, whose Heart lands at #86. Her previous album The House You’re Building (2010) reached #154.

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Christian Album Sales – Week of 2/7/12

The only notable new release this week was by gospel singer Brian Courtney Wilson at #44. I’m not familiar with him, but it looks like this is only his second release and possibly his first to chart. He also has a much larger percentage of his sales coming from Christian outlets than most of the gospel albums I’ve been tracking lately.

Here are the selected Billboard/Soundscan albums:

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Christian Album Sales – Week of 1/31/12

The only notable new album released last week was God, Love & Romance by Fred Hammond. At #8 it was the highest debut ever for the gospel legend, who has been placing higher with every new release. Hammond’s charting history:

Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 – 2002 – #38 (N/A)
Somethin’ ‘Bout Love – 2005 – #35 (N/A)
Free to Worship – 2006 – #29 (N/A)
Love Unstoppable - 2009 – #25 (20,000)
God, Love & Romance – 2012 – #8 (26,000)

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Christian Album Sales – Week of 1/24/14

Several new albums appeared on the Billboard chart this week, led by Kari Jobe landing at #10 with Where I Find You. Jobe’s discography:

Bethlehem – 2007 (N/A)
Kari Jobe – 2008 (N/A)
Le Canto – 2009 – #67 (N/A)
Where I Find You – 2012 – #10 (25,000)

Another debut came from Bethel Music with Loft Sessions at #44. I listened to some of this album on Rdio and it seems to feature some stripped-down or more acoustic versions of some of the previous hits that have come out of Bethel. Farther down on the chart we see the latest Homecoming Celebration by the Gaithers and a worship album from Myron Butler. It was a pretty well-rounded week for Christian artists.

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Album of the Week: Deeper by JJ Heller

jj-heller-deeperArtist: JJ Heller
Album: Deeper
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Style: Acoustic singer-songwriter lullabies

This album features the nice songwriting talents of JJ Heller, who lightly picks her guitar as she sings lullabies to her child and encouraging declarations of surrender and simplicity. Her husband David adds subtle harmonies and musicianship. Great for relaxing at the end of the day when you’re seeking peace.

Lyrical Standout: When I hold you in my arms, Love
Something changes
It’s the strangest feeling
The things that used to matter
They don’t matter to me
Lyrical Standout II: Oh this silly heart of mine
Looking for new things to buy
Nothing really satisfies
In the end, in the end

Amazon Link

IndieVisionMusic Review #19: David Crowder Band – Give Us Rest

Here is my review of David Crowder Band’s double-disc opus Give Us Rest!

Excerpt:

It has plenty of electronic loops and layers, but this is far from the dance party we experienced in Church Music. It has bluegrass renditions of classic hymns we haven’t seen since A Collision. It has acoustic guitar riff action we haven’t heard since Illuminate. It’s got banjo grooves borrowed from Mumford & Sons, and dynamic instrumental sequences spanning Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Explosions in the Sky. It delivers its theme – a plea for rest – and reprises it throughout the album as it explores a journey that ends by coming home. Pretentious? Maybe. But full of fun and joy and worship? Definitely.

Christian Album Sales – Week of 1/17/12

Gospel singer James Fortune & Fiya debuted at #7 last week. I’m not familiar with them but it’s supposed to be Fortune’s best debut to date. The final album from the David Crowder Band dropped off a bit in its second week but should stay on the chart for awhile. There were a few other albums suddenly reappearing on the chart this week that may have been related to promotions or re-releases or something. The Courageous soundtrack probably sold more due to the DVD releasing last week.

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Christian Album Sales – Week of 1/10/12

They say Give Us Rest will be the last album ever released by the David Crowder Band. The double-disc opus landed at #2 on the Billboard 200, the best ever for the band both in position and in sales numbers. Blocked by Adele at #1, DCB joins Underoath, Casting Crowns, Red, and Skillet among the Christian acts that have hit #2 on the Billboard charts.

David Crowder Band’s selected charting history:

Illuminate – 2003 – #84 (N/A)
A Collision - 2005 – #39 (N/A)
Remedy - 2007 – #22 (32,000)
Church Music - 2009 – #11 (36,000)
Give Us Rest – 2012 – #2 (50,000)

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