SFBM debuts at #52 on Billboard 200 Options

[SJN1279]

"Songs From Black Mountain" has debuted at #52 on the new Billboard 200 chart, with sales just over 18,000 copies.

This post has been edited by NectarDan: Jun 15 2006, 9:53 pm

[WaiterAtCliftons]

Woah watch out

obviously going on AI didn't do a fuckin' thing for them

This album I thought had a chance to go gold. But 18,000 in the first week. This thing will be lucky to hit 200,000

[sandkind]

i see no gold in live's future, probably ever again based on ed's fucked up songwriting

[livefan1999]

i see no gold in live's future, probably ever again based on ed's fucked up songwriting

I know I'll probably get chewed up on this, but is this really a Live "fan" forum?

[jonesy]

Don't worry,it's been going on since day one.The band has changed so much,so there are always going to be disgruntled fans.

[sandkind]

i am a huge live fan, but i am also a realist. the band creates better music together versus ed writing everything. the record speaks for itself. i LIKE all of their albums, i just like the earlier stuff much better. case in point, from BOP like i do and lighthouse seem to have the consensus on this board as to what songs would have been the best singles and would have had the best chance of being hits on rock radio. Guess what, these are the only 2 songs since TDTH that ANYONE in the band gets credit for.

just because i am a live fan does not mean i just roll over and think everything they do is "wonderful". i truly believe most of their newer stuff is good, but i think it is also somewhat one dimensional overall. i agree 100% with those who think jim wirt MUST GO. i think their older stuff is incredible.

as far as seeing them live goes, they are simply incredible, especially currently. one of the VERY BEST bands to see perform. they just need to recreate that magic in the studio.

[Senghe]

That's just shit isn't it - surely alarm bells should be ringing in Ed's bald noggin by now. Especially considering AFI shifted 10 times as many in the same time frame and hit #1 on the Billboard chart. Not that charting well is a sign of good music, but in this case, it is most definitely the case IMHO. Being both a long term Live and AFI fan, it's obvious to me that Decemberundergound is a far better album than Songs From Black Mountain. I've bought both and listened to SFBM a handful of times as it bores me rigid - the AFI one I got the leak (me bad, I know) and have listened to it for a month solid and love it more and more. I pre ordered it on the strength of the leak and to be honest, if I'd got the leaked SFBM, there's no way I'd have bought it.

Now I'm not suggesting that Ed starts wearing false eyelashes and pink nail polish (even though he'd probably look really cute as he suits a bit of eyeliner, our Ed does - he-he!) but I do think Live need to start writing, rehearsing and recording as a full band in the studio. And get a decent producer who'll really do them some justice as Jim Wirt is killing them stone dead.

[SJN1279]

Especially considering AFI shifted 10 times as many in the same time frame and hit #1 on the Billboard chart. Not that charting well is a sign of good music, but in this case, it is most definitely the case IMHO. Being both a long term Live and AFI fan, it's obvious to me that Decemberundergound is a far better album than Songs From Black Mountain.

That is a total matter of opinion. For me, AFI is totally unlistenable generic noise. They do have a big teen following however, that I bet will quickly outgrow them once they mature and grow. Live's major problem was that Epic failed to get their single on the radio and then bumped them to red distribution. I bet 18,000 copies sold is pretty high for a red distribution album. Epic is spending zero dollars promoting SFBM, and I'm sure they didn't expect much better than 18,000 sold on the first week.

[Senghe]

Ooohhhh - harsh! And if you cared ot read it rather than go off on one, you'd have seen that I did state it was only my opinion. If we can just be subjective here for a moment and you knew a little about AFI, you'd know why they are such a good comparison with Live at this point in both band's careers (both have at least 15 years and 7 albums behind them). I'm very surprised at the #1, but happy for them. I hope they eventually sell as many albums as Live have over their career, thought I'll have to look some hard figures to see the statistics. Though AFI aren't really my point in all this.

You have to ask why Epic aren't interested in promoting Live when their main interest in life is to make as much money as possible. Could it be that they're not getting much radio play because nobody wants to listen to The River? The kind of mainstream TV exposure they got on AI can't be bought, but it doesn't appear to have been reflected in sales of SFBM. Something is going on and it might be down to the material being lacking rather than the lack of promotion. I've seen more magazine ads in the music press for SFBM here in the UK than I ever thought I would, yet it didn't even chart here and even AFI (even less heard of than Live in the UK) managed a #16 debut and #2 in the rock chart. We even used to get at least one magazine article here in each of several rock magazines - not a squeak this time round and we were lucky if we got a review!

So you tell me what's going on. I simply can't believe the lack of sales is all due to Epic no handing out enough backhanders to journalists or pumping money into advertisements. I think it's only Live's popularity overseas that's keeping Epic even interested.

This post has been edited by Senghe: Jun 15 2006, 11:07 am

[SJN1279]

Its fine to like AFI. Alot of my high school students love the band. But I guess its like a generational disconnect with me. I grew up with Live, Bush, Pearl Jam, STP. Todays kids are growing up with punk rock. I can't stand it, but I'm sure those who gew up in the 80's couldn't stand my music either.

[sherocker]

the leak and to be honest, if I'd got the leaked SFBM, there's no way I'd have bought it.

Now I'm not suggesting that Ed starts wearing false eyelashes and pink nail polish (even though he'd probably look really cute as he suits a bit of eyeliner, our Ed does - he-he!) but I

nah, drag doesn't suit Ed

[Joe]

I grew up with Live, Bush, Pearl Jam, STP. Todays kids are growing up with punk rock. I can't stand it, but I'm sure those who gew up in the 80's couldn't stand my music either.

Live, Bush, Pearl Jam, STP (And don't forget Nirvana!)

Sums up my life's musical tastes quite nicely!

OMG, this means I'm old now doesn't it

[livefan86]

AFI Emerge From The Underground At #1

June 14, 2006

AFI

AFI is the latest Rock band to top the SoundScan sales charts in 2006, with their new album Decemberunderground claiming the #1 position after moving over 182,000 copies in its first week. AFI singer Davey Havok said in a statement, "It's an amazing feeling to have something that you believe in so strongly, that is so much a part of you, touch so many people. But it was truly our fans that did this. They have brought us this recognition and we are deeply honored. I am truly elated not just for us but for them as well. This is ONE for the team." AFI's last album, Sing The Sorrow, debuted at #3 in 2003.

The Dixie Chicks had held the #1 spot for the past two weeks, but this week they take a step back to #2. Rapper Yung Joc debuts at #3 with New Joc City and Ice Cube's first studio album in six years, Laugh Now, Cry Later, makes its debut at #4. The soundtrack to the hit film Cars, featuring songs from John Mayer and Sheryl Crow, debuted at #7.

Other notable sales chart debuts included the 2006 Warped Tour compilation at #27 and Popaganda from Head Automatica at #69. Also, Live's Songs From Black Mountain makes its first appearance on the SoundScan chart at #52, weeks after its release, likely due to the PA band's appearance on American Idol's season finale.


I find it funny how it says WEEKS after release...Epic screwed LIVE over royaly...

This post has been edited by livefan86: Jun 15 2006, 1:40 pm

[WaiterAtCliftons]

AFI Emerge From The Underground At #1

June 14, 2006

AFI

AFI is the latest Rock band to top the SoundScan sales charts in 2006, with their new album Decemberunderground claiming the #1 position after moving over 182,000 copies in its first week. AFI singer Davey Havok said in a statement, "It's an amazing feeling to have something that you believe in so strongly, that is so much a part of you, touch so many people. But it was truly our fans that did this. They have brought us this recognition and we are deeply honored. I am truly elated not just for us but for them as well. This is ONE for the team." AFI's last album, Sing The Sorrow, debuted at #3 in 2003.

The Dixie Chicks had held the #1 spot for the past two weeks, but this week they take a step back to #2. Rapper Yung Joc debuts at #3 with New Joc City and Ice Cube's first studio album in six years, Laugh Now, Cry Later, makes its debut at #4. The soundtrack to the hit film Cars, featuring songs from John Mayer and Sheryl Crow, debuted at #7.

Other notable sales chart debuts included the 2006 Warped Tour compilation at #27 and Popaganda from Head Automatica at #69. Also, Live's Songs From Black Mountain makes its first appearance on the SoundScan chart at #52, weeks after its release, likely due to the PA band's appearance on American Idol's season finale.

It's hard to get mad at being #52 when the "Dixie Chicks" held the top spot for a couple weeks. What the fuck is wrong with America's taste of music?

[Senghe]

Live, Bush, Pearl Jam, STP (And don't forget Nirvana!)

Sums up my life's musical tastes quite nicely!

OMG, this means I'm old now doesn't it

Don't worry - you're young compared to me... I remember U2's first 4 albums and bought them all with great excitement as they were released in my early teens. The whole Seattle thing happened when I was in my early 20's (though AIC and Soundgarden are my two favourites, I was actually giving Core a spin last night). And my friends have kids who are younger than Throwing Copper!