Steve Lampiris
So the indie hipster four-piece (hey, c’mon, even the fans have to admit it’s an apt description) had the number one album this week by moving 124,000 units. While the achievement is impressive, some of the surrounding stats are more so:
- VW is one of 14 musical acts to have a number one album without a song in the Hot 100 – a list that includes Pantera, Bob Newhart, and N.W.A.
- VW’s debut album returns to the chart after dropping off almost nine months ago. It re-entered at No. 198 last week and then jumped to No. 123 this week.
- Contra is the second independently-distributed album to hit No. 1 in the last calendar year. The other is Pearl Jam’s Backspacer.
- Contra is only the twelfth independently-distributed album to hit the number one spot since the beginning of the SoundScan era back in 1991.
As you can see, these guys managed more than just a number one album in America. Well done.
