American Aquarium Sees Career Best Debut for “Lamentations”
North Carolina-based alt-country band American Aquarium is celebrating a career best debut for their latest album Lamentations released on May 1st via New West Records after it appeared in numerous charts in the latest updates from Billboard.
With total equivalent sales of 7,682 albums, including 7,320 in pure album sales and over 400,000 streams of Lamentations songs, this puts the record at #2 in pure album sales in both the Country and Rock categories, and #1 in Americana/Folk. It also puts the album #7 in the all-genre Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
Factoring in streaming equivalents where the big mainstream names tend to dominate, Lamentations was still good enough to debut at #16 on Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and #17 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart. It also comes in at #2 on the Billboard Americana/Folk Album Chart.
Strong physical sales from American Aquarium’s fervent fan base is what allowed the band to compete with the top flight mainstream names despite the Coronavirus shutdown, underscoring the importance of supporting new releases during the pandemic. The band’s previous album, 2018’s Things Change debuted with 5,200 copies in pure album sales, meaning their sales increased by over 40% despite COVID-19, and the continued increasing prevalence of streaming in the marketplace.
The only album that sold more physical records in country music during the reporting period was Kenny Chesney’s Here and Now with his whopping 233,000+ album equivalents, and 222,000+ in physical sales bolstered by a massive concert ticket bundle. Despite Billboard’s recent efforts to diminish the impact of ticket bundles in charting performance, Chesney’s fan base and bundle option were big enough to put him #1 in all of music, irking some hip-hop fans who found Drake’s latest title relegated to #2 on the week.
The top rock album for the period was The Grateful Dead’s Dave’s Picks: Volume 34: Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, FL – 06/23/74.
Lead by frontman and songwriter BJ Barham, American Aquarium’s Lamentations has also been a critical favorite, reeving many favorable reviews, including from Saving Country Music.
May 12, 2020 @ 12:26 pm
I think there should be an alternative country chart. I know there are a lot of charts already but none of them really capture this particular musical niche. The Country chart has been compromised.
May 12, 2020 @ 12:57 pm
That’s what Americana/Folk is supposed to be. But when they put Chris Stapleton and Kacey Musgraves on it, as well as Hozier, Jack Johnson, and James Taylor’s Greatest Hits, clearly you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s like the whole Billboard editorial board is asleep at the wheel. That’s why I break down the numbers into the raw feed so you can tell what’s really going on.
May 12, 2020 @ 1:24 pm
The Americana Music Association has a chart that’s probably the closest thing.
https://americanamusic.org/radio-chart-album
May 12, 2020 @ 3:51 pm
I agree. They should do an alternative country chart for guys like Kenny Chesney
May 13, 2020 @ 3:43 am
Billboard Top NashTrash Albums for Sam Hunt, FGL & Co…(also known as the Stick The Pink Umbrella In Your Drink Charts).
Billboard Top NashPop Albums for Kenny Chesney & Co…(also known as the No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems Charts).
May 13, 2020 @ 8:48 am
As he has aged, Kenny Chesney’s voice has mellowed and with his latest album he has taken a turn at least back in a direction toward good country music. He has been giving opportunities to up and comers and he seems to be backing off the beach music a bit. Hell, he’s probably even less gender-non-specific than when he divorced Renee Zellweger.
But even with all that I still hate Kenny Chesney more than The Dude hates the fucking Eagles.
May 12, 2020 @ 12:56 pm
good to hear – its a really solid album
May 12, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
Good for them! According to their social media posts, it was also #1 in Top New Artist Album! That’s like Cody Johnson up for top new artist a year or two ago at one of the country award shows. Who comes up with this shit?
May 12, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
Yeah, when you released your first record 14 years ago, that seems a little patronizing. Maybe the “Top New Artist To Us” chart.
May 12, 2020 @ 1:22 pm
Hell yeah. And about 6,000 of those physical copies were hand-packaged by BJ and his wife. That dude never sleeps. Whether it is hand-writing a note to every person who orders something on his website (yes, he does that), to releasing one new cover song each day of this COVID nightmare, endless web shows, personally meeting every fan who wants to meet him after every show, etc., etc. — the guy is the blueprint for how this ought to be done.
He is also a hell of a nice guy (yes, like every fan I have met him several times — including once when he came by my camp at a festival for a cup of coffee and spent 30 minutes chatting with me and my family).
May 12, 2020 @ 7:42 pm
Watching those Instagram Live stories of their house filled with boxes upon boxes upon boxes of records and CDs for Lamentations was astonishing, not to mention signing the pre orders (at least I’m 90% sure they’re signed and not printed), and sending it out a week plus early to everyone who pre-ordered, BJs a beast (that’s a compliment).
May 13, 2020 @ 6:01 am
my album came in with only BJ’s signature because the band wasnt able to get tot the managers office to sign them all. I think he had them all shipped to his house and there was a note saying you could bring the album to a show and he’d have the band sign it… when they’re actually able to tour again.
I agree, for a guy with a reputation as an asshole (and has self-professed that he’s an asshole) he’s been a helluva nice guy anytime i’ve met him.
May 13, 2020 @ 6:39 am
I really feel like BJ has shown his true colors during COVID. That is being a good, hard working dude.
However, I have seen shows where he comes across on stage as snarky and unlikeable. But when people have needed leadership most during this time and for bands to be present, he has won Quarantine (Ryan Bingham is a close second; he is posting a song every day and raised money for charity through t shirt sales). It’s funny because Brian Fallon (formerly of the Gaslight Anthem) who has also come across as snarky, smug and unlikeable onstage has been amazing during this time. I guess you never really know with people.
I am very happy for BJ nonethless
May 12, 2020 @ 4:16 pm
Me and Mine is one of the best songs Ive ever heard! That is enough for me to like his writing and singing- it doesn’t help the charts, but, oh well – I still tell people I know to listen.
May 13, 2020 @ 8:07 am
best rock Album had me laughing
August 1, 2020 @ 5:34 pm
Great fucking album
Whiskey Myers, BlackBerry Smoke and American Aquarium the 3 best bands currently