The Billboard Hot 100 thread

[Lithium858]

Radio and Records is a better site to get information on music. It has the top 40 for each format.

http://www.radioandrecords.com/

[sch2383]

Indie Rock is an extremely respectable genre of music that is more subtle than most other genres. Initially, not many people like it, but it slowly pulls you in with its unique identity.

Do me a favor and define indie rock.

[quentinc]

Do me a favor and define indie rock.
Well, I'll try my best. The term "indie" comes from the word independent. Basically, the genre originated off of labels that were independent from the major recording labels (Sony, RCA etc.). It's the same thing when you talk about indie films. I'm not positive on the history of it, since the genre in and of itself is quite ambigous.

So I will basically tell you about the state of it today. There are many different sub-groupings of indie, there are bands that you could call indie pop (Death Cab for Cutie), there is lo-fi (The Magnetic Fields), alt-country (Wilco, My Morning Jacket) and some others. Really, a good way to describe indie is as an alternative sound. Most indie bands sound like nothing that is popular today. But to describe the music is just too difficult. But here are four indie bands that I would reccomend (none of them sound anywhere close to each other). I'm naming some of the more popular ones so you can find them easily.

Interpol They are compared endlessly to 70's and 80's post-punk bands such as Joy Division and a few others. They feature a dark, empty sound with a driving bass and effectively use dueling guitars that back lead singer Paul Bank's monotone voice.
Reccomended Song: The New - amazing bass line

Modest Mouse You have probably heard of them if you pay any attention to mainstream music. Even though they just hit it big, they have been making albums for about ten years. Their main trademark is the raspy inflections of lead singer Issac Brock and their quirky sound. But more avid fans will praise the Brock's relevant and smartly-written lyrics that ponder the afterlife (in a secular sense). There is no other band playing right now that sounds remotely like them.
Reccomended Song: 3rd Planet - My all-time favorite song

Death Cab for Cutie A quintessential indie pop band. They have plenty of songs that do not feature any drums. Lead Singer Ben Gibbard writes mainly love songs (but they don't come off as corny). Plenty of Acoustic Guitar.
Reccomended Song: Title and Registration - Not a typical Death Cab song, but good nonetheless.

Wilco As mentioned above, they have a sound consistently referred to as "alt-country." Their sound features what sounds like a banjo (correct me if I am wrong) and lots of piano. They can come off as pretentious sometimes, they had a 15-minute song on their last album that had 3 minutes of music and 12 minutes of noise, and they put their album title in lowercase letters. But it's a cool sound.
Reccomended Song: Company in my Back - Twangy sound, sort of a typical song.

Hope this helps.

[sch2383]

Well, I'll try my best. The term "indie" comes from the word independent. Basically, the genre originated off of labels that were independent from the major recording labels (Sony, RCA etc.). It's the same thing when you talk about indie films. I'm not positive on the history of it, since the genre in and of itself is quite ambigous.

So I will basically tell you about the state of it today. There are many different sub-groupings of indie, there are bands that you could call indie pop (Death Cab for Cutie), there is lo-fi (The Magnetic Fields), alt-country (Wilco, My Morning Jacket) and some others. Really, a good way to describe indie is as an alternative sound. Most indie bands sound like nothing that is popular today. But to describe the music is just too difficult. But here are four indie bands that I would reccomend (none of them sound anywhere close to each other). I'm naming some of the more popular ones so you can find them easily.

Interpol They are compared endlessly to 70's and 80's post-punk bands such as Joy Division and a few others. They feature a dark, empty sound with a driving bass and effectively use dueling guitars that back lead singer Paul Bank's monotone voice.
Reccomended Song: The New - amazing bass line

Modest Mouse You have probably heard of them if you pay any attention to mainstream music. Even though they just hit it big, they have been making albums for about ten years. Their main trademark is the raspy inflections of lead singer Issac Brock and their quirky sound. But more avid fans will praise the Brock's relevant and smartly-written lyrics that ponder the afterlife (in a secular sense). There is no other band playing right now that sounds remotely like them.
Reccomended Song: 3rd Planet - My all-time favorite song

Death Cab for Cutie A quintessential indie pop band. They have plenty of songs that do not feature any drums. Lead Singer Ben Gibbard writes mainly love songs (but they don't come off as corny). Plenty of Acoustic Guitar.
Reccomended Song: Title and Registration - Not a typical Death Cab song, but good nonetheless.

Wilco As mentioned above, they have a sound consistently referred to as "alt-country." Their sound features what sounds like a banjo (correct me if I am wrong) and lots of piano. They can come off as pretentious sometimes, they had a 15-minute song on their last album that had 3 minutes of music and 12 minutes of noise, and they put their album title in lowercase letters. But it's a cool sound.
Reccomended Song: Company in my Back - Twangy sound, sort of a typical song.

Hope this helps.
Sorry I should have been more specific. I know all about "indie rock", its just that I hate that term. It is such an expansive genre, that I feel there is no real definition for it. Interpol, Modest Mouse, and Ted Leo are all "Indie acts" but really do not sound that alike. By lumping all of these groups together, you come off sounding a little nieve, despite your good intentions.

[quentinc]

Sorry I should have been more specific. I know all about "indie rock", its just that I hate that term. It is such an expansive genre, that I feel there is no real definition for it. Interpol, Modest Mouse, and Ted Leo are all "Indie acts" but really do not sound that alike. By lumping all of these groups together, you come off sounding a little nieve, despite your good intentions.
I've always felt that way about "indie rock" too. I mean, some bands are completely different from others, yet they fall under the same blanket. It's almost like the genre for groups that can't be defined under any other genre.

[scaryice]

It's Thursday, so the new chart is out, dated 2/26/2004:

The Billboard Hot 100 (http://www.billboard.com/bb/charts/hot100.jsp)

Hot 100 Still in 'Love' With Mario (http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000807433)

50 Cent now is in three of the top six songs in the country. Candy Shop jumped from 8 to 2, and looks like it will take over the top spot probably next week, or if not then, definitely the week after. Rich Girl is the only newcomer to the top ten, and I'm rooting for it cuz it's a great song.

10) Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani f/Eve
9) Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
8) Soldier - Destiny's Child
7) Lovers And Friends - Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz f/Usher & Ludacris
6) Disco Inferno - 50 Cent
5 How We Do - The Game f/50 Cent
4 1, 2 Step - Ciara f/Missy Elliot
3) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day
2 Candy Shop - 50 Cent f/Olivia
1) Let Me Love You - Mario (9 weeks at #1)

[scaryice]

It's Thursday, so the new chart is out, dated 3/5/2005:

The Billboard Hot 100 (http://www.billboard.com/bb/charts/hot100.jsp)

50 Cent's 'Candy Shop' Sweetens Hot 100 (http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000816645)

New number one, finally. After nine weeks at the top, Mario's Let Me Love You has been knocked off, by 50 Cent's Candy Shop, followed by Green Day. This is the third #1 hit for 50 Cent. Looks like Green Day will have to settle for number two, cuz I don't think it'll reach the top given 50's popularity. Usher's Caught Up is the only new song in the top ten.

10) Lovers And Friends - Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz f/Usher & Ludacris
9) Caught Up - Usher
8) Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
7) Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani f/Eve
6) Disco Inferno - 50 Cent
5 1, 2 Step - Ciara f/Missy Elliot
4 How We Do - The Game f/50 Cent
3) Let Me Love You - Mario
2) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day
1) Candy Shop - 50 Cent f/Olivia (1 week at #1)

[scaryice]

It's Thursday, so the new chart is out, dated 3/12/2005:

The Billboard Hot 100 (http://www.billboard.com/bb/charts/hot100.jsp)

50 Cent Nets Hot 100 Top 5 Trifecta (http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000826464)

Not much movement this week. The song that gained the most airplay was the number one song, Candy Shop. Looks like we could have another long reign on our hands.

10) Lovers And Friends - Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz f/Usher & Ludacris
9) Caught Up - Usher
8) Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani f/Eve
7) Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
6 1, 2 Step - Ciara f/Missy Elliot
5) Disco Inferno - 50 Cent
4 How We Do - The Game f/50 Cent
3) Let Me Love You - Mario
2) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day
1) Candy Shop - 50 Cent f/Olivia (2 weeks at #1)

[sch2383]

scaryice, haven't you figured out by now that nobody on this board cares about Billboard?

[scaryice]

scaryice, haven't you figured out by now that nobody on this board cares about Billboard?

I don't really care.