In a NACC 200 first (at least as far as we can recall), the number one spot is filled by an artist releasing their very first album. Polyvinyl put out the debut LP, Quit The Curse, from Anna Burch on February 2nd and here we are, a month later, with her album ruling the chart. Though this is Burch’s debut solo outing, she’s not a completely unknown commodity, having been a member of Frontier Ruckus, Failed Flowers (a project with Saturday Looks Good To Me’s Fred Thomas), and helped with vocals on Thomas’ solo Charger release last year. Their association was what put Burch on Polyvinyl’s radar. Congrats to everyone involved on this auspicious feat.
Storming the NACC Top 10 is last week’s top add-getter: Soccer Mommy. Our prognosticating that the album might crack the Top 10 this week came to fruition. Isn’t it fun when that happens? We like looking smart! Soccer Mommy is Sophie Allison and her Fat Possum debut, Clean, is one of four new records in the Top 10, but easily the fastest mover of the bunch, racing 59-6. Also reaching the Top 10 this week: Ought (11-5), Car Seat Headrest (14-8), and Rhye (19-9).
Taking two of our feature qualifiers this week is Superorganism. If you thought Soccer Mommy made you feel old, being only 20, we introduce you to Orono Noguchi, the eight-member band’s 17 year-old lead singer. Superorganism’s origin is a fascinating one. With Noguchi discovering & becoming a fan of The Eversons (a New Zealand band formed by four of her future Superorganism bandmates) via YouTube. She caught them live on a trip to Japan and struck up a mainly online friendship with them. When they discovered she could sing, the band invited her to add lyrics and vocals to a new project they were working on. That project became Superorganism. The band land this week’s most-added honors as well as scoring the highest debut on the NACC 200 at #41 with their self-titled Domino release. We’ll be bold again and predict a Top 10 entry for this record next week.
The NACC 200’s biggest climb this week is right behind Superorganism on our chart, leaping to #42. Toronto-based singer Charlotte Day Wilson jumps from 135 last week with her second EP, Stone Woman. Wilson’s velvety R&B vocals have been used to great effect since she released her debut EP, CDW, in 2016 on albums by fellow Canadian artists Daniel Caesar, River Tiber and BADBADNOTGOOD. Wilson’s new release is a downcast affair chronicling the disintegration of a relationship. A rarity in our chart features, this EP is self-released.
With Superorganism taking two of our normal features this week, we can shine a light on another release that is making waves. The most obvious choice we could find was an impressive 97-29 jump on the chart from DIY-trio, Moaning. The Los Angeles band’s homemade video for their song “The Same” grabbed the attention of engineer & producer Alex Newport (At The Drive-In, Bloc Party, The Melvins) who offered to help the band record new music. Those demos caught the ears of the Sub Pop staff, who witnessed the band live at SXSW and signed them. Moaning’s self-titled debut has been released just in time for another stint in Austin for SXSW this year.
The Top 20 of the NACC 200 is included below as are this week’s Top 5 Adds, and all of NACC’s genre #1s. There are new chart-toppers this week at NACC Next, World and New Age.
NACC 200 Chart: Top 5 ADDS
# | ARTIST | TITLE | LABEL | # OF ADDS
1) SUPERORGANISM Superorganism [Domino] //91//
2) MOBY Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt [Mute] //79//
3) CAMP COPE How To Socialise & Make Friends [Run For Cover] //71//
4) TITUS ANDRONICUS A Productive Cough [Merge] //69//
5) ACID DAD Acid Dad [Greenway] //57//