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The Lumineers, Cleopatra © Dualtone MusicIt wasn’t a helluva race for no. 1 on the Billboard 200. The Lumineers (‘Cleopatra’) secure the no. 1 spot, while Deftones (‘Gore’) land at no. 2.

To say that it was a “helluva” race to no. 1 would be a boldface lie and a drastic overstatement. It wasn’t close. Everyone knew that The Lumineers and Deftones would debut at the top of the charts – in that order. So, this week’s chart stories, dated April 30, are predictable… well, at least two of them that is!

1. The Lumineers’ Cleopatra easily tops the Billboard 200, moving 125,000 units. Of that number, 108,000 copies were pure sales. Notably, the trio’s self-titled debut improves from no. 178 to no. 92 in its 112th charting week.

2. Deftones settle for the no. 2 spot with their latest album, Gore. The difference between Cleopatra and Gore’s numbers are quite substantial (a 39,000 copies difference).

3. Kanye West’s The Life Of Pablo gives up the no. 1 spot after just one week in the penthouse. In week two, Pablo slides to no. 4.

4. Ah, another slider. Lukas Graham’s self-titled album slips from no. 3 to no. 10.

5. Hamilton: An American Musical improves three spots from no. 18 to no. 15. No. 15 marks the high water mark for the Broadway cast album.

6. Zakk Wylde’s Book Of Shadows II debuts at no. 18. Likewise, Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals follow right behind as Call It What It Is debuts at no. 19.

7. M83’s Junk debuts at no. 26.

8. Halsey sees her Badlands ascend 19 spots from no. 47 to no. 28 in its 33rd charting week.

9. Future has three albums residing the top 30 this week: What A Time To Be Alive (no. 21), EVOL (no. 25), and DS2 (no. 30).

10. Mike Posner’s The Truth (EP) reaches a new peak – no. 32.

11. TWENTY88 takes a big tumble as the duo’s album of the same title slides from no. 5 to no. 33.

12. Jordan Smith sees Something Beautiful improves 23 spots from no. 62 to no. 39 in its fourth charting week.

13. James Bay’s Chaos And The Calm improves 19 spots from 59th to 40th.

14. Kendrick Lamar’s Untitled Unmastered continues to slide down the charts, this week to the tune of nine spots from no. 36 to no. 45.

15. Skizzy MarsAlone Together debuts quietly at no. 50.

16. Yo Gotti sees The Art of Hustle improve nine spots from no. 68 to no. 59. Hey, it goes “Down in the DM!”

17. Frightened Rabbit’s Painting Of A Panic Attack lands at no. 70.

18. Elle King’s Love Stuff improves 20 spots from no. 91 to no. 71, in its 51st charting week.

19. Call it a flop! K. Michelle’s More Issues Than Vogue free falls 51 spots from no. 23 to no. 74 in only its third week! #Damn K. Michelle

20. Talk about underachievement central! Krizz Kaliko sees Go barely dent the charts at no. 89. The same goes for the über soulful Mayer Hawthorne, whose Man About Town lands at no. 90.

21. Anthony Hamilton didn’t tumble quite as much as K. Michelle, but he wasn’t far off and wasn’t sitting nearly as pretty as she was. What I’m Feelin’ fell 44 spots from no. 56 to no. 100 in just three weeks on the chart.

22. Mumford & Sons somewhat underachieving Wilder Mind improves 63 spots from no. 177 to no. 114 in week 44.

23. Like many of his three-week colleagues, Joe Bonamassa’s Blues Of Desperation looks like it’s poised for a short chart stay. This week, the set falls 40 spots from no. 79 to no. 119.

24. Cheap Trick accomplished an amazing feat… in a bad way. Bang Zoom Crazy…Hello free falls from no. 31 to no. 134 in only its sophomore week.

25. BØRNS’ Dopamine re-enters the charts at a modest no. 195.

Photo Credit: Dualtone Music

the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.