What’s the chart scoop this week? Thomas Rhett debuts at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, while Taylor Swift remains no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Thomas Rhett did it.  He scored his first no. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Life Changes.  Interestingly, Life Changes becomes the first country album of the year to top the charts.  The numbers look pretty swell for Rhett, who musters up 123,000 units, with more than 76% of that total being album sales.

It’s not all about Thomas Rhett on the Billboard 200 dated September 30, 2017.  The National launch at no. 2 with Sleep Well Beast, though far behind Rhett (64,000 units). Electronic duo ODESZA may be the shocker, starting at no. 3 with A Moment Apart (63,000 units).  Joining those high-flying starts are Jack Johnson (All the Light Above It Too, no. 5, 44,000 units), Dustin Lynch (Current Mood, no. 7, 36,000 units), and Kip Moore (Slowheart, no. 10, 29,000 units).

On the Billboard Hot 100, Taylor Swift remains the “one to beat” these days.  Despite how quirky “Look What You Made Me Do” is, it spends its third week at no. 1.  Notably, Logic continues to rise with the meaningful “1-800-273-8255” (no. 3), while Sam Smith launches robustly at no. 5 (“Too Good at Goodbyes”).  

Billboard 200 Grooves 

1. Thomas Rhett scores his first no. 1 album with Life Changes.

2. The National make a big return as Sleep Well Beast launches at a career-high no. 2.

3. ODESZA shocks the world as the duo begins soundly at no. 3 with A Moment Apart.

4. Jack Johnson begins a bit lower than anticipated at no. 5 with All the Light Above It Too.

5. Dustin Lynch launches at no. 7 with Current Mood. His “current mood” should be a happy one.

6. Kip Moore debuts in the top 10 by the skin of his teeth. Slowheart starts at no. 10.

7. Gregg Allman debuts posthumously at no. 11 with Southern Blood.

8. Neil Young nabs a top-20 debut with Hitchhiker, which lands at no. 20.

9. Kane Brown sees his self-titled debut ascend 26 spots from no. 56 to no. 30.

10. Toby Keith once topped the charts with ease. Unfortunately, that’s not the case these days for the country vet, “Shitty Golfer,” “Wacky Tobaccy” or not. The Bus Songs starts modestly at no. 38.

11. Tori Amos, another September 8, 2017 release, sees Native Invader launch modestly at no. 39.

12. Thanks to a new single, Sam Smith sees his debut album In the Lonely Hour ascend 76 spots from no. 116 to no. 40. The set debuted/peaked at no. 2 in 2014, and has spent 170 weeks on the Billboard 200.

13. After earning a career-first no. 1 album, LCD Soundsystem comes back to earth. The American Dream slips badly from no. 1 to no. 56.

14. The third week is horrid for Queens of the Stone Age. Josh Homme and company slide from no. 28 to no. 76.

15. The War on Drugs are experiencing a serious war with chart success. A Deeper Understanding slides from no. 48 to no. 93 in only its third week. It debuted at no. 10.

16. Fifth Harmony, like Queens of the Stone Age and The War on Drugs are seriously UNDERPERFORMING on their latest album. Fifth Harmony slides from no. 34 to no. 100 in only its third week. It debuted at no. 4.

17. MuteMath doesn’t exactly light up the charts. Play Dead seems “dead on arrival” with its no. 112 start.

18. Jonny Lang quietly launches at no. 153 with Signs. As for “signs of chart life” – not looking good Jonny.

Billboard Hot 100 Jewels

1. Taylor Swift retains the crown on the Hot 100 with “Look What You Made Me Do.” Unfortunately, her second entry on the Hot 100, “…Ready For It?” slides from no. 4 to no. 21 in its second week.

2. Logic, Alessia Cara, and Khalid rise once more with “1-800-273-8255.” The suicide prevention song ascends from no. 5 to no. 3.

3. Sam Smith launches at no. 5 with “Too Good at Goodbyes.”

4. Portugal. The Man sees “Feel it Still” rise from no. 18 to no. 14.

5. Khalid continues to rise with “Young Dumb & Broke,” which ascends from no. 33 to no. 26.

6. ZAYN debuts at no. 44 with “Dusk Till Dawn” featuring Sia.

7. Kelly Clarkson debuts at no. 62 with “Love So Soft.”

8. Lil Pump debuts at no. 81 with “Gucci Gang.”

9. G-Eazy launches at no. 85 with “No Limit” featuring A$AP Rocky & Cardi B.

10. Chris Brown debuts at no. 98 with the star-studded “Pills and Automobiles.”

Photo Credit: Big Machine