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The Chart Show: Ferociously Charming and Multi-Talented Monae Remains

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Janelle Monae during Friday's July 20, 2018 show.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Janelle Monae during Friday's July 20, 2018 show.Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

by Mark Wheat

October 11, 2018

CHVRCHES return to the top this week for the third week in total. They allowed us to stream one of their two shows at The Palace last week.

Last week's Number One also played a streamed show at The Palace last Saturday. Then on Sunday in Chicago, Death Cab did their whole 'Transatlanticism' album to celebrate its 15th Anniversary.

Jade Bird climbs 12 places to #2 on the back of a ferociously charming set at The Fine Line last week, where she encored with a Johnny Cash song!

Janelle Monae bounces up another four places after six weeks on the chart. She's been busy adding a variety of roles to her film career, just in case this music biz stuff doesn't work out! She'll play Harriet Tubman, one of the most celebrated conductors on the slave freeing Underground Railroad and she'll voice one of the clever pooches in a remake of "Lady and the Tramp"!!

Thom Yorke has a lot to celebrate this week, going up ten places on our chart to #7. Having a birthday last Sunday AND his band got nominated for the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame!

Speaking of movies, Janelle's acting career and Thom's soundtracking, Brandi Carlile is in "A Star Is Born" re-make which everyone seems to love, the scene at The Grammy's when Bradley celebrates Roy Orbison but makes a fool of himself. Brandi new at #12, is quoted as saying that Roy is "perhaps the greatest singer of all time!"

It's been over three years since Iron and Wine released the Grammy nominated album 'Beast Epic' and so far it's only being followed up by an EP which includes a recording of this song, new at #15, that Sam Beam has been playing live since at least 2013. They'll start a short tour in November.

First Aid Kit just wrapped up the first USA leg of their world tour and are now trekking through Europe. They also have a new entry at #17 this week, a track from their new EP, which you can get on 10" vinyl.

Metric are back in the basement after their new album was Album of the Week last week. They stopped in our studios back in spring when they were touring with Smashing Pumpkins.

Don't forget we're releasing another compilation of our fave in-studios this week as part of the Fall Member Drive, "Live Current Vol 14" will be unveiled Thursday morning starting at 7am!

Submit your Chart Show ballot this week for a chance to The Current's Kamasi Washington giveaway at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul, MN on November 1, 2018!