Dave Matthews Band fans are a loyal sort, and sure enough, 424,000 of them showed up to buy Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's the third-biggest debut we've seen so far this year, and it proved more than enough to topple Eminem's two-week reign atop the Billboard 200 chart. Still, I'm sure this feels like a bittersweet moment for some of those who are mourning the tragic loss of DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore last year.
Plenty of other new albums made dents in this week's albums chart. 311's Uplifter hit No. 3 with 60,000 sold. Chickenfoot's self-titled debut made it to No. 6 with 49,000, conclusively answering the question of just how big the collected fan bases of Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith are. Taking Back Sunday showed up at No. 7 with 48,000 copies sold of New Again. Rancid took No. 11 with 33,000 copies sold of Let the Dominoes Fall — not bad at all, but a shadow of what their one-time pop-punk compatriots Green Day have been selling lately. Elvis Costello landed at No. 13 with 28,000 copies sold of Secret, Profane & Sugarcane. And Hannah Montana co-star Mitchel Musso squeaked into the Top 20 at No. 19 with 20,000 copies sold of his self-titled debut.
What do you think of this week's chart results? Any surprises or disappointments? Have at it below.
UPDATE: After this post was published, Nielsen SoundScan updated its data to reflect additional data received from a retailer, resulting in slightly different chart positions for a few albums. Chickenfoot's debut actually sold 52,000, putting it at No. 4 (not No. 6). That meant that Green Day moved down to No. 5 and Miley Cyrus got bumped to No. 6. All other sales totals and chart positions in the Top 20 remain unchanged.
More from EW's Music Mix:
Eminem holds onto the top chart spot for a second week
Dave Matthews Band show broadcast live, but did the small screen do it justice?
Kris Allen on loving Jacko, learning the viola, and being a heartthrob
I LOVE me some DMB. They hit it out of the park with this new album. Every song is amazing and the more you listen to it, the better it gets. R.I.P. Roi
The new DMB album is amazing. Glad it’s at the top of the charts were it should be.
I’m not afraid to admit I teared up a bit when I heard Leroi’s sax solo on the opening track. He is a huge reason I’ve come to love this band over the years. His riffs on #41, So Right, and others made me fall in love with the band. Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is a great album and a great tribute to the late great Leroi Moore. Why I Am (dedicated to Leroi) is definitely my favorite repeat track!
too bad the only way dmb could have a number one album is with a postmortem band memeber hahaha!!they truly suck
To RIP
Don’t be such a hater!! DMB has had many number one albums before this one. Since you’re not a fan, don’t comment on something you don’t know anything about!! I for one loved this CD the first time I listened….almost cried on Baby Blue. That song can be applied to many different relationships… to a Child, Friend, Significant other, etc. Glad to see DMB back although missing Roi, they’re still a GREAT band!!
hey rlp – you think its funny that one of the bandmember’s passed away? Seriously? you are a waste of a human if that is seriously how you feel. Not to mention the fact that you are just plain wrong. GrooGrux marks the fifth consecutive DMB album to top the charts. There are only two bands that have ever done that – Metallica and now DMB. Get your facts right before you make a comment..
RLP is just upset that someone knocked him off of his knees while he was busy at a Fallout Boy show with his “friend.” While he’s online, he could at least take the time to google the past #1 dave albums and educate himself.
The new Dave album is alright and it’s moving more towards some of their older stuff. I dig it, but it isn’t the same “organic” Dave that I grew up with.. I haven’t been a huge fan of anything where Dave is playing an electric guitar. Leave that to Warren Haynes/Tim Reynolds as far as I’m concerned.
RLP is just upset that someone knocked him off of his knees while he was busy at a Fallout Boy show with his “friend.” While he’s online, he could at least take the time to google the past #1 dave albums and educate himself.
The new Dave album is alright and it’s moving more towards some of their older stuff. I dig it, but it isn’t the same “organic” Dave that I grew up with.. I haven’t been a huge fan of anything where Dave is playing an electric guitar. Leave that to Warren Haynes/Tim Reynolds as far as I’m concerned.
Love the new cd…and Roi passed away almost a year ago has nothing to do with that at all. Some ignorant people she keep their mouths shut and fingers out of commenting something they know nothing of! PS this is their FIFTH number one album…
Love the new Taking Back Sunday album. One of the best this year that I’ve purchased.
This new album is great! I had to listen a couple of times and get over missing Roi, but DMB is still the best at making music that no matter how many times they play it it’s never old and never the same. I have multiple recording of #41 and other that I can say don’t sound the same as the one before. I miss Roi, and may he rest in peace. I cried when I watched their Hulu performance the other nite on the net because he wasn’t there to play with the rest of the gang. The stand ins they had in the horn section were good and quite proficient, but definitely not the same. I can’t wait to see them live again!
come on people DMB sucks…the only people that buy his records are the people that flock to his shows..#1 albums or not guaranteed his sales drop by 50-75 percent or more by next week due to a lack of widespread fan base..predictable music..predictable people….predictable show..predictable marketing scheme (dead guy sympathy) for the new album cause the guy has lost a step or two songwriting wise…i mean really??!?!?!?
I’ve never understood why people who have a negative opinion about an artist/band/show/actor feel the need to post their negativity. If you dont like a song on the radio, you change the station. If you dont agree with an article, move on to something else. Maybe RLP doenst know or understand that DMB has a HUGE following – they tour from April to Oct EVERY year, to sold out shows. For their Central Park concert, 120,000 people came to see them play live. They have had 5 #1 albums…only Metallica can claim that. They obviously CANT suck too bad, can they RLP? I’m not a huge Rolling Stones fan but I can appreciate their music and respect their fans. Why dont you try to do that and live and let live? Or, just change the channel.
hello dmb fans..i just don’t like dmb..i have seen them..i know what they’re about and it is my opinion..basically they are the next jimmy buffet..he sells out too..is he a good artist..meh?..but too his parrotheads..so waht do you all call yourselves? naturally 120,000 would show up in central park for free (key word free) with a population of 8,000,000…think people…
Rlp comments are completely inconsistent. Obviously DMB has a very widespread fan base or it would not be able to sustain #1 albums and consistent tours. If they were such “sellouts” they wouldnt have the lowest average ticket price yet still have one of the top grossing tours every year. Everyone has a right to like the music they like but these comments are clearly uninformed. How could DMB shows be “predictable” when the setlists and the manner in which songs are performed change every night? Stick to what you know and it is obviously not DMB