At the beginning of this past summer Sonic Youth had their highest charting debut week on The Billboard 200 with The Eternal. Its #18 peak blows away their other albums (the only that’s remotely close is Experimental Jet Set at #34). Then Wilco (the band) had a career debut high (#11, the same peak the Lips attained with At War with the Mystics) with Wilco (the album), even though it had been leaked almost two months prior and had been streamed on their site. After that impressive debut, it rose even higher on the chart, to #4, their highest ever album placing (A Ghost is Born was #8).

Does anyone think The Flaming Lips will fare similarly? Will Embryonic be the first top ten Lips album?

Also consider there’s already a lot of positive response to the album all over the internet, not just here (i.e. it’s been #11 on RYM Top Albums of 2009 since the Colbert stream)
http://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/2009

Its possible, they've a somewhat large devoted core base. I guess it depends on what else its coming out that week.

I'd be shocked if it happened.

I nearly posted this same question but decided against it; glad you did, though.

I bet Mystics, at #11, will be their highest chart debut ever. I don't see Embryonic bringing more folks to the fold, and that's fine.

quote:

Originally posted by barkerr:
I nearly posted this same question but decided against it; glad you did, though.

I bet Mystics, at #11, will be their highest chart debut ever. I don't see Embryonic bringing more folks to the fold, and that's fine.

It's really not about bringing in more folks. It's about how many diehard fans buy the album the first week.

The only other time I remember hearing anyone talk about billboard chart position in relation to the lips is when that columnist from Oklahoma protested the lips being honored with state rock song.

That being said, if it means more money for the band which might translate into them being able to make more of their crazy ideas a reality, then I'm all for it. but I'm not holding my breath about this album making the top ten.

Amazon sales are looking pretty weak (#46) which is making me think it won't peak as high as Mystics did.

I ordered the fuzzy packaging, 2cd/dvd and the single disc. I did my part.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by barkerr:
I nearly posted this same question but decided against it; glad you did, though. QUOTE]

I was on the fence about posting this myself. I feel kind of silly starting a discussion about the Lips in these terms?

I was shocked when Yoshimi debuted at #50 in 2002.

pop fans have left the building. this album will sell less than yoshimi and mystics.

but arguably is better than both.

although yoshimi is a great record.

On the amazon.co.uk bestsellers in music list, the Lips are number 12 at the moment 'updated hourly'

quote:

Originally posted by PsychExFutureHeart:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by barkerr:
I nearly posted this same question but decided against it; glad you did, though. QUOTE]

I was on the fence about posting this myself. I feel kind of silly starting a discussion about the Lips in these terms?


I was shocked when Yoshimi debuted at #50 in 2002.

As was I when Mystics entered at #11.
I'm always curious as to how the Lips translate into the "mainstream." They must be the biggest cult band ever.

iTunes USA at #6 since 12am

quote:

Originally posted by Jön:
[It's really not about bringing in more folks. It's about how many diehard fans buy the album the first week.

Mystics peaked 39 spots higher than Yoshimi, but Yoshimi sold much more. The sales of one week don't indicate how an album sells over time or how many fans it draws in- particularly the debut week for a band that already has built up their fan-base (like Sonic Youth or Wilco). So it's possible that some "pop fans" (who didn't listen to it on Colbert or NPR and haven't heard that the Lips have gone in this direction) will still buy this and then regret it (like those people buying Mystics in April 2006, only to be disappointed). A sale is a sale even if it ends up turning the fan off.

Part of the reason Wilco debuted well a few months back is they sent an e-mail out to their fans the week before saying something along the lines of, "yeah we know we've been cooperative with you guys downloading leaks and all, but we'd really like if you all bought this one, in the same week." By focusing their dedicated fan-base to purchase together they fared well on the charts.

I think the Lips have done better with “rallying” the pre-existent fan-base leading up to the release of this album than any previous album- partly because there are more of us than ever before, partly because many of us were desperate for a bold step, partly because they did that, partly because they have more “status” and connections than before i.e. Colbert and NPR and partly because they seem to understand the way the music industry and the internet works today as well as anyone can. Also one of the implications of my initial post was "maybe there isn't a 'mainstream' anymore when it comes to album sales." Major cult bands like Sonic Youth or the Lips are just as likely to reach high on the Top 200 as David Archuleta and Carrie Underwood.

.…Amazon #12 at 6PM and 7PM EST….iTunes #4 (00:00:12 CEST)…does this make the Lips more “mainstream”? Or is it merely another page turning for the most vital cult band of the past quarter century?

Bands with a devoted fan base of sickies & minions can make it to the top of this list.

Just look at Tool.

I think the Lips have a shot at the top 10.

quote:

Originally posted by PsychExFutureHeart:

quote:

Originally posted by Jön:
[It's really not about bringing in more folks. It's about how many diehard fans buy the album the first week.

I think the Lips have done better with “rallying” the pre-existent fan-base leading up to the release of this album than any previous album- partly because there are more of us than ever before, partly because many of us were desperate for a bold step, partly because they did that, partly because they have more “status” and connections than before i.e. Colbert and NPR and partly because they seem to understand the way the music industry and the internet works today as well as anyone can. Also one of the implications of my initial post was "maybe there isn't a 'mainstream' anymore when it comes to album sales." Major cult bands like Sonic Youth or the Lips are just as likely to reach high on the Top 200 as David Archuleta and Carrie Underwood.

.…Amazon #12 at 6PM and 7PM EST….iTunes #4 (00:00:12 CEST)…does this make the Lips more “mainstream”? Or is it merely another page turning for the most vital cult band of the past quarter century?

An awesome post.

QUOTE]An awesome post.[/QUOTE]

if you fancy that post you may be interested in this

Embryonic was #13 on Amazon last night and #9 the night before. It’s currently #17.

according to George's twitter, it is gonna be #8.

http://twitter.com/irreversibility

If you actually give a shit if the FLips are on the charts or not, are you really a FLips fan?