While its numbers are down compared to its last major full-length release, Atmosphere still accomplished what so few other Minnesota artists not named Prince ever do: It landed high up the Billboard 200 album chart today at No. 13 with first-week sales of its latest album, "The Family Sign."
Issued as always on its familial hometown label Rhymesayers Entertainment, the disc sold about 28,000 U.S. copies this past week, landing the Minneapolis hip-hop vets on the big chart just below TV on the Radio (also debuting a new album). "The Family Sign" also came in at No. 2 on the rap albums chart (below fellow Soundset alum Wiz Khalifa) and No. 2 on the independent albums chart (below Mumford & Sons). Click here for the full Billboard tally.
Atmosphere's last big disc, "When Life Gives You Lemons...," fared better in 2008, landing at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with 36,000 copies sold in week one. "The Family Sign" also lost some ground with critics, earning a 5.8 rating at Pitchfork.com and a 5-out-of-10 from Spin. As I said in my review, it's definitely a peculiar record that's harder to peg. Slug & Co. remain a favorite touring act, though. They were just named as part of the 20th anniversary lineup of Lollapalooza in Chicago (Aug. 5-7), and they also recently announced headlining shows at two of the country's best-known outdoor venues, Red Rocks outside Denver and the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.
Also cracking the Billboard 200 chart this week is Low, who came in at No. 73 with first-week sales of "C'mon."
