Country Universe – A Country Music Blog

Album Sales Update

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Here are the latest totals for albums released over the past three years that are still charting:

2009

• Rascal Flatts, Unstoppable – 669,000
• Keith Urban, Defying Gravity – 349,000
• Jason Aldean, Wide Open – 241,000
• Dierks Bentley, Feel That Fire – 189,000
• Martina McBride, Shine – 89,000
• John Rich, Son of a Preacher Man – 89,000
• Rodney Atkins, It’s America – 72,000
• Jake Owen, Easy Does It – 70,000
• Eric Church, Carolina – 66,000
• Randy Travis, I Told You So: Ultimate Hits – 59,000
• Randy Rogers Band, Randy Rogers Band – 57,000
• Pat Green, What I’m For – 54,000
• Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel, Willie & The Wheel – 50,000
• Billy Ray Cyrus, Back to Tennessee – 29,000
• Jason Michael Carroll, Growing Up is Getting Old – 26,000
• Dean Brody, Dean Brody – 5,000

2008

• Taylor Swift, Fearless – 3,220,000
• Sugarland, Love on the Inside – 1,594,000
• George Strait, Troubadour – 860,000
• Alan Jackson, Good Time – 803,000
• Keith Urban, Greatest Hits – 737,000
• Kenny Chesney, Lucky Old Sun – 696,000
• Darius Rucker, Learn to Live – 642,000
• Rascal Flatts, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 – 642,000
• Toby Keith, 35 Biggest Hits – 630,000
• Lady Antebellum, Lady Antebellum – 572,000
• Zac Brown Band, Foundation – 511,000
• Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song – 438,000
• Toby Keith, That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy – 384,000
• James Otto, Sunset Man – 368,000
• Julianne Hough, Julianne Hough – 309,000
• Dierks Bentley, Greatest Hits – 244,000
• Brad Paisley, Play – 238,000
• Jewel, Perfectly Clear – 226,000
• Kellie Pickler, Kellie Pickler – 216,000
• Dolly Parton, Backwoods Barbie – 199,000
• Heidi Newfield, What am I Waiting For? – 197,000
• Tim McGraw, Greatest Hits Vol. 3 – 196,000
• Trace Adkins, X – 174,000
• Montgomery Gentry, Back When I Knew it All – 173,000
• Blake Shelton, Startin’ Fires – 152,000
• Joey + Rory, Life of a Song – 152,000
• Billy Currington, Little Bit of Everything – 133,000
• Chuck Wicks, Starting Now – 129,000
• Jimmy Wayne, Do You Believe Me Now – 127,000
• Lee Ann Womack, Call Me Crazy – 94,000
• Eli Young Band, Jet Black and Jealous – 92,000
• Hank Williams III, Damn Right Rebel Proud – 76,000
• Craig Morgan, Greatest Hits – 73,000
• Lost Trailers, Holler Back – 65,000
• Randy Houser, Anything Goes – 58,000

2006-2007

• Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift – 4,129,000
• Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride – 2,852,000
• Trace Adkins, Greatest Hits Vol. 2 – 627,000

Review: Dean Brody, “Brothers”

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

I tend to consistently viscerally cringe at songs that are written with the intention of pulling on its listeners’ heartstrings. I think it’s a dirty trick to which I’m usually immune. However, there are always times when my defenses are down and I fall for that dang dirty trick, which what has happened in the case of this song by Dean Brody, “Brothers.”

It’s from the perspective of a boy or young man who is heartsick about his brother going off to war. Not only does he comprehend the dangers of war, he will simply miss his brother and hero while he’s gone.

While the song doesn’t have the expected and all too common ending of death, it does not end happily. Somehow, however, it still manages to feel uplifting. Instead of hearing about how the younger brother copes with his brother’s death, we get a glimpse into how he will negotiate his wheelchair bound hero’s forever altered life.

Unlike many formulaic tear jerkers that country music listeners are forced to endure, this one simply manages to pull the tears softly without feeling overtly contrived.

Written by: Dean Brody

Grade: B

Listen: Dean Brody, “Brothers”

Buy: Dean Brody, “Brothers”