Compared to last year, when it scored two top-10 albums on the Billboard 200, Durham-based Merge Records has had a fairly quiet 2008. But this week, Merge registers its third-highest-ever chart placement with "Conor Oberst," the eponymously titled solo album by the Bright Eyes frontman who played in Carrboro last weekend. On first-week sales of 29,000 copies, the album debuts at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 (right behind "Kidz Bop 14").
Merge is also hosting its first-ever art exhibition on Friday, with artwork from Robert Pollard's book "Town of Mirrors" (Fantagraphics Books). It's at 6 p.m. Friday at Merge's building, 409 E. Chapel Hill St. in downtown Durham, during the monthly "Third Friday" arts/culture crawl; and yes, ex-Guided by Voices mastermind Pollard is supposed to attend.
Comments
sigh...
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 15:24 — patty (not verified)I just have to say that "right behind Kidz Bop 14" is the saddest phrase I've read all day.
sigh...
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 23:46 — dmenconi (author)A detail I included for comic relief. ;>
I bought Conor the first
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 15:06 — allison (not verified)I bought Conor the first week & am lovin' it, Go, MERGE!