I was thinking: “I wonder how many of the 200 albums on the Billboard 200 are by artists I dig?” This may seem like a rather thin concept for a blog post, but compared to a lot of the crap I post here, this is brilliant!

#002 Twilight Soundtrack

No, I’m not a fan of the Twilight books or the first movie but I do think the line-up on this soundtrack is quite impressive. So impressive I actually bought it myself. I think you’ll be able to find it to buy on Amazon’s best selling albums list. And apparently all of these tracks are unique to the soundtrack, which is pretty cool.

#008 The Flaming Lips – Embryonic

I’m a huge Lips fan and I’m loving Embryonic thus far. I think it’s pretty cool that it’s actually set a record as their highest charting album with it’s debut at #8 this week. I think this is probably among their most “difficult” albums thus far (after Zaireeka‘s insanity and the ’80s albums because they’re just not that good which makes them pretty difficult to listen to in another way.) Check out The Flaming Lips Store on Amazon and buy this album and really every other album they’ve put out since 1990.

#023 Bob Dylan – Christmas In The Heart

I probably won’t be buying this particular Dylan album as I’m not too huge on Christmas records. Well maybe I’ll check it out as we get closer to 12/25.

#054 The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

The major label debut for The Avett Brothers. It opened up at #16, this is it’s 3rd week on the charts. I’m not sure I like it better than their last one, Emotionalism (which is great), but this is definitely a good album that I do recommend.

#061 – Monsters Of Folks – Monsters Of Folks

I haven’t actually heard this yet, but I plan on it. I’m placing this here mostly because I like M. Ward and My Morning Jacket (and to a much lesser extent I’ve enjoyed some of Bright Eyes stuff.) I did hear some samples of this album that sounded quite intriguing so I’m probably going to pick it up. This one has been on the charts for five weeks now, it’s peak was #15.

#092 The Beatles – The Beatles In Stereo

The Beatles in Stereo Box Set has peaked at #15 thus far. This is it’s 4th week on the charts. When looking at this, you must consider that this box set includes The Beatles entire 16 disc 1960s catalog and it includes 14 separate albums inside of it (including the Past Masters compilation as an album.) Also, this thing has been sold out most everywhere thus far which has definitely hurt it’s sales numbers and it’s chart rankings.

Also, note that the individual Beatles albums like Abbey Road are not eligible to appear in this chart because the Billboard 200 is only for recent releases (but box sets count as new releases even if they contain collections of old albums.) Check out The Beatles Store on Amazon.

#139 The Avett Brothers – The Second Gleam (EP)

This was originally released on July 22, 2008 and has just re-entered the charts this week (it’s chart peak is #82) which I think means a lot of people are being introduced to this great band by their major label debut, I and Love and You, and are now working their way back through their catalog.

#175 Michael Jackson – The Definitive Collection

Most MJ albums are not eligible to appear in these charts because of the “only recent albums” rule. That’s why Jackson didn’t go to #1 on Billboard following his death even though he actually sold the most albums for most of the weeks after he died. This compilation came out this year which is why it’s eligible.

#189 The Mountain Goats – Life of the World to Come

Debuted at #110 last week. This is the 17th studio album from The Mountain Goats dating back to 1991′s Taboo VI: The Homecoming.

Catalog Chart

There’s also the “Catalog Albums” chart which is essentially all of the albums that are not eligible for the Billboard 200. Most of them would actually be among the Billboard 200 if they were eligible. It’s chart includes the 25 highest selling albums that were released too long ago to be considered a “new release” and this week it includes 10 Beatles albums (The White Album being the highest) and 5 Michael Jackson albums (Number Ones being the highest.)

The four highest selling Beatles albums for the week are embedded below in order (from left to right.)

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