Avril Adds Another No. 1 Album
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Following a No. 1 debut in the United Kingdom, Avril Lavigne bowed on top of the U.S. pop albums chart with her sophomore effort “Under My Skin,” according to Nielsen SoundScan data issued Wednesday.
The Arista/RCA Records set sold 381,500 copies in the week ended May 30, ending the eight-week reign of Usher’s “Confessions,” which fell to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, also behind the new Slipknot album.
The Canadian pop maverick promoted the set with a 21-date North American promotional mall tour in March. The album’s first single, “Don’t Tell Me,” is in the top 30 on the Hot 100 singles chart.
Lavigne’s 2002 debut, “Let Go,” entered the album chart at No. 8 with sales of just 62,000 copies. The set climbed to No. 2 and has since moved 6.1 million copies in the United States and 14 million copies worldwide, according to Arista.
Masked hard rock act Slipknot sold 243,000 copies of its third Roadrunner studio album, “Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses.” Its previous set, “Iowa,” debuted at No. 3 in 2001 with 255,000 copies; it has sold 855,000 copies to date.
Bounced by Lavigne and Slipknot, Usher’s LaFace/Zomba set dropped to No. 3 on an 8% dip to sales of nearly 197,000 copies this week; the album has sold 3.8 million copies to date.
Method Man, who debuted at No. 2 last week with “Tical 0: The Prequel,” fell to No. 5 on a 49% drop to 84,000 copies. New Found Glory’s “Catalyst” (Drive-Thru) tumbled seven places to No. 10 on a 57% drop to 63,000 copies.
Prince’s “Musicology,” a copy of which is included with each ticket to his current tour, shot up eight places to No. 16 on a 41% increase to sales of 71,000. This number includes copies fans received during two major Southern California dates for the tracking week ending May 26.
Geffen’s soundtrack to the No. 1 movie at the box office, “Shrek 2,” rose three places to No. 9 as sales jumped 30% to 70,000 copies.
Filling in the rest of the top 10, Gretchen Wilson held at No. 4 for the second week with her Epic album “Here for the Party,” Hoobastank gained one spot to No. 6 with “The Reason” (Island) and D12 dipped 6-7 with “D12 World” (Shady/Interscope).
Lonestar’s fifth studio effort “Let’s Be Us Again” (BNA) entered the chart at No. 14 slot with 54,000 copies. The Texas act’s “I’m Already There” opened at No. 9 with 112,000 copies in 2001, while last year’s greatest hits compilation bowed at No. 7 with 86,000 copies. The albums have sold 1.2 million and 947,000 copies to date, respectively.
First season “American Idol” alumna Tamyra Gray entered the chart at No. 23 with her 19 Recordings debut, “The Dreamer.” The set, which features collaborations with Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Scott Storch and Diane Warren, sold 39,000 copies in its first week.
Pop trio Wilson Phillips marked its comeback with a No. 35 debut for “California” (Columbia). Other notable debuts included Julie Roberts’ self-titled Mercury set (No. 51), Everlast’s “White Trash Beautiful” (Island Def Jam, No. 56) and Selah’s “Hiding Places” (Curb, No. 61).
After taking his turn on the “The Oprah Winfrey Show” couch, George Michael’s Epic album “Patience” was The Billboard 200’s greatest gainer. Following the tradition of recent Winfrey guests Wynonna Judd and Lionel Richie, Michael’s set jumped 17 places to No. 12 this week on a 72% sales spike to 62,000 copies.
Overall U.S. album sales were up 9% to 11.5 million, about 11% ahead of the comparable week last year. Sales for the year edged out those of 2003 by 7.7%.
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