After last week’s blowout week on the Billboard 200 — where there were seven debuts in the top 10 — this week’s tally is slightly tamer. While there are still three new albums that arrive in the top 10, the Hot Shot Debut is Marilyn Manson’s “The High End Of Low” at No. 4 with 49,000. While it gives the band its sixth top 10 set, it arrives with the lowest opening week sum of any of its albums since the live effort “The Last Tour On Earth” began with 26,000 in 1999. The group’s last studio release, 2007’s “Eat Me, Drink Me,” entered the list at No. 8 with 88,000.
Eminem’s “Relapse” holds on to the No. 1 slot with ease, shifting 211,000 in its second week, down 65.3% from its whopping bow last week with 608,000. With 819,000 sold, “Relapse” has already become the fifth best-seller of the year. Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” leads the pack with 1,173,000. So far, only two albums have shifted a million in 2009, “Fearless” and the “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack (1,004,000). At this point last year, believe it or not, only one album had surpassed a million — Jack Johnson’s “Sleep Through the Static.”
Back in the top 10 this week, Wisin and Yandel’s “La Revolucion” debuts at No. 7 with 36,000. That marks the highest charting set on the Billboard 200 for the duo and their second-best opening sales week. The act’s last set, “Wisin Vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres,” entered at No. 14 with 53,000. Despite the lower sales frame for the new album it still opens at No. 7, making it the highest charting Spanish-language album since Mana’s “Amar Es Combatir” debuted and peaked at No. 4 in September 2006 off an 87,000 opening sales week.
Indie rock band Grizzly Bear is having its best week ever as its third full-length studio set, “Veckatimest,” arrives at No. 8 with 33,000. That’s the first album to chart on the Billboard 200 for the Massachusetts band and it also gives the quartet its best sales week. 40% of its sales came from downloads while another 24% were shifted at independent and small chain stores.
Just outside the top 10 this week, country duo Montgomery Gentry sees its “For Our Heroes” album bow at No. 11 with 26,000. The set, a quasi-greatest hits package, was sold exclusively through Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the album will go to the Wounded Warrior Project charity.
Finally, here’s a recap of the top 10 this week. Green Day’s “21st Century Breakdown” holds at No. 2 with 76,000 (down 54%) while the “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack climbs three slots to No. 3 with 52,000 (down 10%). Lady GaGa’s “The Fame” skips up three positions to No. 5 with 45,000 (up less than 1%) while Kenny Chesney’s “Greatest Hits II” falls three rungs to No. 6 with 43,000 (down 51%). Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” flies up two slots to No. 9 with 33,000 (up 3%) and Rascal Flatts’ “Unstoppable” rises from No. 12 to No. 10 with 27,000 (up 3%).
Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending May 31) totaled 5.75 million units, down 12.4% compared to the sum last week (6.57 million) and down 20.4% compared to the same sales week of 2008 (7.23 million). Year to date album sales stand at 148.7 million, down 14% compared to the same total at this point last year (172.8 million).
The Yahoo Kid 