Rock acts grabbed the top two slots on the U.S. album charts Wednesday, with Tool’s “10,000 Days” more than doubling the sales of Pearl Jam’s self-titled set.
Metal band Tool sold a career-best 564,000 copies of its latest release in the week ended May 7, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. Its previous album, 2001’s “Lateralus,” also opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 555,000 units. It has sold more than 2.3 million to date.
“Pearl Jam,” the band’s first studio effort in four years and first for J Records, sold 279,000 copies to rank No. 2. The figure is the best sales week since 1998’s “Yield” debuted at No. 2 with 358,000 units. “Pearl Jam” is the Seattle-based quintet’s 28th entry on The Billboard 200, including seven previous studio albums and 20 live sets.
The chart’s reigning champ, Boston metal band Godsmack’s “IV” slid six places to No. 7 with 84,000 copies in its second week.
Mobb Deep’s G-Unit release “Blood Money” debuted at No. 3 with 106,000 copies. Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige all contributed guest vocals to the duo’s ninth set.
In its 17th week on The Billboard 200, the soundtrack to Disney’s “High School Musical” climbed three places to No. 4 with 94,000 copies. Rascal Flatts’ “Me and My Gang” (Lyric Street/Hollywood) inched up one to No. 5 with 89,000.
The 21st “NOW! That’s What I Call Music” (BMG/Zomba/EMI/UME) installment rose two to No. 6 with sales of 85,000.
Singer/songwriter Jewel’s career continued to dwindle as her latest release, “Goodbye Alice in Wonderland,” entered the chart at No. 8 with 82,000 copies. The final album under her Atlantic contract, “Goodbye” comes three years after the poppy “0304,” which debuted at No. 2 with 143,500 copies.
Bruce Springsteen’s “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions” (Columbia) tumbled six places to No. 9 with 75,000 copies.
Phil Vassar’s Arista Nashville collection “Greatest Hits Volume 1” rounded out the top tier with 65,000 copies. The No. 10 placing is his healthiest week-one entry, beating his previous best, 2002’s “American Child,” which bowed at No. 44.
Other debuts included Thursday’s “A City by the Light Divided” (Island), which opens at No. 20 with 46,000 copies, their second-best charting position behind 2003’s “War All the Time” (No. 7). Meanwhile, Australian buzz band Wolfmother entered the tally with its self-titled Interscope/Modular release at No. 22 (37,000), while the self-titled Big Vin effort from Rebel Meets Rebel lands at No. 38 (26,000). The album features songs recorded several years ago by Vinnie Paul and his late brother, Dimebag Darrell, with David Allen Coe.
At 10.1 million units, overall CD sales were up 6% from the previous week but down 9% compared to the same week a year ago. Sales for 2006 were down 2% compared to 2005 at 192.1 million units.
Reuters/Billboard