Pop/rock outfit Fall Out Boy scored its first No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart Wednesday with “Infinity on High,” which sold 260,000 copies in the week ended February 11, according to Nielsen SoundScan data issued Wednesday.
The Island Records act peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 in 2005 with its previous set, “From Under the Cork Tree.” Its latest single, “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” is currently No. 3 on the Hot 100.
Last week’s albums champ, Norah Jones’ “Not Too Late,” dropped to No. 2 with 236,000 copies. Rock band Daughtry’s self-titled debut held at No. 3 for a third week, selling 76,000 copies. R&B singer Akon’s “Konvicted” rose two to No. 4 with 65,000; the album previously peaked at No. 2.
“High School Musical” star Ashley Tisdale opened at No. 5 with her solo debut, “Headstrong,” which sold 64,000.
Robin Thicke’s “The Evolution of Robin Thicke” rose three to No. with 61,000. The “2007 Grammy Nominees” compilation also jumped three, to No. 7, with only a couple dozen copies fewer sold than Thicke. (Next week’s chart will reflect sales action inspired by the Grammys, which took place Sunday night.)
North Carolina-based country singer Jason Michael Carroll enjoyed a big week with his debut “Waitin’ in the Country,” which landed at No. 8 with 58,000. The single “Alyssa Lies,” which is No. 7 on the Hot Country Songs chart, has fueled interest in the album.
In its 34th week on the chart, Grammy nominee Corinne Bailey Rae’s self-titled debut re-entered the top tier, rocketing eight places to No. 9 with 52,000. The British singer/songwriter appeared alongside John Legend and John Mayer at the Grammys, and will tour with Legend this spring. She was nominated for best new artist but lost to Carrie Underwood.
Justin Timberlake, another omnipresent force at the Grammy ceremony, rose six places to No. 10 as his Grammy-nominated former chart-topper “FutureSex/LoveSounds” ascended six places to No. 10 with 48,000.
British rock troupe Bloc Party’s sophomore album “Weekend in the City” debuted at No. 12 entry with 48,000, a far more impressive showing than the No. 114 peak of its debut “Silent Alarm” in 2005. Patty Griffin can celebrate her best charting week ever with “Children Running Through” debuting at No. 34 with 27,000.
Other big debuts this week include teen singer/songwriter Jordan Pruitt’s “No Ordinary” (No. 64, 14,000), the Used’s live set “Berth” (No. 71, 13,000) and Bayside’s “The Walking Wounded” (No. 75, 13,000).
Album sales were up 4.7% from last week’s total at 9.82 million units but down 22.4% from the same week in 2006. Overall albums sales for the year are down 15.8% from the year before at 53.3 million units.
Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited