entertainmentdissected

Performing in his homestate of Michigan last week, Eminem is on the road to recovery following years of drug addiction. News of his latest album’s smash sales should help him in the recovery process. (picture courtesy of AP/Gary Malerba) 

Eminem experienced a Relapse of sorts on the Billboard 200, as his latest album easily debuted atop the chart.

The Michigan native’s latest is his fifth consecutive No. 1 debut; in fact, his only album to miss the top spot was 1999’s The Slim Shady LP, which peaked in the runner-up position.

While Relapse’s first-week sales of 608,000 units do not measure up to Eminem’s last three studio albums (1.76 million for 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP, 1.32 million for 2002’s The Eminem Show and 711,000 for 2004’s Encore-the latter numbers from an abbreviated sales week), it’s a major triumph in the declining album sales market. The acclaimed rapper now lays claim to the biggest sales week of the year, and the highest sales since AC/DC sold 784,000 of its Wal-Mart exclusive title back in October.

Preceding the release of Relapsewere two tracks that reached the upper region of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart: the No. 1 “Crack a Bottle” (with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) and the No. 9 “We Made You.” The latter’s video continues Eminem’s celebrity-bashing tradition, drawing ire from Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly for its “crude” portrayal of Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Last week’s album chart-topper, Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown, slipped one spot to No. 2 with 166,000, for a two-week cume of 381,000 units. Besides Eminem, other albums debuting inside the top 10 are Kenny Chesney’s Greatest Hits II  (No. 3, 89,400); Method Man/Redman’s Blackout (No. 4, 63,165); comedian Dane Cook’s Isolated Incident(No. 5, 60,550); Busta Rhymes’ Back on My B.S. (No. 6, 59,080); Tori Amos’ Abnormally Attracted to Sin (No. 9, 41,035); and Kate Voegele’s A Fine Mess (No. 10, 37,440).

American Idol’sfinale boosted sales of several titles last week. Season seven winner David Cook saw a 111 percent sales increase for his debut album, jumping to No. 29 on sales of 16,720; the title has sold 1.15 million to date. Veteran hitmaker Lionel Richie- who performed on the finale- saw his Just Go album enter at No. 24, with 19,270 copies.

Digital albums from Idol winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert debuted at Nos. 50 and 33, respectively- Allen’s Season 8 Favorite Performances sold 10,215, while Lambert’s scanned 15,720 (Allen fared better on the digital tracks chart, though, with his coronation song “No Boundaries” leading the charge of Idol tracks, selling 134,000 last week).

Other Idol-boosted acts on the Billboard 200 include Keith Urban (No. 27, up 19 percent), Jason Mraz (No. 30, up 22 percent) and Rod Stewart’s Definitive compilation (re-entering at No. 52, up a whopping 398 percent).

Meanwhile, on the Hot 100, Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” holds at No. 1 for an eighth week. A performance on Idol’sfinale helped the track stay above the 200,000-unit mark in sales for as long as it’s been No. 1 on the Hot 100. Further down, the Peas’ “Imma Be” debuts at No. 50.

Kris Allen’s aforementioned “No Boundaries” enters the Hot 100 at No. 11, while four of his other tracks debut: ”Heartless’ (No. 16); “Ain’t No Sunshine” (No. 37); “Apologize” (No. 66); and “Falling Slowly” (No. 94). Adam Lambert enjoys four entires: “Mad World” (No. 19); “A Change is Gonan Come” (No. 56); “No Boundaries” (No. 72); and “One” (No. 82). The two finalists land an additional six tracks on Billboard’s 25-position Bubbling Under chart, led by Lambert’s “Cryin’” (No. 102) and “Slow Ride” (a duet with Idolfourth-place finisher Allison Iraheta, No. 105).

Last year following the Idol finale, coronation track “The Time of My Life” entered at No. 3 and was one of 11 David Cook entries on the Hot 100 (though fans did not have the option of buying a Cook digital album). Runner-up David Archuleta scored three debuts, led by his cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” (No. 36).

Also benefiting from Idol’s finale is Keith Urban’s “Kiss a Girl,” which jumps 51-20, giving the country star his highest peak yet;  David Cook’s “Permanent,” which checks in at No. 24, while his “Come Back to Me” re-enters at No. 84; Jason Mraz’s eons-old “I’m Yours,” which rebounds 33-27; and Carrie Underwood’s Idol farewell theme, “Home Sweet Home,” which returns at No. 79.

Next week’s albums and singles chart should see no turnover at the top, with Eminem and the Peas likely to reign again. Idol sales beneficiaries should take a tumble, as the one-week finale benefit eases. It was good while it lasted…

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