WEEK IN PREVIEW: TOOL TIME!!!!

Those folks anticipating a huge debut for Volcano’s Tool win the coveted Music Industry Einstein Of The Week award, as the gnarly rawkers unleash one of the biggest releases of the year and grab a solid #1 bow.

But as big as retail’s Tool is, it’s not the only first-week meat being devoured by consumers. Check out this week’s Building Album Chart to monitor debuts by Elektra’s Missy Elliott, Geffen’s Weezer, Warner Bros.’ R.E.M. and Reprise’s Depeche Mode.

Over in Top 40 land, Jive’s NSYNC is dominating with "Pop," the first track from the new "Celebrity" album. Expect that one to cop more than 3,000 spins in its first official week. Other tracks getting plenty of Top 40 love this week come from MCA’s Shaggy and Elektra’s Staind.

Hey, speaking of Staind, those knuckleheads are streeting Tuesday and will be THE monster debut on next week’s chart. Almost makes you forget gasoline's gone up to $2.50 a gallon, eh?

Back to this week’s follies, the Post Modern format is all about DreamWorks’ Alien Ant Farm, who are wowing the ultra-cool with a cover of Michael Jackson’s "Smooth Criminal." Meanwhile our Rap and Mix Show weasels are weaseling big over Missy Elliott, whose "One Minute Man" is rolling with two mixes featuring Ludacris and Jay-Z.

And speaking of one-minute men, HITS Editor In Chief Lenny Beer will be writing his riveting "Wavelength" column again this week.