AEROSMITH, EVE BOW TOP 5,
BUT DMB "DID IT" AGAIN

Then there were those who thought that a band that's been putting out records since 1973, and is being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next week, couldn't possibly have a new album debut in this week's Top Five.

Dream on, kiddies. Neither snow nor ageism could stop Columbia's boys from Boston this week. Look who debuted at #2 on the HITS Top 50, with nearly 250k in first-week sales.

"Aerosmith is nothing less than an industry phenomenon," said Hastings' Mike Fuller, whose mere employment is itself an industry phenomenon. "The reaction to this record has proven that they have been one of the few bands that can successfully transcend generations while not compromising their music in the least."

Mike then asked the person who wrote those lines to explain the big words.

Indeed, Aerosmith's solid #2 debut behind RCA's Dave Matthews Band, whose sales were off almost 60% from last week's 754.7k opening week total, was only part of the story. Check out the #4 bow by Ruff Ryders/Interscope's Eve.

"What can I say about Eve?" said Hastings' Fuller. "Actually, I can say nothing until the midlevel corporate pencil-pusher who tells me what to say gets out of the can."

Also in the Top Five are MCA's monster Shaggy at #3 and coming in at an impressive #5 in his second week is Roc-A-Fella/IDJ's DJ Clue. Arista's femme powerhouse Dido is at #6, while the Beatles continue their remarkable run at #7.

Looking ahead to next week, the biggest debut looks to be Warner Bros.' Eric Clapton, which hits retail today.

Sadly, Hastings' Fuller was unable to comment further after his office was accidentally hit by a bomb fired from a U.S. jet fighter.