ONE-DAY SALES: CHART CHURN IN THE HOUSE OF USHER

As sales stories go, it's hard to top a near-two million debut toppled in its second sales week by a Pop compilation with more momentum than a freight train—but three new albums that appear headed for very solid Top Five debuts next week are going to do what they can to provide intriguing subplots.

Indeed, according to early reports from national accounts, Usher's 8701 (Arista), the Isley Brothers' Eternal (DreamWorks) and Jadakiss' Kiss Tha Game Goodbye (Interscope) are all in the running for berths in the Top Five behind the two-headed Now/NSYNC monster. Each is expected to come in at around 200k.

Left-field Interscope Crossover sensation Jadakiss is looking like the biggest surprise of this debut pack, as the Lox/Ruff Ryders vet takes his solo turn with a gangsta lean and scores impressive early response at the cash registers.

Usher's appearance on TRL yesterday could give him the edge in this derby, given that working one's magic in front of a national audience of seething, screaming young'uns whose hormones command them to buy MORE MORE MORE albums by strapping young soul sensations tends to have a positive impact on sales.

Meanwhile, let us not forget about J Records prodigy Alicia Keys, whose Songs in A Minor held in at #3 this week on a mere 5% decrease in sales after five weeks. Don't count her out of the Top Five tussle—as we've said many, many times before, this one's here to stay. Don't make her come over there and clock you.

The week's other big debut comes is the sophomore effort from Jive's Aaron Carter. It looks like it could approach the 150k mark.

How will this sales week play out? We'll tell you when we know. Or think we do.