HAT TRICK!!!
Three for Three
Marilyn Manson’s The Golden Age of Grotesque (on Nothing/Interscope) led the way, spooking the competition to ensnare a #1 bow. Creeping up Marilyn’s slinky posterior to finish at #3 was a debuting Cold (on Flip/Interscope), whose Year of the Spider caught plenty of flies at retail. Meanwhile, rap superstar 50 Cent (on Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) made a late move to grab the #2 spot.
Interscope’s trifecta is historic, marking the first time a label has had the #1, #2 and #3 albums on the chart since November ’96, when the very same Interscope notched the top four, with Bush’s Razorbloade Suitcase, Snoop Dogg’s Doggfather, No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom and 2Pac’s Makiaveli, respectively. Kudos to label sales/marketing guru Steve Berman for orchestrating the chart coup.
Homers’ Rick Galusha sacrificed a virgin goat to the gods and proclaimed: "Marilyn Manson delivered some very solid sales in a fairly soft market this week. Another great debut was the new Cold release. Put those two together with a 50 Cent record that just won’t go away, and you have to take your hats off to the Interscope group for an impressive hold on the top of the charts. And I’m expecting my check from Jimmy to be in the mail."
Elektra/EEG’s Third Eye Blind was the third Top 10 newcomer, finishing in the 10th position. The rest of the Top 10 included Wind-up coed band Evansecence (#6-4), which sold north of 90k once again. Maverick’s MatrixReloaded soundtrack (#8-5) finished just behind it, boosted by the opening of the blockbuster film. And Disney’s Lizzie McGuire Movie ST held at #7. Last week’s chart-topper, Blue Note perennial Norah Jones, finished #6, RCA’s Kelly Clarkson #8 and WSM’s Cher best-of #9.
The only other Top 50 debut went to Vagrant emo rockers Alkaline Trio at #21.
The chart boasts just one sales increase and it’s a mere 1%, but it could be the start of something big, as Atlantic/Atl G’s Lil’ Kim goes #29-20, reignited by her duet with 50 Cent, "Magic Stix."
Next week, get ready for a slew of chart newcomers, including next week’s expected #1, Flip/Elektra’s Staind, as well as Maverick’s Deftones, SRC/Universal’s David Banner, Geffen’s Powerman 5000, Columbia/CRG’s DJ Kay Slay and WB’s Less Than Jake.
