A MELODRAMATIC
TOP 20

Lorde leads the pack of new releases on her way to her first #1 bow, while 2 Chainz appears set for big streams. Alt-country troubadour Jason Isbell, for his part, will punch above his subgenre's weight.

1. (*) Lorde (Lava/Republic) 90-95k SPS, 68-73k album
2. (*) 2 Chainz (Def Jam) 73-78k, 33-38k
3. Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Interscope) 73-78K, 23-26K
4. (*) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Southeastern) 50-55k, 48-53k
5. Drake (YMCMB/Republic) 50-55k, 7-8k
6. (*) Nickelback (BMG) 42-47k, 40-45k
7. Ed Sheeran (Atlantic) 35-40k, 12-15k
8. Bruno Mars (Atlantic) 30-35k, 12-15k
9. Post Malone (Republic) 28-32k, 1-2k
10. SZA (TDE/RCA) 28-32k, 7-8k
11. Chris Stapleton (Mercury Nashville) 24-27k, 21-24k
12. Migos (Quality Control) 21-24k, 1-2k
13. (*) Fleet Foxes (Nonesuch) 21-24k, 18-21k
14. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (Hollywood) 21-24k
15. Moana (Walt Disney) 21-24k, 10-13k
16. Khalid (Right Hand Music/RCA) 21-24k, 2-3k
17. Halsey (Astralwerks/Capitol) 21-24k, 7-8k
18. Katy Perry (Capitol) 21-24k, 14-17k
19. Future (FREEBANDZ/Epic) 19-22k, <1k
20. The Beatles (Capitol) 19-22k, 17-20k

(*) Debuts

In political news, Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III has retained an attorney as the Russiagate investigation deepens; his counsel reportedly comes from the esteemed firm of Foghorn & Leghorn.