As we get later and later into the year, more and more new albums will be released to attract the growing demand for the Christmas season. Things are getting near to full swing this week on the Billboard 200 as seven of the Top 10 spots, including the first four, are taken by new albums.
Slipknot was at the top of that list, as .5: The Gray Chapter sold 132,000 copies in its first week on the charts. It's the band's second straight album that's peaked at the top of the Billboard 200 although the last was released during 2008. Last time they also faced competition from a big name rapper, although T.I. didn't give them nearly as much of a run as The Game did. The former's Paperwork came in with "just" 80,000 copies sold, allowing a sizable cushion for the metal band.
Neil Diamond contributes to the huge diversity of acts in the Top 3 spots as his Melody Road debuts with 78,000 copies sold. Another rapper takes the no. 4 spot, as Logic moved 73,000 copies of his debut album Under Pressure.
Two country acts managed to make sure that at least a few returning acts made it more than a week on the charts. Last week's no. 1 seller Florida Georgia Line fell to no. 5 while moving another 59,000 copies of its album Anything Goes. Jason Aldean is actually in his third week in the Top 10 as Old Boots, New Dirt also fell four spots, taking no. 6 with 56,000 copies sold. The no. 7 spot on this week's chart might go to a new album but it's also from a country performer: Little Big Town and Pain Killer moved 42,000 copies.
The last three entries in this week's Top 10 are interesting in that they're all self-proclaimed covers albums. Barbra Streisand retains her role as the longest lasting act on the list as her duets album Partners sold another 40,000 copies. We get our first taste of Christmas in the Top 10 as Pentatonix released its second batch of holiday songs, titled That's Christmas To Me. The album moved 32,000 copies albeit being two months early. The last spot on the list goes to Annie Lennox, who performs her own renditions of standards on Nostalgia. That new album sold just less than Pentatonix in the 32,000 range.
